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. You can also learn more about our Associate of Arts in General Studies degree program here.

General Education Core Requirements (As of July 1, 2024)

The General Education Core consists of four themes and 15 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.

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.

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 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:

• BUS 290 Ethics, Social Issues, & Responsibility
• HUM 200 Ethics in Practice
• PHIL 300 Ethics
• SRM/PHIL 380 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:
ED 353 Cultural Diversity
HE 340 Current Health Issues
REL/SOC 310 Religions of the World
SOC 340 Race & Ethnic Relations
SRM 260 Sociology in Sport
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
CJ 310 The American Legal System
ENV 450 Urban Resources & Sustainability
PS 140 Intro to Politics & American Government
SE 311 Entrepreneurial Lead in Urban Context
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 160 FYLC Topics

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 HUM 310 Exploring the Human Condition

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 100 Computer Information Literacy
• COMM 250 Introduction to Digital Media
• COMM 265 Introduction to Web Design
• ED 240 Integrating Educational Technology in the Classroom
• 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
• CHEM 111 Intro to Chemistry
• CHEM 211 General Chemistry I
• ENV 105 Intro to Environmental Science
• PHS 101 Intro to Physical Science
• 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
• 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 120 Introduction to Photography
• ART 250/350 History of Art
• EN 249/349 Understand Film & Its Forms
• EN 215/315 Global Literature
• MUS 115/315 Wind Ensemble
• REL/HIS 330 Church History I
• REL/HIS 370 Church History II
• PSY 401 History & Systems of Psychology

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 261 Org Writing & Presentations
• BUS 310 Management Theory & Practice
• BUS 321 Organizational Behavior & Design
• CJ 455 Restorative Justice
• 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
• MKTG 242 Marketing
• PSY 392/492 Internship
• SS/BUS 380 Conflict Resolution
• TH/SOC 370 Community Engagement: Tools for Social Change

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