Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

General Education Requirements


Purpose: General education is the foundational core of an undergraduate education. It provides students with a comprehensive educational experience and prepares them for study within their major. The foundational coursework teaches students to think critically and communicate effectively, solve problems, generate new ideas and create knowledge, make connections between academic disciplines, respect and understand differences, and develop intellectual curiosity and love of learning as citizens and leaders.

BOR policy 2:7 and 2:26 identify: (a) the purpose of the requirement, (b) the skills to be developed in each course that satisfies the requirement, and (c) the list of approved courses. Students may only select general education courses from the approved list included in this policy.

Baccalaureate Degree General Education Requirements ^TOP

Students pursuing a baccalaureate degree must meet the System-wide Graduation Requirements (SGR) goal of 30 credit hours as specified in BOR policy 2:7.

SGR-System General Education Requirements  
    SGR #1-Written Communication    6 credit hours
   SGR #2-Oral Communication    3 credit hours
    SGR #3-Social Science    6 credit hours
    SGR #4-Fine Arts and Humanities   6 credit hours
    SGR #5-Mathematics    3 credit hours
    SGR #6-Natural Science   6 credit hours

 

Associate Degree General Education Requirements ^TOP

Associate of Arts Degree and Associate of Science Degree

Students pursuing an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree must meet the System-wide Graduation Requirements (SGR) goal of 24 credit hours as specified in BOR policy 2:26.

      SGR Goal 1: Written Communication   6 credit hours required
  SGR Goal 2: Oral Communication    3 credit hours
  SGR Goal 3: Social Sciences    3-6 credit hours* ♦
  SGR Goal 4: Fine Arts and Humanities   3-6 credit hours*♦♦
  SGR Goal 5: Mathematics    3 credit hours
  SGR Goal 6: Natural Sciences    3-6 credit hours*
  *Students must select 3 additional credit hours from either SGR Goal #3, Goal #4, or Goal #6 to complete 24 credit hours of required General Education credits. (Associate of Science recommends 6 credit hours of SGR #6 Natural Sciences with laboratory).
♦If additional 3 credit hours are selected in SGR #3, the course must be from two different disciplinary prefixes.
♦♦If additional 3 credit hours are selected in SGR #4, 3 credit hours must be in Arts and 3 credit hours must be in Humanities.

 

System General Education Requirements (SGR) ^TOP

The System General Education Requirements (SGRs) are common across the entire South Dakota Regental System and are designed to achieve these six goals.


SGR #1


Written Communication (6 credit hours)

Students will write effectively and responsibly and will understand and interpret the written expression of others.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Write using standard American English, including correct punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure,
  2. Write logically,
  3. Write persuasively, with a variety of rhetorical strategies (e.g., expository, argumentative, descriptive), and
  4. Incorporate formal research and documentation into their writing, including research obtained through modern, technology-based research tools.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2, #3, and #4

 ^TOP


SGR #2


Oral Communication (3 credit hours)

Students will communicate effectively and responsibly through listening and speaking.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Prepare and deliver speeches for a variety of audiences and settings,
  2. Demonstrate speaking competencies including choice and use of topic, supporting materials, organizational pattern, language usage, presentational aids, and delivery,
    and
  3. Demonstrate listening competencies by summarizing, analyzing, and paraphrasing ideas, perspectives and emotional content.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2, and #3

 ^TOP


SGR #3


Social Sciences (6 credit hours in 2 disciplines/prefixes)

Students will understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the human community through study of the social sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Identify and explain basic concepts, terminology, and theories of the selected social science disciplines from different spatial, temporal, cultural and/or institutional contexts,
  2. Apply selected social science concepts and theories to contemporary issues, and
  3. Identify and explain the social or aesthetic values of different cultures.

In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of at least one of the following:

  1. The origin and evolution of human institutions,
  2. The allocation of human or natural resources within societies, and
  3. The impact of diverse philosophical, ethical or religious views.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2, and #3
At least one of the following: #4, #5, or #6

 ^TOP


SGR #4


Fine Arts and Humanities (6 credit hours total within 2 disciplines)

Students will understand the diversity and complexity of the human experience through study of the arts and humanities.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of values, beliefs, and ideas embodied in the human experience, and
  2. Identify and explain basic concepts of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities.

In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to do at least one of the following:

  1. Identify and explain the contributions of other cultures from the perspective of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities,
  2. Demonstrate creative and aesthetic understanding,
  3. Explain and interpret formal and stylistic elements of the literary or fine arts, and
  4. Demonstrate foundational competency in reading, writing, and speaking a non-English language.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2
At least one of the following: #3, #4, #5, or #6

*Students must complete 3 credit hours in Humanities and 3 credit hours in Fine Arts.

Courses:


 ^TOP


SGR #5


Mathematics (3 credit hours)

Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Use mathematical symbols and mathematical structure to model and solve real world problems, and
  2. Demonstrate appropriate communication skills related to mathematical terms and concepts.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:
Required: #1 and #2.

 ^TOP


SGR #6


Natural Sciences (6 credit hours)

Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Demonstrate the scientific method in a laboratory experience,
  2. Gather and critically evaluate data using the scientific method,
  3. Identify and explain the basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected natural sciences, and
  4. Apply selected natural science concepts and theories to contemporary issues.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2, #3, and #4

Courses:


Note:


 

* Combinations not permitted because of excessive duplication
BIOL 104 with BIOL 101/103/151/153
BIOL 151 with BIOL 103
BIOL 153 with BIOL 101
CHEM 104 with CHEM 106/107/112/114/116
CHEM 112 with CHEM 106
CHEM 116 with CHEM 106/114
ESCI 104 with ESCI 101
PHYS 104 with PHYS 111/113/211/213
PHYS 211 with PHYS 111
PHYS 213 with PHYS 113
 ^TOP

Policies Applicable to System General Education Requirements ^TOP

Guidelines for Baccalaureate & Associate Degrees

(SDBOR Policy 2:5, SDBOR Policy 2:7, SDBOR Policy 2:26, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.1, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.3, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.4)

  • The System General Education Requirements will be effective for students.
  • Only 100/200 level courses will be included. Exceptions based on student background may be made utilizing the established university academic appeal process.
  • Honors courses equivalent to identified System General Education courses will meet the System requirements.
  • Students who complete the System General Education Requirements at any SD Board of Regents institution and then transfer to another SD Board of Regents institution even if the receiving institution has different credit/course distribution and approved course lists.  All prerequisites for associate and baccalaureate programs must be completed as determined by the student’s degree plan. See SDBOR policy 2:5 for additional guidance on transfer of general education credits and Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.3 and Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.4.
  • A student who has not completed all general education requirements at the sending institution will be required to complete additional coursework consistent with the course requirements at the receiving South Dakota Regental institution.
  • Students who have successfully earned an A.A. or A.S. degree at an institution approved by the Academic Affairs Council General Education Block Transfer process have met the specified general education requirements at the University of South Dakota. See Academic Affairs Council Transfer of General Education Block Credit.