General Education Areas of Study
The General Education core curriculum provides a broad liberal arts knowledge base and includes courses from across the university, including art, English, history, humanities, mathematics, and science. All students who matriculate at the university must complete a minimum of 41 credit hours of general education core courses (may increase due to selected science classes that have laboratory requirements). The General Education core curriculum does not include developmental skills courses. Satisfactory completion of the General Education core requirements involves the following areas: (a) communications: 9 hours; (b) health and physical education: 3 hours; (c) freshman seminar: 1 hour; (d) humanities: 9 hours; (e) mathematics: 3 hours; (f) science: 7 hours (may increase slightly due to mandatory lab requirements in selected science classes)– must select a lecture and lab course from the same discipline and one science lecture course from another department; and (g) social and behavioral science: 9 hours.
Outcomes of the General Education Core Curriculum
The purpose of general education at WSSU is to provide students with the skills of lifelong learning. This is accomplished by providing students with curricular and co-curricular activities designed to present opportunities to obtain broad based knowledge; skills to evaluate their own learning processes; structures to provide a successful transition to college level work; and competence in 21st century skills. Effective 2008-2011, students completing the general education core curriculum will be able to:
1. Write effectively based on the audience and the purpose and communicate ideas effectively using other forms of expressions.
2. Interpret, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information (critical thinking) or use appropriate problem solving skills.
3. Use technology as appropriate for the discipline.
4. Engage in appropriate professional behavior, according to the discipline, including teamwork.
5. Develop knowledge of self and other cultures and backgrounds (international/intranational or multicultural/pluralistic perspectives)
At least two of the five outcomes listed above will be developed in general education courses and in the major (effective since fall 2008).
All students who enroll at WSSU must complete a minimum of 41 required semester hours of core courses in addition to any developmental skills courses required. Developmental skills courses are non-credit, basic skills courses for students who have basic skills deficits as determined by Accuplacer computerized placement tests. In addition, specific general education courses may be required for individual majors to broaden educational experiences or to develop specific skills.
Students at the freshman and sophomore levels may take a limited number of courses in their prospective major field of study, provided these courses are recommended and/or required as prerequisites for the major.
Transfer students or students accepted with junior standing may, with their advisor’s consent, enroll in appropriate upper division courses while completing general education requirements.
It is expected, however, that transfer students in this category will complete as soon as possible the general education curriculum following enrollment at the university.
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