The Core Curriculum General Education Program

The LeMoyne-Owen College is proud of its heritage as a liberal arts college, an institution of higher learning which seeks to promote knowledge and wisdom as well as specific skills in its students. This tradition finds its expression in a series of interdisciplinary Core Courses that are required for graduation.

This Core Curriculum offers all students an opportunity to develop their full academic potential, beginning with basic Core I courses that build competencies needed to succeed in more advanced college level work. Entering students take placement exams to determine which Core I courses may be needed.

Core II courses are taken by all students. They provide the common experience that defines a The LeMoyne-Owen liberal arts education. Core II consists of the Freshman Seminar and 14 interdisciplinary courses in mathematics, natural and computer science, literature and the humanities, African and African-American heritage, the social and behavioral science, and physical fitness. Core II is designed to provide all students with the knowledge and skills needed for a fulfilled life as a citizen, professional, and lifelong learner. Core I and II courses are listed below, and again, with full descriptions, under the appropriate area of study.

Core I

These courses emphasize basic verbal skills and critical thinking. Placement exams help place entering students in the appropriate Core I courses. Core I courses are counted as part of the course load and their grades are included in the calculation of the grade point average. However, their credit hours do not count toward graduation or toward the granting of College Honors. Students must achieve a minimum grade of C in Core I courses in order to progress to Core II. Core I courses may be repeated up to two times in order to achieve a C. Students who fail to achieve a C after three attempts will be dismissed from the College. The dismissal may be appealed.

English 010 - College Writing I (4)
Reading 015 - College Reading I (4)
English 011 - College Writing II (4)
Reading 016 - College Reading II (4)

Core I was revised early in 1998. Students entering The LeMoyne-Owen in Fall of 1998 or thereafter will follow the new Core II requirements listed below (see Degree Requirements).

Core II

The courses in Core II make up 42 credit hours, 38 semester hours in different areas of study and 4 in the Freshman Seminar. Each Core II course is a graduation requirement and eight of these courses must be passed with a grade of C or better to count toward graduation or to serve as prerequisites. The eight are: English 111, 112 and 205, Freshman Seminar 101 and 102, Mathematics 120 and 125, and Computer Science (or Business Administration) 118. Core II courses may be repeated up to two times in order to achieve a C. Students who fail to achieve a C after these three attempts will be dismissed from the College. The dismissal may be appealed.

Freshman Seminar, FRSM 101-102, is taken by all new students in the fall semester (3 semester hours) and spring semester (1 semester hour) of their first year at the College.