Georgia State University requires all students seeking a baccalaureate degree to satisfactorily complete a basic core of general education subjects. Georgia State's core curriculum provides students with a broad background in general education and reflects the special mission of this university as an urban research institution with an international, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural focus. Because of ongoing evaluation changes may occur in the core curriculum. Every attempt will be made to notify students when these changes occur.
Areas A through E of the core curriculum are designed to provide students with a wide array of courses as a means of gaining a basic education in the liberal arts and assisting students in their choice of a major. Students should normally choose among the courses in areas A to E and select a major before taking courses in Area F. Students who have chosen a major before the completion of Areas A through E can review the departmental sections of the catalog to see specific recommendations for course selection. Some programs, such as art, music, and nursing, require students to begin major-related coursework in their freshman year to meet course sequencing requirements.
There are restricted choices for some majors in Areas A and D. Students must follow the degree-specific requirements listed in Areas A and D for the programs they are pursuing.
Students who are planning to transfer to Georgia State from other institutions in the University System of Georgia should note that this is Georgia State's core curriculum and is to be followed by students who choose to complete the core curriculum at this university. The core curriculum at a student's current University System of Georgia institution may contain different courses. However, Georgia State will grant credit for any approved core curriculum course taken at a student's current University System of Georgia home institution even if it is different from the course offered at Georgia State. Students should also remember that they may have only one University System of Georgia home institution at a time. Students who have transferred to Georgia State must petition for permission to take core curriculum courses elsewhere after they have enrolled.
The core curriculum completed at one System institution is fully transferable to another System institution for the same major. However, specific situations may result in minor exceptions to this general rule. Students seeking credit for University System of Georgia core curriculum courses that were not accepted during Georgia State's admissions process or who believe that the system rules of transferability of the core curriculum are not being honored can make an appeal. Appeals should be initiated by filling out a form available in the Student Advisement Center, 255 Sparks Hall.
1. English Composition Requirements (6)
Students who satisfy the Advanced Placement Standard of the Department of English may take Engl 1103 in lieu of Engl 1101 and Engl 1102. Students who select this option will choose an additional humanities course from core Area C1. A grade of C or higher is required in Engl 1101 and Engl 1102, or in Engl 1103 (open to qualified students with departmental consent), in order to receive degree credit.
2. Mathematics Requirement: Select one. (3-4)
If a 4 hour course is selected, the additional hour will be counted in Area F or Area G. Majors in biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, science and math education, and physics are required to take Math 1113 or higher in Area A. Business students are encouraged to take Math 1113 or higher in Area A. Exercise Science students are encouraged to take Math 1111 in Area A.
Note: A math placement test is recommended for all students who do not have credit for an Area A math course and is required for students who wish to take Math 1111, College Algebra, or higher. The test is offered at scheduled times in the university's testing center. See www.gsu.edu/testing and click on Tests and then Math Placement.
Pending final approval by the University Senate, the following policy will become effective for all students Fall Semester 2010. Students who have earned 60 hours but have not completed all Area A Requirements must enroll in the next course necessary to make progress toward completing these requirements in every semester in which they take classes. For students with Learning Support requirements in reading, writing or mathematics, taking the required Learning Support course(s) counts as making progress toward completing their Area A Requirements.
Additional information about institutional options is available online at www.gsu.edu/es/tso_institutional_options.html.
Select two courses from the following:
Pers 2001 is a group of interdisciplinary courses that provides a better understanding of the contemporary world through the study of different cultures. Only one course from this group may be used to fulfill requirements in Area B.
Pers 2002 is a group of interdisciplinary courses that deals with scientific approaches to important issues on the environment, public health, or technology. Only one course from this group may be used to fulfill requirements in Area B.
Select two courses from groups 1, 2, and 3 below. The two courses may not come from the same group.
1. Humanities
2. Fine Arts
3. Foreign Language
The J. Mack Robinson College of Business recommends that B.B.A. students include a foreign language course in Area C. The College of Arts and Sciences recommends that B.A. students and specified B.I.S. students not include a foreign language course in Area C (See Section 3090.45 in the Arts and Sciences section of the catalog).
Students in these degree programs should follow departmental recommendations on foreign language selection in Area F. The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies requires B.A. students majoring in economics to complete a foreign language in Area F.
Some foreign language courses are not open to native speakers of that language. Please consult the course description before making a selection in this area.
Placement exams in French, German, and Spanish are available. See Section 1310.20 for more information.
Complete the options listed under either majors other than natural sciences, health sciences, and mathematics or natural sciences, health sciences, and mathematics majors.
1. Select one two-course sequence. (8)
2. Select one course (must be from a discipline different from one selected in group 1 above). (3)
If a 4 hour course is selected, the additional hour will be counted in Area F or Area G. The Robinson College of Business recommends that B.B.A. students take Math 1070 in Area D. If it is not taken in Area D, it must be taken later in the program. Phys 2030K is recommended only for broadcast journalism, speech, theatre, and music majors.
Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, and Science and Math Education Majors: It is recommended that students select a sequence appropriate to the major.
1. Select one two-course sequence. (8)
2. Select either Math 2211 (Calculus of One Variable), a course with a higher number that is appropriate to the major, or a course that has been approved by the major department (see individual departmental degree requirements).
Nursing, Nutrition, and Respiratory Therapy Majors:
1. Select one two-course sequence. (8)
The College of Health and Human Sciences recommends that students take Chem 1151K and 1152K.
2. Math 1070 Elementary Statistics (3)
Students who satisfy the requirements of Section 1, United States Politics and History, by examination and choose not to take Hist 2110 and PolS 1101 must select two additional courses from Section 3, Social Science Foundations. No student may take more than six hours in Area E from any one department.
1. United States Politics and History - Legislative Requirement (0-6)
Georgia law requires all students to pass examinations on (a) the history of the United States and the history of Georgia and (b) the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Georgia. Students may satisfy these requirements by earning passing grades in Hist 2110 and PolS 1101. (See Section 1425)
2. Global Economics, Global Politics, and World History. Requirement: Select one course (3)
3. Social Science Foundations: Select one course (see note above) (3-9)
The Robinson College of Business recommends that B.B.A. students take Econ 2105 and Econ 2106 in Area F and then choose other social science foundation courses in Area E. The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies recommends that B.A. and B.S. students NOT take Econ 2105 and Econ 2106 in section 3 of Area E.
Courses in Area F, which constitute the remaining 18 semester hours in the core curriculum, may be found in the college sections on degree requirements. These listings should also be consulted to see if there are any courses recommended from among the offerings in areas A to E. Students seeking a B.S. in mathematics and secondary school teaching will be required to take an additional nine semester hours of introductory education courses above the general requirement of 18 semester hours.