Core Curriculum

Principles Across the Core that are Common to All Institutions
Each Institution's core curriculum shall:

1. Encourage the development of written and oral communication skills and critical thinking within the broader academic context.
2. Permit opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.
3. Include offerings that reflect the special characteristics of the institution.
4. Feature international components that increase global awareness and introduce the student to different cultural perspectives.
5. Include an informed use of information technology.
6. Employ pedagogy designed to increase intellectual curiosity and to initiate a continuing interest in the subject matter.
7. Feature courses that are challenging and rigorous and provide learning experiences that distinguish a field.
8. Introduce the methods used by technical and scientific professionals such as the evaluation of empirical data, problem recognition, problem definition, the application of scientific principles, and logical problem solving.
9. Be cohesive and provide entry to both specialized studies in the student's chosen field and remaining courses (whether upper or lower division) in the institution's general education curriculum.
10. Be designed with the assumption that students have met all admissions standards to the institution (with appropriate academic support provided for those who have not). Curriculum Framework for the Common Core
A. Essential Skills (9 hours)
The following courses shall have common course numbers throughout the University System. Each course in this section (A) shall be three semester hours: English Composition I
English Composition II
College Algebra (or) Mathematical Modeling (or another course approved by the
Undergraduate Council) More advanced mathematical courses may be required for certain majors and/or institutions with the approval of the Undergraduate Council.

Transfer: Course-by-course. Any higher-level course or more advanced requirements must apply equally to native and transfer students.

B. Institutional Options (4-5 hours)
Courses approved by the Undergraduate Council which address institution-wide general education outcomes of the institution's choosing. Examples include, but are not limited to, global issues, oral communication, information technology, critical thinking, wellness, geography, and foreign languages.

Transfer: If B is completed, the receiving institution must accept this area in its entirety. If it has not been completed, the receiving institution must require the student to take additional course work to complete the necessary hours. However, this area is not to exceed a total of seven semester hours at all institutions. Receiving institutions must accept any approved course in this area whether or not the course exists at the receiving institution.

C. Humanities/Fine Arts (6 hours)
Courses which address humanities/fine arts learning outcomes and which have been approved by the Undergraduate Council. Interdisciplinary courses are acceptable.

Transfer: If C is completed, the receiving institution must accept this area in its entirety. If it has not been completed, the receiving institution must require the student to take additional course work to complete at least six semester hours. However, this area is not to exceed a total of eight semester hours at all institutions. Receiving institutions must accept any approved course in this area whether or not the course exists at the receiving institution.

D. Science, Mathematics, and Technology (10-11 hours)
Courses approved by the Undergraduate Council which address learning outcomes in the sciences, mathematics, and technology. These need not be sequential courses. Interdisciplinary courses are acceptable.

Students complete one of two options:

Option I - Non-Science Majors
1. A four-hour laboratory or a three or four-hour non-laboratory course, and
2. A four-hour laboratory course.
3. Three additional credit hours in mathematics, science, or technology.
Option II - Science Majors
1. Two four-hour laboratory courses.
2 Three additional credit hours in mathematics, science, or technology.
Transfer: Course-by-course. Receiving institutions must accept any approved course in this area. If D is completed, the receiving institution must accept this area in its entirety.

E. Social Sciences (12 hours)
Courses approved by the Undergraduate Council which address learning outcomes in the social sciences including, but not limited to, history and American government. Interdisciplinary courses are acceptable. If credit course work is used to satisfy the U.S./Georgia history and constitutions requirement, course(s) shall be part of this area.

Transfer: If E is completed, the receiving institution must accept this area in its entirety. If it has not been completed, the receiving institution must require the student to take additional course work to complete at least twelve hours. However, this area is not to exceed a total of fourteen semester hours at all institutions. Receiving institutions must accept any approved course in this area whether or not the course exists at the receiving institution.

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 at higher levels. The Undergraduate Council will develop guidelines for acceptable courses in this area after appropriate consultation with faculty in the relevant disciplines.

Transfer: Course by course. If F is completed, the receiving institution must accept this area in its entirety.

Listed below are Southern Polytechnic State University core-curriculum courses and the credit hours for those courses.

Course Descriptions
Area A
Essential Skills (9 hours)
 
     Hours
ENGL  1101 Composition I 3
ENGL  1102 Composition II 3
MATH  1111 College Algebra 3
  or    
MATH  1113 Precalculus *4
  (Required for students majoring in architecture, computer science, engineering technology, management, 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:     3
ENGL  2110 World Literature  
ENGL  2120 British Literature  
ENGL  2130 American Literature  
ENGL  2141 Western Literature I  
ENGL  2142 Western Literature II  
Art and Culture of the World:     3
ARTS  2001 Art Appreciation  
ARTS  2002 Drama Appreciation  
ARTS  2003 Music Appreciation  
FREN  1002 Elementary French II  
GRMN  1002 Elementary German II  
SPAN  1002 Elementary Spanish II  

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

Take any two courses from the following for a total of 8 hours: 8
ASTR 1000K Introduction to the Universe
BIOL  2107K Biology Principles I   
BIOL 2108K Biology Principles II  
CHEM  1211K Principles of Chemistry I  
CHEM  1212K Principles of Chemistry II  
PHYS  1111K Introductory Physics I   
PHYS  1112K Introductory Physics II  
PHYS  2211K Principles of Physics I  
PHYS  2212K Principles of Physics II  

Take one from the following group:
 

MATH  1113 Precalculus 3-4*
MATH  2240 Survey of Calculus  
MATH  2253 Calculus I  

Area E
Social Sciences (12 hours)
Take one from each of the following four groups:
 

American Context:     3
HIST  2111 U.S. History I  
HIST  2112 U.S. History II  
POLS  1101 American Government  
(All satisfy the legislative requirement for U.S. Constitution and Georgia History)
World History:     3
HIST  1011 World Civilization: Ancient  
HIST  1012 World Civilization: Medieval  
HIST  1013 World Civilization: Modern  
Behavioral Sciences:     3
ECON  1101 Introduction to Economics  
PSYC  1100 Contemporary Issues in Psychology  
PSYC  1101 Introduction to General Psychology  
Cultures and Societies:     3
ANTH  1102 Introduction to Anthropology  
ES  1100 Ethnic Studies  
GEOG  1101 Introduction to Human Geography  
POLS  2401 Global Issues  
RELG  1200 World Religion  

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

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

Apparel/Textile Engineering Technology
 

CHEM  1211K Principles of Chemistry I 4
CS 1113 BASIC Programming 3
EG 1210 Survey of Engineering Graphics 2
ENGL  2010 Technical Writing 3
IET  2227 Industrial Statistics 4
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
    Excess from Calculus I - Area D 1
 
 
Architecture
 
DFN  1001 Design Foundation I 4
DFN  1002 Design Foundation II 4
DFN  2003 Design Foundation III 4
DFN  2004 Design Foundation IV 3
DFN  2211 Introduction to Structures 3
 
 
Civil Engineering Technology
 
CET 2160 Civil Graphics and Computer Aided Drafting 4
CS 1113 BASIC Programming 3
  or    
CS 2123 C Programming  
  or    
CS 2143 FORTRAN Programming  
ENGL  2010 Technical Writing 3
MATH  2254 Calculus II 4
PHYS  2211K Principles of Physics I 4
 
 
Computer Engineering Technology
 
ECET  1100 Circuits I 4
EG 1210 Survey of Engineering Graphics 2
ENGL 2010 Technical Writing 3
MATH  2254 Calculus II 4
MATH  2335 Numerical Methods I 3
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
    Excess from Calculus I - Area D 1
 
 
Computer Science
 
CS  1301 Computer Science I 4
CS  1302 Computer Science II 4
CS 2224 Computer Architecture and Assembly Language 4
MATH  2254 Calculus II 4
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
    Excess from Calculus I - Area D 1
 
 
Construction
 
ACCT 2101 Accounting I 3
CET  2200 Introduction to Structures 4
CNST  2000 Construction Graphics *4
IET  2227 Industrial Statistics 4
SURV 2200 Construction Measurements 4
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1

*The additional two hours from this course shown in general degree requirements.

Electrical Engineering Technology

 
EG 1210 Survey of Engineering Graphics 2
ENGL  2010 Technical Writing 3
MATH  2254 Calculus II 4
MATH  2306 Ordinary Differential Equations 3
PHYS  1111K Introductory Physics I 4
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
    Excess from Calculus I - Area D 1
 
 
General Studies
 
18 hours of lower division courses from the following:    
  Humanities 3-9
  Mathematics or Science 0-8
  Social Sciences 3-9
  Any course approved in Areas C-F 0-9
 
 
Industrial Distribution
 
CHEM  1211K Principles of Chemistry I 4
  or    
PHYS 1111K Introductory Physics I  
CS 2123 C Programming 3
EG 1210 Survey of Engineering Graphics 2
ENGL  2010 Technical Writing 3
IET  2227 Industrial Statistics 4
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
    Excess from Calculus I - Area D 1
 
 
Industrial Engineering Technology
 
PHYS  1112K Introductory Physics II 4
CS 2123 C Programming 3
EG 1210 Survey of Engineering Graphics 2
ENGL  2010 Technical Writing 3
IET  2227 Industrial Statistics 4
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
    Excess from Calculus I - Area D 1
 
 
Management
 
ACCT  2101 Accounting I 3
ACCT  2102 Accounting II 3
ECON  2105 Macro Economics 3
ECON  2106 Micro Economics 3
MGNT  1115 Introduction to Management 3
MGNT  2201 Introduction to Computer Applications 3
    Excess from Precalculus I - Area D 1
 
 
Mathematics
 
CS 1301 Computer Science I 4
CS 1302 Computer Science II 4
MATH  2254 Calculus II 4
MATH  2255 Calculus III 4
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
    Excess from Calculus I - Area D 1
 
 
Mechanical Engineering Technology
 
CHEM  1211K Principles of Chemistry I 4
CS 2123 C Programming 3
ENGL  2010 Technical Writing 3
MATH  2254 Calculus II 4
MATH  2306 Ordinary Differential Equations 3
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
 
 
Physics
 
MATH  2254 Calculus II 4
MATH  2255 Calculus III 4
PHYS  2211K Principles of Physics I 4
PHYS  2212K Principles of Physics II 4
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
    Excess from Calculus I - Area D 1
 
 
Surveying and Mapping
 
CET 2160 Civil Graphics and Computer Aided Drafting 4
CS 1113 BASIC Programming 3
  or  
CS 2123 C Programming  
  or  
CS 2143 FORTRAN Programming  
ENGL  2010 Technical Writing 3
MATH  2254 Calculus II 4
PHYS  1111K Introductory Physics I 4
 
 
Technical and Professional Communication
 
ENGL  2000 Business Communication 3
ENGL  2010 Technical Writing 3
    Mathematics 6
    Science or Computer Science 3
    Computer Programming 3
 
 
Telecommunications Engineering Technology
 
EG 1210 Survey of Engineering Graphics 2
ENGL  2010 Technical Writing 3
MATH  2254 Calculus II 4
MATH  2260 Probability and Statistics I 3
PHYS  1111K Introductory Physics I 4
    Excess from Precalculus - Area A 1
    Excess from Calculus I - Area D 1

Additional Transfer Guidelines
Provided that native and transfer students are treated equally, institutions may impose additional reasonable expectations such as a grade of "C" in English Composition.

For students who transfer after completing the core curriculum at a System institution, receiving institutions may require that these students complete the requirements as specified for native students; however, the total number of hours required of the transfer student for the baccalaureate degree shall not exceed the number of hours required of native students for the same major field.