2025-2026 Academic Catalog

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Undergraduate Core Requirements

CU Denver Core Curriculum

The following represents the CU Denver Core Curriculum as approved by the faculty on the Core Curriculum Oversight Committee (CCOC). The Core Curriculum is a total of 34-40 semester hours.

Intellectual Competencies                                       9-10 Total Semester Hours


A minimum letter grade of C- (1.7) ins required for English Composition and Mathematics courses. Pass/Fail grading is not an option.

Core English Composition

Both courses are required.

ENGL 1020Core Composition I ^3
ENGL 2030Core Composition II ^3

Core Mathematics

Select one of the following:3-4
Mathematics for the Liberal Arts ^
Finite Mathematics
Stretch College Algebra-Part 2 1
College Algebra 1, ^
College Trigonometry 1, ^
Precalculus Mathematics 1, ^
Calculus I 1, ^
Calculus II ^
Calculus III ^
Introductory Statistics ^
Fundamental Mathematics: Algebra, Probability and Data Analysis
1

Students may receive credit for only one of the following:

Knowledge Areas                                                       19-24 Total Semester Hours


While not formally approved for general CU Denver Core credit, CCOC has authorized new freshmen to apply one (only one) First-Year Seminar course for credit in the Knowledge Area section of the Core.  Please see the First-Year Seminar website for a complete listing of FYS courses approved by CCOC for Core credit; www.ucdenver.edu/fye → FYS Courses → FYS Core Curriculum Table.

Core Arts

Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Creative Writing ^
Fostering Creativity
Introduction to Art ^
Video Games, Story and Society
Visual Culture: Ways of Seeing ^
Fundamentals of Film and Television
Introduction to Theatre & Arts in the Community ^
Horror in Western Culture and Cinema
Engaging Landscapes for Wicked Change
Music Appreciation ^
World Pop

Core Humanities

Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Cultures of the Arabic-Speaking World
China and the Chinese ^
Storytelling: Literature, Film, and Television ^
Greatest Hits ^
African American History
Asian American & Pacific Islander Cultures
Art History Survey I
Art History Survey II
Introduction to Cultures of the French- Speaking World ^
U.S. History to 1876 ^
U.S. History Since 1876 ^
The History of Now
Controversies in History ^
Rebels, Villains, & Superheroes: How Children's Literature Shapes Our Identities
Truth, Reality, and the Good Life: Introduction to Philosophy ^
Right, Wrong, and Seeing the Difference: Introduction to Ethics ^
Logic, Language and Scientific Reasoning ^
Happiness and the Good Life
Introduction to Religious Studies ^
World Religions ^
Introduction to Cultures of the Spanish Speaking World ^

Core Behavioral Sciences

Select one of the following:3-4
Introduction to Archaeology ^
Culture and the Human Experience ^
Communication and Communities ^
Introduction to Media Studies ^
Sex, Human Development and Family Systems
Family and Personal Finance
Foundations of Linguistics
Introduction to Psychology I ^
Introduction to Psychology II ^
Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Mental Health in Schools and Communities
Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Schools and Communities ^

Core Social Sciences

Select one of the following:3-4
Criminology and Criminal Justice: An Overview ^
Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics ^
Principles of Economics: Microeconomics ^
Equality, Rights & Education
Environment, Society and Sustainability ^
Introduction to Ethnic Studies ^
Introduction to Chicanx and Latinx Studies
World Regions Global Context ^
Introduction to Human Geography
Urban Studies and Planning ^
Lifespan Issues in Family Violence
Love, Family and Human Development ^
#Learning: Digital Spaces and Far Out Places
Race, Gender, Class, & Health
Introduction to Public Health ^
Introduction to Political Science: The Quest for Freedom and Justice ^
American Political System ^
Why We Care About Government, Nonprofits, and the Public Good
Spirituality and Ecology in Global Societies
Foundations in Social Justice
Understanding the Social World ^
From Killer Apps to Killer Bots: Technology and Social Change
Introduction to Social Psychology ^
Social Problems

Core Natural and Physical Sciences, Mathematics

Students must complete two science courses, one of which must have an associated lab component.

Nat & Phys Science Courses w/Labs intended for Non-Science Majors
Introduction to Biological Anthropology ^
Human Biology
and Human Biology Laboratory
Biology for All
and Biology for All Laboratory
Core Chemistry: Chemistry for Everyday 2, ^
Forensic Chemistry 2, ^
Introduction to Environmental Sciences
and Introduction to Environmental Sciences Laboratory
Physical Geology: Surface Processes
and Physical Geology: Surface Processes Laboratory ^
Physical Geology: Internal Processes
and Physical Geology: Internal Processes Laboratory ^
General Astronomy I ^
Nat & Phys Science Courses w/Labs intended for Science Majors
Organisms to Ecosystems (Gen Bio)
and Organisms to Ecosystems Lab (Gen Bio) 3,^
Molecules to Cells (Gen Bio)
and Molecules to Cells Lab (Gen Bio) 3,^
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I 3,^
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II 3,^
College Physics I
and Intro Experimental Phys Lab I ^
College Physics II
and Intro Experimental Phys Lab II ^
General Physics I: Calculus-Based
and Intro Experimental Phys Lab I ^
General Physics I: Calculus-Based
and Applied Physics Lab I 4
General Physics II: Calculus-Based
and Intro Experimental Phys Lab II ^
General Physics II: Calculus-Based
and Applied Physics Lab II 4
Nat & Phys Science Courses WITHOUT Labs 5
Lost Worlds and Crystal Skulls
Introduction to Computing in Society
Introduction to Physical Geography ^
Foundations of Physics ^
Biological Basis of Behavior ^
1

Students may not receive credit for CHEM 1474 Core Chemistry: Chemistry for Everyday or CHEM 1494 Forensic Chemistry if they have already received credit for CHEM 2031 General Chemistry I and CHEM 2061 General Chemistry II.

2

Honors sections of these courses will apply to the Core Natural & Physical Sciences Requirement. Note: co-credit is not allowed for regular and honors sections.

3

General Physics and Applied Physic Lab sequences are required and intended only for Physics (PHYS) majors and minors.

4

Students may use an approved Core Math course, except the course used to fulfill the Core Math requirement, or MATH 1108 Stretch College Algebra-Part 1 as a non-lab science.

International Perspectives                                             3 Total Semester Hours


Core International Perspectives¹

Select one of the following:3
Globalization, Migration and Transnationalism
Language, Identity, & Power: International Perspectives
International Perspectives in Literature and Film
International Dimensions of Technology and Culture
Indigenous Studies
Global Media
International Perspectives through Animation
Asian Art After 1850
Contemporary World Cinema
World Theatre
The Francophone World in the Post-Colonial Era
Globalization and Regional Development
Current German Society and Culture
Global Human Development & Learning
Families in Global Perspectives
The World at War, 1914-1945
Globalization in World History Since 1945
Global Perspectives
International Marketing
Environments of International Business
Foundations of International Studies
International Marketing
Global Demography and Health
International Perspectives & Global Reach of Musics from Mexico
Political Systems of the World
World Politics
Islamic Traditions
Asian Philosophies and Religions
Global Perspectives on Social Issues
1

The Core International Perspectives requirement may be waived on the basis of prior international residency, study abroad, approved military experience, or other significant international experience, as described in the International Perspectives Proficiency Credit Guidelines.

Cultural Diversity                                                               3 Total Semester Hours


Core Cultural Diversity¹

Select one of the following:3
Cultural Diversity in the Modern World
Empowering Women in Business
Communication and Diversity
Economics of Race and Gender
Race and Ethnicity in American Literature
Technology and Culture
American Indian Cultural Images
Culture, Racism and Alienation
Through the Lens: Photography and Diversity
Drama of Diversity
Black and Latino Children in Families and Schools
Leadership for Racial Justice in School and Community Settings
Immigration and Ethnicity in American History
Social Movements in 20th Century America
Once Upon a Time: Family Literacies in Culturally Diverse Communities
Undocumented Mexican Immigration
Food Justice in City & Schools
Language in Society
Leveraging Diversity and Inclusion in Business
Ideology and Culture: Racism and Sexism
US Music: Social & Political Impact
Race, Gender, Law and Public Policy
Political Movements: Race and Gender
Psychology of Cultural Diversity
Religion and Cultural Diversity
Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.
Gender, Sexuality and Race in American Popular Culture
1

Transfer Credit must have been taken at the upper-division level from the sending institution.

Other Degree Requirements

In addition to the CU Denver Core Curriculum requirements listed above, students must complete a major and fulfill all additional School/College requirements. More information on these requirements can be found in the Academic Catalog in the following locations:


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