General Education Requirements

Goal 1:

To express ideas in clear, logical, and grammatically correct written English.

Criteria for courses: Courses in expository writing fulfill this requirement. The skills learned in these courses are those that are readily adaptable to any situation in which one must communicate in writing. Writing courses designed to meet the special needs of one discipline do not fulfill this requirement.

Credits required: Variable, depending on whether the student is placed in ENGL 51 (non-credit), ENGL 101, or ENGL 201. Goal 1 is satisfied when the student has passed ENGL 201 with a grade of "C" or better.

Placement:

1. Students with an ACT English score of 16 or below (SAT verbal score of 330 or below) register for English 51.

2. Students with an ACT English score of 17-21 (SAT verbal score of 340-450) must qualify to enter English 101 by passing both sections of the Computer Placement English Test. (Students who have passed English 51 can register for ENGL 101 without taking the CPET.) Contact the Department of English and Philosophy for information about computer placement testing.

3. Students with an ACT English score of 22 or above (SAT verbal score of 460 or above) may register directly for English 101. (See also Advanced Placement Options.)

Advanced Placement Options:

Qualified students may bypass ENGL 101 by three means:

1. With an ACT score of 28 (SAT verbal score of 580) or above, the students may elect to take the Freshman Proficiency Writing Examination, given once each semester. A satisfactory score on this writing examination enables one to proceed directly to ENGL 201 upon completion of 30 credits.

2. Transfer students who have taken a three credit (semester) freshman-level course in expository or argumentative writing that satisfies general education requirements at the transfer institution, and who earned a grade of "C" or better in that course, may proceed to ENGL 201 upon completion of 30 credits. (Students who transfer only two ENGL 101-equivalent credits may be asked to make up the one-credit deficiency by taking ENGL 105--Writing Laboratory.)

3. Students who have achieved scores of 4 or 5 on the Composition and Literature Advanced Placement Examination administered by Educational Testing Service receive three ENGL 101-equivalent credits (as well as three credits equivalent to ENGL 110-Introduction to Literature) and may proceed directly to English 201 upon completion of 30 credits. Because Goal 1 courses advance acquisition of writing skills important for academic success, students are encouraged to complete them in timely fashion. Accordingly, ENGL 101 should normally be completed during the freshman year, ENGL 201 by the conclusion of the sophomore year.

Goal 2:

To express ideas clearly, correctly, logically, and persuasively in spoken English.

Criteria for courses: Courses which fulfill this requirement are those in which students develop skills appropriate to formal and informal, public and private oral discourse. Students study and practice the principles of interpersonal communication, small group dynamics, expository speaking, argumentation, and persuasion. Courses designed to meet the special needs of one discipline do not fulfill this requirement.

Credits required:

2 or satisfactory completion of a proficiency examination administered by the Department of Communication and Theatre.

Courses satisfying the goal:

SPCH 101            Principles of Speech          2 cr

Goal 3:

To gain an understanding of mathematics as a language in which to express, define, and answer questions about the world.

Criteria for courses:

Courses which fulfill the requirement (1) require a basic high school algebra background as defined by the prerequisite listed for each course below, and (2) acquaint the student with a significant body of mathematical language, models, and methods. Credits required: 3-4 credits.

Courses satisfying the goal:

MATH 120            Essentials of Calculus        4 cr
                    (Prerequisite MATH 111)
MATH 121            Calculus and Analytic 
                    Geometry I                    4 cr
                    (Prerequisite Math 117 
                    or 111 & 112)
MATH 140            Mathematics in the Modern
                    World                         3 cr
                    (Prerequisite MATH 51)
MATH 177            Language of Mathematics       3 cr
                    (Prerequisite MATH 51)
MATH 250            Finite Mathematics            4 cr
                    (Prerequisite MATH 111)
MATH 252            Introduction to Statistics    3 cr
                    (Prerequisite MATH 111)
Note: Any prerequisite in the above list is met by a satisfactory score on the departmental placement exam.

Goal 4:

To understand how the biological sciences explain the natural world.

Criteria for courses:

Courses in the biological sciences which fulfill this requirement (1) examine the processes by which scientific knowledge is gained, (2) introduce the basic concepts and terminology of the biological sciences, and (3) explore how scientific knowledge influences human society.

Credits required:

4 credits.

Courses satisfying the goal (choose one):

BIOS 101, 102       General Zoology plus Lab      4 cr
BIOS 103, 104       General Botany plus Lab       4 cr
BIOS 120            Biology and
                    Human Concerns                4 cr
BIOS 201            Heredity and Its Implications 4 cr

Goal 5:

To understand how the physical sciences explain the natural world. Criteria for courses: Courses in the physical sciences which fulfill this requirement (1) examine the processes by which scientific knowledge is gained, (2) introduce the basic concepts and terminology of one or more of the physical sciences, and (3) explore how scientific knowledge influences human society.

Credits required:

4 credits.

Courses satisfying the goal(choose one):

CHEM 105            Architecture of Matter        4 cr
GEOL 106, 107       General Geology plus Lab      4 cr
GEOL 115            Physical Geography            4 cr
PHYS 110            Essentials of Physics         4 cr
PHYS 152, 153       Descriptive Astronomy
                    plus Lab                      4 cr

Goal 6:

To understand the creative processes, the aesthetic principles and the historical traditions of one or more of the fine arts.

Criteria for courses: Courses in the fine arts disciplines which fulfill this requirement (1) demonstrate the creative processes and the aesthetic principles artists employ, (2) demonstrate how art both reflects and shapes human and artistic values, (3) introduce students to the work of major artists. Performing and studio courses do not fulfill this requirement.

Credits required:

3 credits

Courses satisfying the goal (choose one):

ARCH 261            Survey of Architecture        3 cr
ARCH 262            Survey of Architecture        3 cr
ARCH/AMST 263       History of American
                    Architecture                  3 cr
ART 108             Introduction to Visual Arts   3 cr
AMST/ART/           History and Appreciation of
 M C 210            Photography                   3 cr
ART 221             Survey of Art                 3 cr
ART 222             Survey of Art                 3 cr
ENGL/THEA 205       Art of the Film I             3 cr
MUSC 105            Introduction to Music         3 cr
AMST/MUSC 106       American Music                3 cr
P E 201             Survey of Dance               3 cr
THEA 101            Appreciation of Dramatic Arts 3 cr
A student may elect to take both of the following courses to satisfy Goals 6 and 7 (see course description):

HUM 101             Intro to the Humanities       3 cr
HUM 102             Intro to the Humanities       3 cr

Goal 7:

To understand how major works of literature explore the human condition and examine human values.

Criteria for courses: Courses which fulfill this requirement (1) emphasize major writers and major genres, (2) emphasize how literary artists contribute to understanding the human condition. Courses devoted to the study of a single literary figure, a single genre, or a single national literature do not fulfill this requirement.

Credits required:

3 credits.

Courses satisfying the goal (choose one):

ENGL 110            Intro to Literature           3 cr
ENGL 115            Major Themes in Literature    3 cr
ENGL 255            World Literature              3 cr
ENGL 256            World Literature              3 cr
A student may elect to take both of the following courses to satisfy Goals 6 and 7 (see course description):

HUM 101             Intro to the Humanities       3 cr
HUM 102             Intro to the Humanities       3 cr

Goal 8:

To understand how major philosophies influence human thought and behavior.

Criteria for courses: Courses which fulfill this requirement (1) examine a broad range of topics leading to or issuing from major philosophical questions, (2) emphasize the works of major philosophers.

Credits required:

3 credits.

Courses satisfying the goal:

PHIL 151            Western Thought               3 cr

Goal 9:

To understand the history and culture of the United States.

Criteria for courses: Courses which fulfill this requirement stress the interaction of ideas, events, and environment which have been significant in molding the nation's culture and history through time. Courses which consider one or two narrow aspects of American history or culture do not fulfill this requirement.

Credits required:

3 credits.

Courses satisfying the goal (choose one):

AMST 200            Intro to American Studies     3 cr
AMST/HIST 121       U.S. to 1865                  3 cr
AMST/HIST 122       U.S. Since 1865               3 cr

Goal 10A:

To understand cultures other than that of the United States.

Criteria for courses: Courses which fulfill this requirement (1) concern themselves with one or more significant contemporary or past cultures other than that of the United States, (2) are broad studies of that culture, and (3) integrate intellectual, cultural, and historical developments of the culture. Studies of one aspect of a foreign culture do not fulfill this requirement.

Credits required:

3 credits.

Courses satisfying the goal (choose one):

ANTH 237            People and Cultures of the
                    Old World                     3 cr
AMST/ANTH 238       Peoples and Cultures of the
                    New World                     3 cr
LANG 207            Contemporary European
                    Culture                       3 cr
HIST 101            Foundation of Western
                    Civilization                  3 cr
HIST 102            Development of Western
                    Civilization                  3 cr
HIST 251            Latin American Civilization   3 cr
HIST 252            East Asian History            3 cr
HIST 254            Middle Eastern Civilization   3 cr
HIST 255            African History and Culture   3 cr
and/or

Goal 10B:

To develop communication skills in a foreign language and an understanding of its cultural context.

Criteria for courses: Courses which fulfill this requirement are those that (1) stress spoken and written communication in a single foreign language; (2) examine the language's grammatical structure in comparison with English; (3) treat the foreign language as a significant aspect of civilization; and (4) foster an appreciation for the cultural heritage of people from a different ethnic environment.

Credits required: 8 credits in a single language or satisfactory completion of a proficiency examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages. Non-native speakers of English, i.e. students who grew up in a non-English speaking country and learned English as their second language fulfill Goal 10-B by passing ENGL 101 and 201.

Courses satisfying the goal (choose one language):

LANG 100-110        Elementary Latin              8 cr
LANG 101-102        Elementary French             8 cr
LANG 103-104        Elementary German             8 cr
LANG 105-106        Elementary Russian            8 cr
LANG 108-109        Elementary Spanish            8 cr
LANG 251-252        Intermediate French           8 cr
LANG 253-254        Intermediate German           8 cr
LANG 255-256        Intermediate Russian          8 cr
LANG 258-259        Intermediate Spanish          8 cr

Goal 11:

To understand how political and/or economic organizations, structures, and institutions function and influence human thought and behavior.

Criteria for courses: Courses in government and/or economics which fulfill this requirement (1) examine significant economic or political institutions; and (2) demonstrate the function and processes of those institutions through methods of these social sciences.

Courses which focus on narrow aspects of the economic or political systems or which are of a current, topical nature do not fulfill this requirement.

Credits required:

3 credits.

Courses satisfying the goal (choose one):

ECON 100            Economic Issues               3 cr
ECON 201            Economic Principles and            
                    Problems                      3 cr
ECON 202            Economic Principles and 
                    Problems                      3 cr
AMST/POLS 101       Intro to American
                    Government                    3 cr

Goal 12:

To understand how people function within society.

Criteria for courses: Courses in sociology, psychology, and/or anthropology which fulfill this requirement (1) emphasize individual or group behavior, and (2) demonstrate central analytical approaches used in these social sciences. Courses which focus on narrow aspects of sociology, psychology, or anthropology or which are of a current topical nature do not fulfill this requirement.

Credits required:

3 credits.

Courses satisfying the goal (choose one):

ANTH 100            General Anthropology          3 cr
PSYC 111            Intro Psychology I            3 cr
PSYC 112            Intro Psychology II           3 cr
SOC 101             Intro to Sociology            3 cr
SOC 112             Social Problems               3 cr