General Education Requirements for Traditional Undergraduate Students

The APU Core: Pathways to Flourishing

APU’s general education (GE) program is titled The APU Core: Pathways to Flourishing and has three components: Pursuing Wisdom, Preparing to Serve, and Living Out God’s Love. The APU Core leads students on a transformational journey that prepares them to impact the world for Christ.

Biblical and Theological Formation Minor

Six of the required courses within the APU Core constitute an 18-unit minor in biblical and theological formation. Students who wish to receive the minor must fill out a form to officially declare it.

Traditional Undergraduate GE Policies

Students are required to access their Academic Requirements Report (through home.apu.edu, under the Academics section) to ensure they are on track to satisfy their GE requirements. For more information, visit the APU Core resource websites for students or faculty and staff. Any questions should be directed to the Academic Success Center.

Certain GE requirements may be waived based on courses taken at other institutions, the total number of units transferred to APU, or completion of Cal-GETC, IGETC, CSU Breadth, or an ADN.
A course listed in two categories cannot satisfy both requirements; students must choose which requirement the course will fulfill.
Bachelor of Music majors are not required to take the Fine Arts, Cultivating Wellness, Oral Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, or Ancient or Modern Language requirements.
Students who complete the Honors humanities major are considered to have completed all of their GE requirements. Students who complete only part of the Honors humanities major will be granted GE credit according to the Honors Course Equivalency policy.

Requirements

I. Overview

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Pursuing Wisdom		27
Bible and Theology
Humanities
Preparing to Serve		21
Core Competencies
Scientific Inquiry
Living Out God’s Love		6
Seeking Shalom
Calling and Character
Total Units		54

II. Requirements

A. Bible and Theology

The 15 units of Bible and theology courses listed here, together with CORE 450 Calling and Character listed under “Living Out God’s Love,” constitute an 18-unit biblical and theological formation minor contained within the APU Core. Students who wish to receive this minor must submit a form to officially declare it (see link above).

Course List
Code	Title	Units
CORE 100	Cornerstones ¹	3
SOT 150	Understanding the Old Testament: Creation, Covenant, Exile, Restoration ²	3
SOT 200	Understanding the New Testament: Christ, Redemption, Community, New Creation ³	3
SOT 250	Theology and the Christian Life ⁴	3
Upper-Division Bible		3
Total Units		15

¹: MIN 108 Christian Life, Faith, and Ministry (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for CORE 100.
²: UBBL 100 Introduction to Biblical Literature: Exodus/Deuteronomy (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for SOT 150.
³: Alternatively, SOT 241 or SOT 242 may be taken to satisfy this requirement. In addition, UBBL 230, UBBL 235, or UBBL 240 Luke/Acts (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for SOT 200, SOT 241, or SOT 242, respectively.
⁴: THEO 200, THEO 301, THEO 352, THEO 354, or HUM 325 (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for SOT 250.

B. Humanities

Students who enter APU with fewer than 30 transfer units are required to take a Visions of the Good Life course (ART 150, HIST 150, ENGL 150, or PHIL 150) to satisfy exactly one of the four humanities requirements (Fine Arts, History, Literature, or Philosophy). For students who enter APU with at least 30 transfer units, a Visions of the Good Life course is an optional way to satisfy one of the humanities requirements.

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Fine Arts		3
History		3
Literature		3
Philosophy		3
Total Units		12

C. Core Competencies

Course List
Code	Title	Units
CORE 101	Cultivating Wellness: Building Habits for Lifelong Well-Being ^{1, 2}	2
WRIT 110	The Art and Craft of Writing	3
Oral Communication		3
Quantitative Reasoning		3
Intercultural Competence		3
Ancient or Modern Language ³
Total Units		14

¹: CORE 101 is required only for students who enter APU with fewer than 60 transfer units.
²: GE 100 First-Year Seminar (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for CORE 101.
³: Ancient and Modern Language is a proficiency requirement that may be met with a qualifying score on an OPIc, SAT, AP, CLEP, or FLATS exam or by completing an APU language course numbered 102 or higher.

D. Scientific Inquiry

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Natural Science		4
Social Science		3
Total Units		7

E. Living Out God’s Love

Course List
Code	Title	Units
CORE 250	Seeking Shalom Seminar	3
CORE 450	Calling and Character Seminar	3
Total Units		6

III. Course Options

A. Bible and Theology

The 15 units of Bible and theology listed here, together with CORE 450 Calling and Character listed below under “Living Out God’s Love,” constitute an 18-unit biblical and theological formation minor contained within the APU Core. Students who wish to receive this minor must submit a form to officially declare it.

Course List
Code	Title	Units
CORE 100	Cornerstones ¹	3
SOT 150	Understanding the Old Testament: Creation, Covenant, Exile, Restoration ²	3
SOT 200	Understanding the New Testament: Christ, Redemption, Community, New Creation ³	3
or SOT 241	Understanding the New Testament through a Latinx Lens
or SOT 242	Understanding the New Testament through an Africana Lens
SOT 250	Theology and the Christian Life ⁴	3
Upper-Division Bible ⁵		3
Select one of the following:
SOT 340	The Rise of the King: I and II Samuel
SOT 341	Old Testament Prophets
SOT 342	Ruth and Esther
SOT 343	Psalms and Wisdom
SOT 344	Life and Teachings of Jesus
SOT 345	The Gospel and Letters of John
SOT 346	Romans and Galatians
SOT 347	Thessalonian and Corinthian Epistles
SOT 348	Biblical Lands and Cultures
SOT 349	Near Eastern Archaeology
SOT 351	Archaeological Field Excavation
Total Units		15

¹

MIN 108 Christian Life, Faith, and Ministry (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for CORE 100.

²

UBBL 100 Introduction to Biblical Literature: Exodus/Deuteronomy (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for SOT 150.

³

UBBL 230, UBBL 235, or UBBL 240 Luke/Acts (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for SOT 200, SOT 241, or SOT 242, respectively.

⁴

THEO 200, THEO 301, THEO 352, THEO 354, or HUM 325 (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for SOT 250.

⁵

400-level SOT Bible courses may also count toward meeting the APU Core: Upper-Division Bible general education requirement, but may require special permission from the Department of Biblical Studies, Theology, and Ministry. Contact the department for more information.

B. Humanities

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Fine Arts		3
Select one of the following:
ART 105	Ceramics I
ART 145	Drawing I
ART 150	Visions of the Good Life
ART 151	Introduction to Art
ART 160	Photography I
ART 310	Fundamental Art Experiences
ART 354	History of Ancient Art and Architecture
ART 357	History of Contemporary Art and Architecture
ART 361	History of Early Christian and Medieval Art and Architecture
ART 362	History of Renaissance to Rococo Art and Architecture
ART 403	Multicultural Art
CINE 275	History of Television and Digital Media
CINE 285	History of Film
DSGN 115	Using Digital Media in a Visual World
HUM 223	Core Texts in Aesthetics
or HUM 323	Core Texts in Aesthetics
MUS 120	Music Fundamentals
MUS 121	Music Theory I
MUS 395	History of Film Music
THTR 110	Introduction to Acting
THTR 115	Introduction to Theater
THTR 273	Acting Shakespeare
History		3
Select one of the following:
HIST 120	World Civilizations to 1648
HIST 121	World Civilizations Since 1648
HIST 150	Visions of the Good Life
HIST 151	United States History to 1877
HIST 152	United States History Since 1877
HIST 201	World Civilizations and Geography to 1648
HUM 221	Core Texts in History
or HUM 321	Core Texts in History
MUS 455	Late Romantic and 20th-Century Music Literature (Bachelor of Music Majors only)
Literature		3
Select one of the following:
ENGL 111	Studies in Literature
ENGL 150	Visions of the Good Life
ENGL 222	English Literature to 1789
ENGL 224	World Literature to the Renaissance
ENGL 232	English Literature Since 1789
ENGL 234	World Literature Since the Renaissance
ENGL 244	American Literature to 1865
ENGL 254	American Literature Since 1865
HUM 222	Core Texts in Literature
or HUM 322	Core Texts in Literature
SPAN 332	Literary Masters
Philosophy		3
Select one of the following:
PHIL 100	Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 150	Visions of the Good Life
HUM 224	Core Texts in Philosophy
or HUM 324	Core Texts in Philosophy
Total Units		12

C. Core Competencies

Course List
Code	Title	Units
CORE 101	Cultivating Wellness: Building Habits for Lifelong Well-Being ^{1, 2}	2
WRIT 110	The Art and Craft of Writing	3
Oral Communication		3
Select one of the following:
BUSI 120	Business Communications
COMM 111	Public Communication
CS 120 & CS 290 & CS 480	Introduction to Computer Science I and Database Management Systems and Senior Capstone Project
CS 120 & ENGR 240 & ENGR 480	Introduction to Computer Science I and Digital Logic Systems and Senior Design Project II
SPAN 420	Public Speaking in Spanish
THTR 200 & THTR 250	Beginning Voice for the Actor and Intermediate Voice for the Actor
Quantitative Reasoning		3
Select one of the following:
BUSI 111	Business Statistics
MATH 110	College Algebra
MATH 115	Mathematics in Society
MATH 130	Introduction to Statistics
UNRS 299	Statistics and Data Management for Nursing and Health Care
Intercultural Competence		3
Select one of the following:
BUSI 370	International Business
CINE 351	Film and Social Issues
CINE 451	World Cinema
COMM 260	Intercultural Communication ³
EDLS 405	Diversity in the Classroom
ENGL 364	American Ethnic Literature
ETHN 150	Introduction to Ethnic Studies
ETHN 355	The Asian American Experience
ETHN 356	The African American Experience
ETHN 357	The Chicano(a)/Latino(a) Experience
ETHN 358	Native American/Indigenous Experience
GLBL 201	Anthropology for Everyday Life
GLBL 260	Intercultural Communication
GLBL 318	Immigration and Integration
HIST 235	Cultural History/Travel Study ³
HIST 346	History of American Immigration
HUM 201	Intercultural Knowledge and Competence
MKTG 260	Principles of Marketing
MUS 201	Introduction to World Music
MUS 302	Soul Music
PSYC 400	Multicultural Psychology
SOC 235	Race and Ethnicity
SOC 358	Human Diversity
SOCW 275	Social Justice Foundations for Human Rights
SOT 260	World Religions
SOT 313	Intercultural Ministries
SOT 425	Race, Reconciliation, and Ministry
SOT 476	Global Christianity
SOT 482	Theology from the Margins
SPAN 301	Spanish Conversation and Community
TESP 503	The Soul of Teaching: Tapestry of American Education
THTR 225	History of Theater
UNRS 383	International Health Nursing ³
UNRS 384	Urban/Rural Health Nursing
UNRS 386	Population and Community Health Nursing
Ancient or Modern Language ⁴
Select one of the following:
ASL 101 & ASL 102	American Sign Language I and American Sign Language II
CHIN 101 & CHIN 102	Elementary Chinese I and Elementary Chinese II
FREN 101 & FREN 102	Elementary French I and Elementary French II
GERM 101 & GERM 102	Elementary German I and Elementary German II
SOT 201G & SOT 202G	Elementary Greek I and Elementary Greek II
SOT 203G & SOT 204G	Elementary Classical Greek I and Elementary Classical Greek II
SOT 201H & SOT 202H	Elementary Hebrew I and Elementary Hebrew II
JAPA 101 & JAPA 102	Elementary Japanese I and Elementary Japanese II
SOT 201L & SOT 202L	Elementary Latin I and Elementary Latin II
MODL 101 & MODL 102	Modern Language I and Modern Language II
SPAN 101 & SPAN 102	Elementary Spanish I and Elementary Spanish II ³
SPAN 103 & SPAN 104	Elementary Spanish I for Healthcare Professionals and Elementary Spanish II for Healthcare Professionals
TESL 101 & TESL 102	English for Academic Purposes I and English for Academic Purposes II
Total Units		14

¹: CORE 101 is required only for students who enter APU with fewer than 60 transfer units.
²: GE 100 First-Year Seminar (from the prior GE program) may be substituted for CORE 101.
³: This course is available through one or more of the APU Study Away semester programs. See full program options at GE and Study Away.
⁴: Ancient or Modern Language is a proficiency requirement that may be met with a qualifying score on an OPIc, SAT, AP, CLEP, or FLATS exam or by completing an APU language course numbered 102 or higher. APU language courses are listed here for reference.

D. Scientific Inquiry

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Natural Science		4
Select one of the following:
BIOL 101	Biology and Society ¹
BIOL 151	General Biology I
BIOL 231	Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 325	Humans and the Environment
CHEM 101	Chemistry and Society
CHEM 123	General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry for the Health Sciences
CHEM 151	General Chemistry I
PHYC 112	Science and Technology for Everyday Applications
PHYC 155 & PHYC 145	Physics for Life Sciences I and Physics Laboratory I
PHYC 165 & PHYC 145	Physics for Science and Engineering: Mechanics and Physics Laboratory I
Social Science		3
Select one of the following:
CJ 110	Introduction to Criminal Justice
ECON 200	Survey of Economics
ECON 250	Principles of Macroeconomics
GLBL 465	Globalization and Development
MGMT 211	Organizational Leadership
MGMT 212	Managing Diverse Teams and Groups
PSYC 110	General Psychology
PSYC 290	Human Growth and Development
PSYC 345	Psychology of Child and Adolescent Development
SOC 120	Introduction to Sociology
TESP 502	Science of Teaching I: How Students Learn
Total Units		7

¹: This course is available through one or more of the APU Study Away semester programs. See full program options at GE and Study Away.

E. Living Out God’s Love

Course List
Code	Title	Units
CORE 250	Seeking Shalom Seminar	3
CORE 450	Calling and Character Seminar	3
Total Units		6

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:

Develop a biblically grounded and critically engaged worldview as they integrate faith, learning, and living in pursuit of wisdom and true flourishing.

Grow in character and virtue by engaging in reflective practices and spiritual disciplines, developing biblically informed values, pursuing holistic well-being, and relating to others with humility and compassion.

Discern their calling by exploring their gifts and passions and considering how they might contribute to God’s redemptive mission in the world.

Develop critical and creative capacities by identifying reliable sources, interpreting texts, evaluating arguments, solving problems, and engaging with artistic expression.

Apply mathematical, statistical, scientific, and social scientific methods to explain natural and human phenomena.

Communicate effectively and collaborate thoughtfully as they work together with others to achieve shared goals.

CORE 100, Cornerstones, 3 Units

This course introduces students to APU's distinctive Four Cornerstones: Christ, Scholarship, Community, and Service. Students explore the overarching Biblical narrative and its shaping influence on a Christian worldview, with a focus on vocation, service, justice, and the communal practices that unite diverse followers of Jesus as a family reflecting God's image. By engaging the Cornerstones, students develop a vision for integrating faith, learning, and service to guide their studies, habits, and relationships, fostering growth and impact at APU and beyond. Meets the APU Core: Cornerstones general education requirement.

CORE 101, Cultivating Wellness: Building Habits for Lifelong Well-Being, 2 Units

This course equips students to cultivate sustainable wellness practices. Expert-led content sessions introduce key dimensions of wellness (spiritual, emotional, social, physical, academic, vocational, digital, and financial). Small group discussions and exercises led by faculty/staff Wellness Ambassadors and trained Peer Wellness Guides foster reflection, goal setting, social support, and accountability in an empathetic and nonjudgmental environment. Outside of class, students engage with campus resources and begin to develop new habits. At the end of the course, students create a long-term Wellness Vision Plan that serves as an effective and adaptable guide for their ongoing well-being. Meets the APU Core: Cultivating Wellness general education requirement.

CORE 250, Seeking Shalom Seminar, 3 Units

This course helps students develop a holistic vision of human flourishing in society and work out the implications of that vision in relation to a particular challenge in society today. Students refine their conceptions of societal well-being by reflecting on their personal values and those of their family/community, encountering the visions of shalom embedded within the biblical narrative and engaging in civil discourse with others who may prioritize different values. Students become acquainted with the contributions of academic disciplines to an understanding of the societal challenge and then conduct research on a particular aspect. Students assess possible pathways toward flourishing in this realm of society, guided by the evidence and their values. Instruction is provided in how to identify reliable sources and how to draw upon them in writing a research paper. Meets the APU Core: Seeking Shalom Seminar general education requirement.

Prerequisite: WRIT 110

CORE 450, Calling and Character Seminar, 3 Units

In this course, students develop a meaningful vision for their future life, work, and character growth in relation to God's mission to redeem His people and creation. Students explore Christian perspectives on calling and consider how key themes explored in their previous Bible and theology courses can help shape a life of faithful service. Students draw on theological and ethical frameworks to assess common issues related to their potential professional endeavors, and engage in spiritual disciplines and reflect on how these intentional practices can cultivate a spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Meets the APU Core: Calling and Character Seminar general education requirement.

Prerequisite: SOT 250 and senior standing. Students are required to enroll in a section associated with their major unless they receive prior approval from the Director of General Education.

WRIT 110, The Art and Craft of Writing, 3 Units

Writing is a skill that can be practiced and improved. In this course, students learn about writing by approaching it from theoretical, historical, pedagogical, and practical perspectives. Students engage with writing processes, literacies, and genres by reading and writing about research and arguments dealing with all aspects of writing. Students also craft arguments of their own based on their research on the art and craft of writing. Meets the APU Core: Writing general education requirement.

Corequisite: WRIT 120 Writing Lab. Writing Questionnaire score of 3 to 6 waives WRIT 120 corequisite.

SOT 150, Understanding the Old Testament: Creation, Covenant, Exile, Restoration, 3 Units

This course is an introductory survey of the Old Testament, with a special focus on its various cultural contexts and genres and the theological themes of creation, covenant, exile, and restoration. The survey is accompanied by deeper engagement with selected books of the Old Testament, including exploration of how those texts are relevant for biblically shaped Christian beliefs and practices. Meets the APU Core: Understanding the Old Testament general education requirement.

Prerequisite: CORE 100

SOT 200, Understanding the New Testament: Christ, Redemption, Community, New Creation, 3 Units

This course is a survey of the New Testament, with a thematic focus on some of its key concepts, such as Christ, redemption, community, and new creation. The survey is accompanied by deeper engagement with selected books of the New Testament and how those texts are relevant for biblically-shaped Christian beliefs and practices. Meets the APU Core: Understanding the New Testament general education requirement.

Prerequisite: SOT 150

SOT 250, Theology and the Christian Life, 3 Units

This course introduces students to the beliefs of the Christian Church and their implications for Christian living. It grounds these beliefs and practices in the biblical narrative that students explore in Understanding the Old Testament (creation, covenant, exile, restoration) and Understanding the New Testament (Christ, redemption, community, new creation). Meets the APU Core: Theology and the Christian Life general education requirement.

Prerequisite: SOT 200

ART 150, Visions of the Good Life, 3 Units

The central theme of this course is "the Good Life"-that is, a life that is meaningful and fulfilling for a human being. To develop a vision of such a life, we will spend time thinking deeply about the kinds of things that are essential for human flourishing: e.g., the care of the soul, family and friendship, freedom, beauty, and meaning. Our reflections will take us through a series of compelling works, both classic and contemporary, by philosophers, poets, novelists, historians, artists, and political leaders throughout time and around the globe. Our study will culminate in a campus-wide reflection on St. Augustine's Confessions, which presents the vision of a Good Life in which human hearts can ultimately find rest. Meets the APU Core: Visions of the Good Life, Humanities: Fine Arts general education requirement.

ENGL 150, Visions of the Good Life, 3 Units

HIST 150, Visions of the Good Life, 3 Units

The central theme of this course is "the Good Life"-that is, a life that is meaningful and fulfilling for a human being. To develop a vision of such a life, we will spend time thinking deeply about the kinds of things that are essential for human flourishing: e.g., the care of the soul, family and friendship, freedom, beauty, and meaning. Our reflections will take us through a series of compelling works, both classic and contemporary, by philosophers, poets, novelists, historians, artists, and political leaders throughout time and around the globe. Our study will culminate in a campus-wide reflection on St. Augustine's Confessions, which presents the vision of a Good Life in which human hearts can ultimately find rest. Meets the APU Core: Humanities: History, Visions of the Good Life general education requirement.

PHIL 150, Visions of the Good Life, 3 Units

The central theme of this course is "the Good Life"-that is, a life that is meaningful and fulfilling for a human being. To develop a vision of such a life, we will spend time thinking deeply about the kinds of things that are essential for human flourishing: e.g., the care of the soul, family and friendship, freedom, beauty, and meaning. Our reflections will take us through a series of compelling works, both classic and contemporary, by philosophers, poets, novelists, historians, artists, and political leaders throughout time and around the globe. Our study will culminate in a campus-wide reflection on St. Augustine's Confessions, which presents the vision of a Good Life in which human hearts can ultimately find rest. Meets the APU Core: Humanities: Philosophy, Visions of the Good Life general education requirement.

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

General Education Requirements for Traditional Undergraduate Students

The APU Core: Pathways to Flourishing

Biblical and Theological Formation Minor

Traditional Undergraduate GE Policies

Requirements

I. Overview

II. Requirements

A. Bible and Theology

B. Humanities

C. Core Competencies

D. Scientific Inquiry

E. Living Out God’s Love

III. Course Options

A. Bible and Theology

B. Humanities

C. Core Competencies

D. Scientific Inquiry

E. Living Out God’s Love

Program Learning Outcomes

CORE 100, Cornerstones, 3 Units

CORE 101, Cultivating Wellness: Building Habits for Lifelong Well-Being, 2 Units

CORE 250, Seeking Shalom Seminar, 3 Units

CORE 450, Calling and Character Seminar, 3 Units

WRIT 110, The Art and Craft of Writing, 3 Units

SOT 150, Understanding the Old Testament: Creation, Covenant, Exile, Restoration, 3 Units

SOT 200, Understanding the New Testament: Christ, Redemption, Community, New Creation, 3 Units

SOT 250, Theology and the Christian Life, 3 Units

ART 150, Visions of the Good Life, 3 Units

ENGL 150, Visions of the Good Life, 3 Units

HIST 150, Visions of the Good Life, 3 Units

PHIL 150, Visions of the Good Life, 3 Units

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