Changes to the Core Curriculum | John Carroll University

In May 2017, the JCU faculty adopted certain adjustments to the Core Curriculum that will affect some currently enrolled students. The good news is, all of the Core courses you have already completed will still count for Core. These changes are designed to make it easier, not more difficult, for current students to complete the Core.

The changes, in brief, are as follows:

Altering the makeup of the two required TRS courses;
Reducing the linked course requirement from two pairs to one pair and removing specific content requirements for the linked pair; and
Adding a new, separate distribution-course requirement (three introductory courses, one each from humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences).

A full description of all of this year’s changes to the Core may be found by downloading the “Frequently Asked Questions” document (PDF). However, the following questions should help you figure out whether, and how, your academic plan may be affected.

– If “yes,” you should already have received advising at New Student Orientation about your core requirements, so the changes should not affect you. You can stop reading now.
– If “no,” go on to Question 2.

– If “yes,” none of these changes will affect you. You can stop reading now.
– If “no,” i.e., you are a New (Integrative) Core student, go on to Question 3.

-- If “yes,” it automatically counts as your “lower-division” TRS course. You do not need to do anything. Go on to Question 4.
– If “no,” you should take something else instead. TRS 101 is no longer required and will soon be eliminated. You now need to take any ONE lower-division TRS course (100 or 200 level) and any one upper-division TRS course (300 level). Skip to Question 5.

– If “yes,” it automatically counts as your “upper-division” TRS course. You do not need to do anything. Go on to Question 5.
– If “no,” you may still enroll in EITHER a 200-level OR a 300-level TRS course to complete your TRS core requirement. Go on to Question 5.

– If “yes,” you will receive EGC credit automatically. You do not need to do anything. In addition, if you took your EGC course in Fall 2017 or before, you will automatically receive credit for one “distribution” course in whatever division your EGC course was offered. Go on to Question 6.
– If “no,” you should still plan to take one as this requirement has not changed. (Study Abroad can also count for EGC credit. For more information, see this link: Study Abroad for EGC credit.) EGC courses taken in Spring 2018 or later will NOT count for a distribution credit. Go on to Question 6.

– If “yes,” you automatically receive credit for your “link” requirement. In addition, if you took your linked pair in Fall 2017 or before, you will automatically receive credit for “distribution” courses in whatever divisions your link(s) were offered. You do not need to do anything. Go on to Question 7.
– If “no,” you still need to enroll in ONE linked course pair (you no longer need to take two pairs). Linked courses taken in Spring 2018 or later will NOT count for a distribution credit. Go on to Question 7.

If “yes,” you have probably already completed this portion of the Core. You should run a graduation audit in Banner to ensure that the courses you have taken will apply to this requirement. If a course has not applied and you think it should, you may submit a petition to have the course considered for Core credit. (Courses taken for Core in other areas, such as Foundational Writing, languages, or Quantitative Analysis, cannot be applied to this requirement.)
– If “no,” you should plan to enroll in whatever remaining courses you need to meet this requirement. (Remember that many courses for your major can also count for Core credit.) A full listing of departmental courses that will meet the distribution requirement are available on the Core website.

Because students are in different stages of completion of the Core requirements, we have created the chart below to explain how the transition will work. Please note that the Core Director, the Registrar, and your advisor will work to make the transition to the new requirements as smooth as possible. If you have questions about what Core requirements you have completed or what you have yet to complete, don’t hesitate to contact your faculty advisor or the Core Director.

Key: LINK = linked courses
EGC = Engaging the Global Community
HUM = humanities distribution
SOC = social science distribution
SCI = natural science distribution

*Taken in Fall 2017 or before:*	*Will Receive:*
EGC only*	EGC; HUM
EGC+SOC*	EGC; SOC
EHE only	LINK; HUM
EHE+SOC	LINK; HUM; SOC
ENW only (CH/PH, CH/ER, and EP/ER pairs)**	LINK; SCI
ENW only (all other pairs)**	LINK; SCI; HUM

*To date, EGCs have only been offered with humanities or social sciences components.
**To date, no ENWs have been offered with a social science component.

*Taken in Fall 2017 or before:*	*Will Receive:*
EGC+EHE	EGC; HUM; LINK
EGC+ENW	EGC; HUM; LINK; SCI
EHE+ENW	LINK; HUM; SCI
EGC+SOC+EHE	EGC; SOC; LINK; HUM
EGC+SOC+ENW (CH/PH, CH/ER, EP/ER)	EGC; SOC; LINK; SCI
EGC+SOC+ENW (all other pairs)	EGC; SOC; LINK; SCI; HUM
EHE+SOC+ENW (any pair)	LINK; HUM; SOC; SCI

*Taken in Fall 2017 or before:*	*Will Receive:*
EGC + EHE + ENW (any pair)	EGC; HUM; LINK; SCI
EGC+SOC + EHE + ENW (any pair)	EGC; SOC; LINK; HUM; SCI

*Currently Have:*	*Needed in original design:*	*Need in revised model:*
EGC	ENW, EHE+SOC (12 cr.)	LINK; SOC; SCI (12 cr.)
EGC+SOC	ENW, EHE (12)	LINK; HUM; SCI (12)
EHE	EGC+SOC, ENW (9)	EGC; SOC; SCI (9)
EHE+SOC	EGC, ENW (9)	EGC; SCI (6)
ENW (CH/PH, CH/ER, EP/ER)	EGC, EHE+SOC (9)	EGC; SOC; HUM (9)
ENW (all other pairs)	EGC, EHE+SOC (9)	EGC; SOC (6)
EGC+EHE	ENW+SOC (6)	SCI; SOC (6)
EGC+ENW	EHE+SOC (6)	SOC (3)
EHE+ENW	EGC+SOC (3)	EGC; SOC (6)
EGC+SOC+EHE	ENW (6)	SCI (3)
EGC+SOC+ENW (CH/PH, etc.)	EHE (6)	HUM (3)
EGC+SOC+ENW (all other pairs)	EHE (6)	Nothing
EHE+SOC+ENW	EGC (3)	EGC (3)
EGC+EHE+ENW	*waiver of SOC*	SOC (3)
EGC+SOC+EHE+ENW	Nothing	Nothing

Integrative Core Curriculum

Student Information about Changes to the Core (2017)