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
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core 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 11 | ||
| Researched Writing 2 | ||
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, 4 | ||
or ENGL-433 | Global Voices: World Literature | |
| 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: 5, 6 | 3 | |
| Take one of the following courses: | ||
| Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Applied Mathematics and Personal Finance | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| Precalculus | ||
| Calculus 1 | ||
| Intro to Statistical Methods 7 | ||
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 8 | ||
or THEO-103C | Intro to Theology | |
or THEO-103H | Introduction to Theology Honors | |
| New Testament Survey | ||
| Old Testament Survey | ||
| Developing a Christian World View | ||
or THEO-300H | Developing a Christian World View | |
| Christian Heritage 9 | ||
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: 10 | 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 | |
Core Curriculum Course Recommendations by Year
First Year
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone | ||
or CORE-100H | Cornerstone Honors | |
| English Requirement | 3 | |
| History/Political Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Fitness/Wellness Requirement | 3 | |
| Math Requirement | 3 | |
| Theology Requirements (2 classes) | 6 | |
| Social Science Requirements (2 classes) | 6 | |
| Total Units | 24 | |
Second Year
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| English Requirement | 3 | |
| Communication Requirement | 3 | |
| Fine Arts Requirement | 3 | |
| History/Political Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Theology Requirement | 3 | |
| Science Lecture/Lab Requirement | 4 | |
| English Literature Requirement | 3 | |
| Total Units | 22 | |
Third Year
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Theology Requirement | 3 | |
| Developing a Christian World View | ||
| Total Units | 3 | |
Fourth Year
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Theology Requirement | 3 | |
| Christian Heritage | ||
| Capstone Course | 3 | |
| Total Units | 6 | |
- 1
CORE-100C Cornerstone is required of all first-year students. Exception may be made for first-year students who have earned transferrable units at another institution after earning their high school diploma.
- 2
Students in the following majors may satisfy ENGL-220C Researched Writing with the courses prescribed below:
- 3
Students majoring in English are exempt from taking ENGL-230C Literature and the Human Experience
- 4
ENGL-433 Global Voices: World Literature is not recommended to fulfill the core curriculum requirement in literature for non-English majors or students with a limited background in literature.
- 5
Students majoring in Mathematics fulfill the Core Curriculum Requirement through their major.
- 6
Students majoring in pre-nursing must take MATH-270C Health Professions Statistical Methods to fulfill the core curriculum requirement in mathematics.
- 7
Students in the following majors must take the following statistical course unless equivalency is approved by the Department or noted otherwise:
- 8
Students majoring in Theology (any concentration) must take THEO-103C Intro to Theology or THEO-103H Introduction to Theology Honorsto fulfill the core curriculum requirement in theology.
- 9
CHIS-400C Christian Heritage and CHIS-400H Christian Heritage are restricted to students with senior class level standing only as one class session is dedicated to data collection for institutional research.
- 10
Theatre majors may not take THEA-102C Intro to Acting or THEA-200C Intro to Theatre to fulfill the core curriculum requirement in fine arts.
- 11
Students are given a diagnostic writing exam at the beginning of the class. Students will be required to take the one credit ENGL-120CL Persuasive Writing Lab course if their score so warrants.
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 |
| Chemical Science | ||
| CHEM-499C | Chemistry Capstone Seminar | 2 |
| Communication | ||
| COMM-464C | Media Criticism | 3 |
| English | ||
| ENGL-499C | Synecdoche: Capstone | 3 |
| Environmental Sciences | ||
| ENVR-499C | Capstone Seminar/Environmental Studies | 2 |
| History and Political Science | ||
| Kinesiology | ||
| KINE-450C | Capstone Kinesiology Senior Project | 3 |
| Liberal Studies | ||
| EDUC-499C | Senior Capstone in Liberal Studies | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH-499C | Mathematics Capstone | 2 |
| Music | ||
| General Music | ||
| MUSC-406C | Music and Worship | 3 |
| Music Ministry Emphasis | ||
| MUSC-406C | Music and Worship | 3 |
| Applied Music Emphasis | ||
| MUSC-491C | Recital and Research | 2 |
| Music Education and Church Music: | ||
| MUSC-491C | Recital and Research | 2 |
| Composition | ||
| Nursing, Professional Studies | ||
| NURS-430 | Ldrshp/Mngt in Professnl Nurs | 3 |
| Psychology | ||
| PSYC-477C | Psychology and Christianity | 3 |
| Theology | ||
| THEO-499C | Theo/Min/Post-Chrstn Context | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOC-490C | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Theatre Major | ||
| 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.