Freshman Orientation Course

1 credit

Individual colleges or departments may offer an orientation course for freshmen.

English Composition

6-7 credits

English 101 (English I)
Fundamentals of expository writing and the reading of expository prose; word processing instruction; general information literacy.

English 102 (English II) or other approved courses
The course may be taught for a discipline or generalized for all. Course topics will include: research techniques and critical thinking appropriate for discipline; methods of argument; clarity of organization and expression; preparation of longer writing projects; and information literacy specific to the discipline.

The passing grade for English 101 and 102 is "C" or better.

Mathematics and Logic

6 credits

100/200-level mathematics courses offered by the Mathematics Department or other approved courses. Each course must have as its prerequisite three years of college preparatory mathematics at the high-school level (or their equivalent). Students may choose to satisfy one-half of this requirement by taking PHL 131.

Natural Sciences

8-9 credits

100/200-level courses offered by the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Geological Sciences and Physics or other approved courses. At least one of the courses must have a laboratory component which carries at least 1 credit hour and meets an average of at least two class hours per week.

Social Sciences

9 credits

100/200-level courses from at least two different departments including the departments of Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Social Work, Psychology, Economics, Communication, Urban Studies, courses labeled "Social Science" (SSC) or other approved courses.

Arts and Humanities

9 credits

100/200-level courses from at least two different departments of Art, Dramatic Arts, Music, English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy (except logic courses) and Religious Studies, or other approved courses.

Nonwestern Culture and Civilization

3 credits

One approved course from either Arts/Humanities or Social Sciences which must focus on a nonwestern culture and civilization.

The Nonwestern Culture and Civilization requirements may also be satisfied by approved 300/400-level courses.

Western Culture and Civilization

3 credits

One approved course from either Arts/Humanities or Social Sciences which must focus on a western culture and civilization.

The Western Culture and Civilization requirements may also be satisfied by approved 300/400-level courses.

African-American Experience and Human Diversity

2 courses
(6 credits)

Students must take two courses in this field for a minimum of six credits. Once course must be an African-American Experience course. The second course may be either a second African-American Experience course or a Human Diversity course.

• African-American Experience
  The central and primary focus of the course shall pertain to the African-American experience. Specifically, it should require students to explore one or both of the following issues; African-American history and culture or the African-American urban experience. In addition to appropriate content areaas listed above, a major component of all courses in this area must be on race and racism-the interaction between blacks and whites in the United States.
• Human Diversity
  This course includes contemporary subject matter that focuses upon one or more of the following:
  • the experience and contributions of African-Americans;
  • the experiences and contributions of other racial/ethnic minority groups within the United States with primary focus on Native Americans, Hispanics, and Asians.
  • the experiences and contributions of other groups in the United States that encounter bias based upon group identity (includes gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, and/or religion).

Three hours of the African-American Experience and Human Diversity requirement may also be used to satisfy the Arts/Humanities or Social Science requirement if so listed. The Human Diversity requirement and the African-American Experience requirement may not be satisfied by the same course.

Transfer students with 60 credit hours or more must complete at least one course in either the African-American Experience or the Human Diversity area.

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 courses (must be passed with C grades or better)

Students must demonstrate satisfactory performance (C or better) in the writing required in order to receive a C in the course and satisfactorily complete that portion of the WAC requirement.

For transfer students: Juniors (60-89 credit hours) must complete two courses; seniors (at least 90 credit hours) must complete one course.