General Education Requirements

General education courses are part of the University of Utah's graduation requirements. They consist of intellectual exploration courses, the writing requirement, American institutions, and the quantitative reasoning requirement. 1. Intellectual Explorations Requirement (eight 3-semester hour courses): These courses foster your abilities to question your assumptions and the implications of those assumptions. They provide an opportunity for you to understand the interrelatedness of ideas and events. You will take two courses from each of the four subject areas which cut across college boundaries: Fine Arts Humanities Physical and Life Sciences Social Sciences Courses for the Intellectual Explorations requirement must be completed with a minimum D- grade and may not be taken on a CR/NC basis. Two of the eight courses can be double-counted in your academic plan area. If you are a College of Engineering student, you need to see your departmental adviser for specific requirements regarding your Intellectual Exploration courses. For a list of approved Intellectual Exploration courses, see the General Education Bulletin or the University Catalog. 2. Writing Requirement: See "Writing Requirements" section elsewhere in this schedule. 3. American Institutions Requirement: This State of Utah requirement must be fulfilled by completing one of the following courses with a minimum grade of D- or credit: History 1700 Economics 1740 Political Science 1100 An upper division course certified as equivalent by the chair of one of the departments offering the above courses. 4. Quantitative Reasoning Requirement: You are required to complete both parts A and B of this requirement with a minimum grade of D- or credit. However, if you are receiving the B.F.A. or B.Mus. degrees, part B is not required. Part A: complete MATH 1030 or an approved higher level mathematics course. Part B: complete MATH 1040 or 1070, or a statistics or logic course from an approved list. Courses that have been approved for the quantitative reasoning requirement are so designated in the courses section of the General Catalog and in the Undergraduate Studies Bulletin. Notice: University policy concerning AP, CLEP, challenge examination and placement may result in exemption of one or more of these General Education requirements. Writing Requirements The University’s writing requirement exists to insure that you develop the rhetorical skills necessary for success in the writing assignments you will face in college courses. The writing requirement is satisfied through courses offered by the University Writing Program, WRTG 1010 and WRTG 2010. You will be placed in one of these courses according to your Admissions Index. If you are placed in WRTG 1010, completion of that class with a grade of C- or better is the prerequisite for registration in WRTG 2010. If you wish to challenge your writing placement determined by your Admissions Index, you may appeal by writing the University Writing Program’s placement essay. More information is available from the University Writing Program, 3700 LNCO, (801) 581-7090. Transfer students who have not completed writing at another institution may also be required to take the Writing Placement Test. Requirements Lower division: The writing requirement is satisfied by completing WRTG 2010, Intermediate Writing, with a minimum grade of C- (CR/NC is not allowed). If English is not your native language, you will fulfill the writing requirement through the ESL 1040, 1050, 1060 sequence offered by the Linguistics program. Upper division: See the section "Upper Division Communication/Writing" under the heading Bachelor Degree Requirements. Writing Emphasis/Writing Intensive Courses Various academic departments have designated certain courses as Writing Emphasis (WE) or Writing Intensive (WI). All such courses are denoted by a WE or WI in the Class Schedule/General Catalog. These courses employ writing as a significant learning tool and element of evaluation. WE courses require a variety of written work, which is assigned on a regular basis. WI courses teach writing practices relevant to the specific fields where they are taught. They require frequent writing assignments that model a field’s methods and modes of presentation. For a comprehensive list of these courses, see Writing Program courses in this schedule; individual courses are also listed under the academic department offering them. Notice: Students who do not attend the first two hours of their writing course will forfeit their place and they will be officially dropped from the course. Bachelor Degree Requirements If you are graduating from the University of Utah, you must also fulfill the following graduation requirements: Upper Division Communication/Writing: This requirement may be fulfilled by taking an approved upper division writing/communication course identified by your academic plan department. The course must be completed with a minimum grade of C- or credit, unless a higher grade is required by the department. Diversity Requirement: This diversity requirement stands as an institutional commitment to develop and teach ways of thinking drawn from multiple histories and cultural heritages that shape the United States. Courses which fulfill this requirement are designed to explore the national society-its norms, laws, public policies and discourse-in the context of the rich and varied cultural diversity which has shaped it. The goal of this requirement is to extend cross-cultural understanding, perhaps replacing the impulse to stereotype, with better informed reasoning, understanding, and judgement skills. This, in turn, will open possibilities for meaningful communication across social boundaries and allow students to better consider ethical and social decisions from multiple perspectives. This requirement also signals to students that their distinctive traditions, options and insights belong at the University. All undergraduate students graduating from the University-beginning Spring semester 1999 and thereafter-will be required to successfully complete one course approved by the University Diversity Committee which satisfies the diversity requirement. Students who entered the University before the 1995-96 academic year will be exempt from the diversity requirement. The course must be at least three semester hours and have as its central focus:1) the student of one or more culures of peoples of the United States different from the majority or dominant cultures, and 2)the critical examination of relations between non-dominant cultural groups in the United States. Diversity courses may be taken CR/NC or must be passed with a minimum grade of C-.Some diversity classes will fulfill other requirements, and the CR/NC option will not supercede the requirements of any college, department, program, major, or any general education requirements.Students using the CR/NC option should be advised that a CR/NC grade is automatically recalculated to a C in their GPA when they transfer to another college or university.Contact University College's Academic Advising Center (801) 581-8146, or the Office of Undergraduate Studies (801)581-3811, for further information B.A. Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement: Candidates for the B.A. degree must complete course work equivalent to at least fifth quarter (202) or fourth semester (2020 level) competency in either foreign or sign language. Effective Fall 1998, the 2020 course must be completed with a minimum grade of C- or CR grade. Bachelor of Science: Quantitatively Intensive Course Requirement (2 courses equal to 6 semester hours): In addition to the Quantitative Reasoning requirement for the General Education requirements, candidates for the B.S. degree are required to select two upper division courses that are designated as quantitatively intensive from an approved list of courses drawn from many colleges. These courses can be completed with a minimum D- grade or CR grade. B.F.A., B.Mus., and B.U.S. Requirements: See appropriate department. Other Graduation Requirements Total Hour Requirement: At least 122 semester hours of course work are required for a bachelor’s degree in all colleges with the exception of Pharmacy, for which the minimum required is 164 hours. Upper Division Hour Requirement: Of the minimum total hours, 40 semester hours must be in upper division courses. If you are pursuing a Bachelor of University Studies degree, you must complete 56 hours in upper division courses. University of Utah upper division courses are numbered 300 (quarter) or 3000 (semester) and above. Credit from a two year college will not count toward upper division hours. Residence Hour Requirements: Minimum 30 Hours: Of the total hours required for graduation, at least 30 must be earned in courses taken in residence at the University of Utah. Final 30 Hours: In addition, 20 of the last 30 hours must be earned in residence at the University of Utah. Major/Academic Plan: Check with your departmental advisor regarding your department’s residency requirements. Transfer courses, correspondence courses, credits by exam and petitioned courses will not count towards residency hours. Minimum Grade Point Average: Bachelor’s degree candidates must have a GPA of not less than 2.0 (C) in all University of Utah graded course work. With the approval of the appropriate college council and University Senate, a department or college may establish grade criteria for retention or graduation which exceed the University minimum standard. Accepted transfer work is not considered in computing the GPA. For additional information, see "Grading Policies" and "Scholastic Standards" in the University Catalog. Major/Academic Plan and College Requirements: (see academic department). Complete courses for academic plan and college requirements. Comprehensive Examination: At the department’s discretion, Bachelor’s degree candidates may be required to pass a comprehensive examination (oral, written, or both) in the field of concentration. Taking such an examination does not excuse you from any regular examination. Exit interview: Some departments require an exit interview to insure that academic plan requirements are completed. You should contact your departmental adviser to set up an appointment prior to graduation to discuss any questions regarding your proposed academic plan. Double Academic Plan Requirements: To qualify for a double academic plan, you must satisfy the requirements of the University including those for completion of both academic plans. A second bachelor’s degree may be earned with approval of the college dean and registrar. Requirements for Transfer Students The Admissions Office evaluates your transcripts if you are a transfer student to the University to determine which courses apply toward general education requirements. If you have questions about transfer credit for General Education, contact the University College, Student Services Building, room 450.