Frequently Asked Questions

AP and IB credits can be used to fulfill four Core courses: Academic Writing Seminar, Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning, Creative Expression and Interpretation, and Religion in a Global Context.

Advanced Placement (75-16)

International Baccalaureate (99-01)

Yes. Some, but not all, of the University Core courses can be fulfilled through transfer courses. Which courses can be fulfilled depends on how many credits a transfer student has earned prior to matriculating at Seattle University, which specific courses they have completed, and whether they have received a transferable associate degree. Students who have completed a transferable associate degree will receive the most credit towards Core requirements. For comprehensive information, please see the University Core Curriculum (2012-01) policy.

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.

Every SU student will take the two Global Challenges courses most outside of their major/general area of study. For example, a student seeking a BA in Psychology will take a Humanities and Global Challenges course and a Natural Science and Global Challenges course. A student majoring in Chemistry will take a Humanities and Global Challenges course and a Social Science and Global Challenges course. Note that students who are double-majoring must only take the Global Challenges courses required for their primary major. Students seeking a double degree must complete the Global Challenges courses required for both majors (except Matteo Ricci Institute students, whose Matteo Ricci Institute coursework fulfills all UCOR requirements).

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. Here is the Core's Guide to fulfilling UCOR requirements with Education Abroad Courses, which includes our deadlines for getting forms in for Core Course Approval in order to make the Education Abroad Office deadlines.

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.

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.

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

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

For students looking at transferring into or out of the Matteo Ricci Institute, here are the agreed upon course equivalencies: Matteo Ricci Institute (90-01)

Note: Non-Matteo Ricci students can take some HUMT courses as electives, but should take UCOR courses to fulfill University Core requirements.

For students transferring out of University Honors, here are the agreed upon course equivalencies: University Core and University Honors Equivalencies