SCSU Advising Center FAQ
These are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you in your advising.
Q: I've heard that students need 45 credits at the upper (300- 400) level in order to graduate from SCSU. Is this true even for students who began under quarters?
A: Yes. All students who graduate from SCSU must have 45 credits at the upper level (300 - 400).
Q: What is the minimum number of credits a student must take at SCSU in order to graduate from SCSU?
A: Students must complete at least 30 credits at SCSU (normally the last 30); at least 9 credits from SCSU in the major; at least 6 credits from SCSU in the minor. Of course, students must complete a minimum of 120 - 128 credits total in order to graduate.
Q: Can students substitute any other Math or Statistics courses for Core 3, Math 193 or Statistics 193?
A: Yes. Students may substitute the following courses: Math 111, 112, 115, 196, 211 or 221. Students who major in any department in the College of Business must take Math 196.
Q: Can students substitute any other courses for Core 5 (CMTY, ECON, HIST, POL, SOC and SW 195)?
A: No. Students who had not fulfilled the Core 5 requirement prior to Fall
2000 must take one of the Core 5 classes (CMTY, ECON, HIST, POL, SOC and
SW 195). No other courses will substitute.
Note that students who took SSCI 104, 204, 301, 460, 470 or ECON 201, HIST
105, POL 111, SOC 160, or SW 211 prior to Fall 1998 have completed Core 5.
Note also that students who took CS (Community Studies) 201, ECON 201, HIST
105, POL 111, SOC 160, or SW 211 between Fall 1998 and Spring 2000 have completed
Core 5.
Q: Can the courses for Core 5 also double-count in Area C?
A: No.
Q: How many courses must students take from the right column in the distribution part of the general education program?
A: They don't have to take any from the right column. Students must take at least 6 credits from the left column of all three areas. They may take up to four credits from the right column in the area(s) from which they choose to take 9 credits.
Q: Are all students required to complete PESS 122?
A: All students must either complete PESS 122 at St. Cloud State University or transfer an equivalent course. The only exception is the Music Education Major. Nursing students should consult the Nursing department about PESS 122.
Q: Do transfer students have to take 3 diversity (MGM) courses?
A: Not necessarily.
Those who have completed a Baccalaureate degree, an A.A. degree, and those who have completed the MN Transfer Curriculum or the general education program at another MNSCU institution do not need to complete the diversity requirement at SCSU.
Students who transfer 20 - 29 credits into general education need only 2 diversity courses; those who transfer 30 -39 need only 1; and those who transfer 40+ need to fulfill the Racial Issues requirement (for further information, please refer to the next question).
Q: Do transfer students need to fulfill the Racial Issues requirement?
A: Transfer students must fulfill the Racial Issues requirement unless they have completed a Baccalaureate degree, an A.A. degree, the MN Transfer Curriculum, or the general education program at another MNSCU institution.
Q: How does double counting in general education work?
A: Student may count a course that is in the general education program and is also required for the major or minor in both places. The student only earns the credits once.
Q: How does the waiver policy in general education work?
A: If a student takes 6 credits outside the general education program from a department represented in general education, the student can waive 3 credits in general education. An example may clarify this. Suppose a student takes MGMT 301 and MGMT 383. That student may waive 3 credits from the right column of Area C, because that is where the MGMT general education courses are placed. A student who took PHYS 231 and 232 could waive 3 credits on the left side of Area B, where the PHYS general education courses are. Students do not earn the waived credits.
