Cardinal Core Requirements
Students should demonstrate proficiency (through course work or external credit) in the three skills areas (Written Communication, Oral Communication and Quantitative Reasoning) before completing the first 30 degree-applicable credit hours earned at UofL. Within 60 hours, the student should have completed 21 hours of Cardinal Core courses.
The Cardinal Core program requires a minimum of 31 credit hours from approved course categories as outlined in the table below. Students must complete a minimum of 12 hours in the Skills courses, a minimum of 19 hours in the Disciplinary Perspectives courses, and within the 31 hours, students must accumulate 6 hours in U.S. and Global Perspectives credit. Academic advisors can guide students in the selection of courses.
| Minimum Number of Credit Hours | ||
|---|---|---|
| Skills | Written Communication (WC) | 6 |
| Oral Communication (OC) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (QR) | 3 | |
| Disciplinary Perspectives | Arts & Humanities (AH) | 6 (at least 2 courses from different disciplines) |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (SB) and Historical Perspective (SBH) | 6 (at least 2 courses from different disciplines and 3 hours must be in Historical Perspective) | |
| Natural Sciences (S, SL, B) | 7 (lecture and lab in a single discipline; an additional 3 hours in a second discipline) | |
| Perspectives | US. Perspectives (P1) | *3 |
| Global Perspectives (P2) | *3 | |
| TOTAL: | 31 |
*Perspectives
The Perspectives requirements will be met by taking courses in other Cardinal Core categories that also carry the P1 or P2 designation. This requirement, therefore, does not add hours to the total Cardinal Core program.
Cardinal Core course listing
See the current list of courses that meet Cardinal Core designations.
Explore Course Listing
Program outcomes
See program-specific student learning outcomes by Cardinal Core designation.
View Outcomes