Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum-Baccalaureate Degree Programs

LIFE Core Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees

Students seeking a B.A., B.S. or B.S.N. degree who have not completed a previous baccalaureate or A.A. degree or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum are required to complete 32 credits in the LIFE core curriculum. A minimum grade of D is required in these courses.

This curriculum includes two signature courses:

  • CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman
  • CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice

The additional 24 credits are fulfilled by taking courses from each of the following categories*, at least one of which must be in, or cross-listed as, Critical Studies in Race and Ethnicity (CRST) or Women’s Studies (WOST):

  • Behavioral and Social Sciences – choose one from communication studies, economics, political science, psychology, or sociology, except ECON 1080 or ECON 1090, or PSYC 1090
  • Mathematics or Logical Reasoning - choose one from ECON 1080, ECON 1090, HLTH 1090, PSYC 1090, PHIL 2150, STAT 1089, STAT 1090, or any four-credit MATH course numbered 1000 or higher, except MATH 2500 and MATH 2510
  • Natural Sciences - choose one from any course with a laboratory and/or field component in biology, chemistry, or physics
  • Arts and Humanities – choose two courses in this category from different disciplines: philosophy (except PHIL 2150), literature, history, foreign language, studio art, art history, creative writing, or classics.
  • Theology – choose one THEO 1000 or any 2000-level theology course (except THEO 2994 Topics)

*Credits for courses in similar disciplines may be transferred at the discretion of the University.

Students seeking a B.A., B.S. or B.S.N. degree who have completed a previous bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to enrollment at St. Catherine University are exempt from the LIFE core curriculum requirement.

Students seeking a B.A., B.S. or B.S.N. degree who have completed an A.A. degree from a regionally accredited institution or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum can satisfy the LIFE core curriculum requirement by taking

  • CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice.

Students seeking a B.S.N. degree in the RN-BSN Degree Completion program can satisfy the LIFE core curriculum requirement by taking:

  • CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice.
  • Arts and Humanities – one course in: philosophy (except PHIL 2150 or 3400), literature, history, foreign language, studio art, art history, creative writing, classics, or THEO 1000 or any 2000-level theology course. 

LIFE Core Curriculum

Required Courses for Baccalaureate Degrees:

Students seeking a B.A., B.S., or B.S.N. (except students in the RN-BSN program) who have not completed a previous baccalaureate or A.A. degree or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum are required to complete 32 credits in the LIFE curriculum. A minimum grade of D is required in these courses.

This curriculum includes two signature courses:

The additional 24 credits are fulfilled by taking courses from each of the following categories1, at least one of which must be cross-listed as, Critical Studies of Race and Ethnicity (CRST) or Women's Studies (WOST).

  • Behavioral and Social Sciences - choose one: communication studies, economics, political science, psychology, or sociology, except ECON 1080 or ECON 1090, or PSYC 1090
  • Mathematics or Logical Reasoning - choose one: ECON 1080, ECON 1090, HLTH 1090, PSYC 1090, PHIL 2150, STAT 1089, STAT 1090, or any four-credit MATH course numbered 1000 or higher, except MATH 2500 and MATH 2510
  • Natural Sciences - choose one: any course with a laboratory and/or field component in biology, chemistry, or physics
  • Arts and Humanities - choose two courses in this category from different disciplines: philosophy (except PHIL 2150), literature, history, foreign language, studio art, art history, creative writing, classics.
  • Theology - choose one: THEO 1000 or any 2000-level theology course (except 2994 Topics)
1

Credits for courses in similar disciplines may be transferred at the discretion of the University.

 Reduced LIFE General Education Core Curricula

Students seeking a B.A., B.S. or B.S.N. degree who have completed a previous bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to enrollment at St. Catherine University are exempt from the LIFE core curriculum requirement.

Students seeking a B.A., B.S. or B.S.N. degree who have completed an A.A. degree from a regionally accredited institution or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum can satisfy the LIFE core curriculum requirement by taking:

LIFE General Education Core Curriculum for the RN-BSN Degree Completion Program

Students seeking a B.S.N. degree in the RN-BSN Degree Completion program can satisfy the LIFE core curriculum requirement by taking:

  • CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice
  • Arts and Humanities –one course in philosophy (except PHIL 2150), literature, history, foreign language, studio art, theology, art history, creative writing, or classics. NOTE: This course is in addition to any arts or humanities course required by the program.

Students seeking a B.S.N. degree in the RN-BSN program who have completed a previous bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to enrollment at St. Catherine University are exempt from the LIFE core curriculum requirement.