Liberal Arts Core

An Alvernia education is founded on the liberal arts. The aim of a liberal arts education is to develop the whole person and to assure an understanding of the wide range of human experience, expression and potential. To that end, all baccalaureate students must complete a body of requirements known as the “Liberal Arts Core”. The core includes:

• Foundation Courses - 39/40 credits
• Area I Courses - 6 credits
• Area II Courses - 9 credits

Students must also complete “Graduation Requirements”. These requirements include applying for graduation, College Success Skills, computer proficiency, human diversity and community service. Appropriate adjustments to graduation requirements are made for Associate Degree and transfer students.

Foundation Courses

Composition and Research 3 credits
Introduces students to the writing and research skills needed by an educated person.
Fulfilled by completing COM 101 Composition & Research with a "C" grade or better.

Communication 3 credits
Introduces students to that essentially human endeavor, communication.
Fulfilled by completing 3 credits in Communication courses (other than COM 100).

Literature 3 credits
Introduces students to human expression as manifested in literature.
Fulfilled by completing a 3-credit literature course, in any language.

Art/Music 3 credits
Introduces students to human expression as manifested in music and art.
Fulfilled by completing 3 credits in art and/or music courses.

Social Science 3 credits
Assures that students encounter at least one discipline that studies the political, social or psychological dimension of human beings.
Satisfied by completing 3 credits from among the courses in Political Science, Sociology and Social Science, Psychology, Criminology or Economics.

Foreign Language 6 credits
Introduces students to a language and culture other than their own. Because the world is peopled by human beings of widely divergent backgrounds, the requirement seeks to heighten students' sensitivity to and appreciation of a foreign language and culture.
Satisfied by completing 6 credits in sequence in one foreign language in Alvernia curriculum.

History 3 credits
Assures that students gain an appreciation of human behavior in an historical context.
Fulfilled by completing 3 credits in history.

Lab Science 3/4 credits
Introduces students to the subjects of inquiry, methods, values and the relevance of a scientific discipline.
Fulfilled by completing 3/4 credits in a biological, chemical or physical science.

Mathematics 3 credits
Introduces students to the role of mathematics in contemporary life or develops their proficiency in the use of mathematics. While students vary in their use of mathematics, all educated people should understand its applications in their lives.
Satisfied by completing 3 credits in mathematics (other than MAT 100).

Theology 105 and Philosophy 105 6 credits
Assures that students encounter the disciplines devoted to human thought and faith.

Wellness 3 credits
Introduces students to the potential and limitations of their own bodies, as well as the essentials of a healthy lifestyle.
Satisfied by completing PED 304.

Area I Courses (at 200-400 level) 6 credits
Theology or Philosophy 3 credits
Ethics/Morality in Theology or Philosophy 3 credits*
*The Ethics and Morality requirement is fulfilled by taking 3 credits from THE 200, 210, 225 or PHI 200, 210, 220.

Area II Courses (at 200-400 level) 9 credits
Three courses from any one of the following: Art, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Foreign Language, History, Literature, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Theology.
Note: An Area II course may not be in student’s first major. However, the course may be met by double or joint majors and minors.

Total credits in the core: 54/55 credits

Graduation Requirements
The graduation requirements listed here pertain to the Liberal Arts core. For more information on graduation requirements see our Graduation Requirements page.

Graduation Application Forms are available in the Registrar's Office. Seniors must submit the Graduation Application Form to the Registrar's Office as follow: October 1, for May Graduation; December 1, for summer graduation; March 1, for December graduation. Your advisor and department chair must sign the form and attach a copy of your completed requirement sheet. All students are encouraged to participate in Commencement Exercises, which are held in May and December.

College Success Skills
This class introduces students to the principles and methods that promote academic success and personal development at Alvernia College.
All students entering wth fewer than 15 credits of transferable college work must meet the College Success Skills requirement. Students will satisify the requirement through COL110 (College Success Skills) or COL160 (Freshman Honors Seminar).

Computer Proficiency
Assures that students are familiar with the role of computers in contemporary society and that they possess a level of proficiency appropriate to an educated person.
Fulfilled by completing at least one course in Computer Information Systems or by passing an exemption interview/examination.

Human Diversity
Increases awareness of the richness and variety of backgrounds that comprise the United States of America. Recognizes the need for more cooperation within a complex and increasingly interdependent global community.
Fulfilled by completing at least three credits from among the approved courses listed on each semester’s schedule.

Courses that meet the Human Diversity Requirement:
ADA 411 Counseling Special Populations
BUS 312 International Business I
BUS 412 International Business II
CJ 216 Women and the Criminal Justice System
CJ 218 Multicultural Issues in Criminal Justice
ED 301 Diversity in the Classroom
ENG 207 Contemporary Fiction and Drama
ENG 216 Women in Literature
ENG 309 World Literature
HIS 230 Women’s History
HIS 240 Third World History
HIS 245 Topics in Native American History
MUS 222 Multicultural Music
MUS 331 Women in the Arts
NUR 301 Professional Nursing I: Health Maintenance and
NUR 302 Professional Nursing II: Health Promotion
NUR 312 Transcultural Nursing
PSY 215 Multicultural Issues in Psychology
PSY 308 The Psychology of Gender
SOC 306 Racial and Cultural Relations
SOC 411 Sociology of Men and Women
SSC 201 Introduction to CUltural Anthropology
SSC 310 Cultural Geography I
SSC 311 Cultural Geography II
SSC 321 Global Society
SW 231 Culturally Sensitive Human Service Practice
SW 343 Living with AIDS
SW 347 International Community Development
THE 225 Global Ethics

Community Service
Alvernia College requires community service to be completed by all students before graduation. The purpose of community service is to affirm the College’s core value of service, and to instill in students a sense of volunteerism and civic engagement through service to non-profit organizations or needy individuals in the community.

Students may elect to take a Service Learning 4th Credit option in courses with a service learning component, may participate in a Service Learning/Academic study trip, or may take COL 150: The Community Classroom to complete their community service requirement. For those who choose personal service, Community Service forms are available on the Alvernia website (www.alvernia.edu), from the Registrar, or in the Mission and Ministry suite located in Veronica Hall. Each student is required to submit a Verification Form to the Registrar to provide evidence of community service hours.

For details on current service opportunities, please contact the Community Service Office in the Mission and Ministry suite in Veronica Hall.

Updated: March 29, 2005

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