The baccalaureate core emphasizes writing, critical thinking, cultural diversity, the arts, sciences, literature, lifelong fitness, and global awareness. The OSU On-line catalog of Bacc Core courses lists the specific courses available.

Some course requirements for the Horticulture major also fulfill Baccalaureate Core requirements.  Check with the Horticulture Advisor to find out more about these courses.

The Baccalaureate Core Requirements are in the following areas:

Skills

This category includes six courses, of which five can be taken at the community college level. No single course may be used by a student to satisfy more than one area of the core even though some courses are approved for more than one area.

• One course from the Writing I category list. (3 credits)
• One course from the Writing II category list. (3 credits)
• One course from the Writing III/Speech category list. (3 credits)
• Mathematics: one class from the Math category list. (3 credits)  The math class that is taken for the Horticulture major will fulfill this category.
• One course from the Fitness category list. (3 credits)
• One Writing Intensive Course (WIC), upper division, included in credits for the major.  This requirement is fulfilled by taking OSU classes Horticulture 311 or Horticulture 358.

Perspectives

Remember when taking Perspectives courses: no more than two courses from any one department may be used to satisfy the Perspectives area of the core.

• One course (including lab) from the Physical Science category list. (4 credits)
• One course (including lab) from the Biological Science category list. (4 credits)
• Plus choice of one additional Physical Science OR Biological Science course. (including lab) (4 credits)

The biology and chemistry classes that are taken to fulfill Horticulture major requirements will also fulfill the required core science classes described above.

• One course from the Western Culture category list. (3 credits)
• One course from the Cultural Diversity category list. (3 credits)
• One course from the Literature and the Arts category list. (3 credits)
• One course from the Social Processes and Institutions category list. (3 credits)
• One course from the Difference, Power, and Discrimination list. (3 credits)

Synthesis (Upper Division classes)

If you attend a community college before transfer, you will wait and take these two classes at OSU.  Synthesis courses need to be taken in different departments.

• One course from the Contemporary Global Issues category list. (3 credits)
• One course from the Science, Technology and Society category list. (3 credits)

Some courses that meet the synthesis requirement will also meet the ecology elective that is a requirement in some of the Horticulture Options. These courses are GEO 300, FW 325, FOR 365 and RNG 477.