Faculty Advisement
The University Core Curriculum is the official curriculum for students admitted after fall 2008. This Core is composed of unique signature courses and a system of proficiency distributions ensuring that each graduating student has encountered key skill sets (such as numeracy, writing and critical thinking) in a minimum number of courses. The Core Curriculum requirements are in addition to individual school or college curriculum requirements.
Signature Courses
The Signature Courses are one component of the University Core Curriculum:
- CORE 1101 Journey of Transformation - First Year Course
- CORE 2101 Christianity and Culture in Dialogue - Second Year Course
- CORE 3XXX Engaging the World - Third Year Course
The Signature Courses are to be taken in sequence, 1101 is a prerequisite for 2101, and 2101 is a prerequisite for 3XXX. The first two courses, Journey of Transformation and Christianity and Culture in Dialogue, are University-wide common courses taken by all Seton Hall undergraduates. The third course, CORE 3XXX Engaging the World, continues the conversation of the first two courses, but are offered within the departments.
ALL CORE 3XXX courses are cross-listed with the department offering the course. Students can register for either the Core section or the department section to receive core credit. However, they must register for the course within the department if they want credit to count towards the major, minor or their college core in addition to the course fulfilling the University Core requirement.
University Core Proficiency Requirements
The goal of the University Core Proficiencies is to ensure that Seton Hall University students become known not only for knowledge in their specialized fields of study but also for their proficiency in thinking critically, articulating their thoughts, and using information wisely.
Students entering in fall 2010 and 2011 as freshmen, whether traditional students or transfer students (with 29 or fewer credits), are required to complete 10 infused courses by the time they graduate, in any combination. The requirement is counted by the number of courses taken, not by the number of infusions in those courses. (Thus, while The Journey of Transformation is infused with both Reading and Writing and Critical Thinking, this counts as just one course toward fulfilling the proficiency.)
Courses will be identified as infused as follows:
- Writing (R)
- Oral communication (C)
- Research (I)
- Numeracy (N)
- Critical thinking (T)
This information will be coded into the student audit so advisers will be able to determine the requirement for each advisee. A list of approved courses will also be made available.
New Banner Tool: You can now find courses listed by proficiency in Banner. Directions: Highlight "All" in each category in the "Class Schedule-Adviser View" in Banner. Go down to the bottom where you can find "Attribute Type." Highlight the proficiency you wish to search and press Enter.
Transfer students who entered with over 30 credits are waived from the requirement for this year.
Banner Tools for Advisement and the University Core
When advising students, you can use the Banner system to assist you in locating sections of all three signature courses. Utilizing the Banner search tool, you will find ALL University Core curriculum courses in the Subject Code: "CORE - Core Curriculum." To search for courses by year, enter either 1101, 2101 or 3XXX in the course number. Beginning this semester, you can search for all the Signature Course Three sections by using the Attribute Type in Banner which is located at the bottom of the class schedule search page. Here is how you do this:
Select the Subject Code: "CORE," go to the Attribute Type selection box at the bottom of the page, and select Signature Course Three. Hit Class Search and all CORE 3XXX courses and their cross-listed courses will display. All Signature Course Three courses offered in the associated semester will display, along with the course description. Please note that each course has both a core number and a department number. Remember, students must register for the course with the department number if they want course credit to count towards the major, minor or their college core. Banner will automatically recognize the course as CORE 3XXX regardless of the course in which the student enrolls.
Transfer Students and University Core Requirements
Transfer students entering the University after fall 2009 will participate in the new University Core Curriculum and will be responsible for the requirements in the 2011-2012 Catalog, including the 120-credit minimum requirement. Depending upon the student's major and other factors, some students will need to complete more than the 120-credit minimum in order to complete the University, school or college and major requirements.
When advising transfer students, there are particular requirements according to class standing:
- Transfer students who have completed fewer than 30 credits: Transfer students who have fewer than 30 credits are responsible for the entire University Core Curriculum, including all three signature courses.
- Transfer students with have completed at least 30, but fewer than 60 credits: The first signature course will be waived for transfer students with at least 30, but fewer than 60 credits, but these transfer students will be required to take the second and third signature courses.
- Transfer students who have completed at least 60 credits or have an Associate's Degree:Transfer students who have completed at least 60 credits or have an Associate's Degree will have the first two signature courses waived. The third-year signature course and the major capstone are required of all students.
Honors Students
Honors students take a 3-credit version of CORE 1101 in the fall of freshman year and a 3-credit Honors colloquium (HONS 1001), which replaces the College Writing Requirement. The HONS, the CORE and the University Life courses are linked. In the spring of Freshman year, Honors students take a 6-credit honors colloquium (HONS 1102) that waives 3 credits of College Writing and a 3-credit course as decided by the individual colleges.
In sophomore year, the students take an Honors section of CORE 2101, and a 3-credit Honors colloquium (HONS 2103), which waives 3 credits of college core requirements, as decided by the individual colleges. In the spring, the students take a 6-credit honors colloquium (HONS 2105), which waives six credits of core as mandated by individual colleges.
In junior year Honors students take a section of CORE 3XXX which is also cross-listed as an Honors seminar.
The core waivers for the various colleges and schools are posted here.
ESL students will delay the CORE signature courses until the students are ready for University Writing.
Science Students
Biology and Chemistry will delay University Writing (ENGL 1201) until the spring.
Students may seek advisement from the Director of the Core Curriculum, Nancy Enright, at nancy.enright@shu.edu or from their academic adviser.