General Education

General Education Learning Outcomes

The intended learning outcomes resulting from the various general education categories include the following:

Communication (C) - students will

  • effectively communicate analysis, knowledge, understanding, expression and/or conclusions in a range of contexts
  • skillfully use high-quality, credible, relevant sources
  • demonstrate appropriate conventions in a variety of communication situations

Quantitative Reasoning (R) - student will

  • apply quantitative and qualitative methods to collect and analyze data, in order to:
    • explain the nature of evidence used for analysis
    • evaluate the assumptions, evidence, and logic of competing views and explanations

Science & Technology (S)

Technology Learning Outcome- students will

  • understand, use, and apply technology to demonstrate creativity and solve problems
  • identify the social, aesthetic, and ethical implications of technological decisions
  • analyze how technology shapes, limits, and augments our experiences and understandings

Natural and Physical Sciences Learning Outcome - students will

  • analyze components and dynamics of natural and physical worlds
  • develop models to explain phenomena within the natural and physical worlds
  • apply methods of scientific inquiry to enhance their understanding of the natural and physical world

Humanities & Fine Arts (A) - students will

  • identify the nature and impact of aesthetic, creative, or cultural activities on human experience
  • analyze the components and dynamics of human societies in their artistic, cultural, and historical contexts

Social & Behavioral Sciences (B) - students will

  • analyze the interplay of self and society, particularly how social structures shape human experiences and how humans shape social structures
  • apply theories or research methods to understand human events, identities, artifacts, or social structures
  • Examine their own values, biases, and conclusions within larger social or theoretical contexts

Social & Behavioral Sciences - Wellness (W)  - students will

  • examine how social ecological contexts relate to their personal wellness values, biases, and conclusions
  • articulate how their personal, professional, or civic goals reflect their core wellness values
  • explore, identify and evaluate sources of information related to personal wellness

Cultural Diversity (D) - students will

  • identify how diverse societies shape individual experiences, expressions and identities
  • identify how diversity influences cultural values

Global Perspectives (G) - students will

  • apply theories or research methods to develop strategies and solutions that address global challenges
  • identify potential benefits and explore the implications of global citizenship
  • evaluate global phenomena using perspectives, attitudes and beliefs of communities with cultural backgrounds different from their own

General Education Administrative Policies

  1. General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education requirements and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable.
  2. Departments or colleges may preclude their students from double counting general education courses with major courses.
  3. Except for courses that meet the cultural diversity or global perspectives requirements, no course can fulfill the requirements for more than one general education category.
  4. General education requirements can be met through credit by exam, departmental examinations, or equivalents.
  5. General education requirements can be met by successful completion of a course for which an approved general education course in the same department is a prerequisite or by successful completion of an advanced course in the same department with comparable course content.
  6. Except for courses offered only on a pass/fail basis, no courses taken to meet the general education requirements may be taken for pass/fail grades. (Exception for Spring and Fall 2020: Students were allowed to complete general education requirements with a pass grade.)
  7. The general education minimum requirements apply to all baccalaureate degree programs.
  8. Transfer students who have only partially fulfilled general education category requirements by transfer-approved courses must complete the requirements in approved courses within the NDSU deficient categories. No category credit requirement may be deficient by more than a partial semester credit. However, in the communication category, if the transfer course(s) have been evaluated as equivalent to ENGL 110 College Composition I, ENGL 120 College Composition II, and COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking and total no less than eight semester credits, the lower-division category requirement has been met.
  9. Students may receive placement credit for ENGL 110 College Composition I based on a minimum English ACT score (or SAT equivalent) and satisfactory performance (grade of 'C' or better) in ENGL 120 College Composition II or equivalent.
  10. A student who has completed an associate of arts or an associate of science degree in the United States or Canada at a regionally accredited institution and who transfers to NDSU or who pursues a second baccalaureate degree at NDSU is considered to have completed his or her lower-division general education requirements at NDSU. Transfer student coursework from outside the United States and Canada will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
  11. General education courses at other accredited institutions, which do not have equivalent courses or general education status at NDSU, may be accepted in transfer as part of the general education requirements at NDSU.
  12. All general education course syllabi and course web sites must identify the course as having been approved for meeting general education requirements and include the general education outcomes for which each course is approved. (See Syllabus Requirements)
  13. Students who have completed basic military training (which is the commitment for enlistment) will receive a waiver for the Wellness category. Military record documentation is required for the waiver; documentation is to be submitted to the Office of Registration and Records with a completed Appeal for Exception to General Education Requirements form. The waiver for the training will not lead to course credit, and all other minimum graduation requirements apply.
  14. Military Services members that have been deployed to a foreign country for a minimum period of 90 consecutive days will be recognized as meeting Global Perspectives general education requirement. Additionally, services members will have satisfied the Cultural Diversity requirement for completing an additional 90 days of foreign deployment. A copy of the military deployment documentation can be submitted with a completed Appeal for Exception to General Education Requirements form.
  15. Students must complete at least four credits of natural and physical sciences in the Science and Technology category. Also in this category, a student must complete a one-credit lab taken as a co-requisite with an approved general education science and technology lecture course, unless the approved science and technology course has an embedded lab experience equivalent to one-credit (ex. CHEM 117 & CHEM 117L; PLSC 110).

General Education Courses

The following is representative of the courses approved in each general education category for the specific catalog year.  The general education component requires a minimum of 39 total credits with a minimum credit requirement in each of the six categories.  Cultural diversity and global perspectives may be satisfied by completing courses in another category.

Category C: Communications - 12 credits

  • 3 of the 12 credits at the upper-level (300-400):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
or ENGL 112 Multilingual College Composition I
ENGL 120College Composition II3
or ENGL 121 Honors Composition II
or ENGL 122 Multilingual College Composition II
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
or COMM 111 Honors Public Speaking
ECON 356History of Economic Thought3
ENGL 320Business and Professional Writing3
ENGL 321Writing in the Technical Professions3
ENGL 322Writing and the Creative Process3
ENGL 324Writing in the Sciences3
ENGL 325Writing in the Health Professions3
ENGL 326Writing in the Design Professions3
ENGL 357Visual Culture and Language3
ENGL 358Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences3
ENGL 459Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal3
FREN 360Studies in Language and Style3
HIST 390Historical Research and Writing3
PHIL 450Metaphysics3
PHIL 451Skepticism and the Possibility of Knowledge3
PHRM 324Writing and Professionalization in Pharmacy3
SPAN 401Advanced Spanish Grammar and Writing3

Category R: Quantitative Reasoning - 3 credits

CSCI 122Visual BASIC3
CSCI 159Computer Science Problem Solving3
MATH 104Finite Mathematics3
MATH 146Applied Calculus I4
MATH 165Calculus I4
PHIL 257Traditional Logic3
STAT 330Introductory Statistics3

CATEGORY S: Science & Technology - 10 Credits

  • At least four credits must be in natural or physical sciences.

  • A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course.

Natural Science (Sn):

AGRI 115Wonders of Weather3
BIOL 100LNon-Majors Biology Lab *1
BIOL 111Concepts of Biology3
BIOL 124Environmental Science3
BIOL 126Human Biology3
BIOL 220Human Anatomy and Physiology I3
BIOL 220LHuman Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory1
BIOL 315Genetics3
or PLSC 315 Genetics
BIOL 315LGenetics Laboratory1
or PLSC 315L Genetics Laboratory
CFS 210Introduction to Food Science and Technology3
GEOL 201Climate Change and Energy3
HON 342Colloquium in the Sciences3
MICR 202Introductory Microbiology2
MICR 202LIntroductory Microbiology Lab1
NRM/RNG 225Natural Resources & Agrosystems3
PLSC 110World Food Crops3
PLSC 111Genetics and You2
PLSC 210Horticulture Science3
PLSC 211Horticulture Science Lab1
SOIL 217Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology3
*

 Beginning Fall 2020, BIOL 100L replaces the previously offered BIOL 111L, BIOL 124L and BIOL 126L as the co-requisite lab for the lecture classes BIOL 111, BIOL 124, and BIOL 126.  BIOL 100L is also considered the repeated course equivalent for any of these three lab courses.

Physical Science (Sp):

CHEM 117Chemical Concepts and Applications3
CHEM 117LChem Concepts and Applications Lab1
CHEM 121General Chemistry I3
CHEM 121LGeneral Chemistry I Laboratory1
CHEM 122General Chemistry II3
CHEM 122LGeneral Chemistry II Laboratory1
GEOL 105Physical Geology3
GEOL 105LPhysical Geology Lab1
GEOL 106The Earth Through Time3
GEOL 106LThe Earth Through Time Lab1
GEOL 107LGeology of the Red River Valley May be taken as a co-requisite lab if taken with GEOL 105 or GEOL 106.1
GEOL 219Oceanography3
PHYS 110Introductory Astronomy3
PHYS 110LIntroductory Astronomy Lab1
PHYS 120Fundamentals of Physics3
PHYS 120LFundamentals of Physics Laboratory1
PHYS 211College Physics I3
PHYS 211LCollege Physics I Laboratory1
PHYS 212College Physics II3
PHYS 212LCollege Physics II Laboratory1
UNIV 150Foundations of Science3
UNIV 151Science and Society3
Technology (St):
CSCI 114Computer Applications3
or TL 116 Business Software Applications
CSCI 160Computer Science I4

CATEGORY A: Humanities & Fine Arts - 6 Credits

ADHM 210Dress in World Cultures3
ADHM 211Food and World Cultures3
ADHM 310History of Fashion3
ADHM 315History of Interiors I3
ADHM 316History of Interiors II3
ARCH 321History and Theory of Architecture I3
ARCH 322History and Theory of Architecture II3
ART 110Introduction to the Visual Arts3
ART 111Introduction to Art History3
ART 130Drawing I3
ART 153Design Thinking and Creative Strategy3
ART 210Art History I3
ART 211Art History II3
ENGL 150Being Human3
ENGL 220Introduction to Literature3
ENGL 225Introduction to Film3
ENGL 229Introduction to Creative Writing3
ENGL 240World Literature Masterpieces3
ENGL 251British Literature I3
ENGL 252British Literature II3
ENGL 261American Literature I3
ENGL 262American Literature II3
ENGL 330Women's Writing3
ENGL 333Fantasy and Science Fiction3
ENGL 335Multicultural Writers3
ENGL 336Literature and The Environment3
ENGL 34019th Century American Fiction3
ENGL 341Contemporary American Fiction3
ENGL 345Themes in American Culture3
ENGL 375The Bible as Literature3
ENGL 380Shakespeare3
ENGR 327Ethics, Engineering, and Technology3
or PHIL 327 Ethics, Engineering, and Technology
ENVD 101Introduction to Environmental Design3
FREN 101First-Year French I4
FREN 102First-Year French II4
FREN 201Second-Year French I3
FREN 202Second-Year French II3
GERM 101First-Year German I4
GERM 102First-Year German II4
GERM 201Second-Year German I3
GERM 202Second-Year German II3
GERM 220German Culture & Society3
HIST 101Western Civilization I3
HIST 102Western Civilization II3
HIST 103U.S. to 18773
HIST 104U.S. Since 18773
HIST 130The American Presidency3
HIST 175Pirates of the Caribbean3
HIST 270American Religious History3
or RELS 270 American Religious History
HIST 271Introduction to Latin American History3
HIST 311History of Technology3
HIST 320History of Christianity3
or RELS 320 History of Christianity
HIST 328War and Society in America3
HIST 355Global Islam3
HIST 381Australia & New Zealand3
HIST 431The North American Plains3
HON 340Colloquium in the Humanities3
LA 321History of Landscape Architecture4
LANG 108Studies in American Language and Culture3
MUSC 100Music Appreciation3
MUSC 103Introduction to Music History3
MUSC 108Roots of American Popular Music3
MUSC 109World Music3
PHIL 101Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 111Professional Responsibility and Ethics3
PHIL 215Contemporary Moral Issues3
PHIL 216Business Ethics3
PHIL 225Environmental Ethics3
RELS 100World Religions3
RELS 220Old Testament3
RELS 230New Testament3
RELS 240"Cults" and New Religious Movements3
RELS 335History of Judaism3
RELS 345Religion and Politics3
RELS 355Global Islam3
SPAN 101First-Year Spanish I4
SPAN 102First-Year Spanish II4
SPAN 201Second-Year Spanish I3
SPAN 202Second-Year Spanish II3
THEA 110Introduction to Theatre Arts3
THEA 115World Film3
THEA 160Storytelling3
THEA 161Acting I3
THEA 280World Theatre3
THEA 385Period Style for Performance3
TIPS 101Introduction to Native American & Indigenous Studies3
WGS 110Introduction to Women's Studies3
WGS 112Introduction to Masculinities3

CATEGORY B: Social & Behavioral Sciences - 6 Credits

ADHM 141Tourism and International Travel Management3
ADHM 203Sustainability and Social Change in Fashion3
ADHM 486Dress and Human Behavior3
ANTH 111Introduction to Anthropology3
ANSC 200Introduction to Anthrozoology3
ANTH 204Archaeology and Prehistory3
ANTH 205Human Origins3
ANTH 206Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: Peoples of the World3
BUSN 280Introduction To Business3
COMM 112Understanding Media and Social Change3
COMM 114Human Communication3
COMM 212Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 216Intercultural Communication3
ECON 105Elements of Economics3
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 202Principles of Macroeconomics3
EMGT 101Emergencies, Disasters, and Catastrophes3
EMGT 325World Disasters3
EMGT 345Understanding Vulnerable Populations in Disasters3
ENTR 201Introduction to Entrepreneurship3
GEOG 151Human Geography3
GEOG 161World Regional Geography3
HDFS 186Smart Spending and Saving3
HDFS 230Life Span Development3
HDFS 275Diversity and Multiculturalism in Individual and Family Life3
HON 341Colloquium in the Social Sciences3
INTL 110Introduction to International Studies3
POLS 110Introduction to Political Science3
POLS 115American Government3
POLS 120Terrorism3
POLS 215Problems and Policies In American Government3
POLS 220International Politics3
POLS 225Comparative Politics3
POLS 231Law and Society3
PSYC 111Introduction to Psychology3
PSYC 210Human Sexuality3
PSYC 211Introduction To Behavior Modification3
PSYC 212Psychological Aspects of Drug Use and Abuse3
PSYC 214Social Interaction3
or SOC 214 Social Interaction
PSYC 221Psychology Applied to Work3
PSYC 250Developmental Psychology3
PSYC 270Abnormal Psychology3
SOC 110Introduction to Sociology3
SOC 115Social Problems3
SOC 116Global Social Problems3
SOC 235Cultural Diversity3
SOC 412Sociology of Gender3

CATEGORY W: Wellness - 2 Credits

  • Required is a social/behavioral science course that integrates at least two areas of lifelong wellness: emotional well-being, nutrition, physical activity, and psychological development.
ANSC 165Animals and Human Health3
CHP 211Perspectives for Wellness3
ECON 205Market Values3
HDFS 242Couples, Marriages and Families3
HNES 100Concepts of Fitness & Wellness2
HNES 111Wellness3
HNES 217Personal and Community Health3
HNES 250Nutrition Science3
HON 251Leadership Development2
PH 101Introduction to Public Health3

CATEGORY D: Cultural Diversity

  • This requirement may be met by 3 credits taken in any department as part of the 39 credits required for general education in a course approved for cultural diversity.
ADHM 210Dress in World Cultures3
ADHM 211Food and World Cultures3
ANTH 111Introduction to Anthropology3
ANTH 204Archaeology and Prehistory3
ANTH 205Human Origins3
ANTH 206Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: Peoples of the World3
ART 110Introduction to the Visual Arts3
COMM 216Intercultural Communication3
EMGT 345Understanding Vulnerable Populations in Disasters3
ENGL 150Being Human3
ENGL 220Introduction to Literature3
ENGL 261American Literature I3
ENGL 262American Literature II3
ENGL 335Multicultural Writers3
ENGL 34019th Century American Fiction3
ENGL 341Contemporary American Fiction3
ENGL 345Themes in American Culture3
ENGR 327Ethics, Engineering, and Technology3
or PHIL 327 Ethics, Engineering, and Technology
FREN 101First-Year French I4
FREN 201Second-Year French I3
GERM 101First-Year German I4
GERM 201Second-Year German I3
HDFS 242Couples, Marriages and Families3
HDFS 275Diversity and Multiculturalism in Individual and Family Life3
HIST 270American Religious History3
or RELS 270 American Religious History
HIST 271Introduction to Latin American History3
HIST 431The North American Plains3
LANG 108Studies in American Language and Culture3
MUSC 108Roots of American Popular Music3
PH 101Introduction to Public Health3
PHIL 215Contemporary Moral Issues3
RELS 240"Cults" and New Religious Movements3
SOC 235Cultural Diversity3
SOC 412Sociology of Gender3
SPAN 101First-Year Spanish I4
SPAN 201Second-Year Spanish I3
THEA 115World Film3
THEA 280World Theatre3
THEA 385Period Style for Performance3
TIPS 101Introduction to Native American & Indigenous Studies3
WGS 110Introduction to Women's Studies3
WGS 112Introduction to Masculinities3

CATEGORY G: Global Perspectives

  • This requirement may be met by 3 credits taken in any department as part of the 39 credits required for general education in a course approved for global perspectives.
ADHM 141Tourism and International Travel Management3
ADHM 203Sustainability and Social Change in Fashion3
ARCH 321History and Theory of Architecture I3
ART 111Introduction to Art History3
BIOL 124Environmental Science3
ECON 105Elements of Economics3
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 202Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 205Market Values3
EMGT 325World Disasters3
ENGL 240World Literature Masterpieces3
ENGL 336Literature and The Environment3
FREN 102First-Year French II4
FREN 202Second-Year French II3
GEOG 151Human Geography3
GEOG 161World Regional Geography3
GEOL 106The Earth Through Time3
GEOL 201Climate Change and Energy3
GEOL 219Oceanography3
GERM 102First-Year German II4
GERM 202Second-Year German II3
GERM 220German Culture & Society3
HIST 175Pirates of the Caribbean3
HIST 320History of Christianity3
or RELS 320 History of Christianity
HIST 355Global Islam3
HIST 381Australia & New Zealand3
INTL 110Introduction to International Studies3
MUSC 109World Music3
NRM 225Natural Resources & Agrosystems3
or RNG 225 Natural Resource & Agro-Ecosystems
PLSC 110World Food Crops3
PHIL 216Business Ethics3
PHIL 225Environmental Ethics3
POLS 120Terrorism3
POLS 220International Politics3
POLS 225Comparative Politics3
RELS 220Old Testament3
RELS 335History of Judaism3
RELS 345Religion and Politics3
RELS 355Global Islam3
SOC 116Global Social Problems3
SPAN 102First-Year Spanish II4
SPAN 202Second-Year Spanish II3
UNIV 151Science and Society3
WGS 370Transnational/Global Women3

North Dakota University System General Education Requirements Transfer Agreement

The North Dakota University System (NDUS) General Education Requirements Transfer Agreement (GERTA) was established by the State Board of Higher Education to ease student transfers within the system. Although subject to revision by the board, the policies at the time of this printing were as follows:

  • If students have completed the lower-division general education course requirements (36 credits or more) at one NDUS institution and transfer to another NDUS institution, then the lower-division general education requirements will have been met.

If the lower-division general education requirements have not been completed before transferring, the general education courses from the indicated areas are applicable to an appropriate general education requirement of the institution to which they are transferred. In these cases, the number of credits required to complete the general education requirement in each area is determined by the policies of the institution to which the courses are transferred.

Students transferring lower-division general education credits within the North Dakota University System need to consult with advisers in their academic programs at NDSU for two reasons. First, degree requirements of individual programs and colleges at NDSU may exceed the university-wide general education requirements. Second, meeting the university-wide lower-division general education requirements by transfer credits may not necessarily prepare students for advanced, upper-division study in an academic major at NDSU.

Students transferring from non-ND University System institutions will have their general education requirements evaluated on a course-by-course basis when they enter NDSU.