General Education Curriculum Requirements

The General Education Curriculum is a core component of the bachelor’s degree that develops common capacities in all College of Saint Elizabeth graduates regardless of major.  In this sense, it is the foundation of the undergraduate education offered by the College.

Through the study of the liberal arts and sciences, the General Education Curriculum will deepen students’ understanding of themselves and the world, foster values clarification, expose students to various approaches to knowledge, and encourage students to integrate this knowledge.

The General Education Curriculum presents forms of expression, fields of knowledge, and methods of inquiry fundamental to intellectual growth and to a mature understanding of the world and the human condition.  It is distinguished from education in the major which, while extending the purpose of the General Education Curriculum, deals with discipline-specific content and modes of inquiry in a highly focused and in-depth manner.

By successfully completing the General Education Curriculum, students will:

•           Acquire a foundation of broad-based knowledge of the major questions and methodologies in the disciplines of the liberal arts and sciences

•           Recognize and respect the importance of faith in God as a basis for a meaningful life

•           Attain clarity in values

•           Attain maturity in moral reasoning

•           Appreciate the role of ethics in a just society

•           Understand and respect persons of diverse backgrounds

•           Develop aesthetic appreciation

•           Recognize the importance of maintaining physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle

•           Demonstrate competency in computation and quantitative reasoning

•           Develop research skills

•           Develop competency in oral communication skills

•           Develop competency in written communication skills

•           Develop competency in information literacy skills

•           Develop a proficiency in a second language

To achieve these aims, the General Education Curriculum has been constructed around five Cluster Areas:

1.         Literature/Fine Arts/Foreign Language

2.         Social and Behavioral Sciences

3.         Natural and Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science

4.         Philosophy, Theology and History

5.         Perspectives on an Interdependent World

Guidelines regarding the application of credits to the General Education Curriculum Requirements:

•           Single-major students typically may not double count courses for both their major and General Education Curriculum Requirements.

•           Exceptions to the above rule include:

Students majoring in Philosophy, Theology or History do not need to take an additional course beyond their major requirements to fulfill the Cluster 4 Requirement in their major subject area. 

English majors do not need to take an additional course beyond their major requirements to fulfill the Cluster 1 requirement in British, American or Foreign Literature.

•           When possible, related-requirement courses in a student’s major may be used to meet General Education Curriculum Requirements.

•           When possible, double majors may count courses from both majors toward fulfillment of General Education Curriculum Requirements.

General Education Form

Cluster 1: Literature, Fine Arts, and Language (9 credits)

By taking courses in this Cluster Area, students will be exposed to forms of expression that capture the human experience, provide metaphors for the human condition, and provide an opportunity for aesthetic experience. 

To meet the requirements for Cluster 1, students must complete:

•           three credits of American, British or Foreign Literature

•           three credits of Art History or Music History

•           three credits of Art, Music, English, Communication, or

Foreign Language

The specific courses approved for meeting Cluster 1 Requirements are:

The Literature component of Cluster 1 can be met by taking one of the following courses:

ENG 120 The Reading Life

ENG 239 Women’s Literature:A Different Voice

ENG 247 Critical Reading

ENG 253 European Literature and Related Arts II

FLAN 260 Special Topics:Greek and Roman Literature

ENG/FLAN 263 Greek and Roman Mythology

FLAN 239 Masterpieces of French Literature in Translation

FLAN 243 Hispanics in the U.S.: History and Culture

FLAN 249 Images of Women in Foreign Literature

FLAN 255 Masterpieces of World Literature

FLAN 257 Masterpieces of World Literature II

SPA 329 Literature of Spain to 1700

SPA 333 Literature of Spain 1700 to Present

SPA 339 Literature of Spanish America

The Art History or Music History component of Cluster 1 can be met by taking one of the following courses:

ART 115 Drawing and Painting

ART 119 Introduction to Photography

ART 201 Color and Design

ART 231 Art History I:Ancient and Medieval Art

ART 233 Art History II:Ranaissance and Baroque Art

ART 237 Art History III:Modern Art

ART 239 The Feminine Aesthetic

ART 241 Art of the WesternWorld Survey

ART 245 Insights into Culture Through Visual Art:Selected Topics

MUS 119 The Lives and Music of the Great Composers

MUS 121 Lives and Music of Female Composers

MUS 123 Great Performers of the Western World

MUS 125 Learning to Listen to Music

MUS 151 The Broadway Musical:America’s Major Contribution to Theater

MUS 155 Music and Ideas

MUS 223 Elizabeth Singers

MUS 227 Elizabeth Ringers Handbell Choir

MUS 229 Community Choir

MUS 231 Opera and Oratorio

MUS 233 American Music

MUS 255 The Joy of Bach

MUS 257 Beethoven and Friends

MUS 259 The Great Romantics

MUS 261 Music of Our Time

The third component of Cluster 1 can be met in one of the following ways:

• by taking one of the Literature,Art History, or Music History courses listed above

• by taking a Foreign Language course not being applied to the Foreign Language Competency Requirement

• by taking one of the following Communication courses:

COMM 201 Oral Interpretation of Literature

COMM 205 Communication Strategies for the Work Place

COMM 207 Dynamics of Communication

COMM 219 Mass Media

COMM 223 Fundamentals of Public Speaking

COMM 243 Cross-cultural Communication

COMM 275 Visual Communication

• by taking three of the following 1-credit Leadership courses:

LDSP 111 Becoming a Leader

LDSP 200 Career Planning and Exploration

or

LDSP 220 Transition:College to Career

LDSP 301 Leadership Theories

LDSP 401 Leadership Senior Seminar

• by taking one of the following English courses:

ENG 200 American English Grammar

ENG 209 Women in Film

ENG 228 American Film

ENG 229 International Film

Cluster 2: Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)

By taking courses in this Cluster Area, students will learn the systematic and critical inquiry of these disciplines used to develop an understanding of human behavior, human relationships, and social institutions within the context of our multicultural, global society.

To meet the requirements for Cluster 2, students must complete:

•           three credits of Psychology or Sociology

•           three credits of Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or another approved course

The Psychology or Sociology component of Cluster 2 can be met by taking one of the following courses:

PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology

PSY 191 Developmental Psychology:The Human Life Span

SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology

SOC 201 Social Problems

SOC 211 Deviant Behavior

SOC 251 Sociology of the Family

SOC 281 Sociology of Aging

The second component of Cluster 2 can be met in one of the following ways:

• by taking an additional course in Psychology or Sociology, among those listed above

• by taking one of the Economics, Political Science, or other courses listed below:

ECO 105 Principles of Economics I

ECO 107 Principles of Economics II

 All 100- and 200-level Political Science courses meet this component of Cluster 3.

AMST 101 Introduction to American Studies

AMST 273 American Culture Studies

JUS 101 Introduction to Justice Studies

SOC 200 Cultural Anthropology

Cluster 3:Natural and Physical Sciences,Mathematics and Computer Science (6-8 credits)

By taking courses in this Cluster Area, students will learn the use of formal, rational methods applied in the understanding of nature and in problem solving.

To meet the requirements for Cluster 3, students must complete:

•           three-four credits of Biology, Chemistry or Physics

•           three-four credits of Mathematics or Computer Science

The specific courses approved for meeting Cluster 3 Requirements are:

The Natural and Physical Sciences component of Cluster 3 can be met by taking one of the following courses:

APPSC 205 Earth Science

BIO 101 Biology in Society

BIO 103 Concepts of Biology

BIO 105 Human Genetics

BIO 107 Environmental Conservation

BIO 109 Microbes and Society

BIO 117 Human Physiology

BIO 123 Physical Science/Laboratory

BIO/CHEM 125 Women and Science: History,Health and Hope

CHEM 103 Energy – Present and Future

CHEM 105 Science and Society

CHEM 107 Chemistry and the Environment

CHEM 109 Chemistry of Consumer Products

CHEM 111 Chemistry and Health

CHEM 113 Introduction to Forensic Science

CHEM 115 Introduction to General and Organic Chemistry/Laboratory

CHEM 121 Introductory Chemistry/Laboratory

CHEM 123 Introductory Organic Chemistry/Laboratory

CHEM 151 Fundamental Principles of Chemistry I/Laboratory

CHEM 153 Fundamental Principles of Chemistry II/Laboratory

PE 217 Science Fundamentals of Environmental Health

PHYS 103 Physics in Our ModernWorld

PHYS 149 General Physics I

PHYS 153 General Physics II

FN 201 Introductory Nutrition

The Mathematics or Computer Science component of Cluster 3 can be met by taking one of the following courses:

MATH 119 Elementary Statistics

MATH 125 Elementary Statistics with Business Applications

MATH 135 Contemporary Mathematics

MATH 139 College Algebra

MATH 141 Linear Algebra for Computer Science

MATH 149 Pre-Calculus Mathematics

MATH 151 Calculus I

MATH 153 Calculus II

MATH 155 Linear Algebra

MATH 253 Calculus III

CS 105 Introduction to Computers and Internet

CS 115 Fundamentals of Computers and Programming

Cluster 4: Philosophy,Theology and History (12 credits)

By taking courses in Philosophy and Theology, students will reflect on ultimate questions, increase their respect for human dignity, develop a method of principled reasoning, and deepen their understanding of and commitment to God.

By taking coursework in History, students will utilize multiple perspective-taking as a means of freeing them from the present and culture-bound ways of thinking and offer a glimpse at the development of human civilization.

To meet the requirements for Cluster 4, students must complete:

•           three credits of Philosophy

•           six credits of Theology

•           three credits of History

The Philosophy component of Cluster 4 can be met by taking one of the following courses:

PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy

PHIL 103 Logic and Rhetoric

PHIL 105 Philosophers Look at God

PHIL 111 Philosophy of Art

PHIL 201 Philosophy of Religion

PHIL 203 The Human Person

PHIL 205 Survey of the History of Philosophy

PHIL 207 Selected Existentialist Philosophers

PHIL 211 Philosophy in Literature

PHIL 213 American Philosophy

PHIL 215 Philosophy in Film

PHIL 217 History of Ancient Philosophy

PHIL 219 History of Medieval Philosophy

PHIL 221 History of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy

PHIL 225 Philosophy of Being and God

PHIL 233 Ethics in Business and Society

• Nursing majors only may fulfill their Philosophy requirement by taking:

PHIL 331 Ethics in Health Care

The Theology component of Cluster 4 can be met by taking two of the following courses:

THEO 110 Hebrew Scriptures

THEO 113 The New Testament

THEO 135 Ecology and Faith

THEO 175 Christian Spirituality Today

THEO 195 21^st Century and the Spirit of Charity

THEO 199 Travel and Study Tours

THEO 200 Bioethics

THEO 210 History of Christianity

THEO 221 Fundamental Moral Theology

THEO 235 Children of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar

THEO 239 Christian Sexual Ethics

THEO 250 Introduction to Christian Ethics

THEO 260 Religion in America

The History component of Cluster 4 can be met by taking one approved course in that subject area:

All 100- and 200-level History courses meet the General Education Curriculum Requirement in that subject area.

Cluster 5: Perspectives on an Interdependent World (3 credits)

By taking coursework in this Cluster Area, students will understand the role that diverse cultures, values, and gender issues play in today’s interdependent world.

To meet the requirement for Cluster 5, students must complete:

•           three credits from the list of courses approved for that purpose.

The specific courses approved for meeting Cluster 5 Requirement appear in Appendix A: General Education Curriculum.

The Cluster 5 requirement can be met by taking one of the following courses:

ART 239 The Feminine Aesthetic:Women in Visual Art

ART 245 Insights into Culture Through Visual Arts:Selected Topics

BIO/CHEM 125 Women and Science: History,Health and Hope

CHEM 105 Science and Society

COMM 243 Cross-cultural Communication

COMM 275 Visual Communication

ENG 209 Women in Film

ENG 229 International Film

ENG 239 Women’s Literature:A Different Voice

ENG 253 European Literature and Related Arts II

ENG/FLAN 263 Greek and Roman Mythology

FLAN 205 Francophone Cultures

WL 211 Caribbean Cultures

FLAN 235 Cross Culture Studies:Multiculture in U.S.

FLAN 239 Masterpieces of French Literature in Translation

FLAN 243 Hispanics in the U.S.: History and Culture

FLAN 249 Images of Women in Foreign Literature

FLAN 255 Masterpieces of World Literature I in Translation

FLAN 257 Masterpieces of World Literature II in Translation

FN 217 World Foods

GS 253 World Culture Studies

HIS 245 Women’s History

HIS 255 Latin American History

HIS 261 The Middle East

HIS 265 Asian History

HIS 271 African History

HIS 275 The Holocaust

WS 105 Introduction to Women’s Studies

MUS 119 The Lives and Music of the Great Composers

MUS 121 Lives and Music of Female Musicians

MUS 259 The Great Romantics

MUS 261 Music of our Time

PHYS 103 Physics in Our Modern World

PS 231 International Relations

PS 251 Comparative Politics

PSY 231 Gender and the Human Experience

PSY 281 Multicultural Psychology

SOC 200 Cultural Anthropology

SOC 221 Cultural Diversity

THEO 235 Children of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar