Core Area Committees

Core Area Committees discuss proposed course designations via email and, when necessary, meet as a group. Faculty seeking a core designation(s) for a course must submit a proposal. Learn more about the process on our Courses page.

USF Core Breadth Policy

Students may receive their only exposure to an area of academic study that is not in their major through the university CORE. Because of this, CORE courses should generally be introductory survey courses that provide an introduction to an academic discipline, or a broad area of an academic discipline, rather than specialized courses that examine a specific area in more depth. The exception to this breadth requirement is First Year Seminars/Transfer Student Seminars. 

USF Core Turf Policy

The expectation is that Core area classes are taught by faculty with training, expertise, and affiliation in the associated disciplines of the Core areas. Exceptions must be approved by appropriate department chair.

Core Assessment

For information on the five-year Core Assessment process, please see our Core Assessment page. 

Members: Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

Area A: Foundations of Communication

  • Chair, Rhetoric, and Language: Mark Meritt
  • Public Speaking Director: Leigh Meredith
  • Composition Director: Nicole Howell

Area B: Math and Sciences

  • Chair, Computer Science: Chris Brooks
  • Biology: James Sikes
  • Chemistry: Janet Yang
  • Environmental Science: Calla Schmidt
  • Kinesiology: Karen Francis & Shannon Siegel
  • Mathematics: Jennifer Chubb
  • Physics: Marcelo Camperi

Area C: Humanities

  • Chair, History: Katrina Olds
  • English: Ana Rojas
  • Languages, Literatures, & Cultures: Matthew Motyka, S.J. and Rakhel Villamil-Acera

Area D: Philosophy and Theology

  • Chair, Theology & Religious Studies: Mark Miller
  • Philosophy: Geoff Ashton

Area E: Social Sciences

  • Chair, Communication Studies: Allison Thorson
  • Economics: Peter Lorentzen
  • Environmental Studies: David Silver
  • International Studies: Brian Dowd-Uribe
  • Media Studies: Inna Arzumanova
  • Politics: Keally McBride
  • Psychology: Violet Cheung & Kevin Chun
  • Sociology: Kimberly Richman 

Area F: Visual and Performing Arts

  • Chair, Performing Arts and Social Justice: Megan Nicely
  • Art + Architecture: Kate Lusheck & Stuart McKee