University of Portland Bulletin 2014-2015

Lenses for Seeing and Learning Essential Skills and Values

The faculty is committed to teaching students essential skills and values for learning and life. Writing, oral communication, critical thinking, information literacy, and the implications of diversity are core skills distributed throughout the core curriculum. Students will thus have opportunities in their core courses to learn and refine their understanding and application of each of these skills.

The University requires course work in: 

Hrs. Area
3 Fine Arts — Fulfilled by FA 207FA 307, or FA 310.
3 History — Fulfilled by any history course up to and including 300 level.
3 Literature — Fulfilled by ENG 112 only.
3 Mathematics — Fulfilled by any mathematics course above MTH 120.
6 Philosophy — Fulfilled only by PHL 150 and PHL 220.
6 Science — Fulfilled by one course each from 2 clusters, including Human Biology (BIO 103, BIO 106, BIO 203), Food (BIO 104, BIO 107), Physical Science (CHM 105, PHY 109, PHY 163), Environment (ENV 182, THEP 482), Geoscience (ENV 110, ENV 111), Ocean Science (ENV 162, BIO 191: Intro. to Marine Science); or courses in a science major. Consult programs for options.
6 Social Sciences — 2 disciplines fulfilled from among SOC 101, PSY 101, ECN 120, ECN 121 (transfer credit only), POL 200, POL 203, POL 205, SW 205CST 225.
9 Theology

— Lower-division requirements fulfilled only by THE 105 or THE 101 (Transfer students only) and THE 205. Upper-division THE course may be a Theological Perspectives class that can be used to satisfy the distribution requirements of both theology and a companion subject.


The core curriculum applies to transfer students. No substitutions may be made without special permission from the dean.