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General Education Program
The College of Arts and Sciences recognizes a conceptual distinction between distribution requirements and general education requirements. Distribution requirements compel students to take a specific number of credits in each of the areas of humanities, science, and social science. General education requirements typically involve more direction. The assumption is that there are certain identifiable skills and/or knowledge areas which should be part of a baccalaureate program. Therefore, University distribution requirements, specifying that students complete 12 credits in each of the three areas, have been incorporated into the general education program developed by the College.
Skills
Competence in writing, mathematics, critical thinking, and computer skills are identified as goals of general education.
Knowledge Areas
Five knowledge areas have been identified as goals for general education: aesthetics/philosophy, historical consciousness, science, societal/cultural perspective, and values.
Requirements
In order to achieve the goals of general education, the following general education requirements have been established for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Skills
Skills
- Writing Skills - ENGL 101, passing a writing sample in the senior year, and completion of several writing enriched courses including ASC 400 Values Seminar.
- Mathematics Skills - Proficiency test administered by the Science Division in mathematics or completion of three credits in mathematics.
- Computer Skills - Computer requirement appropriate to the major.
- Critical Thinking - Satisfied by courses in the major or the Values Seminar.
- One semester of a science course with an associated laboratory and additional courses in science.
- History (3 credits) History or Art History courses.*
- Aesthetics/Philosophy (3 credits) Any course in literature, art history, music or philosophy.*
- Two additional courses in humanities.
At least one of the above four courses must be at an advanced level
(300 level). This requirement may also be met by students taking two semesters
of modern language at the elementary or intermediate level in the same
language.
Students are encouraged to take a course or courses in social science or humanities about other cultures/societies.
*The same course cannot be used to satisfy both the aesthetics/philosophy and the history requirements.
Social Science (12 credits)
- Societal/cultural perspective (6 credits) Two introductory social science courses in different fields.
- Two additional courses in social science, one of which must be at an advanced level (200 level and above) (6 credits)
Students are encouraged to take a course or courses in social science or humanities about other cultures/societies.
Values Seminar (3 credits)
- An upper-level interdisciplinary course that involves a discussion of values as affecting individual and societal decision making. Prerequisites: junior or senior status and completion of a minimum of 6 semester hours in each of the three divisions.