Apr 19, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Education Requirements


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)


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)


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


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


D2: Science Process (7 to 8 Credit Hours)


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)


E2: U.S. 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.