VSU Core IMPACTS Syllabus
Core Syllabus Statements
Listed below are Valdosta State University's Core IMPACTS syllabus statements for use in all Core courses; as well as Career-Ready Competencies Definitions.*Red letters within course titles are to be replaced with the correct course number and course title.
Mathematics & Quantitative Skills
Political Science & U.S. History
Arts, Humanities & Ethics
Technology, Mathematics, & Sciences
Social Sciences
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Institutional Priority area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How does my institution help me to navigate the world?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically and solve problems related to academic priorities at their institution.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Critical Thinking
- Teamwork
- Time Management
In this area, students will select one 3-hour math course from the following:
MATH 1001, MATH 1101, MATH 1111, MATH 1112, MATH 1113/1113H, MATH 1401,
MATH 2261/2261H, MATH 2262
*Courses that fit into two IMPACTS areas.
MATH XXXX COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Mathematics & Quantitative Skills area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I measure the world?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will apply mathematical and computational knowledge to interpret, evaluate, and communicate quantitative information using verbal, numerical, graphical, or symbolic forms.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Information Literacy
- Inquiry and Analysis
- Problem-Solving
MATH XXXX COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Mathematics & Quantitative Skills area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I measure the world?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will apply mathematical and computational knowledge to interpret, evaluate, and communicate quantitative information using verbal, numerical, graphical, or symbolic forms.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Information Literacy
- Inquiry and Analysis
- Problem-Solving
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the STEM area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I ask scientific questions or use data, mathematics, or technology to understand the universe?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will use the scientific method and laboratory procedures or mathematical and computational methods to analyze data, solve problems, and explain natural phenomena.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Inquiry and Analysis
- Problem-Solving
- Teamwork
This area is satisfied by completing the following required courses:
POLS 1101 or POLS 1101H and one of the following:
HIST 2111 or 2111H, HIST 2112 or 2112H
POLS 1101 Introduction to Political Science
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Political Science & U.S. History area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I prepare for my responsibilities as an engaged citizen?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the history of the United States, the history of Georgia, and the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Critical Thinking
- Intercultural Competence
- Persuasion
POLS 1101H Honors American Government
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Political Science & U.S. History area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I prepare for my responsibilities as an engaged citizen?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the history of the United States, the history of Georgia, and the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Critical Thinking
- Intercultural Competence
- Persuasion
HIST 2XXX COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Political Science & U.S. History area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I prepare for my responsibilities as an engaged citizen?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the history of the United States, the history of Georgia, and the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Critical Thinking
- Intercultural Competence
- Persuasion
HIST 2XXXH Honors COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Political Science & U.S. History area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I prepare for my responsibilities as an engaged citizen?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the history of the United States, the history of Georgia, and the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Critical Thinking
- Intercultural Competence
- Persuasion
This area is satisfied by completing one required world literature course from the following:
- ENGL 2111/2111H, ENGL 2112/2112H, ENGL 2113/2113H
One course from the following or any of the required world literature courses not already taken in this area: ARAB, FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 1001*, ARAB, FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 1002, ARAB, FREN, GRMN, JAPN, L.ATN, RUSS, or SPAN 2001, ARAB, FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 2002, ART 1100/1100H, COMM 1100, COMM 1110, DANC 1500, MDIA 2000, MUSC 1100, MUSC 1120, MUSC 1130, PHIL 2010/2010H, PHIL 2020/2020H, REL 2020, THEA 1100, ENGL 2111/2111H, ENGL 2112/2112H, ENGL 2113/2113H
ENGL 2XXX COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Arts, Humanities & Ethics area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Ethical Reasoning
- Information Literacy
- Intercultural Competence
ENGL 2XXXH Honors COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Arts, Humanities & Ethics area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Ethical Reasoning
- Information Literacy
- Intercultural Competence
Course PREFIX Course Number COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Arts, Humanities & Ethics area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Ethical Reasoning
- Information Literacy
- Intercultural Competence
In this area, students must take the six-hour composition sequence below:
ENGL 1101/1101H, ENGL 1102/1102H
ENGL 110X COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Communicating in Writing area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I write effectively in different contexts?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will communicate effectively in writing, demonstrating clear organization and structure, using appropriate grammar and writing conventions.
- Students will appropriately acknowledge the use of materials from original sources.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Persuasion
ENGL 100XH Honors COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Communicating in Writing area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Ethical Reasoning
- Information Literacy
- Intercultural Competence
For non-science/non-nursing majors - 11 hours
- Any two lab sciences courses from the following (8 hours): ASTR 1010K, ASTR 1020K, BIOL 1010/1020L, BIOL 1030/1040L, BIOL 1951H, BIOL 1952H, CHEM 1010, CHEM 1151K, CHEM 1152K, CHEM 1211/1211L, CHEM 1212/1212L, GEOG 1112K, GEOG 1113K, GEOL 1121K, GEOL 1122K, PHYS 1111K, PHYS 1112K, PHYS 2211K, PHYS 2212K
- Any one course from the following: ASTR 1000, BIOL 1050, BIOL 1080, DATA 1501, ENGR 1010, GEOG 1105, GEOG 1110, GEOG 1125, GEOL 1110, MATH 1112, MATH 1261, MATH 1401, MATH 2261, MATH 2262, PHSC 1100/1100H
For students majoring in astronomy, biology, chemistry computer science, environmental geosciences, mathematics, physics, secondary biology education, secondary chemistry education, secondary mathematics education, secondary physics education, and all students in the pre-engineering program) —11 hours.
- Two lab science courses from the following: BIOL 1107K, BIOL 1108K, CHEM 1211/1211L, CHEM 1212/1212L, PHYS 2211K, PHYS 2212K
- Three hours of mathematics above the level taken in the Mathematics and Quantitative Skills area.
- For biology majors: MATH 1401, MATH 2261, MATH 2262
- For all other science or mathematics majors: MATH 2261, MATH 2262
For students majoring in nursing—11 hours.
- Two semester laboratory sequences: BIOL 1010-1020L and BIOL 1030-1040L, CHEM 1151K and CHEM 1152K, CHEM 1211-1211L & CHEM 1212-1212L, PHYS 1111K and PHYS 1112K, PHYS 2211K and PHYS 2212K
- One course from the following: ASTR 1000, ASTR 1010K, ASTR 1020K, BIOL 1010/1020L, BIOL 1030/1040L, BIOL 1050, BIOL 1080, CHEM 1010, CHEM 1211/1211L, CHEM 1212/1212L, ENGR 1010, GEOG 1105, GEOG 1110, GEOG 1112K, GEOG 1113K, GEOG 1125, GEOL 1110, GEOL 1121K, GEOL 1122K, MATH 1112, MATH 1401, MATH 2261, MATH 2262, PHSC 1100/1100H, PHYS 1111K, PHYS 1112K, PHYS 2211K, PHYS 2212K
Course PREFIX Course Number COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Technology, Mathematics & Sciences area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I ask scientific questions or use data, mathematics, or technology to understand the universe?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will use the scientific method and laboratory procedures or mathematical and computational methods to analyze data, solve problems, and explain natural phenomena.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Inquiry and Analysis
- Problem-Solving
- Teamwork
*For courses that fit into two IMPACTS areas.
MATH XXXX COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Mathematics & Quantitative Skills area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I measure the world?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will apply mathematical and computational knowledge to interpret, evaluate, and communicate quantitative information using verbal, numerical, graphical, or symbolic forms.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Information Literacy
- Inquiry and Analysis
- Problem-Solving
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Technology, Mathematics & Sciences area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I ask scientific questions or use data, mathematics, or technology to understand the universe?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will use the scientific method and laboratory procedures or mathematical and computational methods to analyze data, solve problems, and explain natural phenomena.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Inquiry and Analysis
- Problem-Solving
- Teamwork
Students complete this area by successfully completing any two courses from the following: AFAM 2020/WMST 2020, GEOG 1102, POLS 2401 or 2401H, ANTH 1102 or 1102H, GEOG 1103, POLS 2501, ECON 1500 or 1500H, ECON 2105, HIST 1011 or 1011H, PSYC 1101 or 1101H, HIST 1012 or 1012H, SOCI 1101 or 1101H, GEOG 1100, HIST 1013 or 1013H, SOCI 1160, GEOG 1101, POLS 2101
Course PREFIX Course Number COURSE TITLE
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I understand human experiences and connections?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Intercultural Competence
- Perspective-Taking
- Persuasion
Career-Ready Competencies |
Definition |
Critical Thinking |
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative approaches to solving problems and making decisions. |
Ethical Reasoning |
Assessing one’s own ethical values, recognizing ethical issues in a variety of settings, thinking about how different perspectives might apply to ethical dilemmas, and considering the ramifications of alternative actions. |
Information Literacy |
Recognizing when information is needed, and locating, evaluating, synthesizing, and effectively using the needed information, while appropriately crediting the original source of information. |
Inquiry and Analysis |
Exploring the world, and supporting informed conclusions through the collection, evaluation, and use of relevant evidence. |
Intercultural Competence |
Developing knowledge, skills and behaviors that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contex ts. |
Perspective-Taking |
Considering perspectives other than one’s own and allowing new information, differing opinions, and others’ experiences to impress upon one’s thinking, understanding, and appreciation of others. |
Persuasion |
Using messages that are intentionally designed to appeal to another’s reason, emotions, or both, in order to enact change. |
Problem-Solving |
Designing, evaluating, and implementing strategies to solve problems using data, knowledge and facts. |
Teamwork |
Building and maintaining collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities. |
Time Management |
Prioritizing and structuring tasks and resources to achieve an effective use of time while performing goal-directed activities. |
*Excerpt from: Academic & Student Affairs Handbook (ASH) Guidelines on Core Curriculum (p.4)
- Document Name: impacts-core-ash-guidelines-2023.pdf
- Link: /academics/general-education/documents/impacts-core-ash-guidelines-2023.pdf
General Education
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Academic Affairs
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Mailing Address
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Valdosta, GA 31698 - Phone: 229.333.5950
- Fax: 229.333.7400