General Education Core
Academic Requirements
General Education Core (31-55 credits)
The program seeks to provide students with educational experiences that will develop their ability to think clearly and critically, to express themselves accurately, and to become aware of the rich and varied areas of knowledge. Concepts introduced in the General Education Core will be reinforced and developed through each student’s chosen course of study. The faculty has identified 10 goals of the General Education program. These goals will be introduced at a foundational level in the General Education Core but are intended to be reinforced and assessed throughout the curriculum. Three of the goals will be addressed specifically in major and major-related course work.
The following list outlines the academic groups from which students may select courses to fulfill the requirements, and the numbers of all courses that have been approved as General Education Core courses. For descriptions of each of these courses, see the “Course of Instruction” section of the
Utica College catalog. Some General Education Core courses satisfy major
and major-related courses or prerequisites for those courses.
Component One: Foundations of Understanding (0-24 credit hours)
- Written Communication...........................................6 credits*
Goal 1: Students will demonstrate the ability to write logically, clearly,
precisely, and persuasively through accurate reading and observation;
and to acquire, organize, present, and document information and ideas.
The following courses are intended to provide a foundational
understanding of Goal 1:
ENG 101: Written Communication I............................ 3 credits ENG 102: Written Communication II.......................... 3 credits
or demonstrated competence leading to exemption.
(See General Education Core Exemption Criteria.)
*Some students may be required to take ENG 100 in addition to General
Education Core requirements.
- Oral Communication...............................................3 credits
Goal 2: Students will demonstrate the ability to speak logically, clearly,
precisely, and persuasively through accurate reading and observation;
and to acquire, organize, present, and document information and ideas.
The following courses are intended to provide a foundational
understanding of Goal 2:
COM 101: Interpersonal Communication................... 3 credits COM 103: Public Speaking......................................... 3 credits THE 136: Elements of Acting...................................... 3 credits
or demonstrated competence leading to exemption.
(See General Education Core Exemption Criteria.)
- Foreign Languages.................................................6 credits
Goal 3: Students will demonstrate competency in a language other
than English and an appreciation of the culture of its native speakers.
The following courses are intended to provide a foundational
understanding of Goal 3:
Beginning Foreign Language I (101 level)................. 3 credits Beginning Foreign Language II (102 level)................ 3 credits
or demonstrated competence leading to exemption.
(See General Education Core Exemption Criteria.)
- Quantitative Reasoning..........................................6 credits*
Goal 4: Students will demonstrate proficiency in mathematics and
an understanding of quantitative reasoning.
The following courses are intended to provide a foundational
understanding of Goal 4. Students should select two of the
following courses, at least one of which must have MAT as a
prefix.
ECN 241: Statistics**................................................ 3 credits MAT 104: Intermediate Algebra................................. 3 credits MAT 107: Introduction to Mathematics....................... 3 credits MAT 112: Basic Statistics**........................................ 3 credits MAT 131: Plane Trigonometry.................................... 3 credits MAT 143: Mathematical Analysis for
Business and Economics I..........................
3 creditsMAT 151: Pre-Calculus................................................. 3 credits MAT 201: Calculus I.................................................... 3 credits PSY/SOC 211: Statistics in the
Behavioral Sciences**........................
3 credits
or demonstrated competence leading to exemption.
(See General Education Core Exemption Criteria.)
*Some students may be required to take MAT100 in addition to General Education
Core requirements.
**Only one of these courses may be taken for credit - Computer Use.........................................................1-3 credits
Goal 5: Students will demonstrate skill in using digital technology, such
as computers and the Internet, to gather, analyze, and present information.
CSC 117: Microcomputers and Application
Software...................................................
3 creditsCSC 118: The Internet: Information Retrieval
and Organization.......................................
3 credits
or demonstrated competence leading to exemption.
(See General Education Core Exemption Criteria.)
Component Two: Understanding from Multiple Perspectives (25 credit hours)
- Humanities..............................................................9 credits
Goal 6: Students will demonstrate an understanding of literary and fine, visual, or performing arts and their cultural context by expressing an informed response to artistic creations.
One course from each of the following two categories will begin the development of those capabilities required to achieve Goal 6:
Literature
ENG 135: Introduction to Literature........................... 3 credits ENG 195: American Literature and Culture................ 3 credits ENG 245: Major Figures in English Literature:
Through the 18th Century.........................
3 creditsENG 246: Major Figures in English Literature:
Since the 18th Century..............................
3 creditsLIT 205: Masterpieces of Western Literature:
Through the Renaissance...........................
3 creditsLIT 206: Masterpieces of Western Literature:
Since the Renaissance................................
3 credits
Fine, Visual, and Performing Arts
FIA 115: Introduction to Art....................................... 3 credits FIA 245: History of Art I............................................. 3 credits FIA 246: History of Art II............................................ 3 credits MUS 115: Introduction to Music................................. 3 credits MUS 245: History of Music I........................................ 3 credits MUS 246: History of Music II...................................... 3 credits THE 115: Introduction to Theatre.............................. 3 credits
Goal 7: Students will demonstrate the ability to develop a critical perspective, to analyze and evaluate arguments, and to use arguments to arrive at rationally justified belief.
One course in Philosophy/Semiotic Systems will begin the development of those capabilities required to achieve Goal 7.
ENG 103: Introduction to the English Language........ 3 credits PHI 101: Critical Thinking........................................... 3 credits PHI 103: Problems in Philosophy............................... 3 credits PHI 104: Philosophy of Religion................................. 3 credits PHI 105: History of Ancient Philosophy...................... 3 credits PHI 106: History of Modern Philosophy...................... 3 credits PHI 107: Ethics.......................................................... 3 credits PHI 108: Professional Ethics...................................... 3 credits
- Natural Sciences.....................................................7-8 credits
Goal 8: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scientific
method of inquiry and/or standard experimental techniques and
knowledge of the natural sciences.
One course from two of the following categories (one course must be
a four-credit laboratory course) will begin the development of those
capacities required to achieve Goal 8:
Biology
BIO 101 and 102: Human Anatomy
and Physiology I & II*..................
4 creditsBIO 111/111L: Human Ecology....................... 3 or 4 credits BIO 112/PSY 207: Human Sexuality.......................... 3 credits BIO 113: Human Genetics......................................... 3 credits BIO 211: General Biology I........................................ 3 credits
*Both courses are required to receive General Education Core credit.
Chemistry
CHE 103: Chemistry and Society................................ 3 credits CHE 211: General Chemistry I................................... 4 credits
Environmental Science
ENV 201: Introduction to Environmental Issues........ 3 credits
Geology
GOL 105: Society, Earth, and the Environment.......... 3 credits GOL 115: Elementary Oceanography......................... 3 credits GOL 225: Physical Geology........................................ 4 credits GOL 226: Historical Geology....................................... 4 credits
History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
HPS 126: The Rise of Modern Science:
Aristotle to Newton....................................
3 credits
Physics
PHY 116: Astronomy: A Study of the Universe........... 3 credits PHY 123: Physics for Liberal Arts................................ 3 credits PHY 151: General Physics I:
Mechanics, Heat, and Waves......................
4 creditsPHY 163: How Things Work .....................................
PHY 261: Physics I.....................................................3 credits
4 credits
- Social Sciences.......................................................9 credits
Goal 9: Students will demonstrate an understanding of history and
heritage; the individual, culture, and society; and social institutions
and processes.
One course from each of the following categories will begin the
development of those capabilities required to achieve Goal 9.
Goal 10: Students will develop an awareness of and an appreciation
for the importance of interacting effectively with people of diverse
background. (This goal will be met in part through the requirement that
students enroll in at least one course designated as a diversity course.)
One course with a D (Diversity) designation will begin the development of this awareness:
History and Heritage
ANT 251(D): Native American Culture and History...... 3 credits HIS 125: America and the World................................ 3 credits HIS 135(D): Africa and the World............................... 3 credits HIS 145(D): Asia and the World................................. 3 credits HIS 165(D): Europe and the World............................ 3 credits
Social Institutions and Processes
ECN 141: Principles of Macroeconomics.................... 3 credits GOV 101: Introduction to Politics and
American Government...............................
3 creditsIST 101(D): World Regional Geography.................... 3 credits
The Individual, Culture, and Society
ANT 101(D): Cultural Anthropology............................ 3 credits PSY101: Introduction to Psychology.......................... 3 credits SOC 151(D): Human Society...................................... 3 credits
Component Three: Integrated Writing (6 credits)
6 credits – two courses designated as writing intensive after a student
has completed 27 credit hours.*
*Three credits for transfer students who transfer with General Education Core complete.
General Education Core Exemption Criteria
For details about exemption procedures, consult with the coordinator of the relevant department.
Goal I – Written Communication
ENG 101: For exemption from ENG 101, students must provide the Basic Studies Committee with three college-level essays and an impromptu piece of writing that demonstrate the student’s ability to write clearly organized, thesis-oriented essays. Essays will be judged on their clarity, organization, development, focus, coherence, thesis, and mechanics.
ENG 102: For exemption from ENG 102, students must provide the Basic Studies Committee with four well-organized, thesis-oriented essays, including an impromptu piece of writing and three collegelevel essays, at least one of which demonstrates the student’s ability to write an organized, coherent research paper that correctly utilizes the conventions of one of the standard methods of documentation. Essays will be judged on their clarity, organization, development, focus, coherence, thesis, mechanics, research, and documentation.
Goal II – Oral Communication
Exemption from the oral communication requirement shall be granted by providing demonstrated competence in one or more of the following ways:
- Proof of coursework or other significant structured learning that provided both
experience in oral communication (skill development) and in the theoretical foundations of the field; - Written testimony by qualified persons acquainted with the applicant’s experience
in both the performance and theoretical aspects of the field; - Other forms of proof (portfolio, taped performance, etc.) that attest to the applicant’s experiences in, and knowledge of, the field.
At the discretion of the faculty, some form of presentation may be required in addition to the above criteria.
Goal III – Foreign Languages
Students who have achieved an A average with three years of high school language or a B average with 4+ years are exempt from 101 and 102. Those with three years and an B average are placed in 102. Two or fewer years with up to a B average are placed in 101. Native and bilingual speakers are evaluated
on a case-by-case basis.
Goal IV – Quantitative Reasoning
Students who achieve a score of 70 or above on the Math Placement Test are exempt from three credits in Goal 4: Quantitative Reasoning. Exempted students may not take MAT 104 or MAT 151 for credit.
Goal V – Computer Use
Any student who wishes to be exempt from Goal V: Computer Use must achieve a passing grade on the computer proficiency assessment test or show evidence of computer proficiency.
Top of Page
Back
