Framework for General Education in Baccalaureate Degree Programs
General Education is a set of knowledge and skills that are generally expected of every person who has earned a four-year degree. The General Education requirement is divided into two groups: A core, which is common to all students at Indiana University East, and a set of program specific requirements. The program specific requirements may be met in a variety of ways, and may be tailored to individual programs, as long as they meet the associated objectives.
The list of courses by which a requirement is met is chosen by the faculty of the specific discipline. It is the responsibility of the faculty in this discipline to approve only those courses that clearly meet the course objectives and are college level courses. Courses outside of a specific discipline, if approved, may meet General Education Core Requirements.
Students can use each course to satisfy only one General Education Core requirement.
Composition & Communication
9 Credit Hours
Effective communication is a foundational skill, as it is required to achieve the objectives of any college level course. For that reason, these courses should come early in the student’s course of study.
These courses contribute towards Learning Objective #3:
- Communicate clearly, completely, and accurately with diverse audiences.
- Understand the use and adaptation of appropriate citation styles.
- Understand analysis of argument and demonstrate its use.
Acceptable Courses (9 cr)
- “College-level Composition”
- ENG-W 131 (or equivalent, as approved by the English faculty)
- ENG-W 131 (or equivalent, as approved by the English faculty)
- “Second College-level Composition”
- “College-level Speech Communication”
- SPCH-S 121
- CMCL-C 223
- Other courses, if approved by HSS faculty, excluding composition courses.
- SPCH-S 121
College-level Mathematics
3 Credit Hours
Like communication, basic college level mathematics is a foundational skill and should come early in the student’s course of study.
These courses contribute towards Learning Objective #4:
- Interpret mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables, and schematics and draw inferences from them.
- Represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, numerically, and verbally.
- Use a variety of mathematical methods (algebraic, geometric and/or statistical methods) to solve problems.
Acceptable Courses (3 cr)
- “One College-level Mathematics or Statistics course”
- Any MATH-M course at the 100-level or higher.
- Sequence MATH (T101, T102/N102, T103)
- MATH-K 300
- PSY-K 300
- ECON-E 270
- NURS-H 355
- Other courses, if approved by math faculty.
- Any MATH-M course at the 100-level or higher.
Students may receive exemption from this requirement with appropriate ACT, SAT, or AP scores. See the Mathematics Exemption Policy for details.
Distribution Requirements
27 Credit Hours
Requiring courses from a range of disciplines across the campus school structure provides opportunities for students to experience many aspects of the academic world (Learning Objective #1). In doing so students will be able to develop informed opinions on, comprehend and critically evaluate a wide range of ideas (Learning Objective #5).
Natural Science & Mathematics (9 cr)
- Understand the role of empirical data in establishing scientific knowledge.
- Understand that, in addition to empirical evidence, science involves skepticism and rational arguments; that it is not opinion but is rather reasoned consensus among informed experts which improves over time.
- Understand several examples of fundamental concept models in at least two separate disciplines of the natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geoscience) which underlie our current understanding of the physical world.
This requirement must include courses from at least two different disciplines, with at least 3 credits from the Natural Sciences.
If a Mathematics course is elected, it cannot be the same as the one used to fulfill the College-level Mathematics requirement.
Optionally, a student may “split” a 5-credit Math course so that 3 credits count towards the Math requirement and 2 count towards the Distribution requirement.
Natural Sciences
NSM-designated courses in:
- Chemistry (CHEM)
- Physics (PHYS)
- Geology (GEOL)
- Astronomy (AST)
- Biology (BIOL, MICRO, ZOOL, ANAT, PHSL, PLSC)
One course must have a laboratory.
Mathematics
- Any Mathematics course that would satisfy the general Math requirement.
- Other courses, if approved by science faculty.
Humanities & Social Sciences (18 cr)
- Understand the impact of historical perspectives on cultures and societies.
- Understand the aesthetic principles employed in the arts and humanities.
- Understand ethical considerations within cultures.
- Understand and explain ways in which the social sciences have contributed to our understanding of society in the contemporary or historical context.
- Understand the role of the individual, human agency, social hierarchies and diverse populations.
- Understand, evaluate and critically analyze data from social and behavioral sciences.
Students are required to take 9 credits from each of these two groups, totaling at least 18 credit hours.
Humanities & Fine Arts (9 cr)
HSS-designated courses in:
- Fine Arts (FINA)
- History (HIST)
- Philosophy (PHIL)
- Religious Studies (REL)
- English (ENG)
- Theatre (THTR)
- Music (MUS)
- World Languages & Cultures (SPAN, FREN)
- Communication (CMCL, SPCH)
- Telecommunications (TEL)
- Other courses, if approved by the HSS faculty.
This may include, at most, one studio course (ie., FINA-S, MUS-P), unless otherwise specified.
Must include at least two diffferent disciplines (eg., HIST & PHIL, or ENG & MUS)
Behavioral & Social Sciences (9 cr)
HSS-designated courses in:
- Sociology (SOC)
- Psychology (PSY)
- Anthropology (ANTH)
- Political Science (POLS)
- Public/Environmental Affairs (SPEA)
- Social Geography (GEOG-G 110 and higher)
- Students may opt to count either ECON-E 103 or ECON-E 104 towards this requirement.
- Other courses, if approved by the HSS faculty.
Must include at least two diffferent disciplines.
Program-Specific General Education
These requirements may be met in a variety of ways: A program may prescribe specific courses within the General Education Core, or within their program major, which meet the objectives for the program specific general education requirements.
Skill & Knowledge of Information Technology
- Use information technology responsibly.
- Demonstrate skills and fluency in common information technology concepts, terminologies, and applications (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, databases, web, and presentations.)
- Use appropriate tools and technologies to identify, access, evaluate and use information effectively.
- Use information responsibly, in accordance with legal and ethical principles.
Multicultural Awareness & Understanding
- Contributes to Learning Objective #6
- Explain perspectives and contributions linked to a variety of cultural markers (e.g., race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, etc.) both in western and non-western contexts.
- Identify differences and commonalities among cultures.
- Evaluate how the student’s own cultural context influences the ways in which he or she perceives those who are different from himself or herself.
- Recognize the basis and impact of personal and systemic discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes.
Ethical Reasoning
- Learning Objective #7
- Explain and evaluate moral principles and ethical theories.
- With respect to a particular moral issue, evaluate alternative positions using appropriate principles or theories and articulate the ramifications and consequences both of alternative courses of action and of the acceptance of different moral principles and ethical theories.
Program Major Courses
Each program of study must provide specific courses and experiences to provide the necessary background for a student to achieve depth of knowledge in that discipline commensurate with that of an academic degree program.
-These courses contribute to Learning Objective #2.
