General Education
General Education Program
General Education provides a common intellectual experience for all university students. The program develops strong communication and critical thinking skills, a broad understanding of disciplinary areas, and the knowledge and skills necessary for responsible citizenship in an interconnected world. General Education is the foundation of all undergraduate degree programs at The University of Akron.
Program Learning Outcomes
Academic Foundations
Students will gain a foundation of intellectual skills including oral and written communication, information literacy and logical or quantitative reasoning. Student will practice these skills in increasingly challenging contexts throughout the general education program and the major.
Breadth of Knowledge
Students will gain broad knowledge and practice disciplinary methods of inquiry in the Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Diversity
Students will gain skills and knowledge required for responsible citizenship through the analysis of diversity within domestic and global contexts.
Integrated and Applied Learning
Students will apply and integrate knowledge gained throughout the undergraduate curriculum. This will be demonstrated through completion of either a capstone in the major or an upper-level course applying interdisciplinary perspectives to a complex social issue.
Integration with Major
The UA General Education program is designed to support and enhance the major course of study. Majors may require particular General Education coursework, and some major courses may fulfill General Education requirements. Students should consult their program curriculum guides and Degree Progress Reports, as well as meet with an advisor, for the recommended General Education courses to take.
Transfer and Alternative Credit Options
Student may fulfill General Education requirements through appropriate transfer coursework from accredited institutions of higher education, external credit-conferring testing programs such as the College Board Advanced Placement and College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and other programs. For more information, see the transfer policies.
Students who plan to transfer to or from another Ohio public college or university should select coursework from the Ohio Transfer 36. This set of coursework will satisfy specified General Education requirements at any public institution.
Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major.
Academic Foundations - 12 credits
Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic - 3 credit hours
Students who successfully complete a mathematics or statistics course with a prerequisite on the list below satisfy the Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic requirement.
Course | Ohio Transfer 36 |
---|---|
MATH:135 Mathematics for Everyday Life | YES |
MATH:140 Mathematics for Early/Middle Teachers 1 | |
MATH:143 Technical Algebra and Trigonometry 1 - Expanded | |
MATH:144 Technical Algebra and Trigonometry 1 | |
MATH:145 Algebra for Calculus | YES |
MATH:149 Precalculus Mathematics | YES |
MATH:153 Technical Mathematics III | YES |
MATH:154 Technical Algebra and Trigonometry 2 | |
MATH:208 Introduction to Discrete Mathematics | |
MATH:210 Calculus with Business Applications | YES |
MATH:215 Concepts of Calculus | YES |
MATH:221 Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | YES |
MATH:222 Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | YES |
MATH:223 Analytic Geometry-Calculus III | YES |
MATH:240 Mathematics for Early/Middle Teachers 2 | |
MATH:255 Technical Calculus I | |
MATH:261 Applied Finite Mathematics | |
MATH:312 Linear Algebra | YES |
MATH:356 Technical Calculus II | |
PHIL:170 Introduction to Logic | YES |
STAT:250 Statistics for Everyday Life | YES |
STAT:260 Basic Statistics | YES |
STAT:261 Introductory Statistics I | YES |
STAT:262 Introductory Statistics II | YES |
Speaking - 3 credit hours
Course | Ohio Transfer 36 |
---|---|
COMM:105 Introduction to Public Speaking | YES |
COMM:106 Effective Oral Communication | YES |
COMM:263 Professional Communications and Presentations | YES |
Writing - 6 credit hours
First Course
Course | Ohio Transfer 36 |
---|---|
ENGL:110 English Composition I + Workshop | YES |
ENGL:111 English Composition I | YES |
Second Course - Students who are placed in the second writing course and successfully complete it satisfy the Writing requirement.
Course | Ohio Transfer 36 |
---|---|
ENGL:112 English Composition II | YES |
ENGL:222 Technical Report Writing | YES |
Breadth of Knowledge - 22 credits
Fine Arts and Humanities - 9 credit hours
Students must take at least one Arts course and at least one Humanities course. The second Arts or Humanities course may be in the same department or in a different one.
Fine Arts - at least one course
Note: MUSIC:155 Music Literature II must be completed sequentially with MUSIC:154 Music Literature I to satisfy the Fine Arts requirement.
Course | Fulfills Requirements For | Ohio Transfer 36 |
---|---|---|
ART:101 Survey of Global Art 1: Prehistory to 1250 CE | - Arts, - Global Diversity | YES |
ART:102 History of Global Art 2: 1250 CE - 1850 CE | - Arts | YES |
ART:210 Visual Arts Awareness | - Arts | YES |
DNCE:265 Viewing Dance | - Arts | YES |
ENGL:283 Film Appreciation | - Arts | YES |
MUSIC:154 Music Literature I | - Arts | |
MUSIC:201 Exploring Music: Bach to Rock | - Arts | YES |
THEA:100 Experiencing Theatre | - Arts | |
THEA:264 Playscript & Performance Analysis | - Arts |
Humanities - at least one course
Course | Fulfills Requirements For | Ohio Transfer 36 |
---|---|---|
ARAB:210 Arabic Culture through Film | - Humanities | YES |
CHIN:210 Chinese Culture Through Film | - Humanities | |
CLAS:230 Sports & Society in Ancient Greece and Rome | - Humanities | YES |
CLAS:289 Mythology of Ancient Greece | - Humanities | YES |
ENGL:252 Shakespeare & His World | - Humanities | YES |
ENGL:281 Fiction Appreciation | - Humanities | YES |
FREN:210 French and Francophone Cultures Through Film | - Humanities, - Global Diversity | |
HIST:200 Empires of the Ancient World | - Humanities, - Global Diversity | YES |
HIST:210 Humanities in the Western Tradition from Ancient Times to 1500 | - Humanities | YES |
HIST:221 Humanities in the World since 1300 | - Humanities, - Global Diversity | YES |
IHSC:100 Exploring Campus Arts & Culture | - Humanities | |
JAPN:210 Japanese Culture through Film | - Humanities, - Global Diversity | |
PHIL:101 Introduction to Philosophy | - Humanities | YES |
PHIL:120 Introduction to Ethics | - Humanities | YES |
PHIL:125 Theory & Evidence | - Humanities | YES |
PHIL:150 Critical Thinking | - Humanities | YES |
PHIL:211 History of Ancient Philosophy | - Humanities | YES |
SPAN:210 Spanish Culture Through Film | - Humanities, - Global Diversity | |
SPAN:250 Hispanic Literature in Translation | - Humanities | YES |
Natural Science - 7 credit hours, including one lab
A majors-track course in the natural sciences can substitute for a general education natural science course.
Students may fulfill the Natural Sciences requirement with any coursework that adds up to seven credit hours and includes a lab, using courses from the same department or different ones.
Course | Fulfills Requirements For | Ohio Transfer 36 |
---|---|---|
ANAT:206 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology I | - Natural Science | YES |
ANAT:207 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology II | - Natural Science | YES |
BIOL:106 Exploring Biology | - Natural Science | |
BIOL:108 Introduction to Biological Aging | - Natural Science | |
BIOL:202 Human Anatomy & Physiology II | - Natural Science | YES |
CHEM:114 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Lecture) | - Natural Science | |
CHEM:151 Principles of Chemistry I | - Natural Science | YES |
CHEM:153 Principles of Chemistry II | - Natural Science | YES |
GEOL:100 Earth Science | - Natural Science | YES |
GEOL:121 Dinosaurs | - Natural Science | |
GEOL:122 Mass Extinctions & Geology | - Natural Science | |
GEOL:130 Geologic Record of Climate Change | - Natural Science | |
GEOL:133 Caves | - Natural Science | |
GEOL:135 Geology of Energy Resources | - Natural Science | |
GEOL:137 Earth's Atmosphere & Weather | - Natural Science | |
GEOL:171 Introduction to the Oceans | - Natural Science | YES |
GEOL:200 Environmental Geology | - Natural Science | YES |
GEOL:211 Introduction to Environmental Science | - Natural Science | YES |
NUTR:133 Nutrition Fundamentals | - Natural Science | YES |
PHYS:164 Technical Physics: Heat & Light | - Natural Science | YES |
Course | Fulfills Requirements For | Ohio Transfer 36 |
---|---|---|
ANAT:210 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab I | - Natural Science w/LAB | |
ANAT:211 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab II | - Natural Science w/LAB | |
ANTH:105 Human Evolution | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
BIOL:103 Natural Science: Biology | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
BIOL:111 Principles of Biology I | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
BIOL:112 Principles of Biology II | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
BIOL:130 Principles of Microbiology | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
BIOL:265 Introductory Human Physiology | - Natural Science w/LAB | |
CHEM:101 Chemistry for Everyone | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
CHEM:113 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry II (Laboratory) | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
CHEM:152 Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
GEOL:101 Introductory Physical Geology | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
GEOL:102 Introductory Historical Geology | - Natural Science w/LAB | |
GEOL:201 Exercises in Environmental Geology I | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
GEOL:203 Exercises in Environmental Geology II | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
GEOL:230 Mineral Science | - Natural Science w/LAB | |
PHYS:130 Descriptive Astronomy | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
PHYS:133 Music, Sound & Physics | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
PHYS:137 Light | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
PHYS:261 Physics for Life Sciences I | - Natural Science w/LAB | |
PHYS:262 Physics for Life Sciences II | - Natural Science w/LAB | |
PHYS:291 Elementary Classical Physics I | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
PHYS:292 Elementary Classical Physics II | - Natural Science w/LAB | YES |
Social Science - 6 credit hours
Students may fulfill the Social Science area requirement using courses from the same department or different ones.
Course | Fulfills Requirements For | Ohio Transfer 36 |
---|---|---|
ANTH:101 Human Cultures | - Social Science, - Global Diversity | YES |
ANTH:110 Introduction to Archaeology | - Social Science | YES |
ANTH:251 Human Diversity | - Social Science, - Global Diversity | |
ECON:100 Introduction to Economics | - Social Science | YES |
ECON:200 Principles of Microeconomics | - Social Science | YES |
ECON:244 Introduction to Economic Analysis | - Social Science | YES |
GEOG:100 Introduction to Geography | - Social Science | YES |
HIST:250 U.S. History to 1877 | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity | YES |
HIST:251 U.S. History since 1877 | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity | YES |
HIST:295 Global Societies: Japan | - Social Science, - Global Diversity | |
HIST:296 Global Societies: Latin America | - Social Science, - Global Diversity | |
HIST:297 Global Societies: Middle East | - Social Science, - Global Diversity | |
PAFS:252 The Black Experience 1619-1918 | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity | |
PAFS:253 The Black Experience 1918-Present | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity | |
PAFS:256 Diversity in American Society | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity | YES |
POLIT:100 Government & Politics in the United States | - Social Science | YES |
POLIT:150 World Politics & Government | - Social Science | YES |
PSYC:100 Introduction to Psychology | - Social Science | YES |
SOCIO:100 Introduction to Sociology | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity | YES |
SOCIO:243 Contemporary Global Issues | - Social Science, - Global Diversity | YES |
SOWK:230 Human Relations | - Social Science | YES |
SOWK:244 Death & Dying | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity | YES |
SOWK:344 Death & Dying | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity |
Diversity - 2 courses
Domestic Diversity - one course
Course | Fulfills Requirements For |
---|---|
ANTH:358 Indians of North America | - Domestic Diversity |
COMM:325 Intercultural Communication | - Domestic Diversity |
ECON:487 Urban Economics:Theory & Policy | - Domestic Diversity |
ENGL:350 Black American Literature | - Domestic Diversity |
GEOG:350 Geography of the United States & Canada | - Domestic Diversity |
GEOG:443 Urban Applications in GIS | - Domestic Diversity |
HIST:250 U.S. History to 1877 | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity |
HIST:251 U.S. History since 1877 | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity |
HIST:350 U.S. Women's History | - Domestic Diversity |
MUSIC:155 Music Literature II | - Domestic Diversity |
PAFS:201 Introduction to Pan-African Studies | - Domestic Diversity |
PAFS:252 The Black Experience 1619-1918 | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity |
PAFS:253 The Black Experience 1918-Present | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity |
PAFS:256 Diversity in American Society | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity |
PHIL:455 Philosophy of Feminism | - Domestic Diversity |
PHIL:456 Philosophy of Race & Ethnicity | - Domestic Diversity |
PSYC:250 Psychology of Diversity | - Domestic Diversity |
PSYC:435 Cross-Cultural Psychology | - Domestic Diversity |
PSYC:474 Psychology of Women | - Domestic Diversity |
SOCIO:100 Introduction to Sociology | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity |
SOCIO:200 Social Justice | - Domestic Diversity |
SOWK:244 Death & Dying | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity |
SOWK:270 Diversity and Social Work | - Domestic Diversity |
SOWK:344 Death & Dying | - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity |
THEA:467 Multi-Cultural Theatre | - Domestic Diversity |
WMST:200 Introduction to Women's Studies | - Domestic Diversity |
Global Diversity - one course
Course | Fulfills Requirements For |
---|---|
ANTH:101 Human Cultures | - Social Science, - Global Diversity |
ANTH:251 Human Diversity | - Social Science, - Global Diversity |
ANTH:416 Anthropology of Sex and Gender | - Global Diversity |
ART:101 Survey of Global Art 1: Prehistory to 1250 CE | - Arts, - Global Diversity |
ECON:460 Economics of Developing Countries | - Global Diversity |
ENGL:362 World Literatures | - Global Diversity |
ENGL:367 The Rhetoric of God | - Global Diversity |
FREN:210 French and Francophone Cultures Through Film | - Humanities, - Global Diversity |
GEOG:275 Geography of Cultural Diversity | - Global Diversity |
HIST:200 Empires of the Ancient World | - Humanities, - Global Diversity |
HIST:221 Humanities in the World since 1300 | - Humanities, - Global Diversity |
HIST:292 Global Societies: Africa | - Global Diversity |
HIST:294 Global Societies: India | - Global Diversity |
HIST:295 Global Societies: Japan | - Social Science, - Global Diversity |
HIST:296 Global Societies: Latin America | - Social Science, - Global Diversity |
HIST:297 Global Societies: Middle East | - Social Science, - Global Diversity |
HIST:324 Europe from World War I to the Present | - Global Diversity |
HIST:337 France from Napoleon to Degaulle | - Global Diversity |
HIST:377 History of Women in Latin America | - Global Diversity |
HIST:378 Spanish Conquest and Colonization of the Americas | - Global Diversity |
HIST:395 Modern Iran | - Global Diversity |
HIST:489 Ottoman State and Society | - Global Diversity |
HIST:499 Women and Gender in Middle Eastern Societies | - Global Diversity |
JAPN:210 Japanese Culture through Film | - Humanities, - Global Diversity |
PHIL:200 Philosophy of World Religions | - Global Diversity |
PHIL:340 Eastern Philosophy | - Global Diversity |
POLIT:300 Comparative Politics | - Global Diversity |
SOCIO:243 Contemporary Global Issues | - Social Science, - Global Diversity |
SOCIO:321 Population, Environment, and Health | - Global Diversity |
SPAN:210 Spanish Culture Through Film | - Humanities, - Global Diversity |
SPAN:360 Hispanic Culture through Film | - Global Diversity |
THEA:335 History of Theatre and Dramatic Literature: Origins through 18th Century | - Global Diversity |
THEA:435 History of Theatre and Dramatic Literature: 1800 to Present | - Global Diversity |
Integrated and Applied Learning - 1 course
Select one course from either of the following categories
Capstone
Course | Fulfills Requirements For |
---|---|
AESE:491 Aerospace Design Project I | - Capstone |
ART:412 Student Teaching Colloquium | - Capstone |
BMEN:491 Biomedical Engineering Design I | - Capstone |
CHEE:442 Process Design II | - Capstone |
CISS:451 CIS Senior Design Projects I | - Capstone |
CIVE:490 Senior Design in Civil Engineering | - Capstone |
COET:468 Construction Management | - Capstone |
CORE:441 Corrosion Engineering Design II | - Capstone |
CPEN:401 Senior Design Project I - Computer Engineering | - Capstone |
CPSC:490 Senior Seminar in Computer Science | - Capstone |
EEET:455 Senior Project | - Capstone |
ELEN:401 Senior Design Project I - Electrical Engineering | - Capstone |
EMHS:485 Cyber Forensics Capstone | - Capstone |
MECE:461 ME Senior Design Project I | - Capstone |
MUSIC:492 Student Teaching Colloquium | - Capstone |
PHYS:491 Capstone Project in Physics A | - Capstone |
PLYE:499 Senior Design Project II | - Capstone |
SURV:430 Surveying Project | - Capstone |
Complex Issues Facing Society
Course | Fulfills Requirements For |
---|---|
AESE:490 Aerospace Design Project | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
AESE:497 Aerospace Honors Project | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
ANTH:320 The Anthropology of Food | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
ANTH:370 Globalization and Culture | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
ANTH:457 Medical Anthropology | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
ANTH:460 Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
CHFD:401 American Families in Poverty | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
CPEN:402 Senior Design Project II - Computer Engineering | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
ECON:385 Economics of Natural Resources & the Environment | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
ECON:430 Labor Market and Social Policy | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
EDCI:223 Urban Youth Mentoring | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
ELEN:402 Senior Design Project II - Electrical Engineering | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
GEOL:421 Coastal Geology | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
GEOL:443 Rivers | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
GEOL:452 Geology and Environmental Science Service Learning | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
HIST:463 United States Constitutional History | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
HIST:472 Empire, Genocide, and Mass Violence | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
NURS:440 Nursing of Communities | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
NURS:445 Nursing of Communities - RN Only | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
PHIL:207 Food Ethics | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
PHIL:241 Technology & Human Values | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
PHIL:361 Biomedical Ethics | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
PHIL:365 Environmental Ethics | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
PHIL:366 Engineering Ethics | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
PLYS:350 Sustainable Polymers | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
PSPE:310 Impacts of Polymers on Modern Life | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
PSYC:425 Psychology of Hate | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
SOCIO:320 Social Inequalities | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
SOCIO:342 Sociology of Health & Illness | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
SOCIO:433 Sociology of Deviant Behavior | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
SPAN:308 Spanish Composition: Health Professions & First Responders | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
WMST:450 Gender and Popular Culture | - Complex Issues Facing Society |
Printable General Education Curriculum Guide
Requirements for Associate Degrees
Students in the Associate of Arts and Associate of Sciences degree programs must complete the following 36 credit-hour set of General Education coursework. Specific courses can be found from the dropdown menus above.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Academic Foundations | ||
Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic | 3 | |
Speaking | 3 | |
Writing | 6 | |
Breadth of Knowledge | ||
Arts and Humanities (one course from each) | 9 | |
Natural Science (including one lab) | 7 | |
Social Science | 6 | |
Additional General Education credits to equal 36 credit hours | 2 | |
Students should meet this requirement by taking a Global Diversity or Domestic Diversity course if they have not already taken a Breadth of Knowledge course that satisfies the Diversity requirement | ||
Total Hours | 36 |
Students in applied associate degree programs must complete the following 15 credit-hour set of General Education coursework:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Academic Foundations | ||
Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic | 3 | |
Speaking | 3 | |
Writing | 3 | |
Breadth of Knowledge | ||
Natural Science | 3 | |
Social Science | 3 | |
Total Hours | 15 |