return to handbook    SPSU home

University System of Georgia Core Curriculum

Each Institution's core curriculum shall:

  1. Encourage the development of written and oral communication skills and critical thinking within thebroader academic context.
  2. Permit opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.
  3. Include offerings thatreflect the special characteristics of the institution.
  4. Feature internationalcomponents that increase global awareness and introduce the student todifferent cultural perspectives.
  5. Include an informed used of information technology.
  6. Employ pedagogy designed toincrease intellectual curiosity and to initiate a continuing interest in thesubject matter.
  7. Feature courses that arechallenging and rigorous and provide learning experiences that distinguish afield.
  8. Introduce the methods usedby technical and scientific professionals such as the evaluation of empiricaldata, problem recognition, problem definition, the application of scientific principles,and logical problem solving.
  9. Be cohesive and provideentry to both specialized studies in the student's chosen field and remainingcourses (whether upper or lower division) in the institution's general educationcurriculum.
  10. Be designed with theassumption that students have met all admissions standards to the institution(with appropriate academic support provided for those who have not)

A. Essential Skills (9 hours)

The following courses shall have common course numbersthroughout the University System:

  • English Composition I and II
  • College Algebra (Precalculus is required for certainmajors)

B. Institutional Options (4-5 hours)

Courses which address institution-wide general educationoutcomes of the institution's choosing. Examples include, but are not limited to, globalissues, oral communication, information technology, critical thinking,wellness, geography, and foreign languages.

C. Humanities/Fine Arts (6 hours)

Courses which address humanities/fine arts learningoutcomes.

D. Science, Mathematics, and Technology (10-11 hours)

Courses which address learning outcomes in the sciences,mathematics, and technology. These need not be sequential courses.

  1. Two four-hour laboratory courses.
  2. Three additional credit hours in mathematics, science, or technology.

E. Social Sciences (12 hours)

Courses which address learning outcomes in the socialsciences including, but not limited to, history and American government.Interdisciplinary courses are acceptable. Credit course work used to satisfythe U.S./Georgia history and constitutions requirement shall be part of thisarea.

F. Courses Related to the Program of Study (18 hours)

Lower-division courses related to the discipline(s)of the program of study and courses which are prerequisite to major courses athigher levels.

Total: 60 hours

Southern Polytechnic State University corecurriculum courses

Area A Essential Skills (9 hours)

ENGL            1101      Composition I                                                  3

ENGL            1102      Composition II                                                 3

MATH           1111      CollegeAlgebra    or                                         3

MATH           1113      Precalculus                                                     *4
(Required for students majoring in architecture, computerscience, engineering technology, mathematics, and physics)

Area B Institutional Options (4 hours)

 SPCH           2400      Public Speaking                                               2

 STS              2400      Science,Technology, and Society                      2

Area C Humanities/ Fine Arts (6 hours)

Take one from each of the following two groups:

Literature of the World:

ENGL            2110      World Literature                                              3

ENGL            2120      BritishLiterature                                                3

ENGL            2130      AmericanLiterature                                           3

ENGL            2141      WesternLiterature I                                          3

ENGL            2142      WesternLiterature II                                         3

Art and Culture of the World:

ARTS            2001      Art Appreciation                                              3

ARTS            2002      DramaAppreciation                                          3

ARTS            2003      MusicAppreciation                                           3

FREN            1002      Elementary FrenchII                                         3

GRMN          1002      Elementary GermanII                                       3

SPAN            1002      ElementarySpanish II                                        3

Area D Science, Mathematics, and Technology (11 hours)

Take any two courses from the following for a total of 8 hours:

BIOL             2107      BiologyPrinciples I                                           4

BIOL             2108      BiologyPrinciples II                                          4

CHEM           2211      General ChemistryI                                          4

CHEM           2212      General ChemistryII                                         4

PHYS            1111      General Physics I                                             4

PHYS            1112      General PhysicsII                                             4

PHYS            2211      Calculus-basedPhysics I                                   4

PHYS            2212      Calculus-basedPhysics II                                  4

Take one from the following group:

MATH           1113      Precalculus                                                     *4

MATH           2240      Elements ofCalculus                                         3

MATH           2253      Calculus I                                                       *4

Area E Social Sciences (12 hours)

Take one from each of the following four groups:

American Context (All satisfy the legislative requirement for U.S. Constitution and Georgia History):

HIST              2111      U.S. History I                                                  3

HIST              2112      U.S. History II                                                 3

POLS            1101      AmericanGovernment                                       3

World History:

HIST              1011      WorldCivilization: Ancient                                3

HIST              1012      WorldCivilization: Medieval                              3

HIST              1013      WorldCivilization: Modern                                3

Behavioral Sciences:

ECON           1101      Introduction toEconomics                                 3

ECON           2105      Macro Economics                                            3

ECON           2106      Micro Economics                                             3

PSYC            1101      Introduction toGeneral Psychology                   3

Cultures and Societies:

ANTH           1102      Introduction toAntropology                              3

ES                  1100      Ethnic Studies                                                  3

GEOG           1101      Introduction toHuman Geography                     3

POLS            2401      Global Issues                                                   3

RELG            1200      World Religion                                                 3

*The additional hours in Areas A and Dcarry over to Area F or general degree requirements.

Area F Courses Related to the Program ofStudy (18 hours)

The following are the area F requirementsfor programs in the School of Arts and Sciences.  See the University catalog or your advisor for the area Frequirements for programs outside Arts and Sciences.

GeneralStudies

18 hours of lower division courses fromthe following:

Humanities                                                                                           3-9

Mathematics or Science                                                                       0-8

Social Sciences                                                                                    3-9

Any course approved in Areas C-F                                                      0-9

Physics

MATH           2254      Calculus II                                                       4

MATH           2255      Calculus III                                                      4

PHYS            2211      Calculus-basedPhysics I                                   4

PHYS            2212      Calculus-basedPhysics II                                  4

                                    Excessfrom Precalculus - Area A                     1

                                    Excessfrom Calculus I - Area D                       1

Mathematics

MATH           2254      Calculus II                                                       4

MATH           2255      Calculus III                                                      4

                                    GuidedElectives                                               8

                                    Excessfrom Precalculus - Area A                     1

                                    Excessfrom Calculus I - Area D                       1

Technicaland Professional Communication

ENGL            2000      BusinessCommunication                                   3

ENGL            2010      Technical Writing                                             3

                                    Mathematics                                                    6

                                    Scienceor Computer Science                            2-4

                                    ComputerProgramming                                    2-4

International Studies: GlobalTechnology

LANG           2001      IntermediateForeign Language I                        3

LANG           2002      Intermediate ForeignLanguage II                      3

ECON           2105      Macro Economics                                            3

Take one of the following:                                                                     3

MNGT           2201      Introduction toComputer Applications

SIS                2100      Introduction toQuantitative Research Methods

Take one of the following:                                                                     3

POLS            2101      ComparativePolitics*

POLS            2401      Global Issues

 

Take one of the following (not taken inArea E-3):                                 3

ECON           1101      Introduction toEconomics

PSYC            1101      Introduction toGeneral Psychology