Frequently Asked Questions

In general, a D- is considered the minimum passing grade for a UCOR course. You may request the Pass/No Pass grading option for up to two UCOR courses, one per quarter. With this option, a D is the minimum grade needed to receive a "Pass." More details about this option can be found in the Pass/No Pass policy: Pass/No Pass (P/NP) Grade (2024-02)

During the academic year 2026-2027, you will be able to view UCOR section course descriptions on mySeattleU.

Step 1: Click on the hyperlink for the section (e.g. "UCOR-1100-01" underlined).

Step 2: Scroll to "Additional Information" to find the section's course description.

Stay tuned for steps to view UCOR course descriptions during academic year 2027-2028.

AP and IB credits can be used to fulfill the following UCOR courses:

• UCOR 1100: Academic Writing Seminar
• UCOR 1200: Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning
• UCOR 1300/2300: Creative Expression and Interpretation
• UCOR 1800/2800: Inquiry Seminar in the Natural Sciences

Students entering Seattle University starting in Summer 2026 may also use AP and IB credits to fulfill the following UCOR courses:

• UCOR 1400/2400: Inquiry Seminar in the Humanities
• UCOR 1600/2600: Inquiry Seminar in the Social Sciences

See Seattle University's academic policies on AP and IB credits:

• 2026-27 Advanced Placement (75-16)
• 2026-27 International Baccalaureate (99-01)

Yes! However, once you are enrolled at Seattle University:

• You may transfer up to 12 credits (4 UCOR courses)
• Only certain UCOR areas are eligible (1100, 1200, 2300, 2400, 2600, 2800, 3100)
• Some courses must be taken at Seattle University, including UCOR 1000/2000, 1500, 2100, 29X0, and 3300

Yes, Running Start credits are treated as transfer credits and may count, depending on which courses were completed and how many credits a student has earned. For comprehensive information, please see the following policies.

If you entered SU in Spring 2026 or prior:

University-Core-Curriculum-(2012-01)-Academic-Year-2025-26-and-Prior.pdf

If you started at SU in Summer 2026 or after:

University-Core-Curriculum-(2012-01)-Academic-Year-2026-27-.pdf

For students starting at SU in Summer 2027 or after, stay tuned for more information.

Yes! Many courses in study abroad programs can count towards UCOR requirements. This includes courses offered through Seattle University and courses offered through other institutions offering study abroad programs approved by the SU Education Abroad office. Individual courses need to be approved in advance in order to receive credit. Please consult the Education Abroad Office for assistance.

University Core Study Abroad Guides

• UCOR Education Abroad Guide (Summer 2026 - Spring 2027)
• UCOR Education Abroad Guide (Summer 2027 and Beyond)

The University Core Curriculum does not have a foreign language requirement. However, some colleges and programs do require proficiency in a language, please refer to the Catalog to view the requirements for your degree.

Can language courses count for UCOR?

Academic Year 2026-2027

For students who matriculate in Academic Year 2026-2027 or before, generally, language courses do not count for UCOR courses, with the following exceptions:

• Minors can double count a 3000-level HUMT or Social Science language course with UCOR 3400 or 3600
  • For example, SPAN 3150 or SPAN 3250
• Majors cannot double count. However, if you have sufficient credits in your major, you can petition to apply a 3000-level HUMT or Social Science language elective to count for UCOR 3400 or 3600
  • For example, SPAN 3150 or SPAN 3250

Academic Year 2027-2028

For students who matriculate Academic Year 2027-2028 or later, generally, a language course can fulfill UCOR 3200: Global Perspectives.

This option is restricted to students who are not majoring or minoring in language. Students who are not majoring or minoring in a language can take a language course above their college requirement to satisfy UCOR 3200. This course must be taken at Seattle University or abroad. Domestic transfer credits are not eligible.

• College of Arts and Sciences majors must take level 2150 or above
• Other majors must take level 1150 or above
• Students minoring in language can double count the level 2150 course with UCOR 3200
• Students majoring in language cannot double count. However, if you have sufficient credits in your major, you can petition to apply a 3000-level HUMT or Social Science language elective to count for UCOR 3200
  • For example, SPAN 3150 or SPAN 3250

Students who enter Seattle University as Freshmen will take 12 University Core courses and a capstone course in their major in order to complete a Seattle University Degree. Transfer students may be required to take fewer courses, depending on their transfer status.

Starting Academic Year 2027-2028

Students who enter Seattle University as Freshmen for academic year 2027-28 or after will take 13 University Core courses in order to complete a Seattle University Degree. Transfer students may be required to take fewer courses, depending on their transfer status.

You can take extra UCOR courses - subject to availability. Many UCOR courses completely fill and we prioritize students who are registering to fulfill their UCOR requirements.

The Process

If you wish to take a UCOR course as an elective, for your Disability Services’ Foreign Language Substitution, or for a major or minor requirement, you will need to complete a “Petition for Exception to Policy” form with your advisor or in your college advising center requesting to be added to a specific UCOR section and indicating how you would like it to count (i.e. elective, Foreign Language Substitution, major requirement, etc.). Your advisor or the advising center will route this to the University Core office. The Core will review these forms in the week following pre-registration, and if there is a seat available, will enroll you in the class.

Important to Know

We prioritize Foreign Language Substitution and major requirements ahead of elective course requests, and again, Core course enrollments can be tight, so we strongly encourage you to have a back-up plan and register for a full load of classes. The Core Office will notify you as to whether or not you can be enrolled into the section you’ve requested, and you can either tell us at that time which class you would like to drop, or indicate it in a note on your PEP form. Please be aware that only UCOR 3100, 3400, 3600, and 3800 may be taken as Foreign Language Substitution courses and that we will not grant any requests to take Module I classes as electives or major requirements during fall quarter as those seats are reserved for new incoming students.

Students Studying in Academic Year 2026-2027 or Before

In general, we recommend that students complete the four modules of the University Core in order, but it's not uncommon for there to be some overlap between the modules. Some University Core courses have identified prerequisites and must be taken in sequence.

Students Studying in Academic Year 2027-2028 or After

There is a great deal of flexibility in how students take the Core! However, UCOR 1000/2000: Signature Seminar must be taken during a student’s first term at Seattle University. In addition, some University Core courses have identified prerequisites that must be taken in sequence.

Students can fulfill UCOR 3200 through one of the following options:

1. Taking UCOR 3200: Global Perspectives
2. Taking UCOR 3250: Global Perspectives-Study Abroad
3. Taking a language course at a level above their college’s language requirement. Students who wish to fulfill UCOR 3200 through a language course must take the Challenge exam in the language they wish to study and be placed into an appropriate level of course. For CAS students, a course at the intermediate level (2150 or higher) will fulfill UCOR 3200. For CSE, CCA, ABS, and NHS students, a course at the introductory level (1150) or beyond will fulfill UCOR 3200
4. Taking another approved study abroad course

No. A UCOR course cannot count for both Core and major requirements at the same time. 

However, for minors:

• UCOR courses can count for both Core and minor requirements.
• The department will record this when you declare the minor.

Some majors require advanced math, creative arts, or lab science courses that replace certain UCOR requirements.

• MATH 1024+ replaces UCOR 1200
• BIOL 1610/1611, CHEM 1500/1501, PHYS 1050/1051 replace UCOR 2800
• CCA-SU studio courses replace UCOR 2300 for CCA-SU majors

And some credit-heavy majors have a senior capstone that fulfills UCOR 3300.

• Engineering
• Nursing and Diagnostic Ultrasound
• Biology
• Computer Science