UAB Blazer Core Curriculum

Blazer Core Curriculum is UAB’s transformative new general education program. Drawing on a multi-year process of feedback and collaboration with faculty, students, administration, and community members, the new Blazer Core Curriculum has been designed to provide students with inspiring opportunities to understand and respond to the opportunities and challenges of today and the future.

Through immersive, interdisciplinary educational experiences that bring the classroom and our fascinating city together, students will have the opportunity to gain foundational knowledge that prepares them for success at UAB, and provides opportunities to develop as innovative thinkers, dynamic communicators, insightful researchers, and reflective global citizens.

 

Blazer Core Curriculum:

Core CurriculumHours
On Ramp 0 Credits

The on-ramp is not a course and does not offer course credit, but is rather a series of exciting events that are designed to immerse students in the values and principles of UAB and kick-start their engagement in the UAB and Birmingham community.

Local Beginnings 3 Credits

Students begin locally in a community of learners that is developed through our innovative First Year Experience courses. These courses provide students with a meaningful introduction to academic study at UAB that engages them in the process of designing pathways for both their future careers and future engagements as citizens.

RequirementsHours
Local Beginnings3
Introduction to Business
Business Foundations
Success in College
Touch the Future
Introduction to Engineering
Experience the University Transition
Student Success in Nursing
Transitioning to College, Exploring Public Health
Exploring UAB
Success and the City
Keys to Academic Success
Academic Foundations 15 Credits

Intellectual foundations provide students with opportunities to develop and apply processes of print and digital communication, quantitative literacy, and critical and ethical thinking to real-world issues. Courses such as our innovative place-based Freshman English courses foster students’ awareness of how foundational knowledge directly impacts the lives of those in our community and world.

RequirementsHours
Writing 6
Freshman Writing I and Freshman Writing II provide students with strong writing processes that enable students to become adaptable writers who can communicate in a variety of different media for different audiences.
English Composition I
Introduction to Freshman Writing I
English Composition I for Second Language Writers
English Composition II
Introduction to Freshman Writing II
English Composition II for Second Language Writers
Quantitative Literacy 3
Courses in quantitative literacy provide students with central conceptual knowledge of numbers, formulas, data, and probabilities, and encourage students to apply this knowledge to address real-world problems.
Pre-Calculus Algebra
Pre-Calculus Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trigonometry
Mathematics of Social Choice
Finite Mathematics
Calculus I
Calculus II
Mathematics of Biological Systems I
Introduction to Statistics
Calculus I - Honors
Calculus II - Honors
Introduction to Differential Equations
Introduction to Linear Algebra
Understanding the World Through Data
Reasoning through Modeling and Simulation of Data
Biostatistics
Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
Reasoning3
Courses in reasoning teach logic and reasoning processes, including ethical thinking processes that enable students to understand the critical dialogues and discourses that shape our world.
Introduction to Peace Studies
Principles of Ethics
Biology of Sex
Honors Seminar in Health Professions
Honors Seminar
Honors Seminar in Reasoning
Contemporary Moral Issues
Bioethics
Practical Reasoning
Introduction to Symbolic Logic
Foundations of Comparative Politics
Foundations of Political Theory
Introduction to Public Health
Cross-Cultural Perspective on Child Development
Communicating in the Modern World 3
Courses in communicating the modern world expand students’ understanding of verbal and visual forms of communication and empower them to become effective and adaptive communicators.
Introductory Arabic I
and Introductory Arabic I Lab
Introductory Arabic II
Contemporary Issues in Science Policy
Introductory Chinese I
and Introductory Chinese I Lab
Introductory Chinese II
Intermediate Chinese I
Public Speaking
Introduction to Human Communication
Introductory French I
and Introductory French I Lab Practice
Introductory French II
Intermediate French I
Introductory German I
and Introductory German I Lab Practice
Introductory German II
Intermediate German I
Honors Seminar in Engineering
Honors Seminar in Business
Introductory Italian I
and Introductory Italian I Lab
Introductory Italian II
Introductory Japanese I
and Introductory Japanese I Lab
Introductory Japanese II
Intermediate Japanese I
Introductory Portuguese I
and Introductory Portuguese I Lab Practice
Introductory Portuguese II
Public Service
American State and Local Government
Introductory Spanish I
and Introductory Spanish I Lab Practice
Introductory Spanish II
Intermediate Spanish I
Introductory World Language I
Introductory World Language II
Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
Total Hours15
Thinking Broadly 20 Credits

To respond to the opportunities of tomorrow, students need the ability to think from a range of different disciplinary and cultural perspectives, recognize and value the diversity of human culture and identity, perceive the vital importance of intellectual and public knowledge of scientific inquiry in our society, understand the historical development of the cultures, communities, and networks that shape our world, and critically understand how narrative, visual art, and design shape our contemporary experience of the world.

RequirementsHours
History & Meaning3
Courses in this section will explore the ways that human beings have sought to understand, organize, and interpret the human experience and to give it meaning.
Introduction to African-American Studies
Art and Medicine: A History
Introducing Archaeology
Interpreting Film
Forms of Literature
Ideas in Literature
Honors Seminar in History & Meaning
Honors Seminar in Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Honors Seminar in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Honors Seminar
Honors Seminar History & Meaning
Western Civilization I
Western Civilization II
World History to 1600
World History 1600 to the Present
World History and Technology I
World History and Technology II
The United States To 1877
The United States Since 1877
Reacting to the Past
Introduction to Philosophy
Introduction to Ethics
Philosophy of Religion
Urban Politics
The International Biopic
The Creative Arts 3
Courses in this section will explore the imaginative and creative arts.
The Art Experience
Modern Visual Culture
Ancient and Medieval Art
Early Modern-Contemporary Art
Survey of African Art
Survey of Asian Art
Creativity and Imagination
Introduction to Creative Writing
Honors Seminar in Public Health
Honors Seminar in Creative Arts
Honor Seminar in Arts and Humanities
Music Appreciation
Jazz Styles: History and Appreciation
African-American Music 1619-Present
Introduction to the Theatre
Introduction to Cinema
Introduction to Dance
Plays on Film
Worlds of Anime and Manga
World Literatures in English Translation
Scientific Inquiry 8
Courses in this section will teach students the processes of scientific inquiry and the uses of scientific evidence and challenge them to think about the importance of scientific inquiry for understanding and addressing our world’s key challenges. These courses will be accompanied by labs.
Introduction to Biological Anthropology
and Laboratory in Biological Anthropology
Astronomy of the Universe
and Astronomy of the Universe Laboratory
Astronomy of Stellar Systems
and Astronomy of Stellar Systems Laboratory
Astronomy of the Solar System
and Astronomy of the Solar Systems Laboratory
Extraterrestrial Life
and Extraterrestrial Life Laboratory
Topics in Contemporary Biology
and Topics Contemporary Biology Laboratory
Human Population and the Earth's Environment
Introductory Biology I
Introductory Biology II
Introductory Chemistry I
and Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory
Introductory Chemistry II
and Introductory Chemistry II Laboratory
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory
General Chemistry I HONORS
and General Chemistry I HONORS Laboratory
General Chemistry II HONORS
and General Chemistry II HONORS Laboratory
Data Science for All
Physical Geology
Physical Geology Laboratory
Honors Seminar: Scientific Inquiry
College Physics I
College Physics II
General Physics I
General Physics II
Physical Science
Physical Science II
Humans and their Societies3
Courses in this section look at the ways that human beings behave in the social world and how they have organized their societies.
Introducing Cultural Anthropology
Language and Culture
Crime and Everyday Life
Media, Culture and Society
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Honors Seminar: Special Topics
Honors Seminar in Education
Honors Seminar Humans & their Societies
Art and Science of Language
Well Being and You
Healthy People, Healthy Planet
Social and Political Philosophy
Science, Knowledge, and Reality
Foundations of American Government
Foundations of International Relations
Introduction to Global Health
Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health
Introduction to Psychology
Honors Introduction to Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Honors Developmental Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Sociology of Sex and Gender
Contemporary Social Problems
Foreign Cultures
Additional Selection3
Select one additional course from History & Meaning, The Creative Arts, or Humans & Their Societies
Total Hours20
City as Classroom 3 Credits

A signature initiative of Blazer Core, City as Classroom courses will be taught by faculty across the many disciplines at UAB and will immerse students in undergraduate research, experiential learning, or other high-impact practices that enable them to see the role of knowledge in addressing the challenges and opportunities of our city. Here are just a few possible examples:

RequirementsHours
City As a Classroom3
Taxation and the Working Poor
CAC: Climate Change and the Environment
CAC: Aging: From Cells to Society
City as Classroom
Economic Impacts, Equity and History of Birmingham
Disability in Society
Writing in Birmingham
Reading in Birmingham
Urban Geology
Honor Seminar - City as a Classroom
City as Classroom
Dialect and Language Diversity in the South
Health in the City
Community Data Research
Philosophy Service Learning
Political Science City as Classroom
Introduction to Sustainability: Shaping Our Shared Future
Health Equity, Disparities, and Social Justice in Alabama
Community Service Practicum
Eating in Birmingham: From Food Banks to Fine Dining
My Global Birmingham
Multicultural City: Heritage through Festivals

Flags (5 minimum):

As students progress through Blazer Core, they will develop key skills and capabilities that sometimes are not reflected on their transcripts. Our innovative flagging program allows students to earn flags for course work and co-curricular activities that cultivate specific skills, perspectives, and habits of mind that reflect the goals of the core and ideals of UAB. Here are just a few of our important flags.

  • Justice
  • Wellness/Wellbeing
  • Sustainability
  • Civic Engagement
  • High-Impact Practices
    • First Year Experiences
    • Common Intellectual Experiences
    • Collaborative Assignments and Projects
    • Service Learning/Community Based Learning
    • Undergraduate Research
    • Post-Freshman Writing
    • Global/Multicultural Perspectives
Total Semester Hours:41

Flagged Coursework

Requirement Fulfilled By:
Civic Engagement AC 264, ARA 101, ARA 101L, ARA 102, ARS 280, BY 201, BY 225, CHI 101, CHI 101L, CHI 102, ECY 200, FR 101, FR 101L, FR 102, GN 101, GN 101L, GN 102, HC 130, HY 102, HY 120, HY 121, ITL 101, ITL 101L, ITL 102, JPA 101, JPA 101L, JPA 102, PH 104, POR 101, POR 101L, POR 102, PSC 100, PSC 101, PSC 104, PSC 120, PSC 221, PUH 275, PUH 280, PY 197, SPA 101, SPA 101L, SPA 102, WLL 101, WLL 102
Global and Multicultural Perspectives AAS 200, ANTH 100, ANTH 101, ANTH 102, ANTH 106, ANTH 120, ARA 101, ARA 101L, ARA 102, ARH 101, ARH 102, ARH 205, ARH 206, CHI 101, CHI 101L, CHI 102, CHI 201, DCS 101, FR 101, FR 101L, FR 102, FR 201, GN 101, GN 101L, GN 102, GN 201, HC 113, HC 117, HC 216, HY 104, HY 105, HY 106, HY 107, HY 202, ITL 101, ITL 101L, ITL 102, JPA 101, JPA 101L, JPA 102, JPA 201, MU 120, MU 165, MU 205, POR 101, POR 101L, POR 102, PSC 102, PSC 103, PUH 202, PY 101, PY 212, PY 213, SPA 101, SPA 101L, SPA 102, SPA 201, THR 100, THR 105, THR 200, WLL 101, WLL 102, WLL 120, WLL 132, WLL 140, WLL 220, WLL 230
Collaborative Assignments & Projects ARH 210, ANTH 101, ANTH 102, AST 101, AST 102, AST 103, AST 105, AST 111, AST 112, AST 113, AST 115, EGR 200, PH 103, PH 104, PH 201, PH 202, PH 221, PH 222, PHL 299, PHS 101, PHS 102, PUH 202, THR 100
Service Learning/Community-Based Learning AC 264, BY 203, CAS 112, CE 280, DCS 101, HY 200, MA 189, PHL 299, PSC 267, PUH 275, PY 197, WLL 120, WLL 125, WLL 130
Undergraduate Research EC 220, PH 202, PH 222, PH 299, WLL 125
Justice ANTH 104, ANTH 120, ARH 204, ARH 205, CJ 207, ECY 200, HC 218, HY 120, HY 121, MU 205, PHL 230, PSC 101, PSC 104, PSC 120, SOC 100, SOC 220, SOC 245, WLL 125, WLL 130, WLL 145, WS 100
Post-Freshman Writing ARH 203, ARH 204, ARH 206, EH 203, EH 204, EH 205, EH 210, EH 212, EH 213, HY 201, PHL 125, PHL 203, PHL 230, PHL 270, PHL 299, WLL 220, WLL 230
Sustainability ANTH 104, ANTH 106, AST 102, AST 112, BY 101, BY 102, BY 103, BY 108, BY 201, CE 280, FR 201, GN 201, HC 120, HY 106, HY 107, PUH 280, WLL 140
Wellness/Wellbeing ANTH 101, BUS 101, CHI 201, HC 112, HC 219, JPA 201, NTR 121, NTR 201, PUH 204, SPA 201
First Year Experience BUS 101, BUS 102, CAS 112, EDU 100, EGR 200, HRP 101, NUR 100, PUH 101, UASC 101, UASC 102, UASC 105

UAB remains committed to the principles of AGSC and will honor the STARS Guides or Alabama Transfers Guides for our Alabama two-year transfer students.