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General Education

Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI)

www.gvsu.edu

Defining Statements:

Educating students to shape their lives, their professions, and their societies. The university contributes to the enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and public service.


Organizational Principles:

The General Education Program is divided into four main sections:

   1. All College Requirements which includes minimum requirements for writing, math and other minimum standards

   2. Foundation Categories which includes the arts, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences

   3. Cultural Designations which includes both a world and U.S. view

   4. Thematic Group which includes interrelated courses from different perspectives

To meet their thematic requirement, students must choose one theme and take three courses in it, at least two of which must be at the upper-level. The three courses must come from three different disciplines and two different divisions or schools.  The themes are 1) Perspectives from the Outside: Marginality and Difference, 2) Changing Ideas: Changing Worlds, 3) Society and Media, 4) The Human Journey, 5) Making War and Peace, 6) Gender and Identity, 7) Revolution and Evolution in America, 8) Gender Society, and Culture, 9) Religion, 10) Ethics, 11) Earth and Environment, 12) Freedom and Social Control, 13) The U.S. Civil Rights Movement, 14) Death and Dying, 15) Global Challenge: Integration and Fragmentation, 16) Health, Illness, and Healing, 17) Cities, 18) Creativity: Ideas and Innovation, 19) Perception, and 20) The American Mosaic.


Requirements for Graduation:

Foundation Requirements
Arts
Philosophy and Literature
Historical Perspectives
Mathematical Sciences
Natural Sciences (one lab)
Social Sciences
    Total Foundation Requirements
Number of Credits

3
3
3
3
7
6
25
Cultural Requirements
World Perspectives
U.S. Diversity
All courses can be double-dipped
    Total Cultural Requirements


3
6

                   0-9                        
Thematic Requirements
Three courses from three disciplines, two at upper level
    Total Thematic Requirements


9

9

All College Requirements
Basic Skills: Writing
Basic Skills: Math
Basic Skills: Junior Writing (can test out)
Supplemental Writing Skills (two courses; at least one class outside the major; can be double-dipped)
    Total All College Requirements
Number of Credits

3
3
0-3
0-6

6-15
Total General Education Requirements
Credits required for graduation
   General Education percent
40-58
120

33%-48%

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