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What is General Education?

The goal of general education is to provide broad, coherent knowledge for the development of individuals and their participation as citizens in society. Familiarity with a broad range of academic disciplines and the acquisition of general intellectual skills fosters critical and creative thinking, effective writing and communication and the formation of humanistic values.

To this end, general education courses introduce the student to basic concepts and methods in major fields of knowledge. The collective aim of these courses is to develop an appreciation of literature and the arts, an understanding of the natural world and knowledge of our own and other societies and cultures.

Approximately 60 credits of general education course work must be completed for the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. General education requirements differ for students receiving the bachelor of fine arts or bachelor of music degrees.

The general education requirement is divided into two parts: the basic general education requirements (53-54 credits) and general education electives (6 credits). Specific courses must be selected in fulfillment of the following general education areas. Refer to the Master Schedule for the specific courses permissible in each category.