Dec 27, 2024  
2013-2014 General Catalog (Spring 2014) 
    
2013-2014 General Catalog (Spring 2014) ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

General Education Requirements



General Education Requirements


The General Education program, along with study in the major, is designed to assist students in achieving the .

Transfer Students

Students who transfer to USU and have an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree (or have completed the General Education requirements) from a regionally-accredited institution may be deemed as having satisfied the General Education portion of the University Studies requirements. A registrar’s certification, stating that the student has completed the General Education requirements of the transfer institution, may also be acceptable. However, Utah State University will require students to satisfy the Breadth American Institutions requirement (BAI), if an equivalent course has not been completed. In addition, students must satisfy any deficiencies in Communications Literacy (CL1 and CL2) and Quantitative Literacy (QL). In order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, the  must still be completed.

Students who transfer to Utah State University with less than an Associate Degree (and have not completed General Education requirements) or with an Associate of Applied Science Degree will have their General Education courses evaluated on a course-by-course basis and may be required to take any additional courses necessary to satisfy the General Education requirements at Utah State University. However, if these students have taken equivalent General Education courses at the sending institution, these courses will be accepted toward satisfying General Education requirements at Utah State University.

Courses approved as fulfilling General Education requirements at a Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institution will be acceptable to Utah State University as satisfying comparable General Education requirements. Coursework acceptability at other institutions will be determined by the student’s major department at Utah State University.

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 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)


Or one of the following exams:

  • ACT English Test: Score of 29 or higher
  • SAT Critical Reading Test: Score of 640 or higher
  • AP English Language Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP English Literature Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • CLEP English Composition Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP Freshman College Composition Test: Score of 53 or higher
  • IBO English A1 Test: Standard-level Score of 4 or higher
Or the following exam:

IBO English A1 Test: Higher-level Score of 4 or higher
(satisfies both CL1 and CL2)

Quantitative Literacy (QL) (3-4 credits)


Or

One Mathematics or Statistics course requiring as a prerequisite, such as , , ; or

Or one of the following exams:

  • ACT Math Test: Score of 25 or higher
  • SAT Math Test: Score of 580 or higher
  • AP Calculus AB Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Calculus BC Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • CLEP Calculus Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP College Algebra Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • IBO Mathematics Test: Higher-level Score of 4 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.

At least two of the six breadth courses must be University Studies courses (, , , , , and ). Students enrolled in the Honors Program may substitute , , , , , and for , , , , , and .

to see exceptions to the Breadth Requirements.

Breadth American Institutions (BAI) (3 credits)


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 60 or higher
  • CLEP History of the U.S. I: Early to 1877 Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP History of the U.S. II: 1865 to Present Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP Principles of Macroeconomics Test: Score of 53 or higher
  • IBO Economics Test: Standard- or Higher-level Score of 4 or higher

Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) (3 credits)


Or one of the following exams:

  • AP Music Theory Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Studio Art: Drawing: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Studio Art: 2-D Design: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Studio Art: 3-D Design: Score of 3 or higher
  • IBO Music Test: Standard- or Higher-level Score of 4 or higher
  • IBO Theatre Arts Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Visual Arts Test: Standard- or Higher-level Score of 4 or higher

Breadth Humanities (BHU) (3 credits)


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 Analyzing and Interpreting Literature Test: Score of 52 or higher
  • CLEP Western Civilization I: Ancient to 1648 Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • CLEP Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • IBO History—European Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO History of the Americas Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO History—Islamic Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Philosophy Test: Standard- or Higher-level Score of 4 or higher

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


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


Or one of the following exams:

  • AP Chemistry Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Physics B Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Test: Score of 3 or higher
  • DSST Astronomy Test: Score of 48 or higher
  • DSST Introduction to Computing Test: Score of 50 or higher
  • DSST Principles of Physical Science I Test: Score of 47 or higher
  • IBO Chemistry Test: Higher-level Score of 4 or higher
  • IBO Geography Test: Higher-level Score of 5 or higher
  • IBO Physics Test: Standard- or Higher-level Score of 4 or higher

Breadth Social Sciences (BSS) (3 credits)


One of the following courses: