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Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024



Core Curriculum

University of Detroit Mercy's mission statement describes an education that integrates “the intellectual, spiritual, moral and social development” of its students. As the shared academic experience of all Detroit Mercy undergraduates, the University of Detroit Mercy Core Curriculum is the foundation for achieving this mission, and for ensuring that each of its graduates will understand, pursue, and live out that mission.

This page contains an outline of the core curriculum requirements.

Below are the course options for the Core Curriculum - Knowledge Areas and Integrating Themes. Some Detroit Mercy programs have courses that will fulfill both a core and a program requirement, so college/school information is provided directly below. Always consult with your advisor. Note that some courses have prerequisites. Check the catalog and class schedule before registering.

For more details, select your specific college or school from the following list:

List of University Core Curriculum approved courses

Additional approved classes may exist and will be noted in the Self-Service – Student course catalog and class schedule.

Knowledge Area A: Communication Skills

A1: Oral Communication
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

A2: Written Communication
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

Knowledge Area B: Mathematical & Statistical Knowledge

B1: Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning

(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

B2: Statistical and Probabilistic Reasoning
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

Knowledge Area C: Scientific Knowledge

C1: Physical Sciences
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

C2: Social Sciences
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements

Knowledge Area D: Religious & Philosophical Knowledge

D1: Philosophical Knowledge
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

D2: Religious Knowledge
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

D3: Additional PHL/RELS Elective
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements

Knowledge Area E: Essential Humanities

E1: Historical Experiences
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

E2: Literary Experiences
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

E3: Aesthetic Experiences
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements

Knowledge Area F: Ethics and Social Responsibility

F1: Ethics
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements

Integrating Theme 1: Reading, Writing, and Research Across the Curriculum

IT1: Reading, Writing, and Research Across the Curriculum
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

  • ARCH 2220 Architectural History and Theory II (2)
  • BIO 4990 Biology and Social Issues (2)
  • BUS 2310 Business Law (2)
  • CHM 1030 Chemistry in Society (2)
  • CIVE 3450 Construction Materials
  • DHY 8140 Strategies for Prevention of Oral Diseases and DHY 8280 Scientific Literature
  • ENGR 1080 Fundamentals of Engineering Design
  • ENL 2060 Intro to Professional Writing (2)
  • ENL 3000 Writing about Literature
  • ENL 3030 Technical Writing
  • ENL 3080 Introduction to Business Writing
  • ENL 3260 History of the English Language
  • HSA 4700 Evidence-Based Research for Health Services Administration
  • NUR 4500 Nursing Research & Evidenced-Based Practice
  • PHL 3410 Philosophy of the Human Person (2)
  • PHL 4060 Metaphysics (2)
  • PHL 4070 Epistemology
  • PYC 2500 Developmental Psychology (3)
  • PYC 3420 Abnormal Psychology (2)
  • PYC 3430 Health Psychology (2)
  • PYC 3540 Sex Differences and Sex Roles (2)
  • SWK 2050 Critical Thinking & Writing for Social Workers (2)
  • WGS 3300 The Complexity of Gender: Applied Approaches for Inquiry and Social Change (2)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements

Integrating Theme 2: Critical Thinking

IT2: Critical Thinking 
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements

Integrating Theme 3: Cultural Diversity

IT3: Cultural Diversity 
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements

Integrating Theme 4: Human Difference

IT4: Human Difference 
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements

Integrating Theme 5: Personal Spiritual Development

IT5: Personal Spiritual Development 
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements

Integrating Theme 6: Spirituality and Social Justice

IT6: Spirituality and Social Justice 
(see college/school specific page for program requirements)

(2) - Fulfills two core requirements
(3) - Fulfills three core requirements