This outline applies to traditional undergraduates seeking baccalaureate degrees. See EMU Core requirements for associate's degrees in academic and degree information. See program-specific EMU Core requirements for Leadership and Organizational Management, RN to BSN, and accelerated second degree nursing programs within the program descriptions.

Christian Faith

Communication

Cross-Cultural Learning

Critical Thinking

Total: minimum of 35 semester hours/credits, plus writing intensive and community learning designated courses

**Students will place into WRIT 125 College Writing I, WRIT 135 College Writing II, or WRIT 140 Advanced College Writing.

**CORE 302 University Research is offered for students who fulfilled College Writing prior to enrollment at EMU. 

A course may be applied to only one EMU Core requirement, with the following exception: a course which meets an EMU Core requirement may also count as a writing intensive or community learning designate. Codes used to indicate EMU Core designate courses in the schedule of undergraduate course offerings are listed with the designate descriptions below.

Christian Faith
Students choose one Anabaptist Biblical Perspectives course and one Christian Identity and Witness course offered by the program of Bible, religion, and theology, as well as CORE 201 Life Wellness which focuses on stewardship of the body. All graduates are expected to recognize expressions of Christian approaches and Anabaptist traditions in contemporary life. 

Anabaptist Biblical Perspectives (AB)
In Anabaptist Biblical Perspectives courses, students will show how reading the Bible informs how we live, while exploring major practices and beliefs of Mennonites and other Anabaptists. The course must be completed through EMU.

Christian Identity and Witness (CW)
In Christian Identity and Witness courses, students will explore major practices and beliefs of Christians and analyze religious, philosophical, cultural, and economic questions from a Christian perspective. The course must be completed through EMU or by taking an approved course at another Christian college.

Life Wellness

Communication
Students develop effective communication skills through a first-year writing course(s), an orientation and discussion course, two additional writing intensive designate courses, and speech communication.

Transitions

College Writing

These courses for students in their first year at EMU develop academic reading, thinking, and writing skills in various discourse communities. The following are guidelines to follow for writing placement. Decisions are made on an individual basis.

  1. As part of guided self-placement, students will complete a questionnaire to determine appropriate placement in WRIT 125, 135, or WRIT 140. Placement will be confirmed in consultation with academic advisers.

  2. In the first week of class, a diagnostic essay will be written in WRIT 125, 135, and 140 to confirm placement. Adjustments may be made to writing placement at that time.

  3. A student who scores 5 on the AP Language and Composition exam earns 3 hours of credit, satisfies the writing course requirement, and will enroll in CORE 302 University Research.

  4. Students who wish to meet the EMU Core writing requirement through dual enrollment writing courses may be asked to demonstrate writing and research skills equivalent to the objectives of the EMU course WRIT 135 College Writing II. The following points apply to instances where a student wishes to meet the EMU Core writing requirement through dual enrollment writing courses:

    1. Students with a grade below B in their dual enrollment writing course (or in the second semester of a two-part writing sequence) will be placed in WRIT 125 or 135 based on their ACT/SAT English scores and grades in junior and senior year high school English courses.

    2. The director of the writing program may, upon review of a student's overall record, recommend that a student with a grade of B or better in dual enrollment writing enroll in a first-year writing course at EMU.

    3. The director of the writing program may request a writing sample from a student in the process of deciding which EMU writing course/s to recommend. Additional methods for determining writing placements may be introduced as needed.

    4. Students who have satisfied the writing course requirement through dual enrollment will enroll in CORE 302 University Research.

  5. CORE 302 University Research is strongly recommended for students who transfer credit fulfilling WRIT 135 College Writing II from other schools or through Transfer Virginia's Undergraduate Certificate of General Studies. If in doubt about whether to take University Research, transfer students should consult with the academic advisor in their programs of study. Transfer students should enroll in the course prior to or in the same semester that they take their first Writing Intensive course at EMU.

  6. If a student takes WRIT 110, 125, or 135 two times and does not pass, the director of the writing program, in consultation with the academic deans, will provide a recommendation regarding next steps for the student to gain readiness for our writing courses.

Writing Intensive Designates (WI)
Students complete two Writing Intensive (WI) designate courses in addition to College Writing or Advanced Writing noted above. WI courses emphasize writing as a way of learning and development of the writing process. Prerequisite for all WI courses: WRIT 135 or 140.

Speech: Exploring Voice in Vocation

Cross-Cultural Learning
Students complete at least 8 SH of cross-cultural designate courses including an experiential component (usually CCSSC 201), at least one foreign language, and additional cross-cultural designate courses (including foreign language courses). In addition to these cross-cultural designate hours, students also complete a community learning designate course, often within their major.

Cross-Cultural Experiential Component

For additional information on any cross-cultural offerings, students are encouraged to contact the Intercultural Programs office.

Option 1: Semester Cross-Cultural Program
The semester program is the recommended cross-cultural option. Each semester program comprises 15 SH taken as five courses. A semester cross-cultural usually includes one faith course meeting the Christian Identity and Witness (CIW) requirement and a language course (where appropriate) fulfilling the foreign language requirement. Other coursework represents history and culture, additional language studies, or an area of faculty expertise, and fulfills cross-cultural designate credit. Course work during a semester cross-cultural does not satisfy EMU Core Critical Thinking requirements. Semester cross-cultural programs scheduled for 2021-22 include:

  1. Fall 2022 - Peru with leader Kristopher Schmidt

    1. CCSSC 201 Cross-Cultural Social Science: Peru (3)

    2. Spanish language (two of the following courses, placement based on previous knowledge) (6):

      1. CCSPA 110 Elementary Spanish I  

      2. CCSPA 120 Elementary Spanish II  

      3. CCSPA 210 Intermediate Spanish I  

      4. CCSPA 220 Intermediate Spanish II  

      5. CCSPA 312 Adv. Conversational Spanish I 

      6. CCSPA 322 Adv. Conversational Spanish II

    3.  CCHIS 316 Religion, History & Culture of Peru (CIW) (3)

    4.  CCSOC 304 Global Health and Education in Peru (3)

  2. Spring 2023 - South Africa with leaders Andrew Suderman and Karen Suderman

    1. CCSSC 201 Cross-Cultural Social Science: South Africa (3) 

    2. CCLNG 135 Elementary isiZulu (3)

    3. CCHIS 317 South African History and Culture (3)

    4. CCREL 316 Church, Identity and Purpose in South Africa (CIW) (3)

    5. CCPXD 302 Study in Peace, Justice and Reconciliation (3)

Option 2: Summer Cross-Cultural Seminars (3-6 weeks)
Summer seminars provide exposure to intercultural contexts for 3-6 weeks. A three-week experience comprises the core experiential course. Six-week seminars include a second 3 SH course. The student elects complementary courses (see the following list of cross-cultural designates) to complete the required 8 SH of cross-cultural course work. Cross-cultural seminars scheduled for summer 2023 include:

  1. Lithuania with leader Jerry Holsopple

    1. CCSSC 201 Cross-Cultural Social Science: Lithuania (3)

    2. CCPHT 313 Photography of People and Place (3)

  2. Middle East with leaders Tim Seidel and Christi Hoover Seidel

    1. CCSSC 201 Cross-Cultural Social Science: Middle East (3)

    2. CCLNG 110 Arabic Language (3)

  3. Navajo Nation with leaders Jim and Kathy Yoder

    1. CCSPA 110, 120, 210, 220, 312, 322, 332 (3)

  4. Puerto Rico with leaders Jenni Holsinger and Adam Yoder

    1. CCSSC 201 Cross-Cultural Social Science: Puerto Rico (3)

  5. Washington, D.C. with leader Ryan Good

    1. CCSSC 201 Cross-Cultural Social Science: Washington D.C. (3)

Option 3: Washington Community Scholars' Center (WCSC) 
The Washington Community Scholars' Center (WCSC) provides students a semester or 10-week summer experience exploring cultural diversity, career-building internships, and connections between faith and vocation in Washington, D.C. See the Special Programs section for more information.

Cross-Cultural Designates (CC)
The following courses may be selected as cross-cultural designates to complete the number of required courses. (Please note that students entering EMU prior to fall 2018 will need 9 SH of experience, language, and designates to fulfill CC requirements unless they elect to pursue the revised Core requirements.)

Other cross-cultural topics or area studies are offered periodically.

Foreign Language
Students complete at least one 3 SH course in a foreign language. Additional foreign language courses may serve as cross-cultural designates. Course offerings are linked with cross-cultural programs at EMU, and a variety of languages are offered each year. Students place into 100-, 200-, or 300-level Spanish courses based on years' experience with the language, test scores, and a placement assessment conducted the first day of class.

Note that heritage or native speakers or students that have lived in a Spanish-speaking country, scored a 4 or a 5 on the AP Spanish Exam, a 5, 6, or 7 on the higher-level IB Spanish Exam (A1 or A2), or a 7 on the IB Exam (Spanish B), must enroll in a 300-level course. Please see Spanish faculty for more information on placement into Spanish courses. Testing is available through EMU Career Services for students who wish to receive credit for languages in which they are fluent. See the academic policies section for details about obtaining language credit through testing.

Community Learning Designates (CL)
Students complete one Community Learning (CL) designate course. CL courses integrate at least 15 hours of experiential learning in a community setting.

Community Learning requirements are also fulfilled by completing the clinical lab science program.

Critical Thinking
Students choose a course from each content area of Creative Arts, History, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences to develop critical thinking. The Senior Seminar provides opportunity for making connections throughout the undergraduate experience.

Creative Arts (CA)
Students practice creative process through experiential engagement with the arts.

History (HI)
History coursework cultivates analysis and empathic learning across societies, political systems, and cultures of all times.

Literature (LI)
Literature coursework cultivates analysis and empathic learning across societies, political systems and cultures through texts:

Mathematics (MATH)
The mathematics requirement ensures that all students are able to communicate effectively in the numerical forms required in the liberal arts and the specific disciplines they pursue. Students may meet the mathematics requirement in the following ways:

Natural Sciences (NS)
Natural sciences coursework emphasizes scientific inquiry as a method for learning about life. 

Social and Behavioral Sciences (SB)
Social and behavioral sciences coursework develops problem-solving strategies by inviting students to analyze and respond to real world situations.

Senior Seminar
This team-taught course provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their life journeys and synthesize their undergraduate experience as they consider their transition from EMU. The course focuses on identity formation, the process of being and becoming, and finding voice. A chosen theme frames volitional and reflective inquiry. Registration is limited to students in their final year of enrollment. Senior Seminars for 2022-23 include:

Fall 2022

Spring 2023

The following courses also fulfill the Senior Seminar requirement:

* indicates the course is offered in alternate years