Mar 19, 2024  
2022-2023 General Catalog 
    
2022-2023 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

General Education Requirements


The General Education program, along with studying in the major, is designed to assist students in achieving the University Studies Depth Requirements . Students transferring to Utah State University should see the General Education Requirements for Transfer Students  section. All Utah State University students must complete the following (or approved equivalents):

General Education Requirements (30-34 credits)


USU’s General Education program consists of two sets of requirements: Competency and Breadth.

Competency Requirements (9-10 credits)


The University Studies Depth Requirements  propose that students should be able to communicate effectively, utilize quantitative methods, make appropriate use of technology, and function effectively in groups. The competency requirements are structured to develop these skills.

Communications Literacy (CL1 and CL2) (6 credits)


Communications Literacy (CL1 and CL2)

ENGL 1010 - Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1) 3  

IELI 2420 - Writing from Academic Sources (CL1) 4  

LANG 2420 - Writing from Academic Sources (CL1) 4  

Or one of the following exams:

  • ACT English Test: Score of 29 or higher
  • RSAT Reading Test (if taken after March 2016): Score of 34 or higher
  • SAT Critical Reading Test (if taken before March 2016): Score of 640 or higher
  • AP English Language Test: Score of 3 or higher (for CL1 only)
  • CLEP College Composition Test: Score of 50 or higher (for CL1 only)
  • IBO English A: Language & Literature Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher (for CL1 only)
And

ENGL 2010 - Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2) 3  

Quantitative Literacy (QL) (3-4 credits)


One of the following courses:

Quantitative Literacy (QL)

One of the following courses:

Or

One Mathematics or Statistics course requiring MATH 1050  as a prerequisite.

Or one of the following exams:
  • ACT Math: Score of 26 or higher | SAT Math score equivalent  
  • AP Calculus AB Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Calculus BC Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • CLEP Calculus Test: Score of 64 or higher
  • CLEP College Algebra Test: Score of 63 or higher
  • CLEP College Mathematics Test: Score of 55 or higher
  • CLEP Precalculus Test: Score of 61 or higher
  • DSST Math for Liberal Arts Test: Score of 420 or higher
  • DSST Principles of Statistics Test: Score of 420 or higher
  • IBO Mathematics Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Mathematics Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Further Mathematics Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher

Breadth Requirements (18-20 credits)


General Education breadth requirements are intended to introduce students to the nature, history, and methods of different disciplines; and to help students understand the cultural, historical, and natural contexts shaping the human experience. Breadth courses also focus on the important cultural, socio-economic, scientific, and technological issues of today’s global community.

Students must take a minimum of 18 total credits, including at least one course from each of the six categories shown below.

Click here to see exceptions to the Breadth Requirements.

Breadth American Institutions (BAI) (3 credits)


One of the following courses:

Breadth American Institutions (BAI)

One of the following courses:
Or one of the following exams:
  • AP Macroeconomics Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP U.S. Government and Politics Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP U.S. History Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • CLEP American Government Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP History of the United States I Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP History of the United States II Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP Principles of Macroeconomics Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • IBO Economics Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO History Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher

Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) (3 credits)


One of the following courses:

Breadth Creative Arts (BCA)

One of the following courses:
Or one of the following exams:
  • AP Studio Art Drawing Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Music Theory Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • DSST Art of the Western World Test: Score of 400 or higher
  • IBO Dance Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Dance Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Film Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Film Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Music Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Theatre Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Theatre Test: HIgher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Visual Arts Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Visual Arts Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher

Breadth Humanities (BHU) (3 credits)


One of the following courses:

Breadth Humanities (BHU)

One of the following courses:
Or one of the following exams:
  • AP Art History Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP English Literature Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP European History Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP World History Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • CLEP American Literature Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP English Literature Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • IBO English A: Language & Literature Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO English A: Language & Literature Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO English A: Literature Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher

Breadth Life Sciences (BLS) (3-4 credits)


One of the following courses:

Breadth Life Sciences (BLS)

One of the following:

Or one of the following exams:

  • AP Biology Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • CLEP Biology Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • IBO Biology Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Biology Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher

Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS) (3-4 credits)


One of the following courses:

Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS)

One of the following courses:
Or one of the following exams:
  • AP Chemistry Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Computer Science Principles Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Physics 1 (Algebra-Based) Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Physics 2 (Algebra-Based) Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Physics C: Mechanics Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • CLEP Chemistry Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • DSST Astronomy Test: Score of 400 or higher
  • DSST Introduction to Geology Test: Score of 400 or higher
  • IBO Chemistry Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Computer Science Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Computer Science Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Physics Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Physics Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher

Breadth Social Sciences (BSS) (3 credits)


One of the following courses:

Breadth Social Sciences (BSS)

One of the following:
Or one of the following exams:
  • AP Government and Politics (Comparative) Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Human Geography Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Microeconomics Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Psychology Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • CLEP Introductory Psychology Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP Introductory Sociology Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP Principles of Microeconomics Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • DSST General Anthropology Test: Score of 400 or higher
  • DSST Introduction to Geography Test: Score of 400 or higher
  • IBO Economics Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Geography Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Geography Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Psychology Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Psychology Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Social and Cultural Anthropology Test: Standard-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Social and Cultural Anthropology Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher

Integrated Studies Requirement (3-4 credits)


Choose an additional class from one of the following General Education or Depth Education categories: QL, BAI, BCA, BHU, BLS, BPS, BSS, CI, QI, DHA, DSC, or DSS.

Note: Students may use an additional Quantitative Literacy (QL) course to satisfy the Integrated Studies Requirement only if they received college credits for the QL requirement. Students who had the QL requirement waived as a result of an ACT Math or SAT Math score do not receive any college credit for those exams. Therefore, these students may not take an additional QL course to satisfy the Integrated Studies Requirement unless they first earn QL credits through coursework or examination.

Note: The Integrated Studies Requirement is required only for students whose first semester enrolled at USU is Summer Semester 2008 or thereafter.

Designation of Courses that Satisfy General Education Requirements


All courses approved for the General Education Requirements are clearly designated in this catalog. The designations used for General Education courses are as follows:

Competency Courses


  • Communications Literacy, CL1 and CL2
  • Quantitative Literacy, QL

Breadth Courses


  • American Institutions, BAI
  • Creative Arts, BCA
  • Humanities, BHU
  • Life Sciences, BLS
  • Physical Sciences, BPS
  • Social Sciences, BSS

Interstate Passport


For additional information about the Interstate Passport, please see the Transfer Credit  page in the catalog.