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The Core Curriculum consists of 39 credit hours of coursework distributed across three general areas:

  • 13 credit hours of Foundation Skills in English Composition, Foundations of Inquiry, Communication Studies, and Mathematics designed to strengthen students' writing, oral, and mathematical skills. Students who begin their SIU career (catalog year) summer 2012 or later must take UNIV 101 Foundations of Inquiry (1-3 credits) in the foundation skills category.
  • 23 credit hours of Disciplinary Studies in Fine Arts, Human Health, Humanities, Science, and Social Science designed to introduce students to the universe of human knowledge.
  • 3 credit hours of Multicultural Diversity designed to increase students' respect for and appreciation of human diversity.

UCC-Checklist-2023-2024

Students who began their SIU career (catalog year) earlier than summer 2012 should contact their advisor.

Transfer students with an AA or AS degree from a public Illinois community college, an AA degree from Missouri "42 Block", or an AA or AS from KCTCS will be considered Core Curriculum complete. Completion of Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (IAI GECC) will also satisfy SIU UCC requirements.

The University Core Curriculum chapter in the SIU Undergraduate Catalog (effective Summer 2018) lists all University Core Curriculum requirements and courses.