General Education Requirements

Learn why general education makes all the difference at UJ. Plus, find out what gen eds are required to earn your specific degree.

A solid foundation for your future.

Any school can teach you the technical skills of a job. UJ takes it one step further, by also instilling in you the skills employers truly need: leadership, communication, and problem solving. We do this, in part, through general education.

These courses are crucial to the UJ experience, because they force you to move across disciplines and understand how different areas of study influence each other. You’ll shift out of your academic comfort zone, expand your mind, and prepare for life after graduation.

Build your values. Broaden your thinking.

General education courses aren’t necessarily meant to make you discover new interests, but rather, broaden your mindset and develop crucial skills, like:

  • Critical thinking
  • Written and oral communication
  • Leadership
  • Moral and civic responsibility
  • Global perspectives
  • Quantitative reasoning and research
  • Personal wellness

 

General Education Requirements for BA and BS

Use the Thinkers, Communicators, and Citizens tables below to view which courses fulfill each general education requirement.

Total Credit Hours: 42-45

91³Ô¹Ï

Scientific Literacy

Graduates will apply fundamental scientific principles and methods of inquiry to solve problems in a variety of contexts.

Principles of Natural Science Course (3 credits)

Foundations of Science

3
Essentials of Biology and Chemistry for Health Sciences

3
Introduction to Biology I (Lec/Lab)

3/1
Food, Chemistry, and You (Lec/Lab)

3/1
General Chemistry I (Lec/Lab)

3/1
Environmental Science (Lec/Lab)

3/1
Organismal Biology (Lec/Lab)

3/1
Physical Geology (Lec/Lab)

3/1
Field Ecology – The Arctic

3
Culture & Ecology of the Hawaiian Islands

3
College Physics I (Lec/Lab)

4/1
Physics I (Lec/Lab)

4/1
Total Credit Hours: 3-4

Social Science Course (3 credits)

Principles of Microeconomics

3
Principles of Macroeconomics

3
General Psychology

3
Developmental Psychology

3
Introduction to Sociology

3
/ Deviance and Social Control

3
Sociology of the Family

3
Total Credit Hours: 3

Quantitative Reasoning

Graduates will draw inferences and make decisions from relevant quantitative information.

Quantitative Reasoning Course (3 credits)

Data Analysis

3
Principles of Microeconomics

3
Principles of Macroeconomics

3
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers

3
Ideas in Mathematics

3
Mathematical Applications for Management

3
College Algebra

3
Pre-Calculus

4
Statistics

3
Calculus of Derivatives

3
College Physics I (Lec/Lab)

4/1
Physics I (Lec/Lab)

4/1
Total Credit Hours: 3-4

Aesthetic Appreciation

Graduates will understand the complex layers of the creative process, its reflection of human society, and its power to impact.

Aesthetic Appreciation Course (3 credits)

/ Film Analysis

3
Digital Design

3
Vector Design

3
Graphics Development

3
Popular Literature and Analysis

3
Introduction to Literary Study and Analysis

3
World Literature to 1500

3
World Literature since 1500

3
British Literature to 1785

3
British Literature Since 1785

3
American Literature to 1865

3
American Literature since 1865

3
Studies in the British Novel

3
Studies in the American Short Story

3
Modern Poetry

3
British Romantics

3
Victorian England

3
/ Shakespeare

3
Advanced Creative Writing – Poetry

3
Advanced Creative Writing – Fiction

3
Studies in the American Novel

3
The Images of Woman in Literature

3
African-American Literature

3
Survey of French Literature

3
Survey of Francophone Literature

3
Survey of German Literature I

3
Survey of German Literature II

3
Music Appreciation

3
Music in Film

3
History of Popular Music

3
Harmony/Theory I

3
Spanish Peninsular Cultural Studies I

3
Spanish Peninsular Cultural Studies II

3
Latin American Cultural Studies I

3
Latin American Cultural Studies II

3
Introduction to Theatre

3
Acting

3
Masterpieces of Drama

3
Stagecraft and Lighting

4
/ Development of American Drama

3
Acting: Period Styles

3
Scene Design

3
Musical Theatre

3
Total Credit Hours: 3-4

Social Inquiry

Graduates will understand the relationship between human social structures and behavior.

Historical Perspectives Course (3 credits)

Introduction to Criminal Justice

3
History of the English Language

3
The United States to 1865

3
The United States Since 1865

3
Europe: 1900 to Mid-Century

3
History of the Middle East

3
History of China

3
Western Civilization I

3
Western Civilization II

3
The Civil War and Reconstruction

3
Medieval Europe

3
Renaissance and Reformation

3
Ancient Greece

3
Ancient Rome

3
Indigenous History from Time Immemorial to 1787

3
/ Indigenous History and Federal Indian Policy, 1787 – Present

3
/ Religion in American History

3
Europe: 1900 to Mid-Century

3
History of the Middle East

3
The American West

3
19th Century Europe

3
Evolution of War

3
History of China

3
The French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon

3
/ American Constitutions and Revolutions

3
History of Medicine

3
Music History I: Medieval and Renaissance

3
American National Government

3
Congress and the Presidency

3
Governmental Power and U.S. Constitutional Law

3
Rights & Liberties and U.S. Constitutional Law

3
Comparative European Governments

3
World Politics

3
The European Union

3
American Foreign Relations to 1920

3
American Foreign Relations since 1895

3
American Economic Policy

3
Modern Political Thought

3
Total Credit Hours: 3

Total Credit Hours: 42-45

 

Note: A single course may not be used to satisfy more than one general education course requirement.  A single course may be used to satisfy both a major/minor course requirement and a general education course requirement.

91³Ô¹Ï

Communication and Information Literacy

Communication: Graduates will effectively communicate in a variety of settings and modes.
Information Literacy: Graduates will identify, evaluate, and apply information within relevant contexts.

Core Communication Course: ENGL 101 (3 credits)

Expository Writing

3
Total Credit Hours: 3

Core Communication Course: ENGL 102 (3 credits)

Argumentative and Analytical Writing

3
Total Credit Hours: 3

Oral Communication Course (3 credits)

Fundamentals of Public Speaking

3
Oral Interpretation of Literature

3
Engineering Design II

3
/ American Constitutions and Revolutions

3
Acting

3
Acting: Period Styles

3
Total Credit Hours: 3

Applicational Communication Course (3 credits)

Integrated Software Applications

3
Multimodal Composition

3
Total Credit Hours: 3

Total Credit Hours: 42-45

 

Note: A single course may not be used to satisfy more than one general education course requirement.  A single course may be used to satisfy both a major/minor course requirement and a general education course requirement.

91³Ô¹Ï

Wellness

Graduates will apply elements of wellness to their lives by implementing healthy lifestyle choices.

Core Course – JOUR 101 (1 credit)

UJ Foundations

1
Total Credit Hours: 1

Core Course – KNS 180 (1 credit)

Total Credit Hours: 1

Physical Activity Course (1 credit)

Beginning Swimming

1
Beginning Weight Training and Fitness

1
Intermediate Weight Training and Fitness

1
Social and Contemporary Dance I

1
Social and Contemporary Dance II

1
Tennis/Golf

1
Bowling

1
Spinsanity

1
Disc Golf

1
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

1
Total Credit Hours: 1

Ethical Reasoning

Graduates will understand ethical theory and its application to their personal and professional lives.

Core Course – PHIL 252/352 (3 credits)

Ethics

3
Total Credit Hours: 3

Cultural Engagement

Graduates will develop the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary to navigate the challenges and opportunities of a global society.

Two Cultural Engagement Courses (6 credits)

NOTE: Students without 2 years of the same high school foreign language must take 6 credits of one foreign language or 3 credits of a foreign language in addition to an approved international experience for a minimum of 3 credit hours.

Students with at least 2 years of the same high school foreign language may complete this requirement by taking no more than 3 credits from any one distinct prefix, except for GER, FREN, SPAN, or by taking an approved international experience for a minimum of 3 credit hours.

Cross-Cultural Communication

3
/ Film Analysis

3
Field Ecology – The Arctic

3
Culture & Ecology of the Hawaiian Islands

3
Popular Literature and Analysis

3
Introduction to Literary Study and Analysis

3
World Literature to 1500

3
World Literature since 1500

3
British Literature to 1785

3
British Literature Since 1785

3
American Literature to 1865

3
American Literature since 1865

3
Studies in the British Novel

3
Studies in the American Short Story

3
Modern Poetry

3
Introduction to Rhetorical Theory

3
British Romantics

3
Victorian England

3
/ Shakespeare

3
Studies in the American Novel

3
The Images of Woman in Literature

3
Multimodal Composition

3
African-American Literature

3
Sustainable Engineering

3
Beginning French I

3
Beginning French II

3
Intermediate French I

3
Intermediate French II

3
French Conversation and Composition

3
French Culture and Civilization

3
Survey of French Literature

3
Survey of Francophone Literature

3
Beginning German I

3
Beginning German II

3
Intermediate German I

3
Intermediate German II

3
German Conversation and Composition

3
German Culture and Civilization

3
Survey of German Literature I

3
Survey of German Literature II

3
The United States to 1865

3
The United States Since 1865

3
Europe: 1900 to Mid-Century

3
History of the Middle East

3
History of China

3
Indigenous History from Time Immemorial to 1787

3
/ Indigenous History and Federal Indian Policy, 1787 – Present

3
Europe: 1900 to Mid-Century

3
History of the Middle East

3
Evolution of War

3
History of China

3
Beginning Italian I

3
Beginning Italian II

3
Intermediate Italian I

3
Comparative European Governments

3
World Politics

3
The European Union

3
American Foreign Relations to 1920

3
American Foreign Relations since 1895

3
American Economic Policy

3
Modern Political Thought

3
Beginning Spanish I

3
Beginning Spanish II

3
Intermediate Spanish I

3
Intermediate Spanish II

3
Advanced Spanish I

3
Advanced Spanish II

3
Spanish Peninsular Cultural Studies I

3
Spanish Peninsular Cultural Studies II

3
Latin American Cultural Studies I

3
Latin American Cultural Studies II

3
Masterpieces of Drama

3
/ Development of American Drama

3
Total Credit Hours: 6

Christian Engagement

Graduates will examine the relationship between faith and reason and how it informs the values and experiences of a diverse world.

Religion Course (3 credits)

/ Religion in American History

3
Old Testament

3
New Testament

3
Christian Traditions

3
Life and Teachings of Jesus

3
Paul’s Letters to Corinth

3
Christian Beliefs

3
World Religions

3
Christian Traditions

3
Christian Beliefs

3
Total Credit Hours: 3

Total Credit Hours: 42-45

Note: A single course may not be used to satisfy more than one general education course requirement.  A single course may be used to satisfy both a major/minor course requirement and a general education course requirement.

General Education Requirements for BS in Nursing

Moral & Civic Education Credits
UJ Foundations (Freshman) 1
Ethics 3
American Government
or
American History		 3
Global Perspectives 3
Semester Credits 10
Ìý Ìý
Communication Skills Credits
English Composition I
(with a grade of C- or higher)		 3
English Composition
with Literature II
(with a grade of C- or higher)		 3
Semester Credits 6
Ìý Ìý
Cultural & Social Heritage Credits
Religion 3
Literature, Art, Music, or Theatre 3
Developmental Psychology 3
Intro to Sociology
or
Sociology of the Family		 3
Semester Credits 12
Ìý Ìý
Natural Science &
Quantitative Reasoning		 Credits
Anatomy & Physiology I & Lab 4
Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab 4
Computer 3
Math 3
Semester Credits 14
Ìý Ìý
Personal Wellness Credits
Fitness and Wellness
or
Physical Activity Course		 1
Semester Credits 1
Total Semester Credits 43