Xavier University, the historically Black educational institution in New Orleans, has announced a change in its core curriculum and additions to its program offerings.
The current core curriculum – designed to give students a well-rounded education – was instituted in 1980 and only minor changes have been made since that time. The new core curriculum reduces the mandated course requirements from 60 hours to 40 hours. The streamlined core curriculum offers students greater opportunities to pursue minor degrees, certificates, double majors, and to take classes outside of their chosen degree path.
The university’s Academic Assembly set goals for the new core “to ensure that all Xavier graduates would be able to communicate effectively through writing and speaking, be able to use quantitative, empirical, and critical reasoning skills to solve problems, be able to incorporate diverse cultural perspectives in their analysis of uses and to recognize the interconnectivity of human experience, be able to demonstrate a science-based understanding of the natural world, be able to interpret and evaluate diverse forms of human expression, and be able to apply socially responsible and ethical principles to promote equity and sustainability in ways that align with Xavier’s mission.”
In addition to changes in the core curriculum, new bachelor’s degree programs in bioinformatics, data science, neuroscience, sociology with a concentration in criminal and social justice, and music with a concentration in jazz studies have been etablished. A new master of public health degree in health equity will also be offered.
