Academic Catalog

2024-2025

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:

  1. Develop and demonstrate effective uses of language.
    1. Develop written communication skills.
    2. Develop oral communications skills.
    3. Develop ability to use a foreign language and learn about another culture.
    4. Develop written communication skills in the major at the upper-division level.
  2. Develop mathematical and information literacy.
    1. Develop basic mathematical competence.
    2. Develop information literacy competence.
  3. Develop an understanding of the natural sciences and technology and their contributions to human culture.
    1. Understand the concepts and methods of the natural sciences.
    2. Understand the nature of technology and its impacts on society and the environment.
  4. Develop an understanding of human behavior, society and culture, with specific attention to technology, international perspectives and issues related to ethnicity, race and gender.
    1. Develop an understanding of history and the ability to think critically about the past.
    2. Think critically about beliefs, values, and moral issues that have shaped human society.
    3. Critically analyze the fine and performing arts and their contribution to culture.
    4. Critically analyze literature and its contribution to culture.
    5. Develop an understanding of behavioral, political, economic, and social systems.
  5. 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. 

ENGL 110CEnglish 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 Hours6

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

Select one of the following courses3
Public Speaking
Voice and Diction
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
Acting One
Professional Interactions and Negotiations
Raising Moral Issues in STEM
Total Credit Hours3

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.  Please refer to the specific major requirements found in this catalog to determine whether this requirement may be met through major courses and consult with the major department or advisor as needed.  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

Select one of the following courses3
An Introduction to Mathematics for Critical Thinking
College Algebra
College Algebra with Supplemental Instruction
Precalculus I
Elementary Statistics
Total Credit Hours3

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*

Select 6 hours of a single language 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 Hours6

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

Select one of the following courses3
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 Hours3

Students may meet this requirement in the major by completing an information literacy and research course appropriate to the student's program of study or through an approved course(s) within the major.  Please refer to the specific major requirements found in this catalog to determine whether this requirement may be met through major courses and consult with the major department or advisor as needed.  

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 completed ENGT 111 or its equivalent 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.  ENGN 121 will meet the information literacy and research requirement on its own.

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:

Select one of the following courses3
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 Hours3

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:

Select one of the following courses3
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 Hours3

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:

Select one of the following courses3
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 Hours3

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:

Select one of the following courses3
Introduction to Literature
American Writers, American Experiences
Deep Dive Literature
Introduction to World Literatures and Cultures
Total Credit Hours3

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:

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
Introductory Astronomy of the Solar System
Introductory Astronomy of Galaxies and Cosmology
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
Physical Geology
Historical Geology
Natural Hazards and Disasters
Conceptual Physics
Conceptual Physics
Introductory General Physics
Introductory General Physics
University Physics I
University Physics II
Advanced University Physics I
and Advanced University Physics II
Total Credit Hours8

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:

Select one of the following courses3
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 Hours3

Students may meet this requirement by completing a philosophy and ethics course appropriate to the student's program of study or through an approved course(s) within the major. Please refer to the specific major requirements found in this catalog to determine whether this requirement may be met through major courses and consult with the major department or advisor as needed.   

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.  All majors under the College of Engineering and Technology meet this requirement if ENMA 480 is completed.

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:

Select one of the following courses3
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
Maritime Leadership, Technology, and Society
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

Students may meet this requirement by completing an impact of technology course appropriate to the student's program of study or through an approved course(s) within the major.  Please refer to the specific major requirements found in this catalog to determine whether this requirement may be met through major courses and consult with the major department or advisor as needed.

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*

Skills
Written Communication
ENGL 126CHonors: English Composition3
ENGL 226CHonors: Writing, Rhetoric, and Research3
ENGL 228CHonors: Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics3
Oral Communication
COMM 126RHonors: Public Speaking3
Information Literacy and Research
CS 126GHonors: Introduction to Information Literacy and Research3
REL 226GHonors: Muslims & Media3
Ways of Knowing
Human Behavior
COMM 226SHonors: Introduction to Human Communication3
CRJS 226SHonors: Introduction to Criminology3
ECON 226SHonors: Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 227SHonors: Principles of Microeconomics3
GEOG 126SHonors: Cultural Geography3
POLS 126SHonors: Introduction to American Politics3
POLS 127SHonors: Introduction to International Politics3
SOC 226SHonors: Introduction to Sociology3
WGS 226SHonors: Gender and Sexuality in a Changing World3
Human Creativity
ARTS 126AHonors: Art as Experience3
ARTH 127AHonors: Introduction to the Visual Arts3
COMM 227AHonors: Film Appreciation3
MUSC 126AHonors: Music in History and Culture3
THEA 227AHonors: Film Appreciation3
Interpreting the Past
HIST 126HHonors: Interpreting the American Past3
HIST 127HHonors: Interpreting the European Past3
Literature
ENGL 127LHonors: Introduction to Literature3
WCS 120LHonors: Introduction to World Literatures and Cultures3
The Nature of Science
ASTP 126NHonors: Introductory Astronomy of the Solar System4
ASTP 127NHonors: Introductory Astronomy of Galaxies and Cosmology4
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 126NHonors: Introductory Oceanography4
PHYS 226NHonors: University Physics I4
PHYS 227NHonors: University Physics II4
Philosophy and Ethics
PHIL 126PHonors: Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 127PHonors: Life, Death, and Meaning3
PHIL 227EHonors: World Religions: Beliefs and Values3
PHIL 228EHonors: Introduction to Ethics3
*

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:

  1. 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.
  2. For each writing assignment, the instructor will provide feedback to the student, evaluating content and writing style (organization, development, logic, coherence and mechanics).
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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 and Gender Studies.

Students must satisfy all prerequisites before enrolling in any upper-division course.