University Core Curriculum Oversight Committee[UCCOC]
Approved by Faculty Senate January 14, 2003

Undergraduate education seeks to develop productive, creative, and responsible citizens who both shape society and lay the foundation for tomorrow.  In addition to exploring areas of specialization, the university experience must provide a venue for investigating the origins and natures of cultures, ideas, and the physical universe and endow graduates with the ability to analyze critically, think sustainably, learn creatively, and express themselves clearly and cogently.  Diversity and breadth of experience are essential characteristics of both education and success in our global community. 

The UniversityCore Curriculum (UCC) provides the broad, well-defined curriculum that enables graduates to

* think critically, analytically, and creatively, with a passion to learn and with the skills and ability to assemble, assess, incorporate, and synthesize new knowledge and information;
* organize and clearly express their knowledge and ideas; and
* determine the importance and relevance of new ideas through a synthesis of both broad and narrow contexts and the integration of seemingly disparate pieces into a meaningful whole. 

 The UCC rests upon the belief that a foundational curriculum, shared by students, fosters intellectual development and enhances personal, social, intellectual, and academic relations.  Together with concentration in major fields of study, the UCC builds the base that makes future academic and professional excellence possible. 

First Year Experience (one one-credit course required):

The transition to a university environment is a unique one for first-time university students, and FIU's orientation course is designed to facilitate this transition. The First-Year Experience course provides a forum for integrating the FIU experience and for discussing issues promoting intellectual, personal, academic, and social growth and success as a member of the University community. The course introduces students to University policies, procedures, and services; addresses academic and career choices; and enhances study and time-management skills. All students entering the University with fewer than 30 transfer credits are required to take this one-credit course. High-school-earned college credit does not exempt FTIC students from this requirement.

English Composition (two three-credit courses from either sequence required): These are Gordon Rule courses (must earn "C" or better)

A foundation in the critical analysis of issues and texts, both discursive and creative, and in argumentation and persuasion is essential in all university courses. English Composition provides this foundation by encouraging the mastery of written and oral communication models, including the essay and research paper.

For students entering FIU with 30 or fewer credits and for all first-term-in-college students, ENC 1101, Freshman Composition and ENC 1102, Literary Analysis are required. For students entering FIU with more than 30 credits (who are not first-term-in-college students), ENC 2990, College Writing for Transfer Students and one of the following: ENC 3317, Writing Across the Curriculum; or ENC 3311, Advanced Writing and Research; or ENC 3213, Professional and Technical Writing are acceptable.


Humanities With Writing (two three-credit courses required, one of which must be a historically-oriented course): Pre-requisities, ENC 1101 and ENC 1102. These are Gordon Rule courses (must earn "C" or better).

In these courses students strengthen the critical reading and writing skills needed to succeed within the University and beyond. Students interact analytically with, and respond critically to, primary and secondary texts in the humanities and learn to integrate the ideas and words of others into their own writing. By writing informed essays, students develop the ability to present ideas logically and sequentially and to provide balanced exposition and critical examination of complex events, positions, arguments, or texts.

In these courses students learn to use writing as a form of inquiry in reflecting critically upon central topics in the humanities, such as individual, moral, and social values; historical perspectives and events; culture and the arts; philosophy; and religious beliefs and practices. Students address themes centered on the traditions; shared values and myths; literary, artistic, historical, and philosophical traditions; and cultural standards and common values which underlie contemporary societies and their historical antecedents.

One course must be from the following list: (historically-oriented)

____AFH 2000 African Civilizations  (3 cr)* -GL
____AMH 2041 Origins of American Civilization (3 cr)*
____AMH 2042 Modern American Civilization (3 cr)*
____ARC 2701 History of Architecture 1 (3 cr)
____EUH 2011 Western Civ.: Early European Civilization  (3 cr)*
____EUH 2021 Western Civ.: Medieval to Modern Europe (3 cr)*
____EUH 2030 Western Civ.: Europe in the Modern Era (3 cr)*
____HUM 3214 Ancient Classical Culture & Civilization (3 cr)*
____HUM 3306 History of Ideas (3 cr)*
____LAH 2020 Latin American Civilization (3 cr)*
____PHH 2063 Classics in Phil.: Intro. to the History of Phil. (3 cr)*
____POT 3013 Ancient & Medieval Political Theory (3 cr)*

A second course may be selected from the following list:

____ENG 2012 Approaches to Literature (3 cr)*
____IDS 3309 How We Know What We Know (3 cr)* - GL
____PHI 2011 Philosophical Analysis (3 cr)*
____PHI 2600 Introduction to Ethics (3 cr)*
____REL 2011 Religion: Analysis and Interpretation (3 cr)* - GL

Quantitative Reasoning (two three-credit courses required, at least one of which must be in mathematics): These are Gordon Rule courses (must earn "C" or better).

The requirement aims at preparing students to master concepts and ideas in logic, inductive and deductive reasoning, and abstract and quantitative thinking. Students will become proficient in the art of reasoning critically, solving problems, and analyzing data.

One course must be from the following mathematics list:

____ MAC 1114 Trigonometry (3 cr)  If  taken after College Algebra, will be equivalent to Pre-calculus/MAC 2147.*
____MGF 1106 Finite Math (3 cr)
____MGF 1107 Math of Soc. Choice and Decision Making (3 cr)
____MAC 2147 Pre-calculus (3 cr)*
____MAC 2233 Calculus for Business (3 cr)*
____MAC 2311 Calculus I (4 cr)*
____MAC 2312 Calculus II (4 cr)*
____MAC 2313 Multivariable Calculus (4 cr)*
____MTG 1204 Geometry for Education (3 cr)

A second course may be selected from the following list:

____STA 2023 Statistics for Business and Economics (3 cr)*
____STA 2122 Introduction to Statistics I (3 cr)*
____STA 3111 Statistics I (3 cr)*
____STA 3145 Statistics for the Health Professions (3cr)*
____COP 2210 Introduction to Programming (4 cr)
____COP 2250 Programming in Java (3 cr)
____PHI 2100 Introduction to Logic (3cr)
____CGS 2518 Data Analysis (3cr)

Social Inquiry (six credits, three credits in each of the two sub-categories below):

In these courses students investigate social, political, and economic configurations; cultural and psychological features of human life; gender, race/ethnicity, and social class; consciousness and identity; social interactions with the natural environment; and local, national, and global aspects of the human world.

Foundations of Social Inquiry (one three-credit course):

Students learn theories and methodologies that underlie these areas of study and enhance their research and analytic skills.

____AMH 3560 The History of Women in the U.S. (3 cr)
____ANT 2000 Introduction to Anthropology (3 cr)
____CPO 2002 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr)
____DEP 2000 Human Growth & Development (3 cr)
____ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 cr)
____ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (3 cr)
____GEO 2000 Introduction to Geography (3 cr)
____IDS 3163 Global Supply Chains & Logistics (3 cr) - GL
____IDS 3301 The Culture of Capitalism and Global Justice - GL
____INP 2002 Intro. Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 cr)
____INR 2001 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr)
____INR 2002 Dynamics of World Politics (3 cr)
____POS 2042 American Government (3 cr)
____POT 3302 Political Ideologies (3 cr) - GL
____PSY 2012 Introduction to Psychology (3 cr)
____SOP 3004 Introductory Social Psychology (3 cr)
____SOP 3015 Social and Personality Development (3 cr)
____SPC 3210 Communication Theory (3 cr)
____SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr) - GL
____SYG 2010 Social Problems (3 cr) - GL
____SYG 3002 Basic Ideas of Sociology (3 cr)
____WST 3015 Introduction to Women’s Studies (3 cr)

Societies & Identities (one three-credit course):

Students compare societies and cultures in local, national, or international contexts and in contemporary or historical perspective.

____AFA 2004 Black Popular Cultures: Global Dimensions (3 cr) - GL
____ANT 3212 World Ethnographies (3 cr)* - GL
____ANT 3241 Myth, Ritual and Mysticism (3 cr) - GL
____ANT 3451 Anthropology of Race & Ethnicity (3 cr)
____ASN 3410 Intro to East Asia - GL
____COM 3461 Intercultural/Interracial Communication (3 cr) - GL
____CPO 3103 Politics of Western Europe (3 cr)
____CPO 3304 Politics of Latin America (3 cr)
____ECS 3003 Comparative Economic Systems (3 cr)*
____ECS 3021 Women, Culture, and Economic Develop. (3 cr)* - GL
____EDF 3521 Education in History (3 cr)
____EGN 1033 Technology, Human and Society (3 cr) - GL
____EVR 1017 The Global Environment & Society (3 cr)
____GEA 2000 World Regional Geography (3 cr) - GL

____IDS 3183 Health Without Border
____IDS 3189 Int’l Nutr., Pub. Health and Eco. Devel. (3 cr) - GL
____IDS 3315 Gaining Global Perspectives (3 cr) - GL
____IDS 3333 Div. of Meaning: Language, Culture, and Gender - GL
____INR 3081 Contemporary International Problems (3 cr)
____LBS 3001 Introduction to Labor Studies (3 cr) - GL
____REL 3308 Studies in World Religions (3 cr) - GL
____SYD 3804 Sociology of Gender (3 cr)
____SYP 3000 The Individual in Society (3 cr)
____WST 3641 LGBT and Beyond: Sexualities in Gl. Persp. (3 cr) - GL

Natural Science (two three-credit courses, one in the life sciences and one in the physical sciences, and two corresponding one-credit labs):

Our technologically dependent world requires an understanding of the processes that led us here. Learning the basic concepts and ideas of scientific fields provides contact with not just those fields but with how science is done. In these courses students study the scientific method through examination of the foundational theories of modern scientific thought. Students apply scientific principles and theories to problem solving, evaluate scientific statements, and incorporate new information within the context of what is already known.

Emphasizing the essential connection between theory and experiment, the hands-on laboratory experience provides the context for testing scientific theories.

Life Sciences: (Lecture and Lab must be taken together)

____BOT 1010 & BOT 1010L Introductory Botany (3,1 cr)
____BSC 1010 & BSC 1010L General Biology I (3,1 cr)
____BSC 1011 & BSC 1011L General Biology II (3,1 cr)
____BSC 2023 & BSC 2023L Human Biology (3,1 cr)
____CHS 3501 & CHS 3501L Survey of Forensic Science (3,1cr)
____EVR 3013 & EVR 3013L Ecology of South Florida (3,1 cr)
____GLY 1101 & GLY 1101L History of Life (3,1cr)
____HUN 2000 & HUN 2000L Found. of Nutritional Sci. (3,1 cr)
____IDS 3214 & IDS 3214L Coastal Env. from the Bay to the World (3,1 cr) - GL
____ISC 1000 & ISC 1000L Great Ideas in Science (3, 1 cr)
____MCB 2000 & MCB 2000L Intro. Microbiology (3,1 cr) - GL
____OCB 2003 & OCB 2003L Introductory Marine Biology (3,1 cr)
____PCB 2061 & PCB 2061L Introductory Genetics and Lab (3,1 cr)
____PCB 2099 & PCB 2099L Found. of Human Physiol. (3,1 cr)

Physical Sciences:

____AST 2003 & AST 2003L Solar System Astronomy (3,1 cr)
____AST 2004 & AST 2004L Stellar Astronomy (3,1 cr)
____CHM 1032 & CHM 1032L Chemistry and Society (3,1 cr)
____CHM 1033 & CHM 1033L Survey of Chemistry (4,1 cr)*
____CHM 1045 & CHM 1045L General Chemistry I (3,1 cr)*
____EVR 1001 & EVR 1001L Intro. to Environ. Sciences (3,1 cr)
____EVR 3011 & EVR 3011L Environ. Resources & Poll. (3,1 cr)
____GEO 3510 & GEO 3510L Earth Resources (3,1 cr) - GL
____GLY 1010 & GLY 1010L Intro. to Earth Sciences (3,1 cr)
____GLY 3039 & GLY 3039L Environmental Geology (3,1 cr)
____IDS 3211 & IDS 3211L Global Climate Change (3,1 cr) - GL
____IDS 3212 & IDS 3212L Gl Sci Rev & Imp on Qual. of Life (3,1 cr) - GL
____ISC 1000 & ISC 1000L Great Ideas in Science (3, 1 cr)
____MET 2010 & MET 2010L Meteor. Atmos. Physics (3,1 cr)
____OCE 3014 & OCE 3014L Oceanography (3,1 cr)
____PHY 1020 & PHY 1020L Understanding the Physical World (3,1cr)
____PHY 1037 & PHY1037L Quarks & Black Holes (3,1cr)
____PHY 2048 & PHY 2048L Physics with Calculus I (4,1 cr)*
____PHY 2049 & PHY 2049L Physics with Calculus II (4,1 cr)*
____PHY 2053 & PHY 2048L Physics without Calculus I (4,1 cr)*
____PHY 2054 & PHY 2049L Physics without Calculus II (4,1 cr)*

Arts Requirement (three credit hours):

Art embodies human dreams, visions, and imagination and renders the human experience creatively in sound, movement, performance, design, language, color, shape, and space. Art responds critically to current events, changes in society, and the drama of human life.

In fulfilling this requirement, students will become acquainted with the fundamental aspects of the arts while developing a capacity to understand, appreciate, or experience particular forms. Students address universal themes central to the cultural traditions of the past and present as expressed through the perspectives of the arts.

____ARH 2050 Art History Survey I (3 cr)
____ARH 2051 Art History Survey II (3 cr)
____ART 2300C Beginning Drawing (3 cr)
____ART 2500C Beginning Painting (3 cr)
____ART 2750C Beginning Ceramics (3 cr)
____CRW 2001 Introduction to Creative Writing (3 cr)*
____COM 3404 Nonverbal Communication (3 cr)
____COM 3417 Communication in Film (3 cr)
____DAA 1100 Modern Dance Techniques I (3 cr)
____DAA 1200 Ballet Techniques I (3 cr)
____ENL 3504 British Literature to 1660 (3 cr)*
____ENL 3506 British Literature Since 1660 (3 cr)*
____IDS 3336 Artistic Expression in a Global Society (3 cr) - GL
____MUH 1011 Music Appreciation (3 cr)
____MUH 2116 Evolution of Jazz (3 cr)
____MUN 1100 Golden Panther Band (1 cr)
____MUN 1210 Orchestra (1 cr) 
____MUN 1380 Master Chorale (1 cr) 
____SPC 2608 Public Speaking (3 cr)
____THE 2000 Theatre Appreciation (3 cr)
____TPP 2100 Introduction to Acting (3 cr)

*These courses have pre-requisites; please check the catalog or with an advisor.
♦ These courses require an audition or permission from the instructor.

As an integral part of the UCC Proposal, the Committee recommends the following understandings, variations, and accommodations:

1. Given that Engineering majors must take a significant number of physical science courses and that their accrediting agency requires that they take a load for their major which leaves them with so little flexibility, students in engineering majors will be allowed to fulfill the Natural Science requirement of the UCC by taking two physical science courses (with labs). 

2. Transfer students who have successfully completed MAC 1105 (College Algebra) at another institution prior to admission to FIU will be deemed to have completed one math course for purposes of the UCC 

3. Transfer students who have successfully completed one or both science courses without labs at another institution prior to admission to FIU will be deemed to have completed the appropriate components of the science requirement. 

4. For students in the Honors College: (i) Honors College students who successfully complete IDH 1001 and IDH 1002 (The Origin of Ideas and The Idea of Origins) will be deemed to have satisfied the Arts requirement of the UCC; (ii) Honors College students who successfully complete IDH 1001-IDH 1002 (The Origin Of Ideas and Idea of Origins), IDH 2003-IDH 2004 (Inhabiting Other Lives) will be deemed to have successfully completed the Foundation of Social Inquiry requirement of the UCC; and Honors College students who successfully complete IDH 2003 and IDH 2004 will be deemed to have successfully completed the Societies and Identities requirement of the UCC.  The Committee recognizes that enrollment in the Honors College significantly decreases the number of electives available to its students (especially in the professional schools) and it believes that these four courses collectively provide experiences which fulfill these UCC requirements or relevant sub-portions for students enrolled in only part of this two-year integrated program. 

5. The Senate authorizes the ad hoc Committee to meet early in Spring of 2003 to consider any new courses submitted for inclusion in the UCC.  With the exception of the new courses which the Committee recommends to the Senate and which the Senate approves in the Spring of 2003, no further courses may be added to the UCC until the Fall of 2005 (two years after it is implemented in the Fall of 2003). 

6. To the greatest extent possible, all UCC courses should be taught by full-time faculty members.  For any 3 credit UCC course numbered 2000 or higher, at least 50% of all sections of that course offered in any given semester must be taught by full-time faculty. 

7. No course numbered 4000 or higher may satisfy a UCC requirement. 

8. None of the following categories of the UCC may list more than twenty courses (not counting science labs): Humanities with Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, Foundations of Social Inquiry, Societies and Identities, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Arts.  If any of these categories lists more than twenty courses when the Senate votes on the UCC proposal, and if the Senate votes to approve the UCC, then the ad hoc Core, General Education, and Breadth Requirements Committee will be charged with reducing to twenty the number of courses listed in that category when the Committee considers new course submissions next year. 

9. The Faculty Senate approves the establishment of a UCC Oversight Committee.  It will consist of full-time faculty members teaching UCC courses. 

10. Upon approval the UCC will be sent to the Association of American Colleges and Universities (or an expert the AAC&U recommends) for external review.  The Senate will be allowed to make improvements to the UCC based upon recommendations received. 

11. So as to ensure the academic integrity and meaningfulness of all courses proposed as fulfilling the UCC requirements of Florida International University, a peer review process shall be initiated wherein all courses are reviewed no less than once every three years by faculty members outside the department or school in which the course is offered.  Review criteria shall be established by the appropriate Senate committee which shall report its proposed review process to the Faculty Senate no later than the end of the Spring Semester 2003.