The University of Dayton's Core Program offers an innovative, interdisciplinary two and one-half year curriculum that stresses the connections between disciplines while at the same time fulfilling many of the University's Common Academic Program requirements. These interdisciplinary courses, in the humanities, arts and social sciences, address a common theme, "Human Values in a Pluralistic Culture," and are carefully coordinated so that students experience the integrated character of the liberal arts. Co-curricular speakers, arts events and other activities related to course content are an important part of the program.

Each year, the Core Program accepts a limited number of students (between 90-120 students, depending on capacity) to create a co-horted learning experience. Students in Core come from all of the University's four undergraduate schools – the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Education and Health Sciences, and the School of Engineering. All entering first-year students are invited to apply. Students in some majors in the College of Arts and Sciences are enrolled automatically. Core is designed to deepen the learning experience of any interested University of Dayton student.

While Core is not an accelerated or honors program, students can receive up to 15 semester hours of honors credit for completing the Core Program.  Core is a strong academic program and students in the program receive support in the form of highly committed faculty, Core Residence Assistants and Core Fellows.

Core Program Director:  Elizabeth Ann Mackay

Faculty who teach in the Core Program are from numerous departments across campus including: Visual and Performing Arts, English, Geology, Global Languages and Cultures, History, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Theology and Religious Studies, and Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. Core also works with other academic programs, such as Women and Gender Studies (WGS) and Sustainability, Energy and Environment (SEE), to offer classes for students.