Pioneer Core

The Pio Core is Carroll’s general education curriculum. Pio Core expands student learning beyond the major area of study and develops depth and breadth. The knowledge and skills developed through the Pio Core are essential for students to reach their full potential as educated citizens in diverse communities and in an ever-changing work force. Students accomplish the learning outcomes through the following categories of curriculum: Foundational Experiences, Cross-cultural Experience, Communication, and Distribution Courses.

Foundational Experiences - First-Year Experience 100 or 199 

The First-Year Experience (FYE) course is designed to help students successfully transition to college life by developing academic, personal, and social skills essential for thriving in higher education. This course emphasizes the values embedded in the Carroll University Ethos-respect, integrity, and stewardship-and provides students with the tools to apply these principles in their academic, social, and professional lives. Embedding these concepts, the student will explore complexities and significance of a global challenge (e.g., climate change, global health disparities, migration, or resource management) while addressing the interconnectedness of these challenges in the modern world.  FYE 100  is designed for new, traditional students and is four credits. FYE 199  is designed for transfer students and is two credits.

Cross-Cultural Experience - CCS3##, NCE###, or Study Abroad

A minimum of two credits is required. Students who are required to take an approved, credit-bearing CCE as part of their major/minor have satisfied this requirement and do not need to take an additional CCE. International students with F1 student visa status have fulfilled this requirement and are not required to take a CCE.

The Cross-Cultural Experience has three parts: preparation, experience and reflection. Research has shown that all three parts are required to ensure that students get the most from the CCE. Students may choose from a variety of choices to fulfill the CCE requirement. Options include on-campus (no travel), local, domestic and international experiences:

• CCS3## (2 credits) or NCE### (4 credits)
• International study abroad (IOP301), for a summer, winter, semester, or academic year program
• Discipline-specific courses approved for CCE credit

CCS3## Courses (2-credit): CCS3## courses can occur on campus, locally, or include travel domestically or internationally. The courses are led by Carroll faculty. Prior to any travel, students must participate in classroom preparation. Students also will engage in post-experience reflection activities. CCE webpage

NCE### (4-credit): NCE courses are worth four academic credits and are taught by Carroll University instructors. NCE courses include both a classroom component and a travel component and generally take students off-campus. Each course has a specific academic focus along with a particular emphasis on understanding new cultures. NCE Courses

Study Abroad (IOP301): Students in good academic standing with at least 16 completed Carroll University credits at the time of participation may apply for approval to enroll in a study abroad program. Approved study abroad students remain enrolled at the university during the semester or academic-year study abroad period. Applications for study abroad programs are due at least one semester prior to the semester in which the student intends to study; however, students are advised to begin the process by contacting the Office of Global Education a full year ahead of their intended departure. A listing of the many and varied study abroad opportunities is available on the “Study Abroad” tab on the Carroll University CCE webpage.

Study abroad opportunities include three types of programs: exchange, affiliated and unaffiliated.

1. Exchange Programs
   Exchange programs are programs in which the school abroad sends us their students and we, in turn, send our students for a semester or academic year. Students participating in semester and year exchange programs receive their regular financial aid package, including institutional scholarships. They pay their Carroll University tuition. In most cases, room and board are paid directly to the host institution. Students are assessed a fee per semester or per winter/summer study abroad by Carroll University. Visit the Carroll University CCE website for a list of exchange programs.
2. Affiliated Programs
   Affiliated programs are universities or study programs determined by Carroll to meet our academic standards. Students remain a Carroll University student while studying abroad on an affiliate program. Students participating in affiliated programs may be eligible for federal, state and outside funding as applicable. Institutional aid is not available for affiliated programs. Students pay program tuition to Carroll University which, in turn, remits the monies to the program provider. In most cases, room and board are paid directly to the host institution or program. Students are assessed a $400 per semester or $175 per winter or summer study abroad/away fee by Carroll University. Visit the Carroll University CCE Website for the most up-to-date list of partner programs.
3. Unaffiliated Programs
   Unaffiliated programs are programs that students independently identify as a preferred study abroad option. Students sometimes want a study abroad experience that is not available through our Exchange or Affiliated Programs. Students need approval for an unaffiliated program in order to remain a Carroll University student while abroad. Students participating in unaffiliated programs may be eligible for federal, state and outside funding as applicable. Institutional aid is generally not available for unaffiliated programs. Students pay all tuition and fees directly to the host institution. Students are assessed a fee per semester or per winter/summer study abroad by Carroll University. Visit the Carroll University CCE Website for more information on unaffiliated study abroad programs.

CCE Eligibility: Students interested in a CCS3##, NCE course, or study abroad program must submit a CCE application through the CCE website and have a minimum of 16 completed credit hours from Carroll University at the time of participation. Enrollment is determined by the Office of Global Education, who reviews student records to ensure that the applicant is in good standing related to both academics and conduct.

Fees: The cost for CCS3##, NCE###, and Study Abroad programs vary. Additional information for CCE courses is available on the Carroll University CCE webpage or from the Office of Global Education.

Communication - 1 Course

The ability to identify appropriate messages to convey information and ideas using communication tools and techniques is a skill that is highly transferable and desired by employers. Students will learn to select the best content, style, and tools to relay information and create compelling messages in oral and/or team contexts. Students who are required to take one of the courses listed below for their major/minor have satisfied this requirement and do not have to take an additional communication course.

Students may choose from these approved communication courses to meet this requirement:

     COM 101  Principles of Communication

     COM 201  Presentational Communication

     COM 232  Teams and Organizations

     COM 241  Communication and Conflict

     COM 290  Health and Communication

Distribution Courses - 5 Courses

The Distribution Component of the Pio Core consists of courses that are outside a student’s academic major area of study. The Distribution Component includes two main features: four introductory-level General Education 1 (GE1) courses that encourage disciplinary breadth and one higher-level General Education 2 (GE2) course that fosters depth outside the major. There are five Distribution Areas, and each academic major is housed in one of these areas: Fine Arts, Humanities, Philosophy/Ethics/Religion, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences.

Note 1: When a student changes his/her current major to a major in a different distribution area, it will be the responsibility of the student to ensure that all the requirements of the new distribution area are met.

GE1 courses

Students must complete four GE1 courses: one from each of the four Distribution Areas outside of their major area of study for a total of 16 credits. Students are not required to take a course from the Distribution Area in which their major is housed (e.g., a Chemistry major need not take an additional GE1 course from the Natural Sciences Distribution Area beyond what the program requires).

GE2 courses

A student must take one GE2 course of four credits. A GE2 course must be from the same distribution area and the same discipline as one of the GE1 courses previously taken (e.g., a GE1 English course and a GE2 English course). A GE2 course builds upon knowledge from a previous GE1 course and provides depth in an area of interest outside a student’s major. Some GE2 courses have a prerequisite. Students should consult the catalog descriptions for courses that interest them to determine whether this might be the case.

GE1 and GE2 Courses

Organization of Majors in Distribution Areas