Student FAQ

When will the core curriculum take effect?

Purdue's core curriculum will take effect beginning in the 2013 fall semester.

What are the Purdue (PWL) core requirements?

Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational learning outcomes: one course for oral communication, written communication, information literacy, science, technology & society, college algebra,  humanities, and behavioral/social sciences; and two courses in science.

Which courses have been approved to fulfill the core curriculum?

Click on the "course listing" link for a complete list of approved foundational courses.

Who needs to fulfill the core curriculum requirements?

Beginning Fall 2013, all beginning undergraduate students are required to fulfill the core curriculum as part of their program of study. This includes newly enrolled first-year degree-seeking students and transfer students from institutions outside the Purdue system. This does not include students transferring from another Purdue campus and enrolled in a degree-seeking program prior to Fall 2013 unless they choose to follow the new catalog. Students will have the entire duration of their undergraduate program to meet these outcomes. However, most will likely meet the majority of foundational outcomes within their first few years. Degree-seeking students enrolled prior to Fall 2013 will not be required to complete the core curriculum requirements.

What if a previously enrolled degree-seeking student wants to change to the new 120-hour program within a major that includes core curriculum requirements?

Any previously enrolled degree-seeking student may choose to change to the new program within a major. However, he or she cannot be required to make this change and may continue completing their original program of study (as far back as Catalog Date Fall 2011).  Students who choose to move to a new 120-credit hour program of study will be required to meet the core curriculum requirements (as they are part of the updated program of study).

What will be required for students who change majors (CODO) or transfer to Purdue?

Students changing majors will follow the curriculum in place for the date of their matriculation to the University.  Alternatively, they may choose to follow the curriculum in effect for new beginning students at the time of the change.  Students transferring to Purdue University will follow the curriculum in effect for new beginning students at the time of the transfer.  They cannot be placed on a retroactive plan of study. 

How long will it take me to fulfill the core curriculum learning outcomes?

Students will have the entire duration of their undergraduate program to meet these outcomes. However, most will likely meet the majority of outcomes within their first few years.

Do placement tests count in meeting foundational learning outcomes?

Yes. AP, CLEP, and other approved placement tests may count towards meeting a foundational learning outcome if that test is aligned with a particular course or subject matter that is approved as meeting a foundational learning outcome. For example, achieving an AP test score of ‘4' for Biology would enable a student to meet the learning outcome for BIOL 11000.  Please note that students need a score of 75 or higher on a proctored ALEKS exam to receive credit for MA 15300.

At this time, only if an approved course is taught through a study abroad experience can students meet their foundational learning outcome through a study abroad experience. For example, EDPS 26500 (The Inclusive Classroom) that meets the Behavioral/Social Sciences foundational learning outcome is taught as both a traditional course during the regular academic year as well as through a study abroad experience during the summer semester each year.

Can a student use a single course to meet more than one foundational outcome?

Yes. A few foundational courses have been approved as meeting two foundational outcomes (see approved list of foundational courses). When a student takes and successfully completes one of these courses, they will meet both foundational outcomes tied to that course.

Can a student complete the PWL Core at the foundational level in less than 30 credit hours?

Yes. Through successfully completing foundational coursework for each of the learning outcomes, students may complete each of the learning outcomes in fewer than 30 credit hours. For example, a student might take the following: ENGL 10600 (WC, IL) (4 cr), COM 11400 (OC) (3 cr), MA 16100 (QR) (5 cr), BIOL 14501 (S) (2 cr), AGEC 20300 (BSS) (3 cr), THTR 20100 (H) (3 cr), and EPCS 10100 (STS) (1 cr) which equals a TOTAL of 21 credit hours. A word of caution: if a student should decide to transfer to another state institution, a total of 30 credit hours of foundational outcomes must be completed. Thus, a student should plan to take at least 30 credit hours of foundational coursework if he or she plans to transfer to another state institution and does not want to complete the other institution’s core curriculum.

Is there a minimum grade students must earn to meet foundational learning outcomes?

Students must pass the course in which the foundational outcome is addressed based on Purdue’s approved grading scale (including a grade of P). Passing the course indicates that the student has satisfactorily met the foundational outcome. 

For students attending another institution before coming to Purdue, will their courses count towards meeting the Core Curriculum requirements?

It depends on the courses completed at the previous institution. If a student transfers before completing the 30-hour core curriculum or an Associate’s degree at another institution, their courses will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis and applied to the Purdue Outcomes-based Core Curriculum in the same way as the equivalent Purdue course.

As a Purdue Student, I may be able to complete my core in fewer than 30 hours. However, I want to transfer to another Indiana school. Will my core transfer to the next institution?

No. If you’ve completed fewer than 30 credit hours of foundational core courses at Purdue, you will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis at the next institution and be required to complete their core curriculum. If you want full credit for completing the core curriculum, you will need to take additional foundational coursework and complete a minimum of 30 credit hours to meet the statewide transfer core requirements.

If I CODO to another college or school, will my foundational credit transfer with me?

Once a student meets a foundational outcome, the student receives credit for meeting that outcome. If a student CODOs to another program or college, the previously met foundational outcomes will still be considered to have been met for that student.

If I previously attended another institution before coming to Purdue, will my courses count toward the core curriculum requirement?

Under Indiana's General Education Transfer Core Curriculum (GTC), students who complete approved GTC courses at that institution will receive credit for them as part of Purdue's core curriculum. Students who complete an entire approved GTC at another institution are not required to complete the Purdue core and will receive 30 credit hours that will apply for credit towards their undergraduate degree.

Statewide Transfer General Education Core FAQs

Will I be required to take specific foundational outcome courses for my major?

In most cases, no. The core is designed to encourage exploration and to develop knowledge and skills through any combination of core courses.

In what circumstance will I be required to take a specific foundational outcome course?

Only when specific knowledge is critical for your discipline AND it is a link in a chain of prerequisites needed to graduate on time will a student be advised to take a particular course satisfying a foundational outcome.

If it is critical a student have certain knowledge or skills to make successful progress in a major, a course from the foundational outcomes core can be REQUIRED.