General Education
For Students Enrolled Fall 2023+
Education at a college or university has traditionally had two equally important components—depth and breadth. Depth is provided by the academic major which a student chooses and which prepares him or her for a useful vocation; breadth of knowledge is the concern and aim of the general education curriculum. Since people first began to discuss the nature and purpose of education, they have seen in it something more than the mere acquisition of specific knowledge or skills, important as these may be. This something they called a liberal or general education and the need for it has been based on the ideal that a breadth of knowledge is necessary for an individual to become an informed and literate member of society.
The University adopted a new general education program that starts with students entering as first-year students in the Fall 2023 semester. For students who enrolled before Fall 2023, they will be able to finish their general education program (Pre-Fall 2023 General Education Programs – Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield) or can meet with their advisor to explore opting into the new general education program.
On this page, below are the courses currently approved as General Education, more courses will be added as approved.
Access the Complete General Education Curriculum Map
* = Awaiting Approval (Please note that the listing of courses below contains a mix of approved courses and those that are under review. Those that are awaiting approval are designated with an * after the course name.)
Foundations
We want our students to build sound Foundations - 15 credits
Foundational courses coupled with other experiences provide students with their core First Year Experience, providing opportunities to develop the requisite quantitative, analytical, written communication, and oral communication skills needed to succeed while in college and throughout life after college. Five program goals express the purpose of these foundational courses and how they support student success.
First Year Seminar (U)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to develop skills in support of scholarly and academic success, engage with the university community, foster personal development and wellness, and promote understanding of diversity and social responsibility through a first-year seminar.
| FYS100 First Year Seminar |
Writing
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to locate and organize information with appropriate evidence and language for clear written communication.
| WRIT101 Foundations in Composition* |
| WRIT103 Composition |
Oral Communication
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to develop oral communication skills necessary to organize and deliver a clear message with appropriate supporting material.
| COMM100 Introduction to Communication |
| COMM101 Public Speaking |
| COMM102 Interpersonal Communication |
| COMM103 Small Group Communication |
| HONR211 Honors Oral Communication Seminar |
History (H)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to understand major historical themes, applying critical analysis to generate arguments based on appropriate evidence.
| ANTH130 Introduction to Archaeology |
| ARAB211 MENA History Culture and Civilization |
| ARTH230 Intro to Asian Art |
| ARTH257 History of Art Market |
| ARTH302 Greco-Roman World |
| ARTH303 Medieval Art and Society |
| ARTH304 Italian Renaissance Art |
| ARTH307 19th Century Art |
| ARTH340 Islamic Art and Architecture |
| CHIN211 Chinese History culture and Civilization |
| FREN211 French History Culture and Civilization |
| GERM211 German History Culture and Civilization |
| HIST111 World History I |
| HIST112 World History II |
| HIST121 US History to 1877 |
| HIST122 US History since 1877 |
| HIST131 Asian History to 1500 |
| HIST132 Asian History since 1500 |
| HIST145 History of Islamicate Societies to 1260 |
| HIST146 History of Islamicate Societies since 1260 |
| HIST210 20th Century World History |
| HIST213 Religion and Violence |
| HIST220 World War Two |
| HIST228 African American History |
| HIST270 Hollywood History |
| HONR212 Honors History Seminar |
| MUSI220 Western Music Until 1750 |
| RUSS211 Russian History Culture and Civilization |
| SPAN211 Spanish and Spanish American History Culture and Civilization |
Quantitative (Q)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to interpret mathematical forms, analyze through calculations, and communicate quantitative reasoning.
| MATH101 Math Thinking |
| MATH101A Math Thinking with Recitation |
| MATH110 Concepts of Arithmetic and Number Systems |
| MATH118 College Algebra |
| MATH118A College Algebra with Recitation |
| MATH120 Mathematics for the Health Sciences |
| MATH120A Mathematics for the Health Sciences with Recitation |
| MATH130 Finite Mathematics |
| MATH130A Finite Mathematics with Recitation |
| MATH140 Precalculus |
| MATH150 Essentials of Calculus |
| STAT141 Introduction to Statistics |
| STAT141A Introduction to Statistics with Recitation |
Interconnections
We want our students to recognize Interconnections - 9 Credits
This curriculum will provide students with opportunities to explore human behavior, social interactions, and global communities through humanities and the social and behavioral sciences. Open discourse about the causes and consequences of human behavior and thought, and the interconnectedness of societies revealed by examining traditions and structures, provides a pathway to mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse world.
Three program goals express what we will do for students. Each goal has an associated rubric that outlines what we expect students to learn or accomplish. Students must complete three (3) courses in this curriculum, with at least one (1) course being a diversity course (‘D’ rubric) and at least one (1) course being a global perspectives course (‘G’ rubric).
Diversity
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to evaluate the diversity of human experience, behavior, and thought, in order to better understand ourselves and others, to respond to the roots of inequality that undermines social justice, while developing awareness regarding diversity in culture, ethnicity, race, gender/gender expression, religion, age, social class, sexual orientation, or abilities.
| ANTH101 Introduction to Anthropology |
| ANTH120 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology |
| ANTH240 Indigenous Peoples & the United States |
| ARTH370 Women, Art & Society |
| CESS310 European City Studies |
| COMM200 Intercultural Communication |
| COMM312 Gender and Communication |
| COMM314 Communicating Identity and Difference |
| ECED250 Culturally Relevant Sustaining Education PK-4 |
| EGGS102 World Cultural Geography |
| ELL320 Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity |
| ENGL280 Literature & Identity: Topic TBA |
| ENGL281 Civil Rights Lit |
| ENGL283 Literature and Ethnic Identity |
| ENGL284 Literature and Gender Identity |
| ENGL288 Feminist Reading of Culture |
| EXER288 Women in Sport |
| FREN214 French Cinema Society and the Individual |
| HIST377 American Woman |
| HLSC307 Cultural Aspects of Health |
| HONR214 Honors Diversity Seminar |
| LING111 Language in the U.S.A. |
| PHIL306 Feminist Philosophy |
| POLI215 Gender and Politics |
| POLI216 Race and Politics |
| SOCI361 Chinas Culture and Society* |
| SOWK323 Exploring LGBTQ+ Experiences |
| SPAN213 Latinos Contributions to the US |
| WGNS101 Introduction to Women's Studies |
| WGNS110 Introduction to LGBTQ Studies |
| WLCU202 Diversity in World Cinema |
Global Perspectives (G)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to develop global perspectives by analyzing systems, and evaluating interrelationships.
| ANTH150 Anthropology and World Issues* |
| ARAB101 Elementary Arabic I |
| ARTH253 History of Fiber and Fashion |
| ARTH311 African-American Art |
| ARTH330 Latin American Art |
| ARTH350 Art of Africa and Oceania |
| CHIN101 Elementary Chinese I |
| ECON121 Principles of Macroeconomics |
| EGGS104 World Regional Geography |
| EGGS105 Environmental Issues and Choices |
| EGGS108 Climate Change |
| EGGS140 Sustainability Science |
| EGGS205 Special Topics in Regional Geography* |
| EGGS212 Geog of Developing World* |
| EGGS218 Global Water |
| ENGL220 Global Literature Survey |
| ENGL320 Global Literature and Culture |
| FREN101 Elementary French I |
| FREN112 Tour de France: Culture, Art, Architecture, and History |
| GERM101 Elementary German I |
| HIST457 Early Modern Ottoman Empire Seminar |
| HIST458 Modern Ottoman Empire Seminar |
| HLPE145 Global Sports and Cultural Differences, Nationalism, Ideologies, and Politics |
| HLSC212 Global Health Promotion |
| HONR210 Honors Global Perspectives Seminar |
| ITAL101 Elementary Italian I |
| ITAL102 Elementary Italian II* |
| LATN101 Elementary Latin I |
| MATH220 History of Mathematics |
| MUSI111 World Music |
| NUTR300 Cultural Nutrition |
| PHIL311 Eastern Philosophy |
| PHIL312 Africana Philosophy |
| POLI140 Comparative Politics |
| POLI160 International Relations |
| POLI245 Terrorism |
| POLI258 China and the World |
| POLI259 Politics in the Global South |
| POLI261 Global Issues |
| POLI266 Politics of Global Health |
| POLI326 Politics of the Global Economy |
| POLI351 African Politics |
| POLI364 Human Rights |
| POLI366 Regionalism in Global Affairs |
| RUSS101 Elementary Russian I |
| SOCI360 Globalization and Culture |
| SPAN101 Elementary Spanish I |
Foreign Languages (F)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to understand and demonstrate oral and written communication in a foreign language as well as awareness of a foreign culture.
| ARAB102 Elementary Arabic II |
| CHIN102 Elementary Chinese II |
| FREN102 Elementary French II |
| GERM102 Elementary German II |
| ITAL102 Elementary Italian II |
| LATN102 Elementary Latin II |
| RUSS102 Elementary Russian II |
| SPAN102 Elementary Spanish II |
Citizenship and Responsibility
We want our students to consider the importance of Citizenship & Responsibility - 6 credits
This curriculum will provide students with opportunities to consider the function and development of institutions, as well as their own responsibilities in society. Tools for development of students as informed and responsible citizens can include study of principles and research in social science, analysis of the development of social and political systems and practices, application of critical analysis and reasoning, and contemplation of ethics and values. Each goal has an associated rubric that outlines what we expect students to learn or accomplish.
Students are required to complete two (2) courses (or their equivalents) in this curriculum, with no more than one (1) course being attributed with the same program goal.
Citizenship (S)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to understand responsible citizenship through the development of ideas of citizenship and rights, how society protect or fails to protect basic rights, and avenues for individual or collective action.
| HLSC211 Public Health Social Justice and Advocacy |
| INT120 Anti-Racism, Equity, and Social Responsibility |
| LAWL120 Personal Legal Decisions |
| LAWL231 Law and the Legal Environment |
| MDIA240 News & Democracy |
| MDIA250 Public Relations Theory and Practice |
| PHIL304 Philosophy of Law |
| PHIL305 Political Philosophy |
| POLI110 US Government: Participation and Policy |
| POLI170 Political Ideologies |
| POLI212 US State and Local Politics |
| POLI324 Philosophy of Law |
| POLI371 Political Philosophy |
| SOCI305 Sociology of Religion |
| SPEC110 Introduction to Individuals with Exceptionalities |
| WLCU215 Immigration Integration and Belonging |
Ethical Reasoning (E)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to identify ethical theories or guidelines and apply appropriate ethical reasoning to reach conclusions and support moral judgments.
| HONR216 Honors Ethical Reasoning Seminar |
| PHIL203 Business Ethics |
| PHIL204 Environmental Ethics |
| PHIL205 Medical Ethics |
| PHIL221 Contemporary Moral Problems |
| PHIL302 Ethics |
Critical Reasoning (R)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to use appropriate critical analysis and reasoning to explain and analyze concepts, and apply concepts to issues to determine significance or value.
| COMM208 Communication Research Methods |
| COMM209 Rhetorical Criticism |
| COMM332 Argumentation and Advocacy |
| ECON122 Principles of Microeconomics |
| EGGS100 Introduction to Environmental Science* |
| HLSC140 Introduction to Public Health |
| HLSC218 Public Health and the Environment |
| HLSC332 Psychological Considerations of Injury and Illness for Healthcare Providers |
| HLSC340 Epidemiology |
| HLSC401 Current Issues in Health |
| HONR215 Honors Citizenship Seminar |
| HONR217 Honors Critical Reasoning Seminar |
| INDT450 Instructional Design |
| MATH103 Critical Reasoning in Mathematics* |
| MATH230 Discrete Structures* |
| MATH250 Discrete Math |
| MDIA120 Introduction to Emergent Media |
| PHIL101 Introduction to Philosophy |
| PHIL102 Critical Thinking |
| PHIL201 Deductive Logic |
| PHIL210 Ancient Philosophy |
| PHIL222 Philosophy and Pop Culture |
| PHIL223 Philosophy of Religion |
| PHIL303 Existentialism |
| PHIL307 Art, Beauty, and the Sublime |
| PHIL313 Medieval Philosophy |
| PHIL314 Descartes to Kant |
| POLI221 Constitutional Law I |
| SOCI101 Introduction to Sociology |
| SOCI260 Foundations of Sociological Thought |
| SOCI340 Firearms and the United States |
Natural World and Technology
We want our students to better understand the Natural World and the Technologies that surround them - 9 credits
This curriculum will provide students the opportunity to learn how new knowledge is created by applying scientific principles and technology to address historical and contemporary questions. Two program goals express what we will do for students. Each goal has an associated rubric that outlines what we expect students to learn or accomplish.
Students must complete 3 courses in this curriculum, with at least two (2) courses (or their equivalents) involving the natural world (‘N’ rubric).
Natural World (N)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to understand the scientific method and resulting principles and theories, critically evaluating data to answer questions about the natural world.
| ANTH140 Intro to Biological Anthropology |
| ANTH221 Forensic Anthropology |
| ASTR102 Stars and Galaxies |
| ASTR103 Astronomy |
| BIOL100 Cells, Genes, and Molecules |
| BIOL101 Human Biology |
| BIOL102 Ecology and Evolution |
| BIOL103 Biodiversity and Conservation |
| BIOL105 Basic Biology |
| BIOL106 Exploring Biology |
| BIOL107 Biology in the Headlines |
| BIOL110 Principles of Biology 1 |
| BIOL180 Anatomy and Physiology 1 |
| CHEM100 Chemistry of Air, Water, and Earth |
| CHEM102 Toxins & Poisons |
| CHEM103 Crime Scenes and Chemistry* |
| CHEM104 Chemistry and Art* |
| CHEM105 How Drugs Work |
| CHEM121 General Chemistry I |
| CHEM122 General Chemistry II |
| EGGS101 Intro to Environmental Science |
| EGGS101 Intro to Physical Geography |
| EGGS103 Dinosaurs* |
| EGGS106 Planets |
| EGGS107 Natural Disasters |
| EGGS111 Earth Science |
| EGGS120 Physical Geology |
| EGGS125 Geology of Gemstones* |
| EGGS130 Historical Geology |
| EGGS135 Geology of National Parks |
| EGGS220 Environmental Geology |
| EGGS242 Map Use and Analysis |
| EGGS259 Oceanography |
| ENGT101 Introduction to Engineering Technology |
| HLSC115 Human Anatomy and Physiology I |
| HLTH122 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology* |
| HONR218 Honors Natural World Seminar |
| PHYS105 Energy and Society* |
| PHYS108 Galileo The Father of Experimental Science |
| PHYS110 How Things Work* |
| PHYS125 Physics of Sports |
| PHYS204 Acoustics* |
| PHYS208 Introductory Physics I* |
| PHYS209 Introductory Physics II |
| PHYS211 General Physics 1 |
| PHYS212 General Physics 2 |
| PSYC100 Introduction to Psychology |
| RASC140 Radioecology* |
Technology (T)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to acquire knowledge, skills, and competencies regarding a broad range of computer technologies and software, and to use them responsibly.
| ART190 Digital Foundation |
| ARVR200 Intro to VR and AR |
| CMSC115 Python Programming |
| CMSC120 Object-Oriented Programming with Java |
| COMM323 Computer Applications for Professional Communicators |
| DGFR121 File Systems 1 |
| EDTC200 Technology for Teaching and Learning |
| EGGS160 Digital Earth |
| EGGS242 Mapping and GIS Fundamentals |
| HONR219 Honors Technologies Seminar |
| INDT465 Virtual Teams |
| ITAN175 Spreadsheet Analysis GE |
| MDIA220 Introduction to Multimedia |
| MUSI230 Technology in Music Education |
| SPEC229 Technology for Individuals with Exceptionalities |
Creativity and Expression
We want our students to recognize and appreciate Creativity & Expression - 6 credits
This part of the curriculum will provide students with opportunities to explore artistic and literary disciplines and their modes of expression, considering the processes by which artistic works are imagined and created as well as the analytical tools for describing and appraising works of art and literature. Each goal has an associated rubric that outlines what we expect students to learn or accomplish.
Students must complete two (2) courses (or their equivalents) in this curriculum, with one (1) course being a literature course (‘L’ rubric)and one course in either the arts or creativity (‘A’ or ‘C’ rubrics).
Literature (L)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to comprehend, analyze, and determine the significance for works of literature.
| ARAB212 Arabic Literature and Culture |
| CESS212 Central and East European Literature and Culture |
| CHIN212 Chinese Literature and Culture |
| ENGL151 Intro to Literature |
| ENGL152 Lit and Society |
| ENGL227 European Literature Survey |
| ENGL228 Core Western Texts |
| ENGL230 American Literature Survey I |
| ENGL231 American Lit II |
| ENGL240 British Literature I |
| ENGL241 British Literature II* |
| ENGL282 Af Am Lit |
| ENGL289 Sexualities and Literature |
| ENGL290 Short Story |
| ENGL291 Poetry |
| ENGL292 Creative Nonfiction |
| ENGL330 American Literature and Culture |
| ENGL340 British Literature & Culture |
| ENGL360 Literature and Media in Culture |
| ENGL390 Shakespeare |
| ENGL391 Author(s) in Context |
| ENGL420 Studies in Genre |
| FREN212 French Literature and Culture |
| HONR220 Honors Literature Seminar |
| LAWL340 Law & Literature |
| RUSS212 Russian Literature and Culture |
| SPAN212 Spanish and Spanish American Film Literature and Culture |
| THEA105 Script Analysis |
| WLCU201 International Short Story |
Arts (A)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to describe, analyze, and respond to the scope of works in the arts.
| ART388 Gallery Management and Exhibition Design |
| ARTH110 Understanding Art |
| ARTH120 World of the Arts |
| ARTH210 Ancient to Medieval Art |
| ARTH220 Renaissance to Contemporary Art |
| ARTH251 History of Graphic Design |
| ARTH252 History of Photography |
| ARTH300 Special Topics |
| ARTH308 American Art |
| ARTH309 History of Modern Art |
| ARTH310 Contemporary Art |
| DANC110 Dance History: A World Survey |
| ENGL204 Intro Creative Writing |
| HONR221 Honors Arts Seminar |
| MDIA210 Cinema Appreciation |
| MUEN332 Symphonic Band |
| MUSI110 Intro to Music |
| MUSI112 History of Popular Music |
| THEA102 Intro to Theatre |
| THEA103 Theatre Appreciation |
Creative (C)
General Education Goal: Guide and prompt students to demonstrate and apply creative competencies, problem solving and preparation in the realization of a creative work.
| ART100 2-D Foundation |
| ART101 3-D Foundation |
| ART120 Drawing Foundation |
| ART180 Water Based Media |
| ART205 Creative Explorations |
| ART210 Ceramics - Wheel Throwing I |
| ART212 Ceramics - Hand Building & Tile Making I |
| ART214 Glaze Calculation |
| ART230 Fabric Design - Dye |
| ART231 Fabric Design - Surface |
| ART232 Fabric Design - Natural Dye & Fiber |
| ART233 Fabric Design - Fiber Art |
| ART234 Fabric Design - Sew & Structure |
| ART240 Painting I |
| ART241 Observational Painting |
| ART242 Experimental Painting |
| ART243 Figure Painting |
| ART250 Darkroom Photography |
| ART252 Digital Photography |
| ART253 Cell Phone Photography |
| ART254 Portrait Photography |
| ART255 Experimental Photography |
| ART256 Landscape Photo |
| ART257 Street Photography |
| ART260 Printmaking Survey |
| ART261 Printmaking Etching |
| ART262 Printmaking Woodcut |
| ART263 Printmaking Silkscreen |
| ART264 Printmaking Lithography |
| ART265 Printmaking Printing by Hand |
| ART270 Sculpture I |
| ART272 Sculpture - Wood & Metal |
| ART273 Sculpture - The Figure |
| ART274 Sculpture - Mixed Media |
| ART275 Sculpture - New Technologies |
| ART276 Sculpture - Clay & Plaster |
| ART277 Sculpture - Composite Materials |
| ART281 Multicultural Crafts |
| ART282 Global Art |
| ART283 Book Structures |
| DANC115 Ballet & Jazz I |
| DANC215 Modern I/II |
| DANC315 Jazz II |
| DANC325 Ballet II |
| EGGS115 Nature Study and Creative Expression* |
| GRDS200 Introduction to Graphic Design |
| GRDS282 Letterpress |
| GRDS293 Experimental Letterform |
| HONR222 Honors Creativity Seminar |
| MDIA222 Introduction to Visual Communications |
| MUEN330 Wind Ensemble |
| MUEN331 Marching Band |
| MUEN335 Jazz Band |
| MUEN350 Symphony Orchestra |
| MUSI115 Basic Class Piano |
| THEA110 Introduction to Acting |
| THEA270 Fundamentals of Theatre Design |
| THEA371 Scenic Design & Technology |
| THEA372 Makeup Design & Technology |
| THEA373 Sound Design & Technology |
| THEA374 Lighting Design & Technology |
| THEA377 Costume Design & Technology |
General Education
For Students Enrolled Before Fall 2023
To access the legacy general education programs for Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield please visit:
Note: The Commonwealth University general education was adopted from Shippensburg and we appreciate the Shippensburg University General Education Committee's generosity in sharing and guiding the CU curriculum committees as we built this model for use at CU.