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 2025 - Spring 2026

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, Kinesiology: Gerwyn Hughes & Christrian Thompson 
  • Biology: John Paul
  • Chemistry: Janet Yang
  • Computer Science: Ellen Veomett
  • Environmental Science: Tracy Benning
  • Mathematics: James Wilson
  • Physics: Brandon Brown

Area C: Humanities

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

Area D: Philosophy and Theology

  • Chair, Theology & Religious Studies: Mark Miller 
  • Philosophy: Nick Leonard

Area E: Social Sciences

  • Chair, Media Studies: Inna Arzumanova 
  • Communication Studies: Allison Thorson
  • Economics: Jesse Antilla-Hughes and Michael Jonas
  • Environmental Studies: Marilyn DeLaure
  • Global Studies: Nora Fisher Onar
  • Politics: Keally McBride
  • Psychology: Kevin Chun
  • Sociology: Hwaji Shin

Area F: Visual and Performing Arts

  • Chair, Performing Arts and Social Justice: Roberto Gutierrez Varea
  • Art + Architecture: Eric Hongisto