Cross-College Programs

Cross-College Programs are undergraduate programs that are coordinated in partnership between the undergraduate colleges and other offices of the university. 

Overview

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Interdisciplinary Programs

Loyola's interdisciplinary studies programs give students the chance to examine topics from multiple perspectives, explore issues that emerge at the intersection of academic disciplines, and think creatively about themes and problems across departmental boundaries. These programs draw on the broad intellectual resources of the university and the specialized expertise of teacher-scholars in a variety of departments. Students interested in interdisciplinary study may choose among four majors and eleven minors.

Programs

Interdisciplinary Majors are coordinated through the College of Arts & Sciences. 

Interdisciplinary Minors are coordinated with faculty throughout the undergraduate colleges. 

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Black Studies

Students selecting the Black Studies minor complete the following courses for 21 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA:

  • Choose one of the following history courses for 3 crs: 
    • HIST Q262 Comparative Social Movements
    • HIST Q276 African American History to 1865
    • HIST Q277 African American History Since 1865
    • HIST Q349 Africa to 1880
    • HIST Q350 Africa 1880 to Present
    • HIST Q352 Women in African History
    • HIST T232 Africa & Its Diasporas
       
  • Choose one of the following humanities courses for 3 crs:
    • CLHU A347 Egyptian Art & Archaeology
    • ENGL A331 Introduction to African American Literature
    • ENGL A332 African-American Literature since 1900
    • ENGL A335 Post-Colonial Literature
    • ENGL A373 The Black Writer in America
    • ENGL A450 Black Aesthetics
    • ENGL N210 Global Identities
    • ENGL N216 Post-Colonial and Ethnic American Lit.
    • ENGL N230 WAL: Modern African American Literature 
    • MUGN O272 Jazz in American Culture
    • THEA O243 Black Theatre 1940 - Present
       
  • Choose one of the following social sciences courses for 3 crs:
    • SOCI A204 Introduction to Haitian Society and Culture
    • SOCI A352 Global Race/Ethnic Relations
    • SOCI A375 U.S. Civil Rights Movement
    • SOCI X255 Race, Racism, and Privilege
    • SOCI X260 Race, Class, and Schools
    • SOCI X312 African Diaspora Communities & Cultures
       
  • Electives. Complete any four courses from the list for an additional 12 crs. Please check with the program director for additional course offerings and seminars that may be eligible for program completion.

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Asian Studies 

Students selecting the Asian Studies minor complete the following courses for 21 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA:

  •  Complete seven of the following courses for 21 crs:
    • HIST Q247 Empires of the Modern Pacific
    • POLS A315 International Relations
    • POLS A320 U.S. Foreign Policy
    • POLS X264 Politics and International Relations of North Korea
    • POLS X268 South Korea in the World
    • POLS X325 International Relations of East Asia
    • RELS V232 World Religions and Music
    • RELS V234 World Religions and Ecology
    • RELS V244 Religion, Media, and Culture
    • RELS V253 Varieties of Hindu Tradition
    • RELS V277 Tibetan and Indian Religions
    • RELS V334 Religious Ecologies of South Asia
    • RELS V377 Buddhism Across Asia
    • SOCI X240 Global Sociology
    • Asian Pop Music and Global Culture

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Catholic Studies

Students selecting the Catholic Studies minor complete the following courses for 19 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA:

  • PHIL U223 Religion & Rationality
  • RELS A100 Personal Faith Integration and Spiritual Autobiography (1 cr)
  • RELS S201 Catholic Theological Worldview
  • RELS S270 Jesus Christ
  • Complete three of the courses listed below for 9 crs. One course may be from RELS and at least two courses must be in departments other than RELS. 
    • ARTH: O160 Introduction to Art History I
      • O162 Introduction to Art History II
      • O206 Music and Art in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
      • O220 Medieval Art
      • O305 Italian Renaissance Art
    • BA: B415 Business Ethics
    • ENGL: A316 Medieval Literature
      • A340 Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales
      • A346 Renaissance Poetry
      • A424 Medieval Drama
      • O299 Arthurian Legend
    • HIST: T238 Christian Late antiquity
      • T240 Women in the Middle Ages
      • T256 The Crusades
      • T270 Latin West, Orthodox East
      • Q306 The Middle Ages
      • Q310 Age of the Reformation
    • LAS: O260 Cultural Voyages of the Virgin Mary
    • MUGN: O206 Music /Art/Middle Ages and Renaissance
    • NURS: G384 Spirituality in Health and Illness
    • PHIL: U239 The Self and the Sacred
      • U270 Philosophy/Religion Middle Ages
      • U278 Philosophy of God
      • A340 Being and God
      • A405 History of Medieval Philosophy
      • A408 Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas
    • RELS: A224 Christianity & Society
      • A255 Gospels of Jesus
      • A300 Letters of Paul
      • A320 The Christian God
      • A350 Christology
      • A354 Dynamics of Salvation
      • S238 Liberation Theologies
      • S242 Christian Ethics
      • S245 Christian Ethics and Business
      • S247 New Testament as Literature
      • S252 Catholicism
      • S270 Jesus Christ
      • S330 Faith, Science, and Religion
      • S336 Parables of Jesus
      • S343 Women in Christianity
      • S344 Social Policy and the Christian
      • S348 Christian Origins
      • S358 Ignatius Loyola
    • SOCI: A320 Sociology of Religion
      • A323 Social Justice in New Orleans
    • SPAN: A404 Immigration
  • Check with the program director for additional course offerings and seminars that may be eligible for program completion.

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Medieval Studies

Students selecting the Medieval Studies minor complete the following courses for 18 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA. Courses used for the minor cannot also be used to satisfy requirements for a primary major.

  • Medieval History - complete one of the following courses for 3 crs: 
    • HIST Q305 Medieval Crime & Community
    • HIST Q306 Middle Ages
    • HIST Q307 Saints & Demons in Medieval Europe
    • HIST T235 Roman & Viking Invasions
    • HIST T240 Women in the Middle Ages
    • HIST T256 The Crusades
    • HIST T258 Medicine in the Medieval West
       
  • Medieval Literature - complete one of the following courses for 3 crs:
    • ENGL A316 Medieval Literature
    • ENGL A340 The Canterbury Tales

  • Medieval Thought - complete one of the following courses for 3 crs:
    • PHIL A405 History of Medieval Philosophy
    • PHIL A408 Thomas Aquinas 
    • PHIL A491 Major Seminar: Medieval
    • PHIL U270 Philosophy and Religion in the Middle Ages
       
  • Complete any three additional Medieval Studies eligible courses for 9 crs. These courses can be selected from any list above or any courses listed below:
    • ARTH O160 Introduction to Art History I
    • ARTH O206 Music & Art in the Middle Ages & Renaissance
    • ARTH O220 Medieval Art
    • ENGL N231 Tolkien's Middle Ages
    • HIST Q252 Witchcraft and Magic in Europe
    • HIST Q381 English History to 1688
    • HIST T270 Latin West, Orthodox East
    • HIST T288 Middle East and Islam 600-1650
    • LATN A435 Medieval Latin
    • MUGN O206 Music & Art in the Middle Ages & Renaissance
    • PHIL U278 Philosophy of God
    • RELS S285 Heresies & Heretics
    • SPAN A310 Survey of Spanish Literature
       
  • Please check with the program director for additional course offerings and seminars that may be eligible for program completion.

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Middle East Peace Studies

Students selecting the Middle East Peace Studies minor complete any the following courses for 21 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA:

  • HIST T254 Palestinians & Israelis
     
  • Middle East Studies - complete any 3 of the courses below for 9 crs: 
    • HIST Q357 Modern Iran
    • HIST T256 The Crusades
    • HIST T288 Middle East & Islam 600-1650
    • HIST T289 Middle East 1650 to Present
    • RELS V228 Islamic Law
    • RELS V246 Judaism
    • RELS V260 Introduction to Islam
    • Arabic language courses taken at another institution may be considered for inclusion in this section. Please see the MEPS advisor for which language level qualifies. 
       
  • Complete 9 crs. of the courses listed below; with at least 1 course from each section:
    • Normative Views:
      • ENGL N212 WAL: How to Tell a True War Story
      • PHIL W235 Ethics of Rights
    • Historical and Institutional Practices:
      • HIST Q230 Oppression & Resistance
      • POLS A315 International Relations
      • POLS A320 U.S. Foreign Policy
      • POLS A341 International Organizations
  • Please check with the program director for additional course offerings and seminars that may be eligible for program completion.

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Women’s Studies

Students selecting the Women’s Studies minor must complete the following courses for 21 credit hours. They must have a 2.0 GPA in the minor:

  • Complete one of the following courses for 3 crs:
    • HIST Q268 Gender and Nation
    • PHIL U241 Philosophical Perspectives on Women
    • SOCI A250 Sociology of Gender
       
  • Complete six of the following elective courses if not taken above for 18 crs. Courses must be selected from at least 3 departments:
    • ARTH O236 Women in Art
    • CLHU O230 Women in the Ancient Mediterranean World
    • CMMN A455 Media and Gender
    • CRIM A280 Domestic Violence
    • CRIM A410 Women and Crime
    • ENGL A385 Women Writers
    • ENGL A410 Writing Gender
    • ENGL A466 Southern Women Writers
    • HIST T121 First Brick: Rebuilding the Stonewall Story
    • HIST T121 Gender Violence & Justice
    • HIST Q268 Gender and Nation
    • HIST Q278 African American Women's History
    • HIST Q352 Women in African History
    • HIST T240 Women in the Middle Ages
    • LAS O260 The Cultural Voyages of the Virgin Mary
    • MUGN O204 Women in Music
    • MUHL M407 Topics in Operatic Literature
    • PHIL U222 Philosophy and Feminism
    • PHIL U241 Philosophical Perspectives on Women
    • PHIL U254 Postmodernism and Feminism
    • POLS A235 Gender & Global Politics
    • PSYC A327 Studies in the Psychology of Woman
    • RELS A417 Women, Religion, Culture
    • RELS S343 Women in the Christianity
    • RELS V281 Women in World Religions
    • RELS V265 Ecofeminist Theologies and Spiritualities
    • SOCI A240 Sociology of the Family
    • SOCI A250 Sociology of Gender
    • SOCI A255 Sociology of Sexualities
    • SOCI A321 Body, Society, & Health
    • SOCI T121 Beautiful Body
    • VISA A285 Cinematic Representations of Cross-Gendered Performances
    • WMST T121 Any WMST First-Year Seminar
    • Women Warriors

  • Elective Choice: either HIST Q230 Oppression & Resistance OR SOCI X305 Social / Political Inequality can be taken for credit, but not both.
     
  • Please check with the program director for additional course offerings and seminars that may be eligible for program completion.

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Loyola Core

Loyola’s holistic undergraduate curriculum, which is deeply grounded in Jesuit values and the liberal arts and sciences, is designed to form “students as scholars” who upon graduation have understanding of epistemological theories as well as disciplinary content knowledge, critical thinking skills, self awareness, and a commitment to lifelong learning and lifelong service. 

The Loyola Core stands as a clear expression of the Jesuit vision of education and provides a foundation in a genuinely humanistic education - philosophy, religious studies, literature, history, the sciences, and the arts - complementing the major fields of study of every undergraduate's program. Loyola Core courses will present a wide variety of topics in context, and the program delivers a college-level foundation for the development of critical thinking, oral and written communication, quantitative reasoning, information literacy, and ethical reasoning.

Overview

The Loyola Core involves at least 42 credit hours in 14 requirement areas that satisfy specific areas of study to provide the basis of the liberal arts undergraduate education founded in the nearly 500 year old Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person. One requirement serves as an introductory course to each student's major academic program. In terms of curricular design, this means Loyola Core completion requires 13 courses (at least 39 credit hours) within the Loyola Core, and 1 course (at least 3 credit hours) assigned by each program to the major. Some majors do require 4 credit hour Mathematics courses or Natural Science courses with 1 credit hour lab requirements that slightly increase the number of Loyola Core credit hours.  

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Foundations Area

The 4 courses in the Foundation area are designed for students in their first undergraduate year. Each course provides a solid college-level academic foundation for all undergraduate programs at Loyola, and delivers skills and competencies that will be used throughout the Loyola college experience.

  • First-Year Seminar
    Most incoming students will take this course in their first undergraduate semester. This issues-based, interdisciplinary seminar introduces students to college-level thinking and learning, as well as the Jesuit values at the core of a Loyola education. First-Year Seminars can come from any department or area, but all carry the same course number “T121.”  
     
  • English Composition
    The English Composition requirement is satisfied by ENGL T122 Critical Reading & Writing. English majors take ENGL A205 Writing About Texts. English placement standards can be found in the Academic Regulations section of the University Bulletin.
     
  • Mathematics
    The college-level Mathematics requirement is determined by each student’s major. Mathematics placement standards can be found in the Academic Regulations section of the University Bulletin.  
     
  • Science
    The Foundations Science requirement can be satisfied with SCIE T129 Investigating Nature, or any introductory course offered by Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. Majors in the Natural Sciences will often have a specific course requirement designated for this area of the Loyola Core. 

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Knowledge & Values Area

Knowledge & Values courses deliver skills and competencies while focusing on a topic or theme in context, relating that topic to larger ideas in the field of study. Flexibility on course topic or theme is built into the Loyola Core, allowing students to explore areas of interest within the larger scope of the required disciplinary or interdisciplinary area. Knowledge & Values courses should be taken within 3 years, but must be completed before graduation.

In most undergraduate programs, the required introductory course for the major satisfies one of the areas within the Knowledge & Values section.

  • Creative Arts & Cultures (CAC)
    Courses fulfilling the CAC requirement focus on the study of artistic expression in practice across history and cultures. Topics can involve art history, appreciation of the fine arts, music criticism, or explorations of creative writing and film. CAC course numbers are designated with the letter “O.”
     
  • History 1
    Students will take two History courses within the Loyola Core. The introductory History 1 course numbers are HIST courses designated with the letter “T.”
     
  • History 2
    Students will take two History courses within the Loyola Core. The intermediate History 2 course numbers are HIST courses designated with the letter “Q.” 
     
  • Natural Science in Context
    Courses fulfilling the Natural Science in Context requirement make science relevant and personal. Students learn about quantitative, testable models to predict real-world phenomena along with interpreting and using data to form and support conclusions. Loyola Core Natural Science course numbers are designated with the letter “Y,” but introductory majors courses from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics can also satisfy this requirement. Majors in the Natural Sciences will often have a specific course requirement designated for this area of the Loyola Core.
     
  • Philosophy 1
    The introductory philosophy course for the Loyola Core is PHIL R122 Philosophy of the Human Person. The course covers major systematic areas of philosophical inquiry to provide a set of fundamental reasoning skills that can be applied to future coursework.
     
  • Philosophy 2
    Courses fulfilling the Philosophy 2 requirement examine fundamental philosophical questions on a focus area regarding knowledge, reality, and ethics. Philosophy 2 course numbers are PHIL courses designated with either a “U” or a “W.”
     
  • Religious Studies - Christian Traditions
    Christian Tradition courses engage in historical and analytical study of common practices, doctrines, literatures, institutions, figures and events within the large and diverse Christian religion. Course numbers are RELS courses designated with the letter “S.”
     
  • Religious Studies - World Religions
    World Religion courses examine significant events, individuals, and issues from one or more of the major world religions with reference to their continuity and influence in today’s pluralistic world. Focus could include Buddhist, Confucian, Daoist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh traditions as well as religions of Africa, Japan, Native America, and other regions. Course numbers are RELS courses designated with the letter “V.” 
     
  • Social Science
    Courses fulfilling the Social Science requirement examine key theoretical or conceptual frameworks for the study of the social world using the collection and critical examination of empirical data. Social Science courses can come from a number of departments, with course numbers designated with the letter “X.”
     
  • Writing About Literature (WAL)
    Courses fulfilling the WAL requirement focus on reading texts of various forms, approaching those texts from multiple critical angles, and the process of writing intensively and analytically about the critique. WAL courses are offered mostly through the English and Languages & Cultures departments, with course numbers designated with the letter “N.” 

Badges

With Loyola Core Badges, students complete the required Loyola Core coursework while simultaneously deepening their understanding in relevant fields of interest. Upon successful completion of a Loyola Core badge pathway, students will earn a shareable and verifiable microcredential that will appear on students’ transcripts and can be shared electronically as a badge within students’ professional networks. 

Benefits of Loyola Core Badges: 

  • Connect required coursework around cohesive and relevant themes 
  • Earn mircocredentials to highlight on resumes and LinkedIn profiles
  • Develop complementary skills relevant to career goals

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University Honors Program

The Loyola University Honors Program (UHP) offers the opportunity for academically talented, highly motivated students to take challenging, discussion and writing intensive courses, to participate in special cultural and intellectual enrichment activities, and to engage in an Honors Living-Learning Community. The UHP is open to qualified students of all undergraduate colleges and majors.

Students with superior high school records or students with superior college records (GPA 3.5 or higher) are invited to apply to the UHP. Prospective and current Loyola students should complete and submit the relevant application for review. In addition to Honors coursework, students must also maintain the minimum grade point average of 3.3 and make normal progress toward graduation.

Overview

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Honors Admission

Students interested in joining Honors submit their Loyola application through the regular admissions process, but submit an additional application to the UHP. 

Incoming First-Year Students
The UHP is a rigorous academic program founded in the Jesuit liberal arts tradition. Although most students have a 3.8 or higher GPA, we know that there is a lot more to being an outstanding student than test scores and grades. We look for students who have not just done well academically, but who have demonstrated a commitment to their school, their community, their activities and organizations, or their family. We want students who are motivated to make the world a better place, and to create the community of relationships at the heart of honors. 

Qualified Transfer Students
Applications to the UHP will be accepted from qualified transfer students to Loyola University. Requirements include a 3.5 cumulative GPA from your previous college or university. Transfer students should keep in mind that full completion of the UHP requires at least 21 semester hours of Honors courses. Interested transfer students should contact the Honors Director to discuss how entering the UHP will affect their degree program, based on eligible transfer credits.

Currently Enrolled Students
Students at Loyola who achieve academic excellence in their first year may apply to enter the Honors Program. A Loyola GPA of 3.5 is required for consideration, as well as a writing sample and a faculty recommendation. Please contact the Honors Director or Coordinator of Student Services if you are interested in applying to the program and to discuss how entering the UHP will affect your degree program. Because of the number of Honors credits required for successful program completion, it is recommended that the transfer occur by spring of sophomore year.

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Honors Curriculum

Participation in the UHP requires the successful completion of at least 22 credit hours of coursework with an overall 3.3 GPA. This Honors curriculum generally replaces the Loyola Core section of an undergraduate academic program, with degree requirements for the major, languages, adjunct courses, and electives remaining mostly the same according to the student’s chosen major program. Some programs will require more than 120 credit hours to complete when the Honors curriculum is included. 

  • Honors Foundation Requirements - 7 credit hours
  • Honors Disciplinary Requirements - at least 12 credit hours
  • Honors Thesis Requirements - 3 credit hours

Honors Foundation Requirements 
Students complete Honors Core courses for 7 crs: 

  • Honors First Year Interdisciplinary Humanities Seminar (H121) (3 cr)
  • HONS H193 Ignatian Colloquium (1 cr)
  • Honors Ethics (H215) (3 cr)
    • May be satisfied with an ethics course in the major. If not, an H215 course must be used to fulfill at least one Honors Disciplinary Requirement.
  • Social Justice Seminar (H396) (3 cr)

Honors Disciplinary Requirements 
Students will select at least 12 crs from a variety of courses that satisfy a specific Honors Seminar requirement. All Honors Seminar eligible courses are usually indicated by the number H295, though there are slight variations. It is imperative that a student meet with the UHP during the advising period to determine what course will go toward what requirement.

  • Creative Arts & Cultures
    • May be satisfied with either an H295 seminar or with credits in performance or practice-based arts courses (three credits in ballet or painting, for example). The latter option must be approved by the UHP prior to the student taking the course.
  • History
  • Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Natural Sciences
    • Requirements for Mathematics and Natural Science may be fulfilled by an A-level course in the major or with approved AP credit. Students who are required to take A-level Mathematics and/or Natural Science courses in their major are not required to take an additional Honors Seminar.
  • Philosophy
  • Religious Studies

Honors Thesis Requirements 
Students must complete 3 crs of thesis work within the major, either as a part of Honors Thesis requirement or a department equivalent where available. Some majors have thesis requirements above 3 crs, in which case the total number of credit hours for thesis work may vary. 

  • HONS H491 or Department Equivalent

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