The SCSU General Education Program
General education guidelines
SCSU Semester-based General Education Program
- Core (16 semester credits)
- Distribution (minimum of 24 semester credits)
- University Requirements
- A Brief Guide to the SCSU General Education Program (41 credits including PESS 122)
I. Core (16 semester credits)
CORE 1*: ENGL 191 Introduction to Rhetorical and Analytical Writing
*ENGL 198 and ENGL 291 have been approved as substitutes for the core general education requirement in English
CORE 2: CMST 192 Introduction to Communication Studies
CORE 3: *MATH/STAT 193 Mathematical/Statistical Thinking
Students must take the Math Placement Exam (or transfer in the appropriate pre-requisite course) in order to place into MATH or STAT 193. Students who do not place into MATH or STAT 193 must complete MATH 070. Students who need MATH 112, 115 or 196 and do not place into these courses must complete MATH 072. Neither MATH 070 nor 072 count toward graduation, though both count toward full time status for financial aid, insurance, etc.
Several courses in mathematics have been approved as substitutes for the core general education requirement in mathematics and statistics. Generally, if your intended major requires one or more mathematics courses you will be able to use one of those courses to satisfy the core requirement.
Students who complete any one of the following six mathematics courses will be allowed to use this course as a substitute for MATH 193 or STAT 193.
- MATH 112
- MATH 115
- MATH 196
- MATH 211
- MATH 221
CORE 4: PHIL 194 Critical Reasoning
CORE 5: Democratic Citizenship: CMTY 195, ECON 195, HIST 195, POL 195, SOC 195, SW 195
*Some specific majors may require a math course other than 193. See the department in which you intend to major for advising.
Competencies
Competencies may be demonstrated in any core areas. Examinations or other procedures are administered by the individual departments teaching the courses. Certification of competency normally waives the requirement but does not grant credit. See the following for information:
Competency in writing skills: Department of English, Riverview
106
Competency in speech communication skills: Department of
Communication Studies, MS 129
Competency in mathematical or statistical thinking: Department
of Mathematics or Statistics, ECC 139
Competency in critical reasoning: Department of Philosophy,
BH 123
Competency in Democratic Citizenship: College of Social
Science, WH 101
Students interested in demonstrating competency in any of these areas should contact the respective department. Students demonstrating competency will be exempt from that part of the requirement. This does not alter the total number of credits required.
II. Distribution (minimum of 24 semester credits)
In two areas, take nine credits, at least six credits from departments in the left-hand column and no more than four credits from departments in the right-hand column. All nine may come from departments in the left-hand column. No more than 4 credits may be counted from any department. In one area, take six credits, all from departments in the left-hand column. This "short" area must be approved by your adviser. No more than 4 credits may be counted from any department.
Diversity (MGM) courses are underlined and in bold.
AREA A: HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS – Choose 6 – 9 Credits from Area A:
Choose at least 6 credits from the following: |
No more than 4 credits from the following: |
Art: 130, 131 |
Communication Disorders: 130, 171, 220 |
AREA B: NATURAL SCIENCES -- Choose 6 – 9 credits from Area B:
Note: Some majors require specific general education courses. Check the requirements of your intended major before selecting courses.
*Indicates laboratory course |
No more than 4 credits from the following: |
Biological Sciences: 101, 102*, 103*, 104,
105, 106, 107* |
Aviation 101, 103, 107 |
AREA C: SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES – Choose 6 – 9 credits from Area C:
Choose at least 6 credits from the following: |
No more than 4 credits from the following: |
Anthropology: 150,
159, 165, 198, 240 |
Business Law 230 |
DIVERSITY (MGM) COURSES
AFST 250 |
GEOG 101, 111 |
RACIAL ISSUES (RIS) COURSES
CMTY 111, 470
ETHS 201, 205, 210, 215, 220
HIST 109
HURL 102, 105
SOC 268
Double Counting: A student may count a course for credit in the general education program and in the major if the course is a requirement for that major. The credits count only once toward graduation.
Waivers: If a student takes six credits in a department that are not general education courses, the student may waive three credits of general education in that same department. In foreign languages, nine credits may waive six. This does not reduce the total credits required for graduation.
Check with the individual department. Not all departments allow waivers and double counting. Some majors require particular general education classes. Check with the appropriate department before making course selections.
III. University Requirements
Diversity Courses. Each student must complete three courses designated Diversity (MGM). Students may take no more than 1 course from any one department in the completion of their Diversity (MGM) designated courses. See undergraduate bulletin for a list of currently approved courses. One Diversity course must be an approved Racial Issues course to be taken in the first year of enrollment (new first year and transfer students).
Students transferring less than 20 general education credits will be required to complete 9 Diversity (MGM) credits. Students transferring 20-29 general education credits will be required to complete 6 Diversity (MGM) credits. Students transferring 30-39 general education credits will be required to complete 3 Diversity (MGM) credits. Students transferring 40 or more general education credits will be required to complete no Diversity (MGM) credits.
Physical Education. Each student must complete a 1 credit course in wellness and fitness (PESS 122). See the description in the Bulletin or contact the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sport Science, HaH 227, 308-2155.
Note: Applies to students who have not completed the P.E. requirement under the quarter system.
Upper Division Writing. Each student must complete one course designated as writing intensive within the major at the 300/400 level. See individual departments for a list of courses approved in each major.
Note: Applies only to new students entering in or after Fall Semester 2005.
Exceptions. Limited exceptions to the general education program requirements may be approved whenever it can be determined that the program objectives would be better achieved through an alternate selection of courses. Petition forms are available from the Office of Academic Affairs. A copy of the student's general worksheet or major application form must be submitted with all petitions and special request forms. In addition, a graduation application review analysis form is required if the request relates to graduation.
A Brief Guide to the SCSU General Education Program (41 credits including PESS 122)
Advisors might find a brief guide to the program helpful. The following guide offers a concise and focused explanation of General Education.
- Core -- 16 credits .
- English 191 -- 4cr. English 198 (4 cr.) and English 291 (2 credits, designed for transfer students who have transferred in one semester of English composition) can substitute for English 191.
- Communication Studies 192 -- 3 cr.
- Math or Statistics 193 -- 3 cr. Note: College of Business majors must substitute Math 196. Also, any of the following can substitute: Math 112, 115, 196, 211, 221.
- Philosophy 194 -- 3 cr.
- Democratic Citizenship -- 3 cr. Note: This is a category rather than a specific course. Students may choose among CMTY 195, Econ 195, Hist 195, Pol 195, Soc 195, SW 195.
- Distribution -- 24 cr.
- In each of the three areas, A - Humanities and Fine Arts; B - Natural Sciences; C - Social and Behavioral Sciences, students take at least 6 cr. from the left column. No more than 4 credits can come from any one department. Students may count up to 4 Music classes, provided these do not exceed 4 credits. Foreign language (in area A) is an exception. They may count 2 foreign language classes in sequence (ex. French 101 and 102 or German 102 and 201 or Spanish 201 and 202, etc.) for 6 – 8 credits.
- One of the courses in Area B must be a lab. Those are marked with an asterisk (*).
- In two of the three distribution areas (students may choose which ones) students take additional 3-4 credits. Those additional credits may be from either the left or right column. In other words, students may have one "short" area (minimum 6 cr.) but the other two areas must have at least 9 cr. The total for A, B and C must be at least 24 cr.
- Diversity (MGM) . At least 3 classes or 9 credits taken from 3 different departments. These are not additional courses, but can be taken as part of the general education program. All diversity classes are marked in boldface on the checklist. Transfer students who have 20-29 cr. in gen. ed. need only 2 diversity classes; those who transfer 30-39 in gen. ed. need only 1 diversity class; those who transfer 40 or more in gen. ed. need no diversity classes. One of the diversity courses must be a Racial Issues class. At the present time the following courses fulfill the Racial Issues requirement: CMTY 111 or 470; ETHS 201, 205, 210, 215, or 220; HIST 109; HURL 102 or 105; SOC 268.
- Complete at least 30 credits at SCSU (normally the last 30)
- at least 9 credits from SCSU in one’s major
- at least 6 credits from SCSU in one’s minor
- Apply for graduation (best if done 3 semesters prior to graduation)
Students:- must complete general education in order to graduate.
- need not complete general education before starting to take courses in a major.
Special Information for Transfer Students:
- If you have not transferred any credits in a particular area, follow the rules above, just as if you had started at SCSU.
- If you have transferred credits, those count, whether they are in the left or right column. For example, if you transferred in Criminal Justice 111 and Human Relations 201, you may count both in Area C even though both are in the right column.
- If you transferred 6 credits or more into Area B, and you plan to “short” this area (i.e. make it your 6 credit area), you need not worry about the lab requirement.
- Diversity (MGM). At least 3 classes or 9 credits taken from 3 different departments. These are not additional courses, but should be taken as part of the general education program. In other words, as you take classes in Areas A, B and C, make sure 3 of your classes are diversity classes. All diversity classes are marked in boldface on the checklist. Transfer students who have 20-29 cr. in gen. ed. need only 2 diversity classes; those who transfer 30-39 cr. in gen. ed. need only 1 diversity class; those who transfer 40 cr. or more in gen. ed. need none.
- One of the diversity classes must be a racial issues class: CMTY 111, CMTY 470, HIST 109, HURL 102, HURL 105, ETHS 201, 205, 210, 215, 220, SOC 268 fulfill the racial issues requirement at this time. Please note that all of these count on the left column of Area C. In addition students must complete PESS 122 -- All.
- Please note that all of these count on the left column of Area C. All SCSU students, except those with an AA degree or completed MN Transfer Curriculum, or completed general education program from another MNSCU school, must fulfill the Racial Issues requirement.
- Transfer students who need racial issues but have 9 cr. in Area C may use the racial issues class in Area A. If they also have 9 cr. in Area A, they may use racial issues to complete Core 5. If they have 9 cr. in Areas C and Core 5 they may use racial issues in Area B, but not to replace a lab course. In other words, you may not fulfill Area B with one non-lab science and a racial issues class.
PESS 122 -- All students entering after fall 1998 must take this class unless they received credit or exemption.
Balancing General Education Courses and Courses in the Major
- Some departments, especially Art, Music and the sciences, want their students to begin taking courses in the major right away.
- This is especially important for majors which have introductory sequences needed for upper level work.
Double Counting and Waivers
- Double Counting
- Students may double count any class that is included both in General Education and in their major or minor.
- A course that is double counted will fulfill requirements in both places, but the credits will only count once toward the graduation total of at least 120 credits.
- Waivers
- If a student takes 6 credits or more in a department that is represented in the General Education Program, the student can waive 3 credits in general ed. (e.g. a student who takes Physics 231 and 232 may waive 3 credits in Physics, Area B, left column).
- Waivers do not apply to the Core
- Foreign Language exception: 9 upper division credits may waive 6 Gen. Ed. Credits in Area A. Example: German 301, 302 and 303 would give a student a 6 credit waive on the left column of Area A.
- Examples of Double Counting and Waivers
Example 1: Business Majors- College of Business -- double count Econ 205 or 206, left column of Area C
- more than 6 credits in Mgmt earns a waiver, right column of Area C
- CSCI or CNA 169, left column of Area B
- Phil 484 left column of Area A
- Tot. Waiver/Double Ct = 12 credits
- Note: COB students need to take 2 Diversity courses in Area A + Racial Issues
College of Education -- Students take CEEP or CPSY 262 and 361 for a waiver in the left column of Area C.- Students take more than 6 credits in Education, for a waiver in the right column of Area C – Education majors need only Racial Issues to complete Area C.
- Total Waiver = 6 credits – Other courses may double count depending upon the specific program.
- Computer Science (81-83 credit major)- All of Area B is waived (3 credits each for Math, CSCI and the science sequence (Biol, Chem or Phys)
- Students can substitute Math 221 for Core 3
- Total Waiver = 12 credits
Please note: These are examples. Students in many majors can use double counting and waivers to help complete the General Education Program.
Special Cases in General Education
Engineering
Students who major in Engineering complete the General Education program in the following manner:
Core:
ENGL 191
CMST 192
MATH 221 (taken in major)
PHIL 194
Democratic Citizenship (195)
Area A – Two courses from the left column. These may be from the same department; at least one should be a diversity course.
Area B – Fulfilled through major.
Area C – Two courses from the left column. One must be racial issues; they may be from the same department.
Note: Engineering students must complete a total of three diversity courses from three different departments, one of which must be a racial issues course. They should select one or two diversity courses from the left column of Area A and one or two from the left column of Area C.
Mass Communications
Mass Communications majors complete the General Education Program in the following manner:
Core:
ENGL 191
CMST 192
MATH/STAT 193 (or MATH 112, 115, 196, 211 or 221)
PHIL 194
Democratic Citizenship (195)
One course from each of the following (these should be chosen from the General Education courses):
Art
English 331 or 333
Music
Communication Studies (this is in addition to CMST 192)
Theatre
Economics
Geography or History or Political Science
Human Relations or Ethnic Studies or Women’s Studies
Psychology
Sociology or Anthropology
Computer Science or Computer Network Applications 169
One lab science (Biology or Chemistry or Earth and Atmospheric Science, or Physics or Astronomy)
Note: Mass Communications majors must complete three diversity courses from three departments, one of which must be a racial issues course. These can be easily folded into the program described above. For example, a student might take Art 131, History 109 and Women’s Studies 201. Each counts as a diversity class, and each fulfills one of the categories; History 109 also counts as a racial issues class. This is an example only; there are many ways in which a student could fulfill the diversity requirement within the Mass Communications General Education Program.
Nursing
Nursing students take the same Core courses, but fulfill the distribution areas in the following manner:
Area A
One left-column diversity
Philosophy 212
IM 204 (diversity; right column)
Area B
Chemistry 141
BIOL 202, 204 (for which students receive a waiver for BIOL)
Area C
Sociology 160
Psychology 240 (Nursing students may substitute CEEP 262, but would need an additional Area C class)
Racial Issues (diversity)
Nursing students who follow this plan will fulfill the pre-Nursing requirements and will complete the General Education Program, including diversity (IM 204, Racial Issues, and 1 Area A, left-column diversity). Nursing students do not need PESS 122 if they are accepted into the program.
Notes:
- Students must place into BIOL 202 – Anatomy and Physiology I by exam (contact the Biology Department) or by completing BIOL 103 or 151.
- Students must place into CHEM 141 by exam (contact the Chemistry department) or by completing CHEM 140.
