Commonwealth University students view a computer screen in a classroom

General Education Requirements

  1. Academics
  2. Undergraduate and First-Year Students
  3. General Education Requirements

A general education program is a university curriculum shared by all undergraduate students that provides a framework for lifelong knowledge assimilation and skill development, which are necessary for career readiness and informed citizenship in a democratic society.

Many of our students are preparing for careers and pathways that do not yet exist, whether they are aware of this or not. Commonwealth University, our networks of campus alumni, and our regional employers expect that many traditional and emerging careers will require highly developed reading, listening, reasoning, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills. Such personal attributes cannot be turned on like a light switch or found using a search engine; rather, they must be carefully developed within us, practiced, and honed. General Education at Commonwealth University provides our students with opportunities to develop these skills.

Today’s students have already witnessed rapid changes in the technologies we use, the labor markets we compete in, the ways families and social networks form, and the ways people pursue happiness. Our students are also learning that we are living amidst demographic, economic, and political changes, which were set in motion decades ago, and climatic changes, which were set in motion a century ago. With change come disruptions - abrupt changes to the knowledge bases and skill sets that are prized in the marketplace. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect our students will rely increasingly on the core qualities they developed in general education to react to and move with the disruptive forces that create, expand, or shrink highly specialized labor markets. Moreover, our nation will hold together only to the degree to which we communicate respectfully, solve problems ethically, and place a premium on evidence, reasoned debate, and lifelong learning.

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Introduction and General Education Themes

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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.

A general education program is a university curriculum shared by all undergraduate students that provides a framework for lifelong knowledge assimilation and skill development, which are necessary for career readiness and informed citizenship in a democratic society. According to PASSHE Board of Governors, General Education ”consists of a broad program of study in the liberal arts and sciences” which are “typically met through study in the areas of humanities, fine arts, communication, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, and the natural/physical sciences” (BOG 1990-06-A). 

Commonwealth University’s General Education is aligned with the liberal education approach to learning and “ensures that students acquire breadth of knowledge and provides a basis for developing essential learning outcomes. Learning across traditions and disciplines fosters integration of knowledge and develops skills in diversity, civic and cultural awareness, communication, problem-solving, and critical analysis. Within General Education, student learning outcomes consist less in mastery of disciplinary content than in the acquisition of the skills, values, awareness, understanding, perspective and appreciation that are the foundation for informed citizenship in a democratic society, innovation, and career readings, General Education is also a foundational component of employability skills” (BOG 1993-01-A). 

Within General Education, student learning outcomes emphasize critical thinking and analysis, quantitative reasoning, communication skills, an ability to form opinions, ideas, and concepts and an ability to argue and defend them. Providing students with ample opportunities to develop competencies across multiple disciplines will foster knowledge integration, innovation, and adaptability necessary to solve complex interdisciplinary problems while at the same time creating awareness of the interdependence among people and ideas and creating openness to differences.

Commonwealth University adopted a new general education program that started with students entering as first-year students in the Fall 2023 semester. Students who enrolled before Fall 2023 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. Relevant Commonwealth General Education Program information can be found below.

Complete General Education Curriculum Map

Additional General Education Information

Qualtrics GE Data Submission Form

GE Session Assessment
The GEC collects GE student learning outcomes data each session, analyzes the data, and prepares summary reports, which are shared with the UCC and accessible to CU members via the GEC SharePoint site, GE Assessment Summary subsite, with the most recent summary and appendices linked below:

•    General Education Fall 2024 Assessment Executive Summary
•    General Education Fall 2024 Assessment Appendices A-P

The student learning outcomes are also accessible via the GE Dashboard.

GE Dashboard

GE Deep Dive Assessment
Each academic year, the GEC engages working groups to conduct deep dive assessments to identify effective assessment strategies and pedagogical approaches, evaluate levels of competency and expected competency, identify issues or concerns in the designated program areas, and consider practices for improving the GE assessment process. The 2024-25 deep dive assessments included the first-year seminar, writing, oral communication, and quantitative reasoning.  Working groups conducted reviews in February – March and reported findings in an April session for the CU community.  The slide deck and recording of the session are linked below, and the reports are available to CU members via the GEC SharePoint site, GE Assessment Summary subsite, in the 2024-25 Deep Dive Summaries folder.

•    Deep Dive Presentation 04 22 2025
•    Deep Dive Session Recording
 

We want our students to build sound Foundations - 15 credits

Foundational courses provide students with opportunities to develop vital skills needed to succeed while in college and throughout life outside of college. These skills include effective and appropriate written and oral communication, the generation of evidence-based arguments, and accurate and appropriate quantitative reasoning.

Commonwealth students are required to take FYS100 First Year Seminar, a course in Written Communication, a course in Oral Communication, a course in Historical Themes, and a course in Quantitative Reasoning.

Courses that are approved for inclusion in the General Education Foundations curriculum will engage students in the associated learning objectives at a significantly high level. A majority of course content and assignments will be focused on the student learning objectives and student learning outcome competencies related to the relevant program goals. These goals and what we expect students to do successfully reach them are available for each of the five Foundations pillars via their specific Learning Objectives link below.

General Education Program 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.

Courses: 

  • FYS100 First Year Seminar 

General Education Program Goal: Guide and prompt students to locate and organize information with appropriate evidence and language for clear written communication.

Courses: 

  • WRIT101 Foundations in Composition and 
  • WRIT102 Foundations in Composition Lab 
    • WRIT102 is a one-credit corequisite for WRIT101.
    • WRIT101 and WRIT102 are 4 credits together.
  • WRIT103 Composition

General Education Program Goal: Guide and prompt students to develop oral communication skills necessary to organize and deliver a clear message with appropriate supporting material.

Courses:

  • COMM100 Introduction to Communication
  • COMM101 Public Speaking
  • COMM102 Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM103 Small Group Communication 
  • HONR211 Honors Oral Communication Seminar 
  • MEDJ221 Social Media and Podcasting
  • PLAY329 Teacher Professional as Performer

General Education Program Goal: Guide and prompt students to understand major historical themes, applying critical analysis to generate arguments based on appropriate evidence.

Learning Objectives (H)

Courses:

  • 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 

General Education Program Goal: Guide and prompt students to interpret mathematical forms, analyze through calculations, and communicate quantitative reasoning.

Courses:

  • ECON156 Business & Economic Mathematics
  • 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 
  • MATH160 Calculus 1
  • STAT141 Introduction to Statistics
  • STAT141A Introduction to Statistics with Recitation 

We want our students to recognize Interconnections - 9 credits

Interconnections courses provoke explorations into human behavior, social interactions, and global communities through the humanities and the social and behavioral sciences. A pathway to mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse world is provided through meaningful discourse about the causes and consequences of human thought and behavior, as well a meaningful examination of traditions and structures.

Interconnections courses provide students with opportunities to (1) develop global perspectives by analyzing systems and evaluating interrelationships, (2) evaluate the diversity of human experience, behavior and thought, (3) better understand themselves and others, (4) appropriately respond to roots of inequality that undermine social justice, (5) understand and demonstrate oral and written communication in a foreign language, and (6) attain awareness and appreciation of a foreign culture.

Commonwealth students are required to complete three Interconnections courses. All students are required to take at least one class in the diversity pillar and at least one class in the global perspectives pillar. For their third course, students may either take a course in the foreign language pillar or a class in diversity or global perspectives.

Courses that are approved for inclusion in the General Education Interconnections curriculum will engage students in the associated learning objectives at a significantly high level. A majority of course content and assignments will be focused on the student learning objectives and student learning outcome competencies related to the relevant program goals. These goals and what we expect students to do successfully reach them are available for each of the three Interconnections pillars via their specific Learning Objectives link below.

General Education Program 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.

Courses:

  • ANTH101 Introduction to Anthropology
  • ANTH120 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • ANTH240 Indigenous Peoples & the United States
  • ASLI130 Deaf Culture
  • ARTH370 Women, Art & Society 
  • CES310 European City Studies 
  • COMM200 Intercultural Communication
  • COMM312 Gender and Communication
  • COMM314 Communicating Identity and Difference
  • ECED250 Culturally Relevant Sustaining Education PK-4
  • EDUC346 Teaching in Diverse Contexts
  • 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 
  • LAWL360 Employment Discrimination
  • LING111 Language in the U.S.A. 
  • PHIL306 Feminist Philosophy
  • POLI215 Gender and Politics 
  • POLI216 Race and Politics 
  • PSYC210 Child Development
  • PSYC211 Adolescent Development
  • PSYC212 Lifespan Development
  • PSYC217 Adult Development and Aging
  • PSYC218 Principles of Gerontology
  • SOCI201 Families in Society
  • SOCI202 Racial and Ethnic Relations
  • SOCI301 Social Stratification 
  • SOWK200 Diversity and Social Justice
  • SOWK323 Exploring LGBTQ+ Experiences
  • SPAN213 Latinos Contributions to the US 
  • SPMG235 Inclusive Sport and Recreation Programming
  • WGSS101 Introduction to Women's Studies
  • WGSS110 Introduction to LGBTQ Studies
  • WLCU202 Diversity in World Cinema 

General Education Program Goal: Guide and prompt students to develop global perspectives by analyzing systems and evaluating interrelationships.

Courses:

  • 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 
  • CES380 Special Topics in Central and East European Studies
  • CHIN101 Elementary Chinese I 
  • CHLS245 Child, Family, and Community Engagement 
  • 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 
  • 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 
  • POLI252 Asian Politics
  • 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 
  • POLI335 Politics and Culture in Belize
  • POLI351 African Politics
  • POLI364 Human Rights 
  • POLI366 Regionalism in Global Affairs
  • RUSS101 Elementary Russian I 
  • SOCI360 Globalization and Culture
  • SOCI361 China's Culture and Society
  • SPAN101 Elementary Spanish I

General Education Program 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.

Courses:

  • ARAB102 Elementary Arabic II 
  • ASL101 American Sign Language 1
  • 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

We want our students to consider the importance of citizenship & responsibility - 6 credits

Citizenship & Responsibility courses provide students with opportunities to consider the function and development of social institutions as well as students' own responsibilities in society. Tools for development of students as informed and responsible citizens include the examination of principles and research in the social sciences, analysis of the development of social and political systems and practices, engagement in critical analysis and reasoning, and application of ethics and values.

Citizenship & Responsibility courses focus students' attention on  (1) understanding what is entailed in responsible citizenship, how societies protect or fail to protect basic rights, and the avenues for individual or collective action, (2) using appropriate critical analysis and reasoning to explain and analyze concepts, (2) identifying ethical theories or guidelines, (3) applying appropriate ethical reasoning to reach conclusions and support moral arguments, and (4) applying concepts to issues to determine significance or value.

Commonwealth students are required to complete two Citizenship & Responsibility courses, with no more than one course being attributed with the same pillar/program goal. (In other words: there are 3 pillars/goals - pick 2 of them.)

Courses that are approved for inclusion in the General Education Citizenship & Responsibility curriculum will engage students in the associated learning objectives at a significantly high level. A majority of course content and assignments will be focused on the student learning objectives and student learning outcome competencies related to the relevant program goals. These goals and what we expect students to do successfully reach them are available for each of the three Citizenship & Responsibility pillars via their specific Learning Objectives link below.

General Education Program 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.

Courses:

  • HLSC140 Introduction to Public Health
  • HLSC211 Public Health Social Justice and Advocacy
  • HLSC218 Public Health and the Environment
  • HONR215 Honors Citizenship Seminar
  • ISTD120  Anti-Racism, Equity, and Social Responsibility
  • LAWL120 Personal Legal Decisions
  • LAWL231 Law and the Legal Environment
  • MEDJ240 News & Democracy
  • MEDJ250 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
  • SOCI102 Social Problems
  • SOCI340 Firearms and the United States
  • SOWK100 Introduction to Social Work
  • SPEC110 Introduction to Individuals with Exceptionalities
  • WLCU215 Immigration Integration and Belonging

General Education Program Goal: Guide and prompt students to identify ethical theories or guidelines and apply appropriate ethical reasoning to reach conclusions and support moral judgments.

Courses:

  • COMM322 Communication Ethics
  • HONR216 Honors Ethical Reasoning Seminar
  • PHIL203 Business Ethics
  • PHIL204 Environmental Ethics
  • PHIL205 Medical Ethics
  • PHIL221 Contemporary Moral Problems
  • PHIL302 Ethics
  • PHIL308 Leadership Ethics

General Education Program 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.

Courses:

  • COMM208 Communication Research Methods
  • COMM209 Rhetorical Criticism
  • COMM332 Argumentation and Advocacy
  • CMSD152 Intro to Communication Disorders
  • ECON122 Principles of Microeconomics
  • FIN120 Personal Finance Decisions
  • HLSC332 Psychological Considerations of Injury and Illness for Healthcare Providers
  • HLSC340 Epidemiology
  • HLSC401 Current Issues in Health
  • HONR217 Honors Critical Reasoning Seminar
  • IDT450 Instructional Design
  • LIBR201 Peer Research Consultant Development
  • MATH103 Critical Reasoning in Mathematics
  • MATH113 Concepts of Geometry and Statistics
  • MATH113A Concepts of Geometry and Statistics with Recitation
  • MATH250 Discrete Math
  • MEDJ110 Introduction to Mass Communication
  • MEDJ120 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
  • PSYC245 Psychology of Leadership
  • SOCI101 Introduction to Sociology
  • SOCI260 Foundations of Sociological Thought
  • SOCI302 Society and Economy
  • SOCI305 Sociology of Religion
  • SSDV105 Critical Strategies for College Learners
  • SSDV281 Peer Educator Development
  • SSDV381 Advanced Peer Educator Development
  • WRIT281 Intro to Tutoring Writing
  • WRIT381 Topics in Writing Tutoring

We want our students to understand the Natural World and Technologies that surround them - 9 credits

Science is the concerted human effort to better understand the history of the natural world and how the natural world works, with observable physical evidence as the basis of that understanding. The courses in Natural World & Technology provide students with opportunities to learn how new knowledge is created and to apply scientific principles and/or technologies that can be used to address historical and contemporary questions.  

Natural World & Technology courses provide students with opportunities to understand the scientific method and resulting principles and theories, (2) critically evaluate data to answer questions about the natural world, (3) acquire knowledge, skills, and competencies regarding a broad range of computer technologies and software, and (4) to use computer technologies and software responsibly.

Commonwealth students are required to complete three Natural World & Technology courses, with at least two courses being part of the Natural World pillar/program goal. Students may either take a third Natural World course or a Technology course to fulfill this requirement.

Courses that are approved for inclusion in the General Education Natural World & Technology curriculum will engage students in the associated learning objectives at a significantly high level. A majority of course content and assignments will be focused on the student learning objectives and student learning outcome competencies related to the relevant program goals. These goals and what we expect students to do successfully reach them are available for each of the two Natural World & Technology pillars via their specific Learning Objectives link below.

General Education Program 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.

Courses:

  • 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
  • BIOL104 Backyard Biology
  • BIOL105 Basic Biology 
  • BIOL106 Exploring Biology 
  • BIOL107 Biology in the Headlines 
  • BIOL110 Principles of Biology 1 
  • BIOL180 Anatomy and Physiology 1
  • BIOL230 Biology of Human Sexuality
  • CHEM100 Chemistry of Air, Water, and Earth
  • CHEM102 Toxins & Poisons
  • CHEM103 Crime Scenes and Chemistry
  • CHEM104 Chemistry and Art
  • CHEM105 How Drugs Work
  • CHEM116 Physiological Chemistry 1
  • CHEM117 Physiological Chemistry 2
  • CHEM121 General Chemistry I
  • CHEM122 General Chemistry II
  • EGGS100 Intro to Environmental Science
  • EGGS101 Intro to Physical Geography 
  • 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
  • EGGS255 Meteorology
  • 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
  • PHYS109 The Science of Music
  • PHYS110 How Things Work
  • PHYS125 Physics of Sports
  • PHYS204 Acoustics
  • PHYS205 Applied Physics for Medical Imaging
  • PHYS208 Introductory Physics I
  • PHYS209 Introductory Physics II
  • PHYS211 General Physics 1
  • PHYS212 General Physics 2
  • PSYC100 Introduction to Psychology
  • RASC140 Radioecology

General Education Program 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.

Courses:

  • ART190 Digital Foundation 
  • ART290 Digital Draw - Paint
  • 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 
  • ECED204 Current and Emerging Early Learning Technologies
  • EDTC200 Technology for Teaching and Learning 
  • EGGS160 Digital Earth 
  • EGGS242 Mapping and GIS Fundamentals 
  • HLPE150 Using Trending Technology for Wellness
  • HONR219 Honors Technologies Seminar
  • IDT465 Virtual Teams 
  • ITAN175 Spreadsheet Analysis GE 
  • MEDJ220 Introduction to Multimedia 
  • MUSI230 Technology in Music Education 
  • SPEC229 Technology for Individuals with Exceptionalities 

We want our students to recognize and appreciate Creativity & Expression - 6 credits

Creativity and Expression courses 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. 
 

Creativity & Expression courses provide students with opportunities to (1) comprehend, analyze, and determine the significance of works of literature,  (2) describe, analyze, and respond to the scope of works in the arts, and (3) demonstrate and apply creative competencies, problem solving, and preparation in the realization of a creative work. 

Commonwealth students are required to complete two Creativity & Expression courses, with one of these two courses being a Literature pillar course and the other being either an arts or a creativity course.

Courses that are approved for inclusion in the General Education Creativity & Expression curriculum will engage students in the associated learning objectives at a significantly high level. A majority of course content and assignments will be focused on the student learning objectives and student learning outcome competencies related to the relevant program goals. These goals and what we expect students to do successfully reach them are available for each of the three Creativity and Expression pillars via their specific Learning Objectives link below.

General Education Program Goal: Guide and prompt students to comprehend, analyze, and determine the significance for works of literature.

Courses:

  • ARAB212 Arabic Literature and Culture 
  • CES212 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
  • ENGL250 Literary Theory and Forms
  • 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 

General Education Program Goal: Guide and prompt students to describe, analyze, and respond to the scope of works in the arts.

Courses:

  • 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 
  • ARTH258 Baroque to Rococo
  • ARTH300 Special Topics 
  • ARTH308 American Art 
  • ARTH309 History of Modern Art 
  • ARTH310 Contemporary Art
  • DANC110 Dance History: A World Survey
  • ENGL204 Intro to Creative Writing 
  • HONR221 Honors Arts Seminar 
  • MEDJ210 Cinema Appreciation 
  • MUSI110 Intro to Music 
  • MUSI112 History of Popular Music 
  • THEA102 Intro to Theatre
  • THEA103 Theatre Appreciation 

General Education Program Goal: Guide and prompt students to demonstrate and apply creative competencies, problem solving, and preparation in the realization of a creative work.

Courses:

  • 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
  • CHLS244 Play, Creativity, and Expressive Arts
  • 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 
  • GRDS277 Graphic Web Design
  • GRDS282 Letterpress
  • GRDS293 Experimental Letterform 
  • HONR222 Honors Creativity Seminar 
  • MEDJ222 Introduction to Visual Communications
  • MUEN300 Concert Choir
  • MUEN301 Festival Chorus
  • MUEN308 SSAA Chorus
  • MUEN309 TTBB Chorus
  • MUEN330 Wind Ensemble 
  • MUEN331 Marching Band 
  • MUEN332 Symphonic 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 
Illustration of Mountain

For Students Enrolled Before Fall 2023

Legacy Academic Catalogs Bloomsburg Legacy General Education Information

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. 

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