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 associate degree (A.A. or A.S.),  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 DSCI 1000, 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 an 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. or A.S. degree from an 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. 

Students seeking a B.A., B.S. or B.S.N. degree who have completed an A.A.S. degree from an accredited institution will be exempt from CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman, but will need to complete the remaining Core requirements either through transfer or by completing courses at St. Kate’s

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 associate degree (A.A. or A.S.), 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 an 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. or A.S. degree from an accredited institution or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum can satisfy the LIFE core curriculum requirement by taking:

Students seeking a B.A., B.S. or B.S.N. degree who have completed an A.A.S. degree from an accredited institution will be exempt from CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman but will need to complete the remaining Core requirements either through transfer or by completing courses at St. Kate’s

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.