Specific courses required to fulfill CORE  requirements can vary by college and sometimes by degree program.  CORE requirements, including general education and any related major requirements, are detailed on the Requirements tab for each major's listing in this catalog.  

Roosevelt's general education requirements are aligned with and approved by Illinois Articulation Initiative recommendations. To fulfill their CORE requirements most students are required to take courses in the following areas: English Composition, Mathematics, Communication, Natural Science, Humanities and Fine and Performing Arts, and Social Science.  

In addition, the CORE includes signature Roosevelt requirements as governed by Roosevelt University councils. 

All students must fulfill the University Writing Requirement.  Most students also complete General Education Mathematics Requirements as determined by their major.  Roosevelt University is Test Optional but test scores are requested for optimal placement into English and Mathematics courses. Placement is determined either by ACT or SAT scores, if those scores have been received within the past two years, or by the or by the Roosevelt University Assessment. Transfer students should consult the Roosevelt University Assessment page for more detail.

FIRST YEAR SUCCESS -OR- TRANSFER SUCCESS

 FYS 101 FIRST YEAR SUCCESS COURSE and TRS 101 TRANSFER SUCCESS 101 are designed to facilitate students' integration into the Roosevelt University community.  These courses connect students with Roosevelt's mission and resources and help them explore their academic and career goals.  Students in the Chicago College of Performing Arts take other courses to meet these requirements.

IDEAS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

Ideas of Social Justice is a 3-semester-hour CORE requirement designed to help students reflect on themes and questions surrounding social groups and issues. These courses foster intellectual curiosity and community by encouraging faculty and students to explore an enduring idea, theme, or question that illuminates the diversity of human experience.  

Students should consult with their academic advisor to select an appropriate Ideas course for which they meet the prerequisites.  Courses meeting this requirement carry the "Ideas Course" attribute in the Course Finder class schedule for each semester. 

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

The CORE Experiential Learning requirements represent a strong implementation of the RU mission.  Experiential Learning courses connect to issues and constituencies beyond the classroom by offering opportunities for direct application of course material to concrete topics and communities. These courses engage students in “learning by doing and reflecting,” bringing clarity to the many uses of academic study, expanding students’ capacities to cultivate skills and values important to their personal and professional development, and creating conditions for students to make meaningful contributions to communities. 

Students should consult their specific program requirements and their academic advisor to select Experiential Learning courses for which they meet the prerequisite. Courses meeting this requirement carry the "Experiential Learning" attribute in the Course Finder class schedule for each semester.

Shared Coursework

General rules governing shared coursework are as follows:

• Credits cannot be shared between major requirements and the CORE communication, mathematics, natural science, humanities and fine and performing arts, and social science requirements. Your degree program, however, may designate or suggest specific courses for you to take to fulfill these CORE requirements.
• Credits can be shared between CORE (General Education) requirements and a minor.
• ​Credits cannot be shared between a major and a minor, between multiple majors, between multiple minors, or between multiple concentrations. 
• Credits cannot be shared between CORE communication, mathematics, natural science, humanities and fine and performing arts, and social science requirements. 
• For students completing an Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's degree program, up to 9 credit hours of identified courses taken in the senior year of the student’s undergraduate degree program can be applied to the graduate degree program.

Rules for Ideas of Social Justice courses:

• Can count toward the major or minor requirement.
• Cannot count towards the CORE communication, mathematics, natural science, humanities and fine and performing arts, and social science requirements

Rules for Experiential Learning courses:

• Can count toward major requirements, minor requirements, and/or any other CORE requirement (with the exception of First-Year Success, Transfer Success, and Ideas courses).
• Some programs may designate specific major/minor course requirements to fulfill one or both of the Experiential Learning requirements. 

Policies for Transfer Students

• First- Year Success/Transfer Success - Undergraduate students entering with fewer than 12 hours are required to take the First-Year Success course in their first semester at RU. Transfer students entering with fewer than 90 hours are required to take the Transfer Success course in their first semester at RU.
• Ideas of Social Justice - All undergraduate students who enter with fewer than 30 hours of transfer credit are required to take an Ideas of Social Justice course.
• Experiential Learning - Students who enter Roosevelt as freshmen, or transfer students with less than 60 hours, are required to take two Experiential Learning courses at the 200- or 300-level (for a total of 6 credit hours). Transfer students who enter with 60 or more hours are required to take one Experiential Learning course at the 200- or 300-level (3 credits).

Policies for Readmitted Students

Students who are readmitted to the university must adhere to the current catalog requirements, and thus follow the same requirements as transfer students. Readmitted students can be waived of CORE courses based on the number of credit hours accumulated during their first time at RU.