Core Curriculum (Traditional Undergraduate Majors)
Mission: The mission of the core curriculum is to provide an integrative four-year learning experience for all matriculants. The cornerstone course starting the freshman year lays out a framework for new students to help them understand the concept of a liberal arts education and the role of a Christian university in integrating faith and learning. Along with the senior capstone course, it provides a vehicle for pre- and post-testing to assess intellectual growth, value strengthening, and spiritual development. The capstone course stimulates a summative integration of the student’s faith with the discipline’s intellectual material. The core challenges students to examine and develop their beliefs and strengthen their intellectual skills. Its goal is that Vanguard graduates will bear a distinctive stamp reflective of their common experience.
Rationale for the Core Curriculum
The faculty of Vanguard University is committed to a broad education in the liberal arts, an objective requiring study in a variety of academic disciplines that is fulfilled in part by its core curriculum in general education for traditional undergraduate majors.
Core Curriculum Requirements by Category
NOTE: Some majors require particular courses to be taken in certain Core Curriculum categories (e.g., Psychology majors must take PSYC-103C as one of their two Social Science requirements). The requirements for specific majors can be found on individual major catalog pages. Students should carefully consult with their Student Success Coordinator prior to selecting Core Curriculum courses or selecting courses to transfer to Vanguard to meet Core Curriculum requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone and Capstone Requirements: | 4 | |
| Cornerstone 1 | ||
or CORE-100H | Cornerstone Honors | |
Capstone Course in the Major (approx. 3 units, varies by major, see chart below) | ||
| English/Literature Requirements: | 9 | |
| Persuasive Writing 2 | ||
| Researched Writing | ||
or HIST-262 | Research Methods in Hist/Poli Science | |
or POLS-262 | Research Methods in Hist/Poli Science | |
or EDUC-220C | Researched Writing for Liberal Studies Majors | |
or PSYC-220C | Researched Writing/Psyc Majors | |
| Literature and the Human Experience 3 | ||
| Communication Requirement: | 3 | |
| Speech Composition and Presentation | ||
| History/Political Science Requirements: | 6 | |
| U.S. History | ||
or POLS-155C | American Democracy | |
| World Civilizations I | ||
or HIST-204C | World Civilization II | |
| Fitness/Wellness Requirement: | 3 | |
| Lifetime Fitness and Wellness Lecture | ||
| Math Requirement: | 3-4 | |
| Take one of the following courses: | ||
| Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Applied Mathematics and Personal Finance | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| Precalculus | ||
| Calculus 1 | ||
| Intro to Statistical Methods | ||
or PSYC-265C | Introduction to Behavioral Statistics | |
or SOC-265C | Introduction to Behavioral Statistics | |
or MATH-270C | Health Professions Statistical Methods | |
or BUSN-165C | Business Statistics | |
| Theology Requirements: | 15 | |
| Foundations of Christian Life | ||
or THEO-103C | Intro to Theology | |
or THEO-103H | Introduction to Theology Honors | |
| New Testament Survey | ||
| Old Testament Survey | ||
| Developing a Christian World View 4 | ||
or THEO-300H | Developing a Christian World View | |
| Christian Heritage 5 | ||
or CHIS-400H | Christian Heritage | |
| Social Sciences Requirements: | 6 | |
| Take two of the following courses: | ||
| Intro to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Fine Arts Requirement: | 3 | |
| Take one of the following courses: | ||
| Hist/Appreciation of Art | ||
| Intro to the Arts | ||
| Intro to Music | ||
| Intro to Acting | ||
| History of Theatre I | ||
| History of Theatre II | ||
| Science Lecture/Lab Requirement: | 4 | |
| Take one of the following lecture/lab combinations: | ||
| Fundamentals of Biology for Non-Majors and Fundamentals/Biology for Non-Majors Lab | ||
| Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Laboratory | ||
| Fundamentals of General, Organic, and Biochemistry I and Fundamentals of General, Organic, and Biochemistry I Lab | ||
| Intro to Environmental Science and Intro to Environmental Science Lab | ||
| Introduction to Geology and Introduction to Geology Laboratory | ||
| General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | ||
| Fundamentals of Earth Science and Fundamentals of Earth Science Lab | ||
| Fundamentals of Physical Science and Fundamentals of Physical Science Lab | ||
| Mechanics of Solids and Fluids and Mechanics of Solids and Fluids Lab | ||
| Total Units | 56-57 | |
- 1
CORE-100C is required of all first-year students. Students who have earned 12 or more post-high school transferrable units may be exempted from this requirement.
- 2
Students are given a diagnostic writing exam during the summer and will be required to take ENGL-120CL Persuasive Writing Lab concurrently with this course if their score so warrants.
- 3
English majors satisfy this requirement in the major by taking ENGL-240C Foundations/Literary Study.
- 4
Students are required to have junior status in order to register for this course.
- 5
Students are required to have senior status in order to register for this course.
Capstone Courses (variable units) (Prefix will reflect major field)
A capstone course within the major is to encourage active reflection on the undergraduate journey and solidify the integration of faith and learning. Includes the writing of an integrative personal philosophy paper and capstone assessments of academic achievement that, paired with cornerstone assessments, will provide tangible, measurable evidence of growth during the Vanguard years.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting, Business Administration and Marketing | ||
| BUSN-455C | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| Biological Sciences | ||
| BIOL-499C | Capstone Seminar in Biology | 2 |
| BIOL-485 | Undergrad Biological Research | 1-4 |
| Communication | ||
| Film/Visual Storytelling and Technology/Emerging Media | ||
| COMM-496 & COMM-497 | Senior Project: Development/Planning and Senior Project: Implementation | 3 |
| Health Communication/Public Relations | ||
| COMM-464C | Media Criticism | 3 |
| Criminal Justice | ||
| CRMJ-490C | Faith and Justice Capstone | 3 |
| English | ||
| ENGL-499C | Synecdoche: Capstone | 3 |
| History and Political Science | ||
| HIST-490C | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Kinesiology | ||
| KINE-450C | Capstone Kinesiology Senior Project | 3 |
| Liberal Studies | ||
| EDUC-499C | Senior Capstone in Liberal Studies | 3 |
| Music | ||
| General Music/Music and Worship Leadership | ||
| MUSC-406C | Music and Worship | 3 |
| Music Education | ||
| MUSC-491C | Recital and Research | 2 |
| Composition | ||
| Nursing (Pre-Licensure) | ||
| NRS-476 | Nursing Capstone and Preceptorship | 3 |
| Psychology | ||
| PSYC-477C | Psychology and Christianity | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOC-490C | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Theology | ||
| THEO-499C | Theo/Min/Post-Chrstn Context | 3 |
| Theatre | ||
| THEA-450 | Theatre Internship | 1-2 |
| THEA-495C | Senior Project | 2 |
- Integration of Faith and Learning: Students will develop and articulate a Biblical worldview informed by a Pentecostal perspective, integrating faith with learning.
- Cultural Competency and Citizenship: Students will understand and practice effective local, national and global citizenship and demonstrate appreciation of diverse psychological, social, historical and artistic aspects of culture.
- Communication: Students will demonstrate effective, college-level written and oral communication skills.
- Critical Thinking: Students will develop and apply qualitative and quantitative critical thinking skills.
- Holistic Living: Students will appreciate and demonstrate a holistic view of health and living.
- Information Competency: Students will demonstrate foundational technology skills that allow one to locate and evaluate the integrity of information, and to understand the ethical uses of information.
By establishing links between different disciplines, relating the past to the present, and increasing awareness of contemporary challenges, the core curriculum classes should open new vistas for all students and encourage a lifelong pursuit of knowledge.
CORE Courses
This course is open to Freshmen only. Introduction to university life and learning, and to the academic and social skills needed for success. May include social outings, community service component, and is to be taken in conjunction with an approved freshman-level course that will apply some of the course lessons. A failing grade must be made up prior to advancement to the Sophomore level.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.
This course is open to Freshmen Honor students only. Introduction to university life and learning, and to the academic and social skills needed for success. May include social outings, community service component, and is to be taken in conjunction with an approved freshman-level course that will apply some of the course lessons. A failing grade must be made up prior to advancement to the Sophomore level.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
College Success Strategies is a semester-long course designed to provide students an opportunity to identify their individual learning strengths and personality styles in order to develop effective individualized study and test-taking strategies based on time-management, organization, and the school-life balance. Students are provided with an introduction, regular classroom reinforcement, and application of the executive functioning skills necessary for success in college level course work.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
Covers reading comprehension, technology and writing, and sentence-level (grammar) and paragraph-level issues. The course focuses on process-driven revision and peer collaboration while emphasizing critical thinking skills. This required course prepares Professional Studies and ECE students for college-level writing and studies. Students may petition to test out of this required course if they possess proficient college level writing ability. (Meets elective credit requirement only; not applicable to English Composition requirement. . Course must be passed with a "C" or better.) (School for Professional Studies Course).
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Cornerstone Mentoring provides the student with the opportunity to assist freshmen students during their Cornerstone course in gaining academic and social skills. Regular hours each week for classes and/or meetings are established at the beginning of the semester. This course may be repeated with consent of the instructor.