General Education

General Education Program

General Education provides a common intellectual experience for all university students. The program develops strong communication and critical thinking skills, a broad understanding of disciplinary areas, and the knowledge and skills necessary for responsible citizenship in an interconnected world. General Education is the foundation of all undergraduate degree programs at The University of Akron.

Program Learning Outcomes

Academic Foundations
Students will gain a foundation of intellectual skills including oral and written communication, information literacy and logical or quantitative reasoning. Student will practice these skills in increasingly challenging contexts throughout the general education program and the major.

Breadth of Knowledge
Students will gain broad knowledge and practice disciplinary methods of inquiry in the Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.

Diversity
Students will gain skills and knowledge required for responsible citizenship through the analysis of diversity within domestic and global contexts.

Integrated and Applied Learning
Students will apply and integrate knowledge gained throughout the undergraduate curriculum. This will be demonstrated through completion of either a capstone in the major or an upper-level course applying interdisciplinary perspectives to a complex social issue.

Integration with Major

The UA General Education program is designed to support and enhance the major course of study. Majors may require particular General Education coursework, and some major courses may fulfill General Education requirements. Students should consult their program curriculum guides and Degree Progress Reports, as well as meet with an advisor, for the recommended General Education courses to take.

Transfer and Alternative Credit Options

Student may fulfill General Education requirements through appropriate transfer coursework from accredited institutions of higher education, external credit-conferring testing programs such as the College Board Advanced Placement and College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and other programs. For more information, see the transfer policies.

Students who plan to transfer to or from another Ohio public college or university should select coursework from the Ohio Transfer 36. This set of coursework will satisfy specified General Education requirements at any public institution. 

Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major.

Academic Foundations - 12 credits

Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic - 3 credit hours

Students who successfully complete a mathematics or statistics course with a prerequisite on the list below satisfy the Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic requirement. 

Course Ohio Transfer 36
MATH:135 Mathematics for Everyday Life YES
MATH:140 Mathematics for Early/Middle Teachers 1
MATH:143 Technical Algebra and Trigonometry 1 - Expanded
MATH:144 Technical Algebra and Trigonometry 1
MATH:145 Algebra for Calculus YES
MATH:149 Precalculus Mathematics YES
MATH:153 Technical Mathematics III YES
MATH:154 Technical Algebra and Trigonometry 2
MATH:208 Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
MATH:210 Calculus with Business Applications YES
MATH:215 Concepts of Calculus YES
MATH:221 Analytic Geometry-Calculus I YES
MATH:222 Analytic Geometry-Calculus II YES
MATH:223 Analytic Geometry-Calculus III YES
MATH:240 Mathematics for Early/Middle Teachers 2
MATH:255 Technical Calculus I
MATH:261 Applied Finite Mathematics
MATH:312 Linear Algebra YES
MATH:356 Technical Calculus II
PHIL:170 Introduction to Logic YES
STAT:250 Statistics for Everyday Life YES
STAT:260 Basic Statistics YES
STAT:261 Introductory Statistics I YES
STAT:262 Introductory Statistics II YES

Speaking - 3 credit hours

Course Ohio Transfer 36
COMM:105 Introduction to Public Speaking YES
COMM:106 Effective Oral Communication YES
COMM:263 Professional Communications and Presentations YES

Writing - 6 credit hours

First Course
Course Ohio Transfer 36
ENGL:110 English Composition I + Workshop YES
ENGL:111 English Composition I YES

Second Course - Students who are placed in the second writing course and successfully complete it satisfy the Writing requirement. 

Course Ohio Transfer 36
ENGL:112 English Composition II YES
ENGL:222 Technical Report Writing YES

Breadth of Knowledge - 22 credits

Fine Arts and Humanities - 9 credit hours

Students must take at least one Arts course and at least one Humanities course. The second Arts or Humanities course may be in the same department or in a different one.

Fine Arts - at least one course

Note: MUSIC:155 Music Literature II must be completed sequentially with MUSIC:154 Music Literature I to satisfy the Fine Arts requirement. 

Course Fulfills Requirements For Ohio Transfer 36
ART:101 Survey of Global Art 1: Prehistory to 1250 CE - Arts, - Global Diversity YES
ART:102 History of Global Art 2: 1250 CE - 1850 CE - Arts YES
ART:210 Visual Arts Awareness - Arts YES
DNCE:265 Viewing Dance - Arts YES
ENGL:283 Film Appreciation - Arts YES
MUSIC:154 Music Literature I - Arts
MUSIC:201 Exploring Music: Bach to Rock - Arts YES
THEA:100 Experiencing Theatre - Arts
THEA:264 Playscript & Performance Analysis - Arts

Humanities - at least one course 

Course Fulfills Requirements For Ohio Transfer 36
ARAB:210 Arabic Culture through Film - Humanities YES
CHIN:210 Chinese Culture Through Film - Humanities
CLAS:230 Sports & Society in Ancient Greece and Rome - Humanities YES
CLAS:289 Mythology of Ancient Greece - Humanities YES
ENGL:252 Shakespeare & His World - Humanities YES
ENGL:281 Fiction Appreciation - Humanities YES
FREN:210 French and Francophone Cultures Through Film - Humanities, - Global Diversity
HIST:200 Empires of the Ancient World - Humanities, - Global Diversity YES
HIST:210 Humanities in the Western Tradition from Ancient Times to 1500 - Humanities YES
HIST:221 Humanities in the World since 1300 - Humanities, - Global Diversity YES
IHSC:100 Exploring Campus Arts & Culture - Humanities
JAPN:210 Japanese Culture through Film - Humanities, - Global Diversity
PHIL:101 Introduction to Philosophy - Humanities YES
PHIL:120 Introduction to Ethics - Humanities YES
PHIL:125 Theory & Evidence - Humanities YES
PHIL:150 Critical Thinking - Humanities YES
PHIL:211 History of Ancient Philosophy - Humanities YES
SPAN:210 Spanish Culture Through Film - Humanities, - Global Diversity
SPAN:250 Hispanic Literature in Translation - Humanities YES

 Natural Science - 7 credit hours, including one lab

A majors-track course in the natural sciences can substitute for a general education natural science course.

Students may fulfill the Natural Sciences requirement with any coursework that adds up to seven credit hours and includes a lab, using courses from the same department or different ones.

Course Fulfills Requirements For Ohio Transfer 36
ANAT:206 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology I - Natural Science YES
ANAT:207 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology II - Natural Science YES
BIOL:106 Exploring Biology - Natural Science
BIOL:108 Introduction to Biological Aging - Natural Science
BIOL:202 Human Anatomy & Physiology II - Natural Science YES
CHEM:114 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Lecture) - Natural Science
CHEM:151 Principles of Chemistry I - Natural Science YES
CHEM:153 Principles of Chemistry II - Natural Science YES
GEOL:100 Earth Science - Natural Science YES
GEOL:121 Dinosaurs - Natural Science
GEOL:122 Mass Extinctions & Geology - Natural Science
GEOL:130 Geologic Record of Climate Change - Natural Science
GEOL:133 Caves - Natural Science
GEOL:135 Geology of Energy Resources - Natural Science
GEOL:137 Earth's Atmosphere & Weather - Natural Science
GEOL:171 Introduction to the Oceans - Natural Science YES
GEOL:200 Environmental Geology - Natural Science YES
GEOL:211 Introduction to Environmental Science - Natural Science YES
NUTR:133 Nutrition Fundamentals - Natural Science YES
PHYS:164 Technical Physics: Heat & Light - Natural Science YES
Course Fulfills Requirements For Ohio Transfer 36
ANAT:210 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab I - Natural Science w/LAB
ANAT:211 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab II - Natural Science w/LAB
ANTH:105 Human Evolution - Natural Science w/LAB YES
BIOL:103 Natural Science: Biology - Natural Science w/LAB YES
BIOL:111 Principles of Biology I - Natural Science w/LAB YES
BIOL:112 Principles of Biology II - Natural Science w/LAB YES
BIOL:130 Principles of Microbiology - Natural Science w/LAB YES
BIOL:265 Introductory Human Physiology - Natural Science w/LAB
CHEM:101 Chemistry for Everyone - Natural Science w/LAB YES
CHEM:113 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry II (Laboratory) - Natural Science w/LAB YES
CHEM:152 Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory - Natural Science w/LAB YES
GEOL:101 Introductory Physical Geology - Natural Science w/LAB YES
GEOL:102 Introductory Historical Geology - Natural Science w/LAB
GEOL:201 Exercises in Environmental Geology I - Natural Science w/LAB YES
GEOL:203 Exercises in Environmental Geology II - Natural Science w/LAB YES
GEOL:230 Mineral Science - Natural Science w/LAB
PHYS:130 Descriptive Astronomy - Natural Science w/LAB YES
PHYS:133 Music, Sound & Physics - Natural Science w/LAB YES
PHYS:137 Light - Natural Science w/LAB YES
PHYS:261 Physics for Life Sciences I - Natural Science w/LAB
PHYS:262 Physics for Life Sciences II - Natural Science w/LAB
PHYS:291 Elementary Classical Physics I - Natural Science w/LAB YES
PHYS:292 Elementary Classical Physics II - Natural Science w/LAB YES

Social Science - 6 credit hours

Students may fulfill the Social Science area requirement using courses from the same department or different ones.

Course Fulfills Requirements For Ohio Transfer 36
ANTH:101 Human Cultures - Social Science, - Global Diversity YES
ANTH:110 Introduction to Archaeology - Social Science YES
ANTH:251 Human Diversity - Social Science, - Global Diversity
ECON:100 Introduction to Economics - Social Science YES
ECON:200 Principles of Microeconomics - Social Science YES
ECON:244 Introduction to Economic Analysis - Social Science YES
GEOG:100 Introduction to Geography - Social Science YES
HIST:250 U.S. History to 1877 - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity YES
HIST:251 U.S. History since 1877 - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity YES
HIST:295 Global Societies: Japan - Social Science, - Global Diversity
HIST:296 Global Societies: Latin America - Social Science, - Global Diversity
HIST:297 Global Societies: Middle East - Social Science, - Global Diversity
PAFS:252 The Black Experience 1619-1918 - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
PAFS:253 The Black Experience 1918-Present - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
PAFS:256 Diversity in American Society - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity YES
POLIT:100 Government & Politics in the United States - Social Science YES
POLIT:150 World Politics & Government - Social Science YES
PSYC:100 Introduction to Psychology - Social Science YES
SOCIO:100 Introduction to Sociology - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity YES
SOCIO:243 Contemporary Global Issues - Social Science, - Global Diversity YES
SOWK:230 Human Relations - Social Science YES
SOWK:244 Death & Dying - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity YES
SOWK:344 Death & Dying - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity

Diversity - 2 courses

Domestic Diversity - one course

Course Fulfills Requirements For
ANTH:358 Indians of North America - Domestic Diversity
COMM:325 Intercultural Communication - Domestic Diversity
ECON:487 Urban Economics:Theory & Policy - Domestic Diversity
ENGL:350 Black American Literature - Domestic Diversity
GEOG:350 Geography of the United States & Canada - Domestic Diversity
GEOG:443 Urban Applications in GIS - Domestic Diversity
HIST:250 U.S. History to 1877 - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
HIST:251 U.S. History since 1877 - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
HIST:350 U.S. Women's History - Domestic Diversity
MUSIC:155 Music Literature II - Domestic Diversity
PAFS:201 Introduction to Pan-African Studies - Domestic Diversity
PAFS:252 The Black Experience 1619-1918 - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
PAFS:253 The Black Experience 1918-Present - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
PAFS:256 Diversity in American Society - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
PHIL:455 Philosophy of Feminism - Domestic Diversity
PHIL:456 Philosophy of Race & Ethnicity - Domestic Diversity
PSYC:250 Psychology of Diversity - Domestic Diversity
PSYC:435 Cross-Cultural Psychology - Domestic Diversity
PSYC:474 Psychology of Women - Domestic Diversity
SOCIO:100 Introduction to Sociology - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
SOCIO:200 Social Justice - Domestic Diversity
SOWK:244 Death & Dying - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
SOWK:270 Diversity and Social Work - Domestic Diversity
SOWK:344 Death & Dying - Social Science, - Domestic Diversity
THEA:467 Multi-Cultural Theatre - Domestic Diversity
WMST:200 Introduction to Women's Studies - Domestic Diversity

 Global Diversity - one course

Course Fulfills Requirements For
ANTH:101 Human Cultures - Social Science, - Global Diversity
ANTH:251 Human Diversity - Social Science, - Global Diversity
ANTH:416 Anthropology of Sex and Gender - Global Diversity
ART:101 Survey of Global Art 1: Prehistory to 1250 CE - Arts, - Global Diversity
ECON:460 Economics of Developing Countries - Global Diversity
ENGL:362 World Literatures - Global Diversity
ENGL:367 The Rhetoric of God - Global Diversity
FREN:210 French and Francophone Cultures Through Film - Humanities, - Global Diversity
GEOG:275 Geography of Cultural Diversity - Global Diversity
HIST:200 Empires of the Ancient World - Humanities, - Global Diversity
HIST:221 Humanities in the World since 1300 - Humanities, - Global Diversity
HIST:292 Global Societies: Africa - Global Diversity
HIST:294 Global Societies: India - Global Diversity
HIST:295 Global Societies: Japan - Social Science, - Global Diversity
HIST:296 Global Societies: Latin America - Social Science, - Global Diversity
HIST:297 Global Societies: Middle East - Social Science, - Global Diversity
HIST:324 Europe from World War I to the Present - Global Diversity
HIST:337 France from Napoleon to Degaulle - Global Diversity
HIST:377 History of Women in Latin America - Global Diversity
HIST:378 Spanish Conquest and Colonization of the Americas - Global Diversity
HIST:395 Modern Iran - Global Diversity
HIST:489 Ottoman State and Society - Global Diversity
HIST:499 Women and Gender in Middle Eastern Societies - Global Diversity
JAPN:210 Japanese Culture through Film - Humanities, - Global Diversity
PHIL:200 Philosophy of World Religions - Global Diversity
PHIL:340 Eastern Philosophy - Global Diversity
POLIT:300 Comparative Politics - Global Diversity
SOCIO:243 Contemporary Global Issues - Social Science, - Global Diversity
SOCIO:321 Population, Environment, and Health - Global Diversity
SPAN:210 Spanish Culture Through Film - Humanities, - Global Diversity
SPAN:360 Hispanic Culture through Film - Global Diversity
THEA:335 History of Theatre and Dramatic Literature: Origins through 18th Century - Global Diversity
THEA:435 History of Theatre and Dramatic Literature: 1800 to Present - Global Diversity

Integrated and Applied Learning - 1 course

Select one course from either of the following categories

Capstone

Course Fulfills Requirements For
AESE:491 Aerospace Design Project I - Capstone
ART:412 Student Teaching Colloquium - Capstone
BMEN:491 Biomedical Engineering Design I - Capstone
CHEE:442 Process Design II - Capstone
CISS:451 CIS Senior Design Projects I - Capstone
CIVE:490 Senior Design in Civil Engineering - Capstone
COET:468 Construction Management - Capstone
CORE:441 Corrosion Engineering Design II - Capstone
CPEN:401 Senior Design Project I - Computer Engineering - Capstone
CPSC:490 Senior Seminar in Computer Science - Capstone
EEET:455 Senior Project - Capstone
ELEN:401 Senior Design Project I - Electrical Engineering - Capstone
EMHS:485 Cyber Forensics Capstone - Capstone
MECE:461 ME Senior Design Project I - Capstone
MUSIC:492 Student Teaching Colloquium - Capstone
PHYS:491 Capstone Project in Physics A - Capstone
PLYE:499 Senior Design Project II - Capstone
SURV:430 Surveying Project - Capstone

 Complex Issues Facing Society

Course Fulfills Requirements For
AESE:490 Aerospace Design Project - Complex Issues Facing Society
AESE:497 Aerospace Honors Project - Complex Issues Facing Society
ANTH:320 The Anthropology of Food - Complex Issues Facing Society
ANTH:370 Globalization and Culture - Complex Issues Facing Society
ANTH:457 Medical Anthropology - Complex Issues Facing Society
ANTH:460 Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology - Complex Issues Facing Society
CHFD:401 American Families in Poverty - Complex Issues Facing Society
CPEN:402 Senior Design Project II - Computer Engineering - Complex Issues Facing Society
ECON:385 Economics of Natural Resources & the Environment - Complex Issues Facing Society
ECON:430 Labor Market and Social Policy - Complex Issues Facing Society
EDCI:223 Urban Youth Mentoring - Complex Issues Facing Society
ELEN:402 Senior Design Project II - Electrical Engineering - Complex Issues Facing Society
GEOL:421 Coastal Geology - Complex Issues Facing Society
GEOL:443 Rivers - Complex Issues Facing Society
GEOL:452 Geology and Environmental Science Service Learning - Complex Issues Facing Society
HIST:463 United States Constitutional History - Complex Issues Facing Society
HIST:472 Empire, Genocide, and Mass Violence - Complex Issues Facing Society
NURS:440 Nursing of Communities - Complex Issues Facing Society
NURS:445 Nursing of Communities - RN Only - Complex Issues Facing Society
PHIL:207 Food Ethics - Complex Issues Facing Society
PHIL:241 Technology & Human Values - Complex Issues Facing Society
PHIL:361 Biomedical Ethics - Complex Issues Facing Society
PHIL:365 Environmental Ethics - Complex Issues Facing Society
PHIL:366 Engineering Ethics - Complex Issues Facing Society
PLYS:350 Sustainable Polymers - Complex Issues Facing Society
PSPE:310 Impacts of Polymers on Modern Life - Complex Issues Facing Society
PSYC:425 Psychology of Hate - Complex Issues Facing Society
SOCIO:320 Social Inequalities - Complex Issues Facing Society
SOCIO:342 Sociology of Health & Illness - Complex Issues Facing Society
SOCIO:433 Sociology of Deviant Behavior - Complex Issues Facing Society
SPAN:308 Spanish Composition: Health Professions & First Responders - Complex Issues Facing Society
WMST:450 Gender and Popular Culture - Complex Issues Facing Society
Printable General Education Curriculum Guide

Requirements for Associate Degrees

Students in the Associate of Arts and Associate of Sciences degree programs must complete the following 36 credit-hour set of General Education coursework. Specific courses can be found from the dropdown menus above.

Academic Foundations
Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic3
Speaking 3
Writing 6
Breadth of Knowledge
Arts and Humanities (one course from each)9
Natural Science (including one lab) 7
Social Science 6
Additional General Education credits to equal 36 credit hours 2
Students should meet this requirement by taking a Global Diversity or Domestic Diversity course if they have not already taken a Breadth of Knowledge course that satisfies the Diversity requirement
Total Hours36

Students in applied associate degree programs must complete the following 15 credit-hour set  of General Education coursework:

Academic Foundations
Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic3
Speaking 3
Writing 3
Breadth of Knowledge
Natural Science 3
Social Science 3
Total Hours15