Pioneer Core

We’ll deliver the world to you with the Pioneer Core program—an opportunity for you to discover your unique passions, and to seek out your future, wherever it may be. Every school has a general education requirement. But ours is different. Carroll University’s general education requirement, or the Pioneer Core, is more than a checklist of required courses. It’s the centerpiece of our undergraduate experience and an opportunity to explore your interests across the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences with a cross-cultural thread running throughout. This broad body of knowledge complements your major area of study and helps build real-world skills like communication, problem solving and innovative thinking. No matter what you plan to major in, Carroll University’s innovative Pioneer Core will better prepare you for a successful career in today’s diverse and global society.

students looking at tablet

YOU'VE GOT AN EPIC JOURNEY AHEAD OF YOU. LET'S GET PREPARED.

The Pioneer Core has two main focuses—the four-course cross-cultural component and the distribution component. From freshman to senior year, you’ll explore, experience and reflect upon other cultures through a cultural seminar, a cross-cultural development course, the immersive learning Cross-Cultural Experience (CCE) and an integrative global perspectives colloquium. At the same time, distribution component classes outside of your major will challenge you to think critically about the social and natural world, including your own beliefs, worldviews and preconceptions.

STEP ONE 
FOUNDATIONAL EXPERIENCES

Two courses, cultural seminar and writing seminar, are taken during your first year at Carroll and set you up for success throughout college by developing critical thinking and writing skills. Consider them your jumping off point.

STEP TWO 
DISTRIBUTION COURSES

Over your next three years, you’ll explore topics of interest outside of your major through four, general education I courses and one, general education II class. At least one class will be a cross-cultural development course, designed to broaden your cultural literacy.

students walking down street while laughing

STEP THREE 
CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE (CCE)

Here it is. The part of the Pioneer Core that many students say “changed their life.” The cross-cultural experience is generally taken as you approach graduation and involves immersion in a different culture. Near or far, you decide where you want to go.

Learn More
image of Japanese texts engraved on wood

STEP THREE 
CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE (CCE)

Here it is. The part of the Pioneer Core that many students say “changed their life.” The cross-cultural experience is generally taken as you approach graduation and involves immersion in a different culture. Near or far, you decide where you want to go.

Learn More
students writing in their journal on a train

STEP THREE 
CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE (CCE)

Here it is. The part of the Pioneer Core that many students say, “changed their life.”  The cross-cultural experience is generally taken as you approach graduation, and involves immersion in a different culture. Near of far, you decide where you want to go.

Learn More
image of a busy japan street

STEP THREE 
CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE (CCE)

Here it is. The part of the Pioneer Core that many students say “changed their life.” The cross-cultural experience is generally taken as you approach graduation and involves immersion in a different culture. Near or far, you decide where you want to go.

Learn More
two students walking through a gate

STEP THREE 
CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE (CCE)

Here it is. The part of the Pioneer Core that many students say “changed their life.” The cross-cultural experience is generally taken as you approach graduation and involves immersion in a different culture. Near or far, you decide where you want to go.

Learn More

STEP FOUR 
SENIOR Integration

In one, senior-level class, global perspectives colloquium, your cross-cultural thread will conclude. By now you’ve examined your own culture and discovered others different than your own, and this is the class that pulls everything together. You’ll leave forever changed. 

Contact Information

For more information about Carroll's Pioneer Core program, contact the Office of General Education at gened@smcun.com or 262.524.7655.

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