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.

• Bachelor’s Degree General Education Requirements
• Associate Degree General Education Requirements
• SGR-System General Education Requirements
  • SGR #1-Written Communication
  • SGR #2-Oral Communication
  • SGR #3-Social Science
  • SGR #4-Fine Arts and Humanities
  • SGR #5-Mathematics
  • SGR #6-Natural Science

• Policies Applicable to System General Education Requirements

  • Placement into Initial Math & English Courses

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.

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.

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

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. Demonstrate the ability to speak thoughtfully, clearly, and effectively in a variety of contexts.
2. Demonstrate active listening skills in a variety of contexts.

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

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, theories, and systems of inquiry of the selected social science disciplines,
2. Apply selected social science concepts and theories to contemporary or historical issues from different behavioral, cultural, institutional, temporal, or spatial contexts, and
3. Analyze the extent and impact of diversity among individuals, cultures, or societies in contemporary or historical contexts using social science methods and concepts.

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

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, practices, or ideas embodied in the human experience, and
2. Demonstrate basic understanding of concepts of the selected discipline 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:

3. Demonstrate ability to express creative, aesthetic, formal or stylistic elements of the disciplines.
4. Demonstrate foundational competency in reading, writing, and speaking a non-English language.
5. Identify and explain cultural contributions from the perspective of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities.

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

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

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.

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. Explain the nature of science, including how scientific explanations are formulated, tested, and modified or validated,
2. Distinguish between scientific and non-scientific evidence and explanations, and use scientific evidence to construct arguments related to contemporary issues,
3. Apply basic observational, quantitative, or technological methods to gather and analyze data and generate evidence-based conclusions in a laboratory setting, and
4. Understand and apply foundational knowledge and discipline-specific concepts to address issues, solve problems, or predict natural phenomena.

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

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.
• USD participates in the Interstate Passport Network, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), a network of regionally-accredited institutions that agree to transfer completed general education requirements as a block in a seamless and efficient process among its members. Students who transfer into USD with a Passport from another Network-member institution will not have to repeat or take additional courses to satisfy general education requirements. Earning a Passport recognizes that a student has achieved learning outcomes in the following nine knowledge and skill areas, which all Network member institutions agree are consistent with their own general education learning outcomes:

1. Foundational Skills: oral communication, written communication, quantitative literacy
2. Knowledge of Concepts: natural sciences, human cultures, creative expression, human society and the individual
3. Cross-cutting Skills: critical thinking and teamwork/value systems.

More specific information may be found at: https://www.sdbor.edu/administrative-offices/academics/Passport/Pages/default.aspx. A list of all approved schools may be found at: https://interstatepassport.wiche.edu/institute.  If you are a transfer student interested in learning how this can help you, please email at registrar@usd.edu or call the Registrar’s Office at 605-658-3880 so that we may answer your questions.

Placement into Initial Math & English Courses ^TOP

(SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 7.6, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.4)

The Board of Regents has developed a standardized placement process to ensure that entering students are placed into Math and English courses most appropriate for their ability and background. 

Entering students must show evidence of their level of academic preparation prior to their enrollment into their initial mathematics and English courses. All entering students seeking an associate or baccalaureate degree must provide valid Enhanced ACT scores or SAT score (within the last five years) or must take the College Board ACCUPLACER examination in the areas of writing skills and mathematics. All non-degree seeking students enrolling in English and/or mathematics courses must provide Enhanced ACT scores or must take the College Board ACCUPLACER examination in the areas of writing skills and mathematics. 

In addition to scores on these assessments, other information such as high school GPA and curriculum completed may also be considered as placement decisions are made. 

Transfer students who have completed equivalent general education coursework in English and mathematics are exempt from this requirement. 

Students transferring will be allowed to transfer their placement test scores and/or relevant course credits and continue their sequence of courses in English and/or mathematics. 

Each institution shall give students prior notice that it will provide reasonable accommodations for test takers in keeping with institutional practices implementing the South Dakota Human Relations Act of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (refer to Board Policy 1:19).

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