University General Education Requirements
University General Education Requirements
All students receiving baccalaureate degrees from Old Dominion University shall complete the University’s General Education Program. At the lower division (freshman and sophomore), the program’s designed courses develop the Skills (Goals 1-2 below) needed for later study and the Ways of Knowing (Goals 3-4) needed to understand the various approaches to knowledge at work in the University. At the upper division (junior and senior), Options B, C and D provide a multidisciplinary experience to broaden the student’s ability to apply the Skills and Ways of Knowing at a more advanced level.
General Education and Prior Learning Assessment
All lower-level requirements within this program may be met by credit awarded to students who are able to demonstrate appropriate prior learning that fulfills the objectives of the particular Skills and Ways of Knowing requirements. Though not all learning and experiences are worthy of being recognized with the reward of academic credit, the principle that supports the policy is that many valid learning experiences worthy of such credit do take place outside of the traditional classroom setting. For procedures to meet General Education Requirements in this manner, please consult the section of this Catalog on Prior Learning Assessment Credit Options at the Undergraduate Level and visit the Prior Learning Assessment web site at https://www.odu.edu/academics/academic-records/evaluation-of-credit/prior-learning.
General Education Philosophy
The General Education program at Old Dominion University represents the common core of the baccalaureate degree. It prepares students for pursuing a major, for broadening their views of life, and for understanding an increasingly global and diverse world. It provides students with the basic skills and intellectual perspectives to engage in the search for knowledge. The General Education program develops analytical and critical thinking skills and the ability to make reasoned judgments. Students will also discover that learning is a complex, multifaceted, and lifelong endeavor.
General Education Goals and Objectives
The Goals (1-5) and particular objectives of General Education are as follows:
- Develop and demonstrate effective uses of language.
- Develop written communication skills.
- Develop oral communications skills.
- Develop ability to use a foreign language and learn about another culture.
- Develop written communication skills in the major at the upper-division level.
- Develop mathematical and information literacy.
- Develop basic mathematical competence.
- Develop information literacy competence.
- Develop an understanding of the natural sciences and technology and their contributions to human culture.
- Understand the concepts and methods of the natural sciences.
- Understand the nature of technology and its impacts on society and the environment.
- Develop an understanding of human behavior, society and culture, with specific attention to technology, international perspectives and issues related to ethnicity, race and gender.
- Develop an understanding of history and the ability to think critically about the past.
- Think critically about beliefs, values, and moral issues that have shaped human society.
- Critically analyze the fine and performing arts and their contribution to culture.
- Critically analyze literature and its contribution to culture.
- Develop an understanding of behavioral, political, economic, and social systems.
- Integrate knowledge at the advanced level.
Option A. Complete a minor, second major or second degree.
Option B. Complete an interdisciplinary minor.
Option C. Complete an approved certification program such as teaching licensure.
Option D: Complete upper-division course work from another college or component (majors in the College of Arts and Letters may select from the Arts and Humanities component or the Social Sciences component depending on the major) outside of and not required by the major.
Students may not use courses in the discipline of their declared major to fulfill University General Education Requirements in the following Ways of Knowing areas: Human Behavior, Human Creativity and the Nature of Science.
Since the Skills and Ways of Knowing are needed for major courses and Upper-Division General Education, students should meet those requirements during their freshman and sophomore years.
Transfer Policies for General Education Requirements
Students who have received any of the following associate degrees from Richard Bland College or the Virginia Community College System have met all lower-division General Education requirements, except those specified as major or college requirements and requirements for completion of the undergraduate writing program: Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) with any major other than general studies (see the next paragraph for additional information), and Associate of Arts and Sciences (AA and S), including the AA & S with a major in general studies.
Effective Fall 2010, the AS degrees in general studies that are offered by those institutions whose general studies degrees are recognized as transfer degrees by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia will also be guaranteed acceptance as meeting lower-division General Education Requirements. AS degrees in general studies received from those institutions whose general studies degrees are not recognized by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia will be examined individually to determine whether the degrees are university parallel programs and eligible for lower-division General Education requirement waivers.
Students who have earned an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree from the Virginia Community College System that includes the required General Education courses have met all lower-division General Education requirements except those specified as major or college requirements and the requirements for completion of the undergraduate writing program. College-parallel programs at other community colleges or systems (consistent with the requirements of degrees from the Virginia Community College System) are also accepted as meeting lower-division General Education requirements and are reviewed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Transfer students should be aware that even though University lower-division General Education Requirements may have been met, college, school and/or departmental requirements must still be met. Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in order to receive the credit hours associated with classes taken at other regionally accredited institutions.
Policies governing the transfer of General Education Requirements can be found in the Admissions section of this catalog. See the transfer student website for the complete listing of articulation agreements at: https://www.odu.edu/transfer/transfer-pathways.
Lower-Division Requirements (freshman and sophomore years)
I. Skills
Completion of course work in the skills areas ensures that all students possess the basic tools with which to pursue their major interests.
A. Written Communication
Students are advised to consult the department of their major program and the Undergraduate Writing Program Requirements section of this catalog.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 110C | English Composition (grade of C or better required) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Writing, Rhetoric, and Research (grade of C or better required) | ||
| Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics (grade of C or better required) | ||
| Undergraduate students must pass ENGL 110C with a grade of C (2.0) or better in order to qualify to register for ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C. | ||
| Students must also pass ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C with a grade of C (2.0) or better to qualify to register for a writing intensive (W) course. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
A portfolio waiver option is available for ENGL 110C and ENGL 211C/ENGL 231C. Please refer to the section on Academic Testing and Placement in this Catalog for more information.
B. Oral Communication
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Voice and Diction | ||
| Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Acting One | ||
| Professional Interactions and Negotiations | ||
| Raising Moral Issues in STEM | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Students may meet this requirement by completing an oral communication course appropriate to the student’s program of study or through an approved course(s) within the major. Students are advised to consult the department of their major program.
Majors approved to meet this requirement through major courses are: College of Arts and Letters – communication, French, German, music composition, music education, Spanish, teacher preparation majors in French, German, and Spanish, and all theatre arts majors; College of Education and Professional Studies - human services, occupational and technical studies majors in industrial technology and training specialist; College of Health Sciences - medical laboratory sciences, dental hygiene, health sciences health services administration major, health sciences cytotechnology major, and public health; College of Sciences - ocean and earth science; and School of Nursing - nursing.
Students who complete the required courses in their major that meet oral communication and then change to a major that does not meet the requirement through courses in the major will have met the oral communication requirement for the new major.
C. Mathematics
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| An Introduction to Mathematics for Critical Thinking | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| College Algebra with Supplemental Instruction | ||
| Precalculus I | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
For the appropriate course, the major program should be consulted. Some programs require more advanced 200-level courses.
Students should strive to complete the mathematics General Education requirement within their first 30 hours at Old Dominion University and are expected to have completed the requirement before the end of their first 60 hours at the University. Students should be aware that waivers of the mathematics General Education requirement are not granted, and all students are required to complete this requirement before graduating.
D. Language and Culture*
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 hours from the following courses unless the language requirement was met through high school coursework, transfer credit, or exemption. | 6 | |
| Beginning Arabic | ||
| Beginning Chinese | ||
| Beginning French I and Beginning French II | ||
| Beginning German I and Beginning German II | ||
| Beginning Hebrew I | ||
| Beginning Italian I and Beginning Italian II | ||
| Beginning Japanese | ||
| Beginning Latin I and Beginning Latin II | ||
| Beginning Portuguese I and Beginning Portuguese II | ||
| Beginning Russian I and Beginning Russian II | ||
| Beginning Spanish I and Beginning Spanish II | ||
| Intensive Beginning Spanish | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
111F courses are six credit hours each. Students may meet the language and culture requirement by successfully completing the third level in one foreign language or the second level in each of two foreign languages in high school or by completing a single foreign language at the 102F or 111F level or equivalent work from another institution. Students who have had some foreign language experience but are unable to be exempted from this requirement may complete just the 121F course in the case of Spanish or the 102F course in foreign languages if scores on the CEEB Foreign Language Achievement Test so indicate.
The College of Arts and Letters requires foreign language proficiency at the fourth-semester level for students pursuing Bachelor of Arts degrees.
Students whose native language is not English are exempt from taking a foreign language for General Education. Students pursuing degrees that require proficiency beyond the 100 level must be certified by the World Languages and Cultures Department to obtain a waiver of the 200-400 level courses.
American Sign Language courses taken in high school or transferred to Old Dominion University from another institution are accepted by Old Dominion University to meet General Education requirements in language and culture. American Sign Language courses transferred from another institution are accepted to meet the foreign language requirement for BA degrees in the College of Arts and Letters except for Asian Studies, foreign languages and international studies.
- *
Does not apply to students earning high school diplomas before December 31, 1985.
E. Information Literacy and Research
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| Introduction to Chemistry and Biochemistry Research and Careers | ||
| Digital Literacy | ||
| Advertising & Society | ||
| Introduction to Information Literacy and Research | ||
| Introduction to Information Literacy and Research for Scientists | ||
| Information Literacy for Cybersecurity | ||
| Information Literacy for Health Professions | ||
| Media and Info Literacy in the Google Age | ||
| Basic Information Literacy and Research | ||
| Information Literacy for the Digital Age | ||
| Research Skills and Information Literacy for the Natural Sciences | ||
| Philosophy of Digital Culture | ||
| Cults and Conspiracies | ||
| Muslims & Media | ||
| Computer Literacy: Communication and Information | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Students may meet this requirement in the major and are advised to consult the department of their major program.
Majors approved to meet this requirement through major courses are: College of Arts and Letters – African American and African Studies depending on elective choice, Asian Studies depending on elective choice, geography, history, history teacher preparation, international studies depending on elective choice, and political science; College of Engineering and Technology - all majors; College of Health Sciences – dental hygiene; College of Sciences - biochemistry, biochemistry with teaching licensure, biology, chemistry, chemistry with teaching licensure, computer science, computer science with teaching licensure, and ocean and earth science; School of Nursing - nursing.
Students who complete the required courses in their major that meet information literacy and research and then change to a major that does not meet the requirement through courses in the major will have met the information literacy and research requirement for the new major. Engineering and engineering and technology majors who complete ENGT 111 but do not complete the additional major courses to meet information literacy and research must complete CS 112 to meet the requirement or they may complete a separate course with the "G" designation.
II. Ways of Knowing
Courses in the Ways of Knowing develop the students’ critical and analytical thinking abilities. They also develop understanding of the various approaches to knowledge, the contributions various academic disciplines can make to solving specific problems, and the effective use of the English language. Courses in the Ways of Knowing also develop and reinforce written communication skills and include relevant insights into technology. In addition, courses within each Way of Knowing focus on objectives unique to that way of knowing.
A. Human Behavior
The objective of this Way of Knowing is to enable students to learn about human behavior in changing contexts. The courses will address how ideological, scientific, and ethical judgments affect human behavior in Western and non-Western cultures. They will also offer perspectives on the challenges, concerns, and contributions of diverse groups such as women and minorities.
Students may not use courses in the discipline of their major to meet the Human Behavior requirement.
Courses that meet the human behavior Way of Knowing are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| Introduction to African American Studies | ||
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Human Communication | ||
| Leadership and Society | ||
| Introduction to Criminology | ||
| Cybersecurity and the Social Sciences | ||
| Data, Technology, Society | ||
| Basic Economics | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship | ||
| Learning to Learn | ||
| Personal Financial Literacy | ||
| Human Geography | ||
| Environmental Geography | ||
| Personal Health and Wellness | ||
| Introduction to International Politics | ||
| Introduction to American Politics | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics | ||
| Leisure and Human Behavior | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Dress, Culture and Society | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Diversity and Society | ||
| Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
B. Human Creativity
This Way of Knowing emphasizes artistic creative endeavor and appreciation and the history of the arts. The courses include field experience with the professional arts community in Hampton Roads as well as with the faculty of relevant departments. The objectives are to foster an appreciation of aesthetic experiences, develop abilities to make reasoned aesthetic judgments and develop an understanding of diverse cultures.
Students may not use courses in the discipline of their major to meet the Human Creativity requirement.
Courses that meet the human creativity Way of Knowing are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| Introduction to the Visual Arts | ||
| Visual Communication | ||
| Film Appreciation | ||
| Dance and Its Audience | ||
| Music in History and Culture | ||
| Visual Merchandising and Display | ||
| The Theatre Experience | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
C. Interpreting the Past
The objective of this Way of Knowing is to provide an understanding of historical analysis for non-history majors.
Courses that meet the interpreting the past Way of Knowing are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| Interpreting the World Past Since 1500 | ||
| Interpreting the Asian Past | ||
| Interpreting the European Past | ||
| Interpreting the Latin America Past | ||
| Interpreting the American Past | ||
| Interpreting the African Past | ||
| Heroes & Hoplites: History of Ancient Greece | ||
| Theatre Histories | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
D. Literature
This Way of Knowing emphasizes the contribution of literature to culture. Through critical reading and analysis, students will develop the ability to make effective use of the English language and informed aesthetic judgments about style and content.
Courses that meet the literature Way of Knowing are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| American Writers, American Experiences | ||
| Introduction to World Literatures and Cultures | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
E. The Nature of Science
This Way of Knowing requires two semesters of natural science. A student may fulfill the requirement with two non-sequential natural science classes with labs unless a sequence is specifically required for the major. These courses introduce the disciplines and the methods of science and develop the abilities to make reasoned judgments based on scientific considerations.
Students may not use courses in the discipline of their major to meet the Nature of Science requirement.
Courses that meet the nature of science Way of Knowing are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two of the following courses. The combination of BIOL 150 and BIOL 151 plus BIOL 240 and BIOL 241 or the combination of BIOL 150 and BIOL 151 plus BIOL 250 and BIOL 251 satisfies four credits of the nature of science requirement. | 8 | |
| Biology for Nonscience Majors I | ||
| Biology for Nonscience Majors II | ||
| Environmental Science for Non-Majors and Environmental Science Lab for Non-Majors | ||
| Environment and Humanity and Environment and Humanity Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Human Biology and Introduction to Human Biology Lab | ||
| General Biology I and General Biology I Lab | ||
| General Biology II and General Biology II Lab | ||
| Introductory Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Organic and Biochemistry and Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry I Lecture and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry II Lecture and Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Oceanography | ||
| Understanding Global Climate Change | ||
| Earth Science | ||
or OEAS 111N | Physical Geology | |
| Historical Geology | ||
| Natural Hazards and Disasters | ||
| Conceptual Physics | ||
| Conceptual Physics | ||
| Introductory Astronomy of the Solar System | ||
| Introductory Astronomy of Galaxies and Cosmology | ||
| Introductory General Physics | ||
| Introductory General Physics | ||
| University Physics I | ||
| University Physics II | ||
| Advanced University Physics I and Advanced University Physics II | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 8 | |
F. Philosophy and Ethics
Because of the many decisions students will be called upon to make in their personal and professional lives, they will need an appreciation and understanding of philosophical, religious, and ethical foundations to help them to make informed, intelligent choices. Further, as the pace of change and interdependency in the world accelerates, it is important that students be given an ample opportunity to critically examine philosophy and ethical values and to understand how philosophical and ethical issues affect decision-making in professional disciplines.
Courses that meet the philosophy and ethics Way of Knowing are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Logic and Philosophy | ||
| Life, Death, and Meaning | ||
| Human Nature | ||
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Love, Sex, and Desire | ||
| World Religions: Beliefs and Values | ||
| Truth and Perception | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Bioethics | ||
| Cybersecurity Ethics | ||
| Ethics and Data | ||
| Studies in Applied Ethics | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Students may meet this requirement in the major and are advised to consult the department of their major program. Majors approved to meet this requirement through major courses are: College of Arts and Letters – interdisciplinary studies majors in game studies and design, leadership, and professional writing depending on elective choice; College of Education and Professional Studies – sport management; College of Engineering and Technology – all majors if ENMA 480 is completed; College of Health Sciences – dental hygiene, dental hygiene degree completion, health sciences health services administration major, and public health; School of Cybersecurity - cyber risk management and cybersecurity depending on elective choice, cyber operations.
Students who complete the required courses in their major that meet philosophy and ethics and then change to a major that does not meet the requirement through courses in the major will have met the philosophy and ethics requirement for the new major.
G. Impact of Technology
It is important for students to understand not only how a technology functions, but also how technology affects society.
Courses in the impact of technology Way of Knowing are intended to develop students’ abilities to make reasoned judgments about the impact of technological development upon world cultures and the environment as well as upon individuals and societies.
Courses that meet the impact of technology Way of Knowing are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses | 3 | |
| Elements of Data Science | ||
| Diseases that Changed our World | ||
| Influence of Polymers on Society | ||
| Nutritional Biochemistry | ||
| Neurotechnology | ||
| The Chemistry of the Environment | ||
| Science and Technology in Art | ||
| Entertainment Technologies | ||
| Introduction to New Media Technologies | ||
| Computers in Society | ||
| Cybersecurity, Technology, and Society | ||
| Telehealthcare Technology | ||
| Digital Writing | ||
| Introduction to Game Studies | ||
| Digital Earth: Geospatial Technology and Society | ||
| Hazards: Natural and Technological | ||
| History of Medicine, Disease, and Health Technology | ||
| Discovering Earth's History | ||
| Technology and Civilization | ||
| The Evolution of Modern Science | ||
| Principles of Information Technology | ||
| Music Technology Survey | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology | ||
| Philosophy of Technology & Innovation | ||
| Introduction to Quantum Science and Technology | ||
| Technology and War | ||
| Weapons of Mass Destruction in Global Security | ||
| Technology and Your World | ||
| Technology and Society | ||
| Entertainment Technologies | ||
| Women, Gender, and Technology Worldwide | ||
The impact of technology way of knowing can also be met by major requirements. Students are advised to consult the department of their major program. Majors approved to meet this requirement through major courses are: College of Arts and Letters – communication depending on elective choice, dance education, English teacher preparation, fine arts and studio arts depending on elective choice, French teacher preparation, geography depending on elective choice, German teacher preparation, history depending on elective choice, history teacher preparation, interdisciplinary studies majors in individualized integrative studies, interdisciplinary studies majors in cybercrime, game studies and design, general engineering technology, leadership, and professional writing depending on elective choice, all music majors; Spanish teacher preparation, theatre education, and women’s studies; College of Business - all majors; College of Education and Professional Studies - early childhood education, elementary education, health and physical education teacher preparation, marketing education, all majors in occupational and technical studies, special education, and technology education; College of Engineering and Technology - all majors; College of Health Sciences - exercise science, health sciences health services administration and public health; College of Sciences - computer science and ocean and earth science; School of Cybersecurity - cyber operations, cyber risk management and cybersecurity.
Students who complete the required courses in their major that meet impact of technology and then change to a major that does not meet the requirement through courses in the major will have met the impact of technology requirement for the new major.
Honors Courses that Meet General Education Requirements*
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Skills | ||
| Written Communication | ||
| ENGL 126C | Honors: English Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 226C | Honors: Writing, Rhetoric, and Research | 3 |
| ENGL 228C | Honors: Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics | 3 |
| Oral Communication | ||
| COMM 126R | Honors: Public Speaking | 3 |
| Information Literacy and Research | ||
| CS 126G | Honors: Introduction to Information Literacy and Research | 3 |
| REL 226G | Honors: Muslims & Media | 3 |
| Ways of Knowing | ||
| Human Behavior | ||
| COMM 226S | Honors: Introduction to Human Communication | 3 |
| CRJS 226S | Honors: Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| ECON 226S | Honors: Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 227S | Honors: Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| GEOG 126S | Honors: Cultural Geography | 3 |
| POLS 126S | Honors: Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 127S | Honors: Introduction to International Politics | 3 |
| SOC 226S | Honors: Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| WMST 226S | Honors: Gender and Sexuality in a Changing World | 3 |
| Human Creativity | ||
| ARTS 126A | Honors: Art as Experience | 3 |
| ARTH 127A | Honors: Introduction to the Visual Arts | 3 |
| COMM 227A | Honors: Film Appreciation | 3 |
| MUSC 126A | Honors: Music in History and Culture | 3 |
| THEA 227A | Honors: Film Appreciation | 3 |
| Interpreting the Past | ||
| HIST 126H | Honors: Interpreting the American Past | 3 |
| HIST 127H | Honors: Interpreting the European Past | 3 |
| Literature | ||
| ENGL 127L | Honors: Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| The Nature of Science | ||
| BIOL 136N & BIOL 137N | Honors General Biology I and Honors General Biology I Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 138N & BIOL 139N | Honors General Biology II and Honors General Biology II Lab | 4 |
| OEAS 126N | Honors: Introductory Oceanography | 4 |
| PHYS 126N & PHYS 127N | Honors: Introductory Astronomy and Honors: Introductory Astronomy | 8 |
| PHYS 226N & PHYS 227N | Honors: University Physics I and Honors: University Physics II | 8 |
| Philosophy and Ethics | ||
| PHIL 126P | Honors: Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 227E | Honors: World Religions: Beliefs and Values | 3 |
| PHIL 228E | Honors: Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
- *
Courses listed are open only to students in the Perry Honors College.
Upper-Division Requirements (junior and senior years)
Writing Intensive Course in the Major
All students are required to demonstrate written communication skills in the major by taking a Writing Intensive (W) course at the upper-division level. All undergraduate students must complete their W course in the major (3 credits) at Old Dominion University and earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in order to earn a baccalaureate degree.
Criteria for Writing Intensive courses include:
- Students will demonstrate, in a series of individual (not group) assignments, their mastery of the subject in a discipline, through the writing of formal documents.
- For each writing assignment, the instructor will provide feedback to the student, evaluating content and writing style (organization, development, logic, coherence and mechanics).
- Types of documents for writing assignments include essays, laboratory reports, project reports, critiques of performances, research proposals, case studies, journal article reviews, book reviews, creative writing, written interviews, and other forms appropriate to a particular discipline.
- A maximum of 10% total of identified graded writing in the form of essays for tests, quizzes, and/or a mid-term examination (not a final exam) may be included. It is to be evaluated for both content and writing style as indicated in (b) above.
- Graded writing requirements comprise at least 51% of the overall course grade.
Upper-Division Studies Outside the Major
Students are required to complete Option A, B, C or D to meet the upper-division general education requirement. In addition to the completion of courses in the area of the major field, a candidate for a baccalaureate degree may select Option A, any University-approved minor, second degree or second major. The minor may be chosen to support the major, to offer greater job opportunities to the student on graduation, or to provide academic recognition of study in a second disciplinary area. A baccalaureate degree candidate may also choose an integrative disciplinary experience through the selection of Option B, an Interdisciplinary Minor; Option C, an approved Certification Program such as Teaching Licensure; or Option D, six hours of elective upper-division course work from outside of and not required by the student’s major and college. In the College of Arts and Letters, courses are divided into two components for option D: (1) Arts and Humanities and (2) Social Sciences.
Option A: Any University-approved minor (minimum of 12 hours determined by the department), second degree, or second major
Students who complete the course requirements for the minor, but who do not attain a 2.00 grade point average in the minor, may request that the course work be approved to meet the upper-division general education requirement. The request may be initiated through the student’s advisor and the associate dean of their college and submitted to the assistant vice president for undergraduate studies in the Office of Academic Affairs. Students whose requests are approved will meet the upper-division requirement, but they will not receive credit for the minor. Additional information can be found in the section of this Catalog on Minors.
Approved minors can be found at the programs search link: /programs/.
Option B: Any University-approved interdisciplinary minor (specifically 12 hours, three of which may be in the major)
Three credit hours in the interdisciplinary minor may be in the major if a major course is listed as an option for the interdisciplinary minor. As such, it will be credited toward both the major and the interdisciplinary minor. Interdisciplinary minors require 12 credit hours of 300/400-level courses selected from at least two different disciplines with a maximum of six credits from any one discipline. Course substitutions may be approved by the interdisciplinary minor coordinator. Additional information can be found in the section of this Catalog on Minors.
Approved interdisciplinary minors can be found at the programs search link: /programs/
Option C: Approved Certification Program such as Teaching Licensure
Option C can be met through an approved certification program such as teaching licensure. The professional education requirements specified for teaching licensure programs meet this option.
Option D: Upper-Division Course Work from Another College Outside of and not Required by the Major
Option D can be met by six credit hours of elective upper-division course work from outside of and not required by the student’s major and college. Transfer courses may be used to meet this requirement but must be from outside of and not required by the student's major and college. Study abroad courses, Military Science and Leadership courses (MSL) and Naval Science courses (NAVS) may be used to meet the Option D requirement for all students, regardless of the student's major and college. Upper-division courses elected to meet the Philosophy and Ethics and Impact of Technology Ways of Knowing areas may also meet the requirement but they must be outside the college and not required by the major.
In the College of Arts & Letters, courses are divided into two components: (1) Arts & Humanities and (2) Social Sciences.
Arts and Letters majors will be permitted to take upper-division courses in their non-major component for this requirement or courses from another college.
By definition the Arts and Humanities component will include: Art, Dance, English, Graphic Design, History, Humanities, Music, Music Education, Philosophy, Theatre, and World Languages and Cultures. The Social Sciences component will include: African-American Studies, American Studies, Asian Studies, Anthropology, Communication, Criminal Justice, Filipino-American Studies, Gaming, Geography, International Studies, Jewish Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, Queer Studies, Sociology, and Women’s Studies.
Students must satisfy all prerequisites before enrolling in any upper-division course.