Core Curriculum
Saint Louis University's Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum is more than a set of required courses. It provides a framework for developing the whole person in keeping with the Jesuit ideal of education.
At SLU-Madrid, all students graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences must complete the Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum.
The University will launch its new undergraduate core in fall 2022. Additional information about the University Undergraduate Core is available here.
Bachelor of Arts Core Curriculum
SLU-Madrid’s Bachelor of Arts applies to students in the following programs: art history, communication, computer science (B.A.), economics (B.A.), English, history, international studies, philosophy, political science, psychology and Spanish language and literature.
The Bachelor of Arts Core consists of 51 to 66 credit hours, as follows:
ENGL 1900 Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Advanced Writing. Note that ENGL 1500 Process of Composition or ESL courses may be a prerequisite for ENGL 1900.
Proficiency through intermediate level (the 2010 level) in a single language, generally by completion of three three-hour courses in a single language. Only required for native speakers of English. Students can also provide proof of foreign language proficiency through examinations.
This requirement may simultaneously satisfy another core curriculum requirement, a requirement for a major or minor or an elective course.
A variety of courses at SLU-Madrid fulfill this requirement:
Cultural Diversity in the EU
- ANTH 3390 Cultural Anthropology
- CMM 3460 International Cinema
- ENGL 3760 Topics in Rhetorical Analysis: Discourse of Conflict and Peace
- HIST 3340 The Spanish Civil War
- HIST 3760 Medieval Spain: Christians, Jews and Moors
- HIST 3770 History of Jews in Spain
- HR 1900 Crossroads: Introduction to Honors — Imagining National Identities
- PHIL 4760 Spanish Philosophy
- POLS 3567 Political Development in Contemporary Spain
- POLS 4630 The European Union: Politics and Political Economy
- THEO 2720 Islam: Religion and Culture
Global Citizenship
- ANTH 1200 Introduction to Anthropology
- ANTH 2200 Cultural Anthropology
- ARTH 1090 Global Masterpieces of Art
- CMM 4460 Global Media
- ENGL 3310/3320/3330 World Literary Traditions I, II, III
- ENGL 3500 Literature of the Postcolonial World
- HIST 3420 The Atlantic World
- POLS 1510 Politics of Developing World
- POLS 1600 Introduction to International Politics
- POLS 2520 Introduction to African Politics
- POLS 2550 Political Systems of the Sub-Sahara
- POLS 2560 The Politics of Asia
- POLS 2570 Introduction to Latin American Politics
- POLS 2590 Politics of the M. East and North Africa
- PSY 4270 Cross-Cultural Psychology of Human Development
- PUBH 2100 Introduction to Global Health
- SPAN 4350 Latin American Testimony
- THEO 2710 Religions of the World
- THEO 2720 Islam: Religion and Culture
The following courses fulfill this requirement:
- ART 2000 Drawing I
- ART 2100 Design
- ART 2150 Color Theory
- ART 2200 Painting I
- ART 2930 Special Topics: Illustration
- ARTH 1000 Approaching the Arts
- ARTH 1010 History of Western Art
- ARTH 1110 History of Western Art I
- ARTH 1120 History of Western Art II
- ARTH 2300 Ancient Art Survey
- ARTH 2400 Medieval Art Survey
- ARTH 2500 Renaissance Art Survey
- ARTH 2800 Modern Art Survey
- ARTH 2930 Special Topics: Art from Michelangelo to Goya: Great European Masters
- CMM 1400 Film Criticism
- DANC 2630 Modern Dance/Modern Movement
- MUSC 1000 Approaching the Arts: Music
- MUSC 1260 Piano for Beginners I
- MUSC 2010/2020/2030 Applied Music (voice, piano and guitar)
- MUSC 2270 Music Theory I
- MUSC 3300 History of Music I (Special Emphasis on the Music of Spain)
- MUSC 3420 University Chorale
- THR 1000 Approaching the Arts: Theatre
- THR 2510 Acting I Fundamentals
One course must be chosen from any 2000-level English literature course. A second course may be chosen from approved 3000/4000-level English literature courses or an upper division Spanish literature course with readings in the original language (for non-native Spanish speaker only).
Two courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth sciences or physics.
- MATH 1200 College Algebra or higher
HIST 1110 Origins of the Modern World to 1500 and HIST 1120 Origins of the Modern World 1500 to Present.
Three-course sequence:
- PHIL 1050 Self and Reality
- PHIL 2050 Ethics
- One 3000/4000-level philosophy course
Three-course sequence:
- THEO 1000 Theological Foundations
- One 2000-level course
- One 3000-level course
Two courses in anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, sociology and communication (CMM 1000, 2000 and 2800 only — for non-communication majors; majors may count one course)
Bachelor of Science Core Requirements
ENGL 1900 Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Advanced Writing. Students needing prerequisite work in writing skills, as determined by test scores, will be required to take ENGL 1500. If required, this will serve as elective credit.
Proficiency through the beginner level (1020 level) in a language other than English. This requirement may also be fulfilled by spending one semester abroad at a foreign institution whose language of study is not English.
This requirement may simultaneously satisfy another core curriculum requirement, a requirement for a major or minor or an elective course.
A variety of courses at SLU-Madrid fulfill this requirement:
Cultural Diversity in the EU
- ANTH 3390 Cultural Anthropology
- CMM 3460 International Cinema
- ENGL 3760 Topics in Rhetorical Analysis: Discourse of Conflict and Peace
- HIST 3340 The Spanish Civil War
- HIST 3760 Medieval Spain: Christians, Jews and Moors
- HIST 3770 History of Jews in Spain
- HR 1900 Crossroads: Introduction to Honors — Imagining National Identities
- PHIL 4760 Spanish Philosophy
- POLS 3567 Political Development in Contemporary Spain
- POLS 4630 The European Union: Politics and Political Economy
- THEO 2720 Islam: Religion and Culture
Global Citizenship
- ANTH 1200 Introduction to Anthropology
- ANTH 2200 Cultural Anthropology
- ARTH 1090 Global Masterpieces of Art
- CMM 4460 Global Media
- ENGL 3310/3320/3330 World Literary Traditions I, II, III
- ENGL 3500 Literature of the Postcolonial World
- HIST 3420 The Atlantic World
- POLS 1510 Politics of Developing World
- POLS 1600 Introduction to International Politics
- POLS 2520 Introduction to African Politics
- POLS 2550 Political Systems of the Sub-Sahara
- POLS 2560 The Politics of Asia
- POLS 2570 Introduction to Latin American Politics
- POLS 2590 Politics of the M. East and North Africa
- PSY 4270 Cross-Cultural Psychology of Human Development
- PUBH 2100 Introduction to Global Health
- SPAN 4350 Latin American Testimony
- THEO 2710 Religions of the World
- THEO 2720 Islam: Religion and Culture
The following courses at the SLU-Madrid fulfill this requirement:
- ART 2000 Drawing I
- ART 2100 Design
- ART 2150 Color Theory
- ART 2200 Painting I
- ART 2930 Special Topics: Illustration
- ARTH 1000 Approaching the Arts
- ARTH 1010 History of Western Art
- ARTH 1110 History of Western Art I
- ARTH 1120 History of Western Art II
- ARTH 2300 Ancient Art Survey
- ARTH 2400 Medieval Art Survey
- ARTH 2500 Renaissance Art Survey
- ARTH 2800 Modern Art Survey
- ARTH 2930 Special Topics: Art from Michelangelo to Goya: Great European Masters
- CMM 1400 Film Criticism
- DANC 2650 Spanish Dance: Flamenco
- DANC 2660 Latin Rhythms and Dance
- MUSC 1000 Approaching the Arts: Music
- MUSC 1260 Piano for Beginners I
- MUSC 2010-2030 Applied Music (voice, piano and guitar)
- MUSC 2270 Music Theory I
- MUSC 3300 History of Music I (Special Emphasis on the Music of Spain)
- MUSC 3420 University Chorale
- THR 1000 Approaching the Arts: Theatre
- THR 2510 Acting I: Fundamentals
One course must be chosen from any 2000-level English literature course. A second course may be chosen from approved 3000/4000-level English literature courses or an upper-division Spanish literature course with readings in the original language (this only applies to native speakers of English).
Eight credit hours in a single science: biology, chemistry, earth and atmospheric science or physics, outside the department in which the student is pursuing the bachelor of science degree.
Four to seven credit hours through MATH 1510 Calculus I or higher level.
HIST 1110 Origins of the Modern World to 1500 and HIST 1120 Origins of the Modern World 1500 to Present.
Two-course sequence including PHIL 2050. Students may take PHIL 1050 or an upper-division philosophy as their second course.
Two-course sequence:
- THEO 1000 Theological Foundations
- One 2000-level course
Two courses in anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, sociology and communication (CMM 1000, 2000 and 2800 only — for non-communication majors; majors may count one course)