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GENERAL EDUCATION

An undergraduate student whose enrollment in a curriculum occurs after May 15, 2005, must fulfill the general education requirements in the catalog in effect at the time. A student who withdraws from the University and subsequently returns after May 15, 2005, will be required to satisfy the general education requirements. Any variation in curricular or general education requirements shall be considered under the substitution procedure.

MISSION STATEMENT

Academic institutions exist for the transmission of knowledge, the pursuit of truth, the intellectual and ethical development of students, and the general well-being of society. Undergraduate students must be broadly educated and technically skilled to be informed and productive citizens. As citizens, they need to be able to think critically about significant issues. Students also need to be prepared to complete undergraduate work and a major course of study. The mission requires a high level of knowledge about and competence in the following areas: communication, computer use, mathematics, problem solving, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts. Thus the mission of general education is to provide Clemson undergraduate students with a structured base through which these needs can be met.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

General education requirements in some curricula are more restrictive than those shown below.

Science and Technology in Society and Cross-Cultural Awareness Requirements may be satisfied by other General Education courses, as indicated in the footnotes below.

I. Communication

English Composition--3 credits
ENGL 103 (ENGL 102 for transfer students)
Advanced Writing--3 credits
A S 410, ENGL 304, 312, 314, 316, 345, 346, 348, M L 402, THEA (ENGL) 347, or an approved cluster of courses
Oral Communication--3 credits
COMM 150, 250, or an approved cluster of courses such as A S 309, 310, 409, 410; or M L 101, 102
 

II. Academic and Professional Development

Participation in the Pilot Digital Portfolio Program or departmental courses approved on an interim basis by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee addressing the general academic and professional development of the student 2 credits
 

III. Mathematical, Scientific, and Technological Literacy

Mathematics--3 credits
EX ST 2221, 301, MTHSC 101, 102, 106, 108, 203, 207, 301, 309. For Elementary and Early Childhood Education majors only: MTHSC 117, 118
Natural Science with Lab--4 credits
ASTR 101/103, 102/104, BIOL 103, 104, 109, 110, 111, 120/121, 120/122, 120/123, CH 101, 102, 1051, 1061, GEOL 101/103, 102, 1121/114, PH SC 107, 108, PHYS 122/124, 207/209, 208/210, 221/223, 222/224
Mathematics or Natural Science--3 credits
Any general education Mathematics or Natural Science course listed above or AGRIC (EN SP) 3151, BIOSC 2001, EN SP 2001, GEOL 3001, PHYS 240
 

IV. Arts and Humanities

Literature--3 credits
Any 200-level ENGL literature course, CHIN 4012, FR 3002, 3042, GER 306, ITAL 3012, 3022, JAPN 401, 406, REL 302, RUSS 360, 361, SPAN 3032, 3112
Non-Literature--3 credits
A A H 101, 2102, A S L 3052, C H S H203, CHIN 4992, COMM 369, 402, ENGL 355, 357, FR 307, G W (ENGL) 301, GER 340, HUM 301, 302, 306, 3092, JAPN 3072, 3082, LANG 340, 342, 346, 348, 356, (ENGL) 454, MUSIC 2102, 311, 312, 313, 3142, 317, 361, 362, 363, 364, 369, 370, 371, 372, PHIL 101, 102, 103, 303, 304, (CHIN) 3122, (CHIN) 3132, 315, 316, 317, 318, 320, 323, 3241, 325, 3261, 327, 343, 344, 3451, REL 101, 1022, 3012, 3062, 3072, RUSS 340, SPAN 307, 308, THEA 210, 279, 3152, 3162, 3172, W S 301
 

V. Social Sciences

Selected from two different fields--6 credits
A A S 3012, ANTH 2012, AP EC 202, 257, C H S H202, ECON 200, 211, 212, GEOG 101, 1032, 106, HIST 101, 102, 1221, 1722, 1732, 1932, PO SC 101, 1022, 1042, PSYCH 201, R S 301, SOC 201, 202

VI. Cross-Cultural Awareness

A A H 210, A A S 301, A S L 305, ANTH 201, AP EC 205, CHIN 401, 499, FR 300, 304, GEOG 103, 340, GER 360, 361, HIST 172, 173, 193, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 351, 352, 353, 355, 361, 363, 370, 372, 373, 374, 375, 377, 378, 380, 381, 384, 385, 386, 387, 391, HUM 309, ITAL 301, 302, 400, JAPN 307, 308, 401, 406, MUSIC 210, 314, PHIL (CHIN) 312, (CHIN) 313, 314, PO SC 102, 104, 363, REL 102, 301, 306, 307, RUSS 360, 361, SPAN 303, 311, THEA 315, 316, 317, or through a University-approved cross-cultural experience.
 

VII. Science and Technology in Society

AGRIC (EN SP) 315, AP EC 205, AVS 315, BIOL 203, 210, BIOSC 200, CH 105, 106, COMM 307, EN SP 200, ENGL 349, EX ST 222, FD SC 214, GEOL 112, 300, HIST 122, 323, 491, LARCH 116, PHIL 324, 326, 345, PKGSC 368, R S (SOC) 401, THRD 115, 221

VIII. Distributed Competencies

Each degree program will integrate into the program of study competencies in the following area and provide an integration plan which addresses competencies and implementation: Ethical Judgment; Information Technology; Reasoning, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving.
 

1This course also satisfies the Science and Technology in Society Requirement.
2This course also satisfies the Cross-Cultural Awareness Requirement.
 

GENERAL EDUCATION COMPETENCIES

Through the General Education experience at Clemson University, undergraduate students will accomplish the following:

Written and Oral Communication Skills

1. Demonstrate effective communication skills appropriate for topic, audience, and occasion.
2. Write coherent, well-supported, and carefully edited essays and reports suitable for a range of different audiences and purposes.
3. Employ the full range of the writing process, from rough draft to edited product.
4. Incorporate both print and electronic resources into speeches, presentations, and written documents.

Reasoning, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving

1. Summarize, analyze, and evaluate fictional and non-fictional texts.
2. Differentiate deductive and inductive reasoning processes.
3. Acquire and analyze information to determine its quality and utility.
4. Recognize parallels between and among disciplines and apply knowledge, skills, or abilities learned in one discipline to another.

Mathematical, Scientific, and Technological Literacy

1. Demonstrate mathematical literacy through solving problems, communicating concepts, reasoning mathematically, and applying mathematical or statistical methods using multiple representations.
2. Develop an understanding of the principles and theories of a natural science and its applications.
3. Explain and apply the methods of a natural science in laboratory or experimental settings.
4. Apply information technologies to intellectual and professional development.
5. Understand the role of science and technology in society.

Social and Cross-Cultural Awareness

1. Develop an understanding of social science methodologies.
2. Explore the causes and consequences of human actions.
3. Develop an understanding of world cultures in historical and contemporary perspectives.
4. Recognize the importance of language in cultural contexts.

Arts and Humanities

1. Develop an understanding of the history and cultural contexts of the arts and humanities.
2. Examine the arts and humanities as expressions of the human experience.
3. Experience and evaluate productions of the performing and visual arts.

Ethical Judgment

1. Demonstrate knowledge of what ethics is and is not, its relation to academic integrity, and its importance as a field of study.
2. Demonstrate understanding of common ethical issues, and construct a personal framework in which ethical decisions can be made in a systematic, reflective, and responsible way.

The General Education competencies may be met in a variety of ways. In some areas specific courses will be selected from a list of approved courses. In other areas, more flexibility is afforded to each degree program. In all cases, the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee will be the faculty body to define approval criteria, to approve courses as meeting these criteria, and to approve curricula as meeting these general education requirements.