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• The New GE Program
• Recent Changes to GE
  • Special Topics (380 Courses)
  • Newly Added or Changed Courses
  • Change to MTH 110
  • Change to Theme Requirement
  • WRT 305 placement / Junior-level writing requirement
  • Courses Removed from General Education
• Handbook and Quick Guide
• FAQ
  • FAQ General Education
  • FAQ Themes
  • FAQ Assessment
• Strategic Plan
  • Mission, Vision, and Values
  • Goals
  • Strategic and Assessment Plan
• Video
• Faculty Advising Tips
  • Advising Tips
• Assessment
  • Results: Student Learning in the GE Program
  • Goals for each GE Category
  • FAQ-Assessment
  • Flow Chart
  • Internal Flow Chart
  • Bloom's Taxonomy
  • Course Assessment Plan (CAP)
    • Blank CAP Form
  • Course Assessment Report (CAR)
    • Blank CAR Form
  • Collection Cycle
  • GE Assessment Rubric
  • GE Objectives
• GE Committee (GEC)
  • Meetings, Agendas and Minutes (F11 - W12)
  • Members
  • Archives - Past Agendas and Minutes
• Message from the Director

General Education Program

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Advising Tips

Please help students understand that General Education courses are NOT easier than courses in their major. They are a rigorous component of a GVSU education.

Students take 3 types of General Education courses.

Foundation – 9 courses

• Natural Sciences (one Natural Sciences course must include a lab
  • 1 Physical Science
  • 1 Life Science
• 1 Arts
• 1 Mathematical Sciences (must also satisfy MTH 110 prerequisite)
• 1 Philosophy and Literature
• 1 Historical Perspectives
• 2 Social Sciences – they must have two different prefixes
• 1 Writing 

Cultures – 2 courses

• 1 World Perspective
• 1 U.S. Diversity 

Themes – 2 courses (Note: reduction from 3 to 2 courses effective Fall 2011)

• 2 courses from the same theme
  They must have different prefixes.
  Only 1 course at the 100/200 level is allowed.

Can a course count in more than one category (double-dip)?
YES. This is most common with the Cultures category. Many Cultures courses double tip in a Theme or a Foundation.

Can a course be used to meet a GE requirement as well as a major/minor requirement? 
YES.

Can a student get General Education credit if they study abroad?
YES. . . BUT, we strongly recommend that students submit a theme proposal before going abroad. See the Padnos International Center Study Abroad website for details.

The student transferred a course in which seems like it might fit in a GE category. What do I do?
Send the student to SASC in 200 Student Services to fill out a Student Concern form.

The student tells me a Special Topics course (380) can get GE credit. How do I know if that’s true?
Go to the GE website and look at the Recent Changes tab: www.gvsu.edu/gened

How do Honors students get General Education credit?
Honors students need to contact the Honors College (181 NMR, 331-3219) to determine how the Honors curriculum fulfills the General Education requirements.

Questions?
Email gened@gvsu.edu