The general education core curriculum supports Bowling Green State University's mission in liberal education for all baccalaureate students. The core 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 core course also emphasizes the development and enhancement of one or more skills related to the learning outcomes above: written communication, oral communication, computation and mathematics, critical thinking and problem solving, and decision making and values analysis.
All candidates for a baccalaureate degree at Bowling Green State University must take at least eight courses from the University general education core 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
Core 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 have as a goal the development of an understanding of how scientific
principles are utilized in the modern world and
the impact of science on society and the human health and well-being of individuals.
Biology- BIOL 101, 104, 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
Physics and Astronomy- PHYS 101, 201, 202, 211, 212
- ASTR 201, 212
Residential Community-RESC 220
The social and behavioral sciences
The principal objective of general education courses in the social and
behavioral sciences is to explain through
empirical investigation and theoretical
interpretation the behavior of individuals and
various groups in societies, economies,
governments and subcultures. Courses in these
social sciences will identify significant patterns
of human behavior and provide means of inquiry by which these patterns may
be explored.
Arts and Sciences- A&S 250
Canadian Studies- CAST 201*
Economics- ECON 100, 200, 202, 203
Environmental Health- ENVH 210*
Environmental Studies- ENVS 101, 301
Geography- GEOG 121*, 122*, 225, 230*, 325*, 331*, 343*, 344*, 346*, 349*, 426, 435*
Gerontology- GERO 405*
History- HIST 151*, 152*, 180*, 205, 206, 310*, 311*, 370*, 377*, 382*, 391R, 411*, 429, 470*
Honors- HNRS 201, 240
Political Science- POLS 110, 171*, 172*, 301*, 335, 351*, 361*, 372*, 402, 403
Psychology- PSYC 201
Public Health- PUBH 301
Residential Community- RESC 201
Sociology- SOC 101, 202, 231*, 361
Technology- TECH 302
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, music and
visual arts, as well as an understanding of the social context in which philosophical
and cultural works arise. Courses in the arts develop a critical understanding of
artistic expression, the creative process, the formation of aesthetic values and
the complex interdependence of art and society.
American Culture Studies-173;ACS 200, 230, 300
Art- ART 101
Art History- ARTH 145, 146
Arts and Sciences- A&S 250
Classical Civilization- CLCV 241, 242
English- ENG 150, 200, 261*, 262*, 264, 265, 267, 269*
Ethnic Studies- ETHN 220*
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
Music- MUCH 101, 125*, 221, 233*, 234*, 235*
Philosophy- PHIL 101, 102, 103, 204, 211, 212, 230, 325
Popular Culture- POPC 160, 165, 220
Residential Community- RESC 210
Russian- RUSN 216*
Theatre- THEA 141, 161, 202, 347, 348
Cultural diversity in the United States
Core courses in cultural diversity in the United States develop awareness of
the multicultural nature of American society. All courses examine the methods of
cross cultural analysis and investigation through the study of such concepts as
stereotyping and culture mapping.
American Culture Studies- ACS 250
Educational Foundations and Inquiry- EDFI 408
English- ENG 200D, 424
Ethnic Studies- ETHN 101, 120, 130, 260, 301, 302, 312, 361, 410
Geography- GEOG 337
Gerontology- GERO 301
History- HIST 319, 432
Human Development and Family Studies- HDFS 107, 408
Music Composition and History- MUCH 237, 431
Popular Culture- POPC 170
Sociology- SOC 316
Theatre- THEA 215
Women's Studies- WS 200