FAQ
The Core Curriculum at Qatar University ensures that all undergraduates are equipped with a broad knowledgebase related to disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, basic skills and dispositions essential to their intellectual growth, moral maturity, personal fulfillment and social development needed for living successfully in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world.
Generally, all undergraduates pursuing a baccalaureate degree at Qatar University are required to complete a 33-credit hours of Core Curriculum before receiving a baccalaureate degree. Students should consult with their academic advisors on their study plans to make appropriate decisions.
The Core Curriculum is spread out across students' full tenure at Qatar University. When applicable, it is only recommended to take UNIV100 course during your first year. The Core requirements must be completed only prior to graduation.
Grading and workload in Core Curriculum courses are as rigorous as courses offered to majors.
The Core Curriculum is specifically designed to allow students the freedom to explore topics, skills, and areas of knowledge outside their major field of study. In line with its overarching mission, the Core Curriculum fosters active learning, student participation, and hands-on approaches in the classroom. These approaches are central components of the Core Curriculum's pedagogic philosophy.
The Core Curriculum is structured and designed around four objectives, which deliver clear benefits to all students. These four objectives are distributed through the domains and packages that make up the University Core Program.
What you will learn will depend on the course you choose. However, after completing your degree, your understanding and appreciation of the following would have been enhanced as a result of taking the courses in the Core Curriculum:
- Develop an appreciation of other cultures as well as an understanding of global issues
- Make moral and ethical choices with an awareness of the immediate and long-term effects on our world
- Think, speak and write effectively, and evaluate the oral and written expression of others in Arabic and English
- Think across areas of specialization and integrate ideas from a variety of academic disciplines and applied fields
- Develop a critical appreciation of the ways in which we gain and apply knowledge and understanding of the universe, of society, and of ourselves
- Understand the experimental methods of the natural and social sciences as well as the creative approaches of the arts
The Core Curriculum structure, implemented in Fall 2012, is organized around seven packages. Each package includes a set of courses that have a central theme reflected in the title and description that each package has. The structure was developed to identify sets of skills and knowledge to be mastered and provide wide options that individually or collectively fulfill the credit requirements for each package. Each package has a minimum required number of credit hours.
This depends on the Foundation Program courses you are exempted from. If you are exempted from the English courses, then you can take 6 credit hours from the Core courses. If you are exempted from the math courses, then you can take 3 credit hours from the Core for each case.
The courses will be counted towards your Major and not the Core.
Yes, courses you have done will be counted toward your graduation.
Yes, please check with your Academic Advisor.
Yes! You should always do your best to get the highest grade; Core courses are as rigorous as courses in the major. In addition, most universities will not accept a grade of D in transfer to fulfill Core requirements. Guaranteed transfer applies to Core courses completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.
The Core is arranged in packages. Each package includes sets of courses that reflect "big ideas" or areas. You must select approved courses from within each package.
No. While there are elements in common, each university has a Core Curriculum structure, which might differ in terms of the required credit hours and overall design. Each university has a unique Core. Core courses can be transferred from one University to another based on a transfer policy.
If you have additional questions about Core Curriculum, please speak with an advisor at your designated college. You may also check with individual program advisors for details or Visit the Core Curriculum Website.
