Requirements by Content Category

The GEP requirements are arranged in two levels.  You should complete requirements at the Foundational Level before you take courses that satisfy the Integrative Level of the program.  Also, it is suggested that you begin by taking courses in English and mathematics and continue to take courses in these areas until you have completed requirements in English composition and quantitative reasoning. 

A more complete description of each category follows. Specific course descriptions are found in their own section of the catalog.

It should be noted that in cases where a single course meets both the General Education Program and requirements of the major, the total number of hours required for the GEP will be reduced by the number of related course hours. The minimum credit hours required for the baccalaureate degree shall not, however, be less than 124.

English Composition (6 Hours Minimum)

These courses provide an opportunity for you to develop as a writer. Their goal is for you to learn to write clearly, concisely, and creatively in a variety of formats.

Take one of the following courses:

ENGL 1101 Discourse and Composition (5) or*
ENGL 1102 Discourse and Composition (3)

and:
ENGL 1105 Composition and Argumentation (3)

*Depending on placement

Note:  Two English composition courses must be completed prior to taking coursework at the Integrative Level of the GEP.

Quantitative Reasoning (3 Hours Minimum)

This component of the General Education Program addresses the nature of mathematical thought and its impact on modern life. To fulfill the quantitative reasoning component of the GEP, each course contains active communication about mathematics (which includes reading and/or writing and/or speaking), exercises designed to stimulate critical thinking, the use of mathematical-related technology, and an emphasis on problem solving. In addition, each course stresses data and data analysis, demonstrates the application of mathematics to a variety of disciplines, and incorporates activity based learning.

Choose one course from the following list:

MATH 1100 Mathematics Core Course (3)
MATH 1300 Precalculus (5)
MATH 1500 Principles of Statistics (3)
MATH 1700 Applied Finite Mathematics (3)
MATH 1900 Brief Calculus with Applications (4)
MATH 2110 Calculus 1 (4)
 

Fine and Performing Arts (3 Hours)

You should leave the GEP with a greater appreciation of how the arts contribute to an enriched quality of life. Courses in this category include either an art history, art appreciation, music, or theatre component.

Choose one course from the following list:

ARTH 1101 Introduction to Art (3)
ENGL 2275* American Film History (3)
MUSI 1201* Music Appreciation (3)
MUSI 2211* Music History (3)
PHIL 3300 Philosophy of Film (3)
THAR 1000* Introduction to Theatre (3)

Social Sciences (3 Hours)

This GEP component introduces you to the breadth and depth of the influence the social sciences have on contemporary life. Courses reflect an interdisciplinary or cross disciplinary approach with the expectation of increasing your awareness of the interconnectedness of the social sciences.

Choose one course from the following list:

GOVT 2250 Introduction to Political Science (3)
HIST 4110 Intellectual History (3)
PHIL 2230 Social and Political Philosophy (3)
PSYC 1101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
SOCI 1101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
SOSC 1110 Foundations of Social Science (3)

Natural Sciences (7 Hours Minimum)

The natural science component of the General Education Program addresses scientific reasoning.

Choose courses for a minimum of seven semester hours.  At least one course must have a lab (all courses have a lab component except for NTSC 1110).  The courses marked with an asterisk are recommended for students who are not science majors and for students who do not have science courses required in support of their majors.

BIOL 1120 Concepts in Biology (4)*
BIOL 1130 Prin. of Anatomy & Physiology 1 (4)
BIOL 1131 Prin. of Anatomy & Physiology 2 (4)
BIOL 1151 General Biology 1 (4)
BIOL 1152 General Biology 2 (4)
BIOL 2253 Practical Horticulture (4)
BIOL 3355 Ornithology (3)
BIOL 3560 Principles of Anatomy (4)
BIOL 3630 Kinesiology (3)
BIOL 3750 Microbiology (4)
BIOL 3852 Marine Biology (4)
CHEM 1121 Prin. of Chemistry (non-majors) (4)*
CHEM 1141 General Chemistry 1 (majors) (4)
CHEM 1142 General Chemistry 2 (majors) (4)
CHEM 2200 Introduction to Organic Chemistry (4)
GEOL 1201 Physical Geol. & Human Environ. (4)*
GEOL 1202 Historical Geology (4)
NTSC 1110 Scientific Reasoning & Methodology (3)*
NTSC 2850 Intro. to Environmental Science (4)
NTSC 3850 Ohio’s Natural Heritage (4)*
PHYS 2201 Physics 1 (Mechanics & Energy) (4)
PHYS 2202 Physics 2 (Electricity & Magnetism) (4)
PHYS 2210 Introductory Astronomy (3)*
PHYS 2211 Calculus-Based Physics 1 (4)
PHYS 2212 Calculus-Based Physics 2 (4)
PHYS 3310 Observational Astronomy (3)
PSCI 2251 Physical Science by Inquiry 1 (4)*

Note: Credit is not allowed for both CHEM 1121/2200 and CHEM 1141/1142.

Cultural Perspectives (6 Hours Minimum)

The goal of this GEP component is to help you understand aspects of Western and non-Western cultures and to appreciate the multicultural nature of modern society. Courses may vary as to discipline, content, and approach, but each instills some comprehension of the complex historical, cultural, or sociological contexts which inform contemporary experience.

Western Perspective: Choose one course from the following list:
 

FREN 1111 Elementary French 1 (5)
IDST 2225 Civilization and Literature 1 (3)
IDST 2226 Civilization and Literature 2 (3)
PHIL 2200 Introduction to Philosophy (3)
SPAN 1111 Elementary Spanish 1 (5)
 

 Non-Western Perspective: Choose one course from the following list:
 

ANTH 2250 Cultural Anthropology (3)
ARTH 3366 Non-Western Survey (3)
GEOG 2201 Cultural Geography (3)
GEOG 3351 Regional Geog. of the Middle East (3)
GOVT 3320 Third World Politics (3)
HIST 3400 History of Southern Africa (3)
HIST 3410 East Asian History (3)
HIST 3460 Islamic Religion, Culture, and Civil. (3)
HIST 4420 Middle East in Modern Times (3)
IDST 2227 Civilization and Literature 3

Ethics (3 Hours)

The requirement in Ethics serves several purposes within the GEP’s broader goal of enabling students “to function effectively in the multiple roles demanded by contemporary life.” First, students are introduced to the most influential moral theories of Western civilization. These theories attempt to answer what constitutes the good life and what makes an action ethical, as well as introduce ways of reasoning about the moral life. Secondly, students learn how these theories affect how we think about public life, including the relationship of morality to law and public policy. Third, students engage in a thorough and careful analysis of contemporary moral issues in order to arrive at a rationally defensible, well-informed conclusion within a context of open and civil dialogue with others. Evaluation is based, first and foremost, on how well students reason about moral issues, not on the particular conclusions.

Choose one course from the following list:

PHIL 3320 Ethics in Public and Private Life (3)
ROCI 4485 Reflections on Community Involvement (4)

Capstone (3 Hours)

Senior Seminar (IDST 4490) comes late in your university experience and gives you the opportunity to write, speak, think, analyze, synthesize, and integrate. A central part of the seminar is the research and writing of a major paper and an oral presentation of your findings.

*Note to potential transfer students:  If you plan to transfer from Shawnee State to another state university in Ohio and you plan to complete the general education transfer module, you should select courses marked with an asterisk (*).  Contact  Phil Blau, GEP Director at 740-351-3443 if you have any questions.