Oct 05, 2024  
2020-2021 Governors State University Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Governors State University Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Education Courses


General Education Requirement Communication Courses
 Mathematics Courses Physical and Life Sciences
Humanities and Fine Arts Social and Behavioral Sciences
Total Credit Hours University General Education Outcomes

General Education Requirement

The general education requirement at Governors State University provides graduates with a broad foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. All undergraduate degree-seeking students are required to meet the university general education requirement before graduation. This requirement can be met in any of four ways:

  1. Students admitted as freshmen will begin to earn General Education course credits through participation in the Focus Area. They will complete the distribution requirements in the relevant content areas as identified in their program of study.
  2. Transfer to Governors State University having earned an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree from a regionally-accredited Illinois community college. The Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.), Associate of Engineering Sciences (A.E.S.), and the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) do not meet this requirement.
  3. Provide documentation of having earned a bachelor’s degree from one of the state universities in Illinois (itransfer.org).
  4. Complete the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) at another participating institution and have it noted on the transcript.

All students must complete the distribution requirements in the relevant content area, with a grade of “C” or better in each course. Requirements may be met either by presenting acceptable transfer courses as evaluated by the GSU Degree Audit Team or completing courses that were specifically approved because they meet the relevant general education requirement at Governors State University.

Communication

3 courses (9 semester credits*), including a two-course sequence in writing (6 semester credits) and one course (3 semester credits) in oral communication. Currently approved courses in this area include:

Mathematics

1 to 2 courses (3 to 6 semester credits). Currently approved courses in this area include:

Physical and Life Sciences

2 courses (7 to 8 semester credits) with one course selected from the life sciences and one course from the physical sciences, including at least one laboratory course.

Currently approved courses in the Physical Sciences include:
Currently approved courses in the Life Sciences include:

Humanities and Fine Arts

3 courses (9 semester credits) with at least one course selected from humanities and at least one course from the fine arts.

Currently approved courses in the Fine Arts include:
Currently approved courses in the Humanities include:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

3 courses (9 semester credits) with courses selected from at least two disciplines.

Total: 37 - 41 credit hours

For colleges and universities on the quarter calendar system, three (3) quarter credits equal two (2) semester credits.

Information on specific courses that may be applied to the general education course requirements may be obtained from academic advisors.

University General Education Outcomes

Specific details on Governors State University General Education Outcomes are included in the Bachelor’s Degree Requirements  pages of this catalog.