California Lutheran University's core curriculum is future-oriented. It embodies the intellectual legacy of the past, yet its chief aim is to prepare students to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Core Curriculum

California Lutheran University's core curriculum is future-oriented. It embodies the intellectual legacy of the past, yet its chief aim is to prepare students to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Core-21 is designed to instill the habits of mind that are necessary for students to become lifelong, independent learners and responsible world citizens who can adapt to, create and change the society of the future. CLU's core curriculum is designed to prepare students for the 21st century by enabling them:

  1. to become proficient in analytical and critical thinking and to be able to process, transform and communicate information;
  2. to be able to comprehend issues from a variety of perspectives and to understand how different academic disciplines ask questions about the world;
  3. to understand themselves as both heirs and creators of history; to understand the forces that have shaped their cultural heritage and appreciate the diversity of values and viewpoints in the United States and the world;
  4. to be able to integrate information and moral reflection in order to develop creative solutions to new problems.
Core-21 (General Education) Requirements

Requirements are subject to change. Consult the schedule of classes for each semester to determine which courses satisfy current Core-21 requirements.





I. Proficiencies

Since these are competency and not course requirements, students who satisfy these requirements through examination will not receive course credit.

  1. Written Communication:
    1. English 111 with a grade of C- or better or AP equivalent. Depending on the student's placement score, he or she may be required to take English 101 as a prerequisite to English 111.
    2. One Writing Intensive course - must be upper division.
  2. Foreign Language:

    Proficiency at the second semester level. (Note: for Greek, the requirement is met with Greek 326; for Hebrew, the requirement is met with Hebrew 316). The requirement is waived for international students who verify academic study of their native language through the high school level. The foreign language requirement may be satisfied using American sign language.

  3. Mathematical Reasoning:

    One course (beyond intermediate algebra) or satisfactory score on the designated exam.

  4. Computer Competency:
    • Level I: Included in English 111. Transfer students having completed Freshman English prior to enrolling at CLU are exempt from this requirement.

    • Level II: Computer applications in major field. These applications are included in the requirements for the major. (Note: The computer competency requirements are met automatically while completing other requirements. No additional course work is required.)


II. Perspectives

  1. The Humanities:
    1. History - one course.
    2. Literature - one course.
    3. Philosophy -one course.
    4. Religion - Religion 100 and one upper division course. Junior/senior transfers lacking two religion courses meet this requirement by completing any religion course at CLU.
  2. Social Sciences:

    Two courses in different disciplines selected from specifically approved cultural anthropology, criminal justice, economics, cultural geography, political science, psychology, sociology courses.

  3. Natural Sciences:

    Two courses, both with lab components: physical anthropology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, physical geography, geology, physics. Senior transfers (90 or more credits) who have completed two science courses with or without laboratory components will have met the natural sciences requirement. Transfers with 28 credits or more may transfer one science course without a laboratory component.

  4. Visual and Performing Arts:

    Two courses, including one performance activity. Only one 1-credit course may be counted.

  5. Health and Well-Being:

    One activity course. Junior and senior transfer students and students over 25 years of age are exempt from the Health and Well-Being requirement.



III. Cultures and Civilizations

  1. Global Perspectives:

    One course (applies to students with fewer than 28 credits at entrance).*

  2. Gender and Ethnic Studies:

    One course.*



IV. Integrated Studies

  1. Speaking Intensive Course:

    One course.*

  2. Integrated Studies Capstone:

    One course.*

    3. This course is included in the requirements for the major; no additional course work is required.

    * These courses are not additional unit or course requirements. They are content requirements that may be met through selection of courses that also meet major, elective or other core requirements.




Note: Students transferring from California community colleges who, prior to transfer to CLU, have fully satisfied the California State University Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) need only complete the foreign language requirement and one religion course to meet the Core-21 general education requirements.