Core Curriculum

As the shared academic experience of all Detroit Mercy undergraduate students, the Core Curriculum is the signature element of a Detroit Mercy education. The Core serves as the foundation to the university's mission to "integrate the intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social development of our students."  

The outcomes-based core curriculum is provided to students through approved courses that incorporate outcomes designated for core knowledge areas or integrating themes.

The core curriculum is distributed among six knowledge areas (Communication Skills, Mathematical & Statistical Knowledge, Scientific Knowledge, Religious & Philosophical Knowledge, Essential Humanities, and Ethic & Social Responsibility) and six integrating themes (Reading, Writing, & Research; Critical Thinking; Cultural Diversity; Human Difference; Personal Spiritual Development; and Spirituality & Social Justice).

Knowledge areas consist of thirteen outcome areas mapped to thirteen courses (39 credits*). The six integrating themes are interwoven among core approved courses in the knowledge areas or within a student’s major, but may require additional credits.

Knowledge Areas

39 Credits*

Knowledge Area A: Communication Skills

6

A1: Oral Communication
A2: Written Communication

Knowledge Area B: Mathematical & Statistical Knowledge

6

B1: Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning
B2: Statistical & and Probabilistic Reasoning

Knowledge Area C: Scientific Knowledge

6

C1: Physical Sciences
C2: Social Sciences

Knowledge Area D: Religious & Philosophical Knowledge

9

D1: Philosophical Knowledge
D2: Religious Knowledge
D3: PHL or RELS Elective

Knowledge Area E: Essential Humanities

9

E1: Historical Experiences
E2: Literary Experiences
E3: Aesthetic Experiences

Knowledge Area F: Ethics & Social Responsibility

3

F1: Ethics

* Credits may vary one to three credits based on major.

Integrating Themes (IT)**

 

Integrating Theme 1: Reading, Writing, & Research Across the University

 

Integrating Theme 2: Critical Thinking

 

Integrating Theme 3: Cultural Diversity

 

Integrating Theme 4: Human Difference

 

Integrating Theme 5: Personal Spiritual Development

 

Integrating Theme 6: Spirituality & Social Justice
**Each IT requirement may be fulfilled by a course in the student's major that has been approved for the core curriculum or by another core curriculum course.

List of University Core Curriculum approved courses

Additional approved classes may exist and will be noted in the Self-Service – Student course catalog and class schedule.

It is recommended that students consult closely with their academic advisor and review their degree evaluation before registering for core courses, as there may be prerequisites or specific courses unique to a program of study.

Knowledge Areas (39 credits*)

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    Knowledge Area A: Communication Skills (6 credits)

    A1: Oral Communication
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    A2: Written Communication
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

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    Knowledge Area B: Mathematical & Statistical Knowledge (6-7 credits)

    B1: Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning

    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    B2: Statistical and Probabilistic Reasoning
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

  • Ìý

    Knowledge Area C: Scientific Knowledge (6-8 credits)

    C1: Physical Sciences
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    C2: Social Sciences
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

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    Knowledge Area D: Religious & Philosophical Knowledge (9 credits)

    D1: Philosophical Knowledge
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    D2: Religious Knowledge
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    D3: Additional PHL/RELS Elective
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

  • Ìý

    Knowledge Area E: Essential Humanities (9 credits)

    E1: Historical Experiences
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    E2: Literary Experiences
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    E3: Aesthetic Experiences
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

  • Ìý

    Knowledge Area F: Ethics and Social Responsibility (3 credits)

    F1: Ethics
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

* Credits may vary one to three credits based on major.

Integrating Themes (up to 18 credits**)

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    Integrating Theme 1: Reading, Writing, and Research Across the Curriculum

    IT1: Reading, Writing, and Research Across the Curriculum
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    • ARCH 2220 Architectural History and Theory II (2)
    • BIO 4990 Biology and Social Issues (2)
    • BUS 2310 Business Law (2)
    • CHM 1030 Chemistry in Society (2)
    • CIVE 3450 Construction Materials
    • DHY 8140 Strategies for Prevention of Oral Diseases and DHY 8280 Scientific Literature
    • ENGR 1080 Fundamentals of Engineering Design
    • ENL 2060 Intro to Professional Writing (2)
    • ENL 3000 Writing about Literature
    • ENL 3030 Technical Writing
    • ENL 3080 Introduction to Business Writing
    • ENL 3260 History of the English Language
    • HSA 4700 Evidence-Based Research for Health Services Administration
    • NUR 4500 Nursing Research & Evidenced-Based Practice
    • PHL 3410 Philosophy of the Human Person (2)
    • PHL 4060 Metaphysics (2)
    • PHL 4070 Epistemology
    • PYC 2500 Developmental Psychology (3)
    • PYC 3420 Abnormal Psychology (2)
    • PYC 3430 Health Psychology (2)
    • PYC 3540 Sex Differences and Sex Roles (2)
    • SWK 2050 Critical Thinking & Writing for Social Workers (2)
    • WGS 3300 The Complexity of Gender: Applied Approaches for Inquiry and Social Change (2)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

  • Ìý

    Integrating Theme 2: Critical Thinking

    IT2: Critical Thinking 
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

  • Ìý

    Integrating Theme 3: Cultural Diversity

    IT3: Cultural Diversity 
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

  • Ìý

    Integrating Theme 4: Human Difference

    IT4: Human Difference 
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

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    Integrating Theme 5: Personal Spiritual Development

    IT5: Personal Spiritual Development 
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

  • Ìý

    Integrating Theme 6: Spirituality and Social Justice

    IT6: Spirituality and Social Justice 
    (see college/school specific page for program requirements)

    (2) - Fulfills two core requirements
    (3) - Fulfills three core requirements

**Each IT requirement may be fulfilled by a course in the student's major that has been approved for the core curriculum or by another core curriculum course.

For more details, select your specific college or school from the following list:

Detroit Mercy Catalogs


Undergraduate Catalog
2024-2025