Core Education

Core Education is Oregon State University’s general education curriculum. Core Education is a shared experience where students gain knowledge and develop skills to pursue their future. Alongside their major, Core Education prepares students to be adaptive, proactive members of society who are ready to take on any challenge, solve any problem, advance in their chosen career, and help build a better world.

Oregon State delivers Core Education through the Foundational Core and Signature Core. Categories follow the Learning Outcomes, Criteria, and Rationale ratified by Faculty Senate. Core Education is required for undergraduate, degree-seeking students who establish their first term of attendance (matriculation term) at Oregon State University in Summer 2025 onwards. For Degree Partnership Program students, the first term the student is admitted to OSU will be the matriculation term. For additional information, refer to the Catalog Rights Policy.

The Baccalaureate Core, OSU’s former general education curriculum, is required for undergraduate students admitted prior to Summer 2025.

To learn more about transfer credit applicability for Core Education, visit the Core Education Transfer Credit website.

Foundational Core

Through the Foundational Core, students develop fundamental skills and a breadth of knowledge that promote lifelong learning and creative problem-solving. Students begin to explore and address complex topics, which will serve them well in any academic or professional endeavor.

Foundational Core categories:

Signature Core

Through the Signature Core, students apply their critical thinking skills to seek solutions and take action to make a positive impact in their chosen field and in society. Students will further develop the skills necessary for navigating a complex and interconnected world.

Signature Core categories: