Academic
Policies
University general education curriculum
The
general education curriculum supports Bowling Green State
University's mission in liberal education for all baccalaureate
students. The curriculum is designed to give students
an understanding of the multiple realities of a complex
and culturally diverse world. It provides an introduction
to the modes of inquiry in four knowledge domains: natural
sciences, social and behavioral sciences, humanities and
arts, and cultural diversity in the United States. Each
course also emphasizes the development and enhancement
of the following cognitive skills:
Information literacy
- Identify
information needs,
- Access
sources of that information
- Evaluate
the information retrieved and communicate it through
appropriate channels.
Communication
- Write
clearly and cogently in a wide variety of rhetorical
modes: expository, analytic, persuasive and expressive.
- Speak
clearly and effectively in both large and small classes,
presenting reports, participating on panels, debating
or articulating judgments and opinions.
- Read
purposefully with speed and comprehension and with skill
in interpretation and critical inquiry.
Analysis
- Analyze
and explain the relevance, validity, significance and
limits of quantitative data.
- Formulate
and explain the purpose or goal of analysis, the frames
of reference (disciplinary or interdisciplinary) and
the implications of these.
- Identify
and analyze issues and problems in the knowledge area
and frame critical questions for problem solving and
other types of analysis.
- Exercise
inductive and/or deductive processes of reasoning in
the analysis of information.
- Analyze
competing evidence-based interpretations with clarity,
precision, consistency and fairness.
Integration
- Understand
and articulate international/multicultural perspectives
on issues where pertinent.
- Construct
and present an argument, identify evidence that supports
the argument, and reach a conclusion through an appropriate
reasoning process.
- Identify
critical issues and problems under examination in the
discipline and formulate and frame these in ways that
contribute to their solution.
- Understand
and articulate judgments concerning the values of cultural,
humanistic or artistic texts and demonstrate how personal,
cultural or aesthetic factors shape responses to the
work.
- Articulate
an understanding of the similarities and differences
between one's own and alternate value systems or cultures.
- Demonstrate
familiarity with the kinds and varieties of evidence
in disciplines, how evidence is used and the assumptions
on which it rests.
All
candidates for a baccalaureate degree at Bowling Green
State University must take at least nine courses from
the University general education curriculum distributed
as follows:
At
least one of the courses from either the social and behavioral
sciences or the humanities and arts must contain an international
perspective. Courses satisfying this international perspective
requirement are marked with an asterisk (*) in the general
education course list below.
Courses
at the 300 and 400 level integrate two or more disciplinary
perspectives on the topics, issues or problems under consideration
in the course, and require extensive writing, reading
and research. It is suggested, although not required,
that students complete at least one University general
education course at the 300 or 400 level.
Students should consult with academic advisers to select
courses from the list below that satisfy their personal
interests. Some of these courses may also be used to fulfill
other requirements or may be prerequisites for other required
courses. As noted above, most colleges require additional
coursework in foundational areas beyond what is described
here.
THE NATURAL SCIENCES
General education courses in the natural sciences make
clear the important role of experimentation and observation
in the sciences and the way in which these observations
of the physical and biological world lead scientists to
formulate principles that provide universal explanations
of diverse phenomena. These courses help students develop
the ability to:
- Use
and apply core concepts that serve as a foundation for
building more advanced knowledge in the disciplines,
for making decisions on important scientific and technological
issues, and for enhancing understanding of the orderly
nature of the universe and its predictability.
- Understand
the nature of scientific evidence, how it is obtained
and how it is used in the scientific process.
Biology-BIOL
101, 104, 108 (after 8/02), 204, 205
Chemistry-CHEM 100, 109 & 110, 117 & 118, 125,
127 & 128, 135, 137 & 138
Geography-GEOG 125
Geology-GEOL 100, 104, 105, 205, 215, 322
Honors-HNRS 250
Materials Science-MATS 100
Physics and Astronomy-PHYS 101, 201, 202, 211, 212; ASTR
201, 212
Residential Community-RESC 220
Link
to Course Descriptions Page
THE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
The principal objective of general education courses in
the social sciences is to explain through empirical investigation
and theoretical interpretation the behavior of individuals
and various groups in societies, economies, governments
and subcultures. These courses help students develop the
ability to:
- Understand
and apply the dynamics of political, economic, historic,
psychological, geographical or social processes and
the modes of inquiry used to investigate these processes
sufficiently for participation in a democratic society.
- Identify
issues and problems in the social sciences and formulate
and frame these in ways that contribute to their solution.
- Apply
theory appropriately to events to produce knowledge.
- Understand
the nature of decision-making in society from the perspective
of the social sciences.
- Recognize
and explore the significance of diverse cultures and
their modes of thought. (International Perspectives)
Arts
& Sciences-A&S 250 (until 8/02)
Asian Studies-ASIA 180*
Canadian Studies-CAST 201*
Economics-ECON 100 (until 8/03), 200, 202, 203
Environmental Health-ENVH 210*
Environmental Studies-ENVS 101, 201, 301
Ethnic
Studies-ETHN 430* (after 8/02)
Geography-GEOG 121*, 122*, 225*, 230*, 325*, 331*, 343*,
346*, 349*, 426, 435*
Gerontology-GERO 405*
History-HIST 151*, 152*, 180*, 205, 206, 310*, 311*, 370*,
377*, 382*, 411*, 429, 470*
Honors-HNRS 201, 240
Political Science-POLS 110, 171*, 172*, 301*, 335, 351*,
361* (until 8/03), 372*, 402, 403
Psychology-PSYC 201
Public Health-PUBH 301*, PUBH 320
Residential Community-RESC 201, 205
Sociology-SOC 101, 202, 231*, 361
Technology-TECH 302
Link
to Course Descriptions Page
THE
HUMANITIES AND ARTS
University general education courses in the humanities
further an understanding of humanistic approaches to knowledge.
They develop skills in analysis and interpretation of
philosophy, literature, popular culture, music and visual
arts, as well as an understanding of the social context
in which philosophical and cultural works arise. These
courses help students develop the ability to:
- Utilize
modes of inquiry appropriate to the disciplines in question
and explore their connection to human values.
- Communicate
fluently through reading, writing and listening.
- Explore
the significance of diverse cultures and their modes
of thought. (International Perspectives)
- Develop
understanding of the social and cultural context of
art works arising over a variety of historical periods.
- Understand
the role of language and media: their rhetorical, artistic
and symbolic expression and the ways in which these
expressions both reflect and influence culture and society.
American
Culture Studies-ACS 200, 230, 300
Art-ART 101
Art History-ARTH 145, 146
Arts and Sciences-A&S 250
Chinese-CHIN 216*
Classical Civilization-CLCV 241, 242, 380
English-ENG 150, 200, 261*, 262*, 264 (until 8/02), 267,
269*, 290
Ethnic Studies-ETHN 220*, 310* (after 8/02), 340 (after
8/02), 425*, 460*
Foreign Language-
Intermediate French, Greek, Italian, Latin, Spanish (FREN,
GRK, ITAL, LAT, & SPAN 201*, 202*)
French and Spanish Cultural Series (FREN, SPAN 212*)
Intermediate German, Russian, Japanese, Chinese (GERM,
RUSN, JAPN, & CHIN 201*, 202*)
Intermediate Conversational German (GERM 217*, 218*)
German-GERM 260*
Honors-HNRS 260
Humanities-HUM 101
Musicology/Composition/History-MUCT 101, 125*, 221, 233*,
234*, 235*
Philosophy-PHIL 101, 102, 103, 204, 211, 212 (until 8/03),
230, 245 (after 8/02), 319 (after 8/02), 321* (after 8/02),
325, 327 (after 8/02), 332 (after 8/02), 342 (after 8/02)
Popular Culture-POPC 160, 165, 220
Residential Community-RESC 210
Russian-RUSN 215*, 216*
Theatre-THEA 141, 161, 202, 347, 348
Link
to Course Descriptions Page
CULTURAL
DIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES
General education courses in cultural diversity in the
United States develop awareness of the multicultural nature
of American society. These courses help students develop
the ability to:
- Investigate
the ways in which ethnic cultures have shaped American
political, social, economic and cultural life, and to
identify issues and problems from the perspective of
diverse cultures.
- Conduct
critical inquiry into the problems engendered, the challenges
presented and the positive possibilities inherent in
a multicultural democracy.
- Develop
a critical understanding of the concepts of race and
ethnicity.
American
Culture Studies-ACS 250
Educational Foundations and Inquiry-EDFI 408
English-ENG 200 (African American Lit), 424 (until 8/03)
Ethnic Studies-ETHN 101, 110 (after 8/02), 120, 130, 211,
260, 301, 302, 312, 361, 410
Geography-GEOG 337, 342 (after 8/02)
Gerontology-GERO 301
History-HIST 319, 432
Human Development and Family Studies-HDFS 107, 408
Musicology/ Composition/Theory-MUCT 237, 431
Popular Culture-POPC 170
Sociology-SOC 316
Theatre-THEA 215
Women's
Studies-WS 200
Link
to Course Descriptions Page
WRITING
PROFICIENCY
Recognizing
that the ability to communicate in writing is a valuable
skill and a hallmark of an educated person, each student
enrolled in a baccalaureate or associate degree program
must complete satisfactorily ENG 112 or give evidence of
proficiency in written expression equivalent to that attained
by the student who completes this course. No student can
be excused from meeting this requirement, nor can the requirement
be postponed.
The courses and services designed to aid students in meeting
the writing requirement are coordinated through the General
Studies Writing program. The English Placement Test, administered
through this program, assesses the writing skills of entering
students. On the basis of this test, students are placed
in ENG 110/110S (Developmental Writing), ENG 111 (Introductory
Writing) or ENG 112 (Varieties of Writing). A student may
be required to take two or three of these courses, but no
more than six hours of credit earned in these courses may
be applied toward graduation. The writing proficiency of
students is evaluated at the end of each course until students
have reached the University proficiency requirement expected
upon completion of ENG 112. Students who receive transfer
credit for English composition and communication courses
taken elsewhere may be tested for writing proficiency if
it is not clear that they have completed a course equivalent
to ENG 112. Students who wish to be exempted altogether
from English composition are also tested for writing proficiency.
Special courses and services designed to aid international
students in improving their English proficiency are coordinated
through the program in English as a Second Language. Upon
reporting to the University and before registering for classes,
all entering international students admitted through the
Office of International Programs and the Office of Admissions,
except those whose native language is English, are required
to take on-campus proficiency tests; international students
transferring from other colleges and universities in the
United States as well as students from Puerto Rico are also
required to take these tests. On the basis of these tests,
the University reserves the right to place students in ENG
100 (English as a Foreign Language I), ENG 101 (English
as a Foreign Language II) or courses designed to develop
the students' oral skills in English. A student may be required
to take one or both of these courses, but no more than four
semester hours of credit may be applied toward graduation.
The English proficiency of students is evaluated at the
end of each course until the students have reached the level
of English language proficiency expected for admission into
ENG 110. The University also reserves the right to require
enrollment in the special section for international students
of ENG 110 if the student has no transfer credit for the
course.
To encourage all students to pass ENG 112 prior to the beginning
of the junior year, three credit hours are added to the
graduation requirements of students who pass ENG 112 after
accumulating 60 credit hours; four hours to the graduation
requirements of those with 90 or more credit hours.
The following are exempt from this penalty:
- Students
transferring to BGSU with 31 or more credit hours, provided
that ENG 112 is passed within the first 30 credit hours
earned at BGSU after the transfer, and
- International
students who transfer to BGSU with 21 or more credit
hours and for whom English is a second language. Exemption
from the penalty must be recommended by the director
of international programs and ENG 112 must be passed
within the first 40 credit hours earned at BGSU.
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