In spring 2017, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, approved a proposal to redesign the general education curriculum, which took effect fall 2022.
- The Volunteer Core curriculum is published in the undergraduate academic catalog.
- Compare the previous general education requirements to the Volunteer Core requirements.
Application Process
To learn more about the submission process or to submit a course proposal to be reviewed for inclusion in Volunteer Core, click on the corresponding category below. If you are submitting to more than one category, you must complete a separate application for each category.
- Written Communication
- Oral Communication
- Applied Oral Communication
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Arts and Humanities
- Global Citizenship – United States
- Global Citizenship – International
- Natural Sciences
- Applied Arts and Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Engaged Inquiries
For a course to be considered for Volunteer Core designation, an application articulating the ways in which the course would meet the student learning outcomes for that category and how those outcomes would be assessed, both at the student level (i.e., formative and summative class assignments) and the course level (i.e., plans for ongoing assessment and course development), is required.
AFTER SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL LETTING YOU KNOW IT HAS BEEN RECEIVED. If you do not receive that confirmation email within 3 business days, please email to let us know.
The review process begins with a Volunteer Core Subcommittee approval and then goes to the Volunteer Core Committee for approval; you will receive an email at each of these levels about the proposal’s status. From there it goes to the Undergraduate Council for approval and finally to the Faculty Senate. Until your proposal appears in the Undergraduate Catalog, it is not eligible to be listed as a Volunteer Core course or taught for Volunteer Core credit.
You may track the status of your proposal online.
Deadlines
Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis, but must be submitted no later than October 15 to be considered for the following year’s catalog.
For the Fall 2025 catalog, the deadline is October 15, 2024.
Volunteer Core Petition
Use this Volunteer Core Petition form to request Volunteer Core credit for a course taken at another institution. Courses taken at UTK cannot be petitioned for Volunteer Core credit.
Volunteer Core – Frequently Asked Questions
Volunteer Core – FAQ
Volunteer Core Assessment
Volunteer Core Assessment Timeline, Guidelines, and FAQ
Guidelines for Revising and Removing Volunteer Core Courses
Guidelines for revising and removing courses from a Volunteer Core list