RADFORD -- With the opening of the Fall 2009 semester, RU’s new Core Curriculum program goes into effect for all incoming freshmen and transfer students.

“RU is committed to helping develop mature, responsible and well-educated citizens in whom the love of learning burns bright . . . critical and analytical thinkers with an understanding of the world, its cultures and people, its problems and opportunities,” said Dr. Susan Van Patten, Acting Core Curriculum Director.

The new core curriculum was developed after a two year period of study and planning by the General Education Curricular Advisor Committee (GECAC) with approval by the Faculty Senate. The revision process began as part of RU’s 7-17 Strategic Plan to “ensure that undergraduate academic programs are rigorous and distinctive.” This was a campus-wide effort and included participation from faculty, staff, and students. It is through their efforts that a new generation of Radford University students will be able to meet the challenges and opportunities that will come.

The Radford University Core Curriculum includes 43-45 semester hours in two areas – University Core and College Core. The University Core grounds a student’s RU education on the bedrock of a liberal education.

The University Core is a shared experience among Radford University students and provides a broad knowledge of the world that will help RU students deal successfully with the world’s complexity, diversity, and change from a sound, secure sense of social responsibility along with valuable transferable intellectual and practical skills.

The keystone of the University Core is a common interdisciplinary experience called Core Foundations that is unique to RU. In the University Core, RU students will take their first steps toward laying down their individual academic foundations. By completing the four-course University Core package, RU students sharpen and hone their critical thinking, oral communication, written communication, technology literacy, information literacy, and ethical reasoning skills.

The study of traditional branches of knowledge – mathematics, natural sciences, humanities, visual and performing arts, social and behavioral sciences – are included in the University Core requirements and complement the Core Foundations course work.

The subsequent College Core provides flexibility for students to tailor their education to their major and college. The College Core encourages students to embrace membership in the local community and the larger world through national and international perspectives and supporting skills and knowledge.

Implementation of the Core Curriculum began this summer with New Student and Transfer Orientations and faculty training for those teaching Core Foundation courses. “The transition from general education to a core curriculum was smoother than anticipated,” said Van Patten. “We can thank RU’s outstanding academic advisors, orientation assistants, support staff, and area coordinators for making it happen.”

For information about the Radford University Core Curriculum program, visit http://core.asp.radford.edu/.