OSU Baccalaureate Core: PAC Class Graduation Requirements

Enrollment in Physical Activity Courses (PAC) at Oregon State University has declined by 15% to 25% following the implementation of the university’s new Core Education general education requirements.

The decrease in student participation has led to the cancellation of numerous PAC courses, according to Katelyn Kirk, the director of physical activity programs.

The operational decline is tied to a shift in graduation requirements. Under the former Baccalaureate Core curriculum, students were required to complete a one-credit PAC class to graduate. This requirement remains in effect only for undergraduate students who enrolled at the university before Summer 2025.

For students who established their first term of attendance in Summer 2025 or later, the university now requires the Core Education curriculum. This new general education framework, which is delivered through the Foundational Core and Signature Core, does not include the PAC requirement.

Impact on Course Availability

The reduction in enrollment has affected the diversity of the PAC program’s offerings. Kirk reported that course cancellations have occurred across the various types of physical activity classes provided by the university, which have historically included hundreds of options such as mountaineering and bowling.

In addition to the cancellation of specific courses, the university has reduced the number of sections available for the courses that remain on the schedule.

Student Recruitment Challenges

Beyond the removal of the graduation mandate, the PAC program is facing challenges in notifying new students of the program’s existence. Kirk noted that the previous requirement provided a built-in mechanism for student discovery during the onboarding process.

Previously, a freshman would come to campus, they would do their launch session over summer. And part of that would include, ‘Hey, you’re going to have this PAC class that you’re going to need to take as a requirement,’

Katelyn Kirk, director of physical activity programs

Curriculum Transition Context

The transition to Core Education represents a shift in how Oregon State University delivers general education. The new system is designed to prepare students to be adaptive, proactive members of society through specific categories ratified by the Faculty Senate.

The Foundational Core, a component of the new curriculum, focuses on fundamental skills and breadth of knowledge. Its categories include:

• Writing Foundations
• Arts & Humanities – General
• Arts & Humanities – Global
• Quantitative Literacy & Analysis
• Communication, Media & Society
• Social Science
• Scientific Inquiry & Analysis
• Difference, Power & Oppression – Foundations

This replaces the Baccalaureate Core, which required students to complete 48 credits plus a Writing Intensive Course (WIC) of at least three credits. The Baccalaureate Core emphasized 15 course categories, including global awareness, the arts, sciences, and lifelong fitness.

While the new Core Education curriculum focuses on applying critical thinking to seek solutions through the Signature Core, the removal of the mandatory physical activity component has directly impacted the enrollment figures and course variety of the PAC program as of April 13, 2026.