General Education Requirements

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About the General Education Program

The General Education at Kennesaw State University program offers a comprehensive series of interrelated courses in the liberal arts and sciences for all Kennesaw State University students. Whereas the major program contributes depth within a chosen specialization, the General Education core provides breadth of understanding within a variety of disciplines. Together, the General Education core and the major degree program offer students the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to become informed and engaged citizens living in a diverse, global community.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The General Education program has eleven learning outcomes for students to achieve over the course of their core curriculum. These learning outcomes are assessed in designated courses throughout the General Education program.

Written Communication: Students will write & communicate at a college level in various modes, media, and/or rhetorical contexts.
Reading Comprehension: Students will demonstrate an ability to comprehend, analyze, & interpret texts in various modes, genres, media, and/or contexts.
Math Skills: Students will demonstrate the ability to explain information presented in mathematical forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables) and/or convert information into mathematical forms at a level appropriate for the complexity of problems in a college-level course.
Critical Thinking: Students will evaluate and synthesize information to support ideas and perspectives.
Critical Thinking Overlay: Students will articulate a position on an issue and support it by evaluating evidence relevant to the position, considering opposing positions or evidence, and evaluating the implications and/or consequences of this issue.
Literature: Students will analyze and interpret texts and other creative works from multiple cultures and perspectives.
Global Perspectives Overlay: Students will analyze creative works from multiple international cultures in relation to the historical, political, economic, sociocultural, aesthetic, or personal contexts in which those works emerged.
Applied Math: Students will demonstrate an ability to effectively apply symbolic representations to model and solve problems.
Natural Sciences: Students will demonstrate an understanding of college-level scientific principles, theories, and laws, and apply them to solve problems and explore natural phenomena.
U.S. Perspectives: Students will demonstrate a broad understanding of history, political systems, or culture of the U.S.
Social Sciences: Students analyze the complexity of how historical, economic, and political relationships develop, persist, or change.

General Education Core Requirements at KSU

Throughout the university system, the core curriculum consists of 60 semester hours of which a minimum of 42 are in general education and 18 in major-related courses.

Area A: Essential Skills - (9 to 10 Credit Hours)

Area A1: Written Communication - (6 Credit Hours)

Area A2: Math Skills - (3 to 4 Credit Hours)

Select one from the following:

Notes:

STEM majors: Take MATH 1112, 1113, or 1190. (carry over extra 1 hour to area F).
All other majors- Take any A2 Mathematics course.

Area B: Institutional Option - Critical Thinking - (5 Credit Hours)

B1: Contemporary Social Issues (2 Credit Hours)

Select one from the following:

B2: Cultural Perspectives (3 Credit Hours)

Select one from the following:

Note:

Any of the following courses can be taken to satisfy FL 1002: FL 1002, CHNS 1002, FREN 1002, GRMN 1002, ITAL 1002, JPN 1002, KOR 1002, LATN 1002, PORT 1002, RUSS 1002, SPAN 1002. Some sections of FL 1002 may include Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, etc. which can also be taken.

Notes:

Nursing majors: Take SOCI 2105.

Area C: Humanities/Fine Arts - (6 Credit Hours)

C1: Literature of the World

Select one from the following:

C2: Arts and Culture of the World

Select one from the following:

Area D: Science, Mathematics & Technology - (10 to 12 Credit Hours)

D1: Applied Math (3 to 4 Credit Hours)

Select one from the following:

D2: Science Process (7 to 8 Credit Hours)

Group One

Select one course or group of courses from the following:

Group Two

Select one course or group of courses from the following:

Note:

D1: STEM Majors: Take MATH 1190 or 2202.

D2: STEM majors: Take CHEM 1211/L & 1212/L, PHYS 1111/L & 1112/L, PHYS 2211/L & 2212/L, or BIOL 1107/L & 1108/L.

Pre-Health Majors: Take CHEM 1151/L & 1152/L, CHEM 1211/L & 1212/L, PHYS 1111/L & PHYS 1112/L or BIOL 1107/L & 1108/L. It is recommended that students select a sequence appropriate to the major.

Nursing majors: Take CHEM 1151/1151L, CHEM 1152/1152L & MATH 1107.

All other majors: Take one laboratory science course and one additional science course. STEM majors: carry over extra 1-2 hours to area F.

Area E: Social Sciences – (12 Credit Hours)

E1: U.S. Government (3 Credit Hours)

POLS 1101 - American Government

E2: U.S. History (3 Credit Hours)

Select one from the following:

E3: World History (3 Credit Hours)

Select one from the following:

E4: Economics (3 Credit Hours)

Select one from the following:

Area F: Courses Related to the Program of Study - (18 Credit Hours)

See the individual majors for the specific requirements in this area.