ABOUT THE CORE

The Loyola's Core Curriculum plays a key educational role in every Loyola student's undergraduate experience. Designed to provide both breadth and depth to a student’s program of study, the Core Curriculum introduces students to key concepts and modes of thought in a variety of areas of human intellectual endeavors.

The University Core introduces students to ten central Core Areas of university learning, with a consistent focus on learning outcomes for those Areas. Core coursework develops students' understanding through knowledge and experience in the Core Areas of Artistic Knowledge and Inquiry, Historical Knowledge and Inquiry, Literary Knowledge and Inquiry, Quantitative Knowledge and Inquiry, Scientific Knowledge and Inquiry, Societal and Cultural Knowledge and Inquiry, Philosophical Knowledge and Inquiry, Theological & Religious Knowledge and Inquiry, and Ethical Knowledge and Inquiry, plus written communication. Each course promotes at least one of the following skills, crucial to facing the challenges of contemporary society: communication, critical thinking, ethical awareness and decision-making, information literacy, quantitative and qualitative analysis and research methods, and technological literacy.

In addition to knowledge and skills development, Core courses integrate and promote values essential to a Loyola education, such as understanding diversity in the US or the world, understanding and promoting justice, and understanding spirituality or faith in action in the world. Many courses in the Core were specifically designed to highlight the value of diversity. You may visit this page for more information regarding efforts to increase diversity in the Core Curriculum.  

To complete the University Core Curriculum, students will take 16 courses across ten Core Areas. Two courses are required in six of these areas (Historical Knowledge and Inquiry, Literary Knowledge and Inquiry, Scientific Knowledge and Inquiry, Societal and Cultural Knowledge and Inquiry, Philosophical Knowledge and Inquiry and Theological & Religious Knowledge and Inquiry) Students will begin their studies in these six areas with a foundational (or Tier I) course that will introduce them to critical ideas and methods of analyses in that area.  After completing the foundational course, students will have an array of options to further their studies by taking one of a variety of Tier II classes to pursue their particular interests in more depth.  The other four areas (College Writing Seminar, Artistic Knowledge and Inquiry, Quantitative Knowledge and Inquiry, and Ethical Knowledge and Inquiry) require one course each. Some Core Area requirements can be satisfied by virtue of completing a major or minor program of study, given the extensive work a student must do in a particular knowledge area while pursuing such a program of study.  These Core waivers can be found here.

Please note that these requirements apply to students obtaining a bachelor's degree. Arrupe College students should check their Core requirements here.

What's next? Head to the Core Curriculum Guide to find out more about the specific Core requirements and learn about courses being offered.