According to its Mission Statement, Warner Pacific University is a Christ-centered, urban, liberal arts university dedicated to providing students from diverse backgrounds an education that prepares them to engage actively in a constantly changing world. The General Education Core Curriculum at Warner Pacific University supports this Mission Statement by providing students with a broad-based education in an urban Christian context.
General Education Core Requirements (As of July 1, 2023)
The General Education Core consists of four themes and 16 specific course requirements as outlined below. Transfer courses that are determined to be comparable and parallel to Warner Pacific courses will be applied toward General Education Core requirements. To meet a core requirement, a transfer must be at least 2 semester credits (except PE activity courses, which may be fewer credits).
All courses used to satisfy general education core must be completed with a “C-” or higher.
Total Credits for Core
Courses in the major or minor may be used to meet core requirements. However, each student must complete a total of 30 credits of General Education Core applicable coursework that is separate from coursework for the major or minor. Students who have completed all specific course requirements but lack the 30 overall credits of non-duplicated General Education Core coursework may select additional Core course options from any of the core areas. To encourage students to experience a range of courses, there is a maximum number of participatory classes that will count for Core Credits (Physical Education: 2 credits; Participatory Art and Music: 3 credits).
Theme 1: Cultivating a Christ-Centered Learning Community
Exploration of Spiritual Journey
Articulate your spiritual journey as related to an understanding of God and a connection with others.
Take one course from the following:
- REL 220 Christian Spiritual Formation
- REL 320 Spirituality, Character, and Service
Note: Transfer coursework is not accepted to meet this requirement
Foundations of Christian Faith
Explain foundational beliefs and practices of Christian faith.
Take the following course:
- BI 151 The Bible as Sacred Story
Healthy Lifestyle
Articulate and apply the holistic benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Take one PE Activity course (please note that PE 100 Varsity Athletics Workshop does NOT meet this requirement)
PLUS
Take one of the following courses:
- HE 150 Personal Health and Fitness
- HE 210 Stress Management
- NURS 336 Health Assessment and Promotion (for BSN students only)
- PSY 441 Stress, Trauma, & Self-Care
Students entering WPU with freshman or sophomore class standing (less than 60 semester credits) will take both the Foundations of Christian Faith requirement and the Healthy Lifestyle requirement.
Students entering WPU with junior or senior class standing (60 semester credits or more) may choose either the Foundations of Christian Faith requirement or the Healthy Lifestyle requirement.
Ethics
Demonstrate an ethical and respectful worldview that promotes stewardship and care for others.
Take one course from the following:
- HUM 200 Ethics in Practice
- PHIL 300 Ethics
- SRM/PHIL 250 Sports Ethics
- SW 200 Exploring Social Work
- TH 310 Christian Ethics
Theme 2: Investing in the Formation and Success of Students from Diverse Backgrounds
Appreciation of Diversity
Articulate the value of diverse voices and perspectives; explain the impact of global interdependency on social and cultural systems.
Take one course from the following:
HE 340 Current Health Issues
HIS 206 Immigration & the Borderlands
HIS/SOC 340 Race & Ethnic Relations
MUS 242 Global Worship Through the Arts
PS 355 International Relations
REL/SOC 310 Religions of the World
SRM 260 Sociology in Sport
SS 351 Cultural Anthropology
SS/SW 485 Human Trafficking
Theme 3: Collaborating With and For Our Urban Environment
Urban Life
Articulate how human behavior interacts with social organizations and cultural patterns; identify the opportunities and challenges of urban life.
Take one course from the following:
BIO 216 Urban Ecology & Ecosystem Services
BUS 290 Ethics, Social Issues, & Responsibility
EN/URB 245/345 Urban Literature
HIS 370 History of the American City
HUM/HE/MUS 160/162/163/164/165 FYLC Topics
PHS 450 Urban Resources & Sustainability
PS 140 Intro to Politics & American Government
PS 200 Found of American Legal System
SE 311 Entrepreneurial Lead in Urban Context
SE 101 Intro to Social Entrepreneurship
SOC 140 Principles of Sociology
SOC/PS 345 Social Problems & Public Policy
SOC 350 Social Psychology
SOC 360 Urban Sociology
SRM 340 Sports Psychology
URB 140 Introduction to the City
Theme 4: Fostering a Liberal Arts Education
Written Communication (2 courses)
Produce written communication relevant to specific audiences.
- Take EN 111 English Composition I
- Take EN 112 English Composition II
Access, analyze, and synthesize academic information relevant to a particular field of study.
- Take ILR 300 Advanced Information Literacy and Research
Note: Other upper-division research literacy and writing courses may be considered for applying to this requirement.
Interdisciplinary Thinking
Articulate connections among multiple academic disciplines.
Take one course from the following:
- HUM 310 Exploring the Human Condition
- HUM 410 Senior Humanities Seminar
Note: Transfer coursework is not accepted to meet this requirement
Information Technology
Utilize current technology relevant to a particular field of study.
Take one course from the following:
- BUS 223 Introduction to Microsoft Office
- CMPT 155 Introduction to Electronics & Physical Computing
- COMM 250 Introduction to Digital Media
- COMM 265 Introduction to Web Design
- IT 101 Fundamentals of IT
- MA 242 Introduction to Statistics
Scientific Reasoning
Utilize scientific knowledge to understand and explain the natural world.
Take one course from the following:
- BIO 121 Intro to Anatomy & Physiology
- BIO 211 General Biology I
- BIO 212 General Biology II
- BIO 215/315 Malheur Natural History Studies
- BIO 221 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- PHS 101 Intro to Physical Science
- PHS 105 Intro to Environmental Science
- PHS 111 Intro to Chemistry
- PHS 211 General Chemistry I
- PHS 230 Geology
Quantitative Reasoning
Demonstrate quantitative and analytic reasoning.
Take one course from the following:
- MA 104 Math for Liberal Arts
- MA 111 College Algebra
- MA 115 Precalculus
- MA 211 Fundamentals of Elementary Math I
- MA 242 Introduction to Statistics
- MA 251 Calculus
- OR demonstrate mathematics proficiency by SAT Math score of 650+ or ACT Math score of 28+
Historical and Cultural Knowledge and Practice
Articulate the historical and/or cultural context of a particular art form; express yourself through one or more artistic medium; explain the value of historical context.
Take a minimum of 2 credits from the following:
- ART 115 Calligraphy
- ART 250/350 History of Art
- COMM/EN 150/350 Poetry & Fiction
- COMM/EN 151/351 Creative Nonfiction
- DR/EN 220 World Theatre
- DR/EN 250/349 Understand Film & Its Forms
- FA/URB 235 The City & the Arts
- HIS 221 Apartheid & Genocide
- HIS 222 Latin American Politics & Social Change
- MUS 341 Music History I
- MUS 100 Instrument/Voice
- MUS 114 Concert Choir
- MUS 117 Jazz Band
- MUS 118 Warner Chorale
- REL 330 Church History I
- REL 370 Church History II
- PSY 401 History & Systems
Critical Thinking and Strategic Action
Model civil discourse through purposeful dialogue and/or presentations; apply problem-solving techniques; utilize critical thinking to assess information; demonstrate strategies required to create and execute a plan.
Take one course from the following:
- BUS 242 Marketing
- BUS 261 Org Writing & Presentations
- BUS 310 Management Theory & Practice
- BUS 321 Organizational Behavior & Design
- COMM 200 Interpersonal Communication
- COMM 220 Public Speaking
- COMM 230 Intercultural Communication
- EC 203 Economics
- ED 281 Curriculum Planning and the Role of the Teacher
- HD 311 Prenatal/Early Child Development
- HD 312 Mid-Child/Adolescent Development
- HD 313 Adult Development, Aging & Dying
- HD 314 Parenting Through the Life Cycle
- PHIL 201 Introduction to Philosophy
- PHIL 211 Logic
- PSY 392/492 Internship
- SOC/REL 240 Intro to Peace Studies
- SS 335 Restorative Justice
- SS/BUS 380 Conflict: From Theory to Action
- TH/SOC 370 Community Engagement: Tools for Social Change