General Education Requirements PDF
Your Path to Success begins in General Education
General Education matters for who you are and who you will become and prepares you for a life of consequence, inquiry, and accomplishment. General Education is the foundation of your academic experience and transcends disciplinary boundaries.
FAQ
- What is General Education (Gen Ed)?
Gen Ed is shared by all degree-seeking students. Gen Ed credits (27) account for 45% of the Associate’s and 23% of the Bachelor’s degrees. Gen Ed provides broad exposure to diverse disciplines and is the foundation for developing intellectual tools, responsibility to the self and others, and preparing students for academic, civic, and professional success.
- What is the mission of General Education?
To provide students with the foundational knowledge and intellectual tools that enhance and transcend their academic program of study. The big questions posed by Gen Ed courses address significant issues about the world. Gen Ed courses help students apply their learning and develop personal and social responsibility, which is demonstrated through signature assignments.
- Why is General Education required of all students?
Gen Ed is not a random series of courses to “get out of the way”. General education is a program of courses to lead the way to students’ future success in higher education, the workplace, and the community. Because Gen Ed courses are framed around a Big Question, which is tapped by a Signature Assignment, students repeatedly exercise Gen Ed Learning Outcomes (GELOs) and “cross-train” their mind.
- What are the General Education Program Requirements?
Students are required to pass CORE courses (12 credits) in Composition (EN1 & EN2), Quantitative Literacy (QL), American Institutions (AI), and Cultural Competence (CC) and BREADTH courses (15 credits) in Creative Arts (CA), Humanities (HU), Social Sciences (SS), Life Sciences (LS), and Physical sciences (PS) with a grade of “D-” or better.
- What is the transfer appeal process for Gen Ed Requirements?
Students may have transfer courses that lack an equivalent at Weber State or do not transfer as courses with gen ed attributes. Transfer courses may be articulated as departmental (e.g., MATH 1XXX) or general (e.g., ELEC 1XXX) electives that may not have an associated Gen Ed attribute. Although students may appeal transfer decisions to the department chair/articulator, they also may appeal the Gen Ed attribute decisions to the Director of General Education (see General Education Student Information for the petition form).
- Who can help me plan my General Education courses?
Before selecting General Education courses, students should consult with an Academic Advisor and review their Cattracks degree evaluation (eWeber student portal).
General Education Certificate of Completion
The Certificate of Completion in General Education is official proof that a student has completed the general education requirements of an Associate or Bachelor degree. Once awarded, it will appear on students’ transcripts and is considered part of their permanent record. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be awarded the General Education Certificate of Completion. The Certificate allows students to “lock in” their Gen Ed credits and is transferable between institutions in the Utah System of Higher Education.
Core General Education Requirements
The core requirements listed below apply to all Bachelor’s degrees and AA/AS degrees. It is recommended that students complete these requirements within the first 60 credit hours. General education requirements for AAS degrees vary and are specified by each program.
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I. Composition (EN1): 3-6 credits
Select one of the following options and earn a “D-” or better. Go to the Prior Learning Assessment website for placement score criteria.
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II. Compostition (EN2): 3-4 credits
Select one of the following options and earn a “D-” or better. Go to the prior Learning Assessment website for placement score criteria.
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III. Quantitative Literacy (QL): 3-6 credits
QL may be met with one of the following options. A “D-” Grade or better is required. Go to the Prior Learning Assessment website for placement score criteria.
Note: If you earned a “C” grade or better in PHIL 2200 between Spring 2007 and Spring 2013 and you are declared in a catalog year between Spring 2007 and Spring 2013, your QL requirement is also met. Some departments may not accept PHIL 2200 toward program requirements.
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IV. American Institutions (3-6 credits)
Select one of the following options and earn a “D-” or better.
Present suitable transfer courses from other institutions.
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V. Cultural Competence (CC): 3 credit hours
Complete one of the following general education courses and earn a passing grade. Courses marked with a “♦” will meet both the core or breadth and CC requirement.
Note: POLS 2500 SS/CC/GLB and WGS 2500 SS/CC/GLB are cross-listed courses and only one may be used to fulfill Social Science or Cultural Competence.
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Breadth General Education Requirements
Duplicating departments is not permitted. Courses selected to fulfill breadth requirements must each be from a different program, with the exception of Honors.
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Humanities (HU) & Creative Arts (CA)
- Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts, or Bachelor of Integrated Studies: Select six (6) credit hours - at least three (3) credit hours from Humanities and at least three (3) credit hours from Creative Arts and earn a passing grade.
- Associate of Applied Science: Select three (3) credit hours from Humanities or Creative Arts and earn a passing grade.
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Humanities (HU): 3 credits
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Creative Arts (CA): 3 credits
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Anthropology
Communication
English
Foreign Language
Honors
Music
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Theatre
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Art
Computer Science
Construction and Building Sciences
Dance
English
Film Studies
Honors
Music
Theatre
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Social Sciences (SS): 3 credits
- Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts, or Bachelor of Integrated Studies: Select three (3) credit hours in addition to the American Institutions requirement and earn a passing grade.
- Associate of Applied Science: Select three (3) credit hours and earn a passing grade.
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Anthropology
Child and Family Studies
Criminal Justice
Economics
Engineering Technology and Culture
Geography, Environment, and Sustainability
Gerontology
Health Education
History
Honors
Management Information Systems
Physical Education Professional
Political Science
Note: POLS 2500 SS/CC/GLB and WGS 2500 SS/CC/GLB are cross listed courses. Only one may be used to fulfill SS or CC requirements.
Psychological Science
Social Work
Sociology
Wildcat Scholars
Women & Gender Studies
Note: POLS 2500 SS/CC/GLB and WGS 2500 SS/CC/GLB are cross listed courses. Only one may be used to fulfill SS or CC requirements.
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Physical Sciences (PS) & Life Sciences (LS)
- Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts, or Bachelor of Integrated Studies: Select six (6) credit hours - at least three (3) credit hours from Physical Sciences and at least three (3) credit hours from Life Sciences and earn a passing grade.
- Associate of Applied Science: Select three (3) credit hours from Physical or Life Sciences and earn a passing grade.
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Physical Sciences (PS): 3 credits
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Life Sciences (LS): 3 credits
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Chemistry and Biochemistry
Geography, Environment and Sustainability
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Honors
Physics & Astronomy
Note: PHYS 1040 and PHYS 2040 are cross listed with ASTR.
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Anthropology
Botany and Plant Ecology
Health Sciences
Honors
Microbiology
Nutrition
Zoology
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