2023-2024 Catalog and Student Handbook

The Distribution Requirement (28 Hours)

In addition to completing the 18 credits of Core PioPathway Courses, a student must also complete 28 hours across the following five Distribution Categories:

Quantitative Reasoning - QR (3 Hours)

Quantitative Reasoning courses focus on the process by which problems are described mathematically and solved within a structured mathematical framework, as well as to the manipulation and interpretation of numerical categorical information. Courses with the MATH prefix generally are eligible for the Quantitative Reasoning distribution category.

Artistic Expression - AE (6 Hours)

Artistic Expression courses focus on participation in and examination of aesthetic creation. Through art, individuals and groups explore the intersections of ideas and feelings, as well as the relationship between literal and figurative expression. Courses with the following prefixes generally are eligible for the Artistic Expression distribution category:

ART, DANC, ENGL. GRPH, MUSC, THEA, WRIT (excluding WRIT 101/102)

Civilization & Culture - CC (6 Hours)

Civilization and Culture courses focus on how cultural, linguistic, philosophical, political, economic, and religious structures within localities and regions work with and against each other to form civilizations. It further examines how structures of the past relate to those found in our present world. Courses with the following prefixes generally are eligible for the Civilization & Culture distribution category:

ASN, ARTH, CHIN, HIST, LING, PHIL, PORT, RELI, SPAN

Social Analysis - SA (6 Hours)

Social Analysis courses focus on systematized efforts to understand human behavior and relationships. It converts complex human actions and interactions into observable, testable, interpretable data. Courses with the following prefixes generally are eligible for the Social Analysis distribution category:

ECON, ENTR, ENVS, GEND, MASS, COMM (excluding COMM 203), MNGT, MKTG, POLS, SOCI

Scientific Inquiry - SIB (includes lab) SIC (non-lab) (7-8 Hours including at least one lecture/lab course)

Scientific Inquiry courses focus on systematized efforts to understand the living and non-living natural world. It demonstrates how laws of nature are inferred, isolated, observed, tested, interpreted, and shared. Courses with the following prefixes generally are eligible for the Scientific Inquiry distribution category:

ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, ENGY, ENVR, GEOL, PHYS, PSYC

Course Eligibility Exceptions

Courses outside of these categories may be eligible

Some courses not within these disciplines have been deemed eligible to fulfill Distribution Requirements by the Curriculum Committee and are labeled in the Course Descriptions and online Course Schedule with the appropriate category.

Courses within these categories may not be eligible

Similarly, some courses within these disciplines have been excluded from the distribution category noted. These too are identified in the college descriptions and course schedule.

NOTE: Co-curricular hours can fulfill a maximum of three (3) credit hours per Distribution category. Additionally, internships and other types of individualized study may not be applied toward the Distribution Requirement.