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 2024 - Spring 2025

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, Environmental Science: Tracy Benning
  • Biology: John Paul
  • Chemistry: Janet Yang
  • Computer Science: Chris Brooks
  • Kinesiology: Karen Francis & Shannon Siegel
  • Mathematics: Cornelia Von Cott
  • Physics: Brandon Brown

Area C: Humanities

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

Area D: Philosophy and Theology

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

Area E: Social Sciences

  • Chair, International Studies: Nora Fisher Onar
  • Economics: Jesse Antilla-Hughes and Michael Jonas
  • Environmental Studies: Adrienne Johnson
  • Communication Studies: Allison Thorson
  • Media Studies: Bernadette Barker-Plummer
  • Politics: Keally McBride
  • Psychology: Kevin Chun
  • Sociology: Joshua Gamson

Area F: Visual and Performing Arts

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