Introduction to General Education Profiles
of Other Colleges and Universities
On this page you will find the profiles of the general education
programs of 44 colleges and universities in the United States.
They represent a broad cross section of schools in the United
States. The schools from the Association of American Colleges and
Universities were chosen for their interest in general education.
Several representatives from Pacific Northwest, Lutheran, and ANAC
colleges and universities are also included. Finally, links are
provided so that you can compare schools in the same Carnegie
Classification for colleges and universities.
The profiles provide informatioin on these schools in a uniform format,
for ease of comparisons. It is important to note, however, that
this uniform format can be misleading about the range of formats - and
range of accessibility of information - that schools use for presenting
their general education requirements. We have consulted websites
and catalogs. Links to school websites are provided for those
interested in consulting the original sources. We have tried for
accuracy and clarity, and have often called schools for clarifications.
In the profiles, we provide basic facts about the schools, any
"identity" or "rationale" statements that it may provide for its
general education program, and an outline of the main
requirements. You will also find a calculation of the percentage
of the general education program to total credit hour requirements for
graduation.
Finally, it is useful to study these schools in conjunction with the essay, "A Decade of Change in General Education," also available on this General Education website. A two-page summary
of this essay is also available on this website. The essay relays
the results of a survey of almost 600 colleges and universities in the
United States with regard to their General Educatin programs, and how
they are perceived on their campuses.
Brief Descriptions of Carnegie Classifications:
Baccalaureate Colleges - General:
These institutions are primarily undergraduate colleges with major
emphasis on baccalaureate programs. During the period studied,
they awarded less than half of their baccalaureate degrees in liberal
arts field.
Baccalaureate Colleges - Liberal Arts: These
institutions are primarily undergraduate colleges with major emphasis
on baccalaureate programs. During the period studied, they
awarded at least half of their baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts
fields.
Doctoral/Research Unviersities - Extensive: These
institutions typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs,
and they are committed to graduate education through the
doctorate. During the period studied, they awarded 50 or more
doctoral degrees per year across at least 15 disciplines.
Doctoral/Research Universities - Intensive: These
institutions typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs,
and they are committed to graduate education through the
doctorate. During the period studied, they awarded at least ten
doctoral degrees per year across three or more disciplines, or at least
20 doctoral degrees per year overall.
Master's Colleges and Universities I: These
institutions typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs,
and they are committed to graduate education through the master's
degree. During the period studied, they awarded 40 or more
master's degrees per year across three or more disciplines.
Master's Colleges and Universities II: These
institutions typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs,
and they are committed to graduate education through the master's
degree. During the period studied, they awarded 20 or more
master's degrees per year.
