Office of the Provost - George Mason University

GENERAL EDUCATION

General Education Requirements

All undergraduates seeking a baccalaureate degree at George Mason University must complete the University General Education requirements. Additional requirements for specific degree programs can be found in the University Catalog in each college or school chapter.

Foundation Requirements

Written Communication
Oral Communication
Quantitative Reasoning
Information Technology

Core Requirements

Literature
Arts
Natural Science
U.S. History
Western Civilization
Global Understanding
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Synthesis

English Composition

Writing-Intensive Course Requirement

Foundation Requirements

Written Communication

Goal: Courses emphasize written communication as a way of thinking and discovering ideas and meanings, as well as expressing them. Students must develop basic writing skills at the freshman level in English 101 (100 for ESL students) and build on those skills in English 302. In addition, at least one course in a student's major must be "writing-intensive."

Required: English 101 (or 100), 302 and an approved writing-intensive course in the major.

Approved Courses: ENGL 100 and ENGL 101, ENGL 302

Oral Communication
(3 credits)

Goal: Students develop the ability to use oral communication as a way of thinking and learning as well as sharing ideas with others. Courses in oral communication will provide students with the ability to express themselves in public or group settings. Students should gain an understanding of the cultural, psychological, political and practical significance of communication, with special emphasis on the role of communication in a free society. Through oral presentations, group discussions, and critically assessing public messages, students will come to understand various modes of communication, and will improve their oral communication skills. They should also learn how to support and defend their positions, how to respond to different communication situations, and how to clearly organize and develop ideas. By developing an understanding of the importance of communication in society, students will also learn to respect the freedom of expression of all members of the community.

Required: One approved course; increased emphasis on oral communication in appropriate General Education courses.

Approved Courses: COMM 100 and COMM 101

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Quantitative Reasoning

Goal: Student will develop the ability to use and critically evaluate numerical information , and to create the critique logical arguments using quantitative reasoning. Courses in the "Quantitative Reasoning" category are intended to give students the capability to reason quantitatively through exposure and practice grounded in important problems and ideas. To ensure skills, a basic proficiency established through a test is required before attempting courses that satisfy this requirement. Students who demonstrate a higher proficiency level may choose among an approved set of courses that develop quantitative reasoning, while those with basic proficiency are only required to satisfy this requirement with the particular course Math 106, designed to advance students to the higher proficiency level.

Required: Math 106; or if the student has achieved an appropriate placement score on quantitative skills, one of the following: Math 108, 110, 111, 113, 115, 125 or IT/STAT 250. (Students are assumed to have achieved satisfactory completion of the high school math required for admission.)

Approved Courses: IT 250, MATH 106, MATH 108, MATH 110, MATH 111, MATH 113, MATH 115, MATH 125, STAT 250

Information Technology
Goal: Students will be expected to:

possess a command of basic software and hardware concepts, terminology and functions, and file/data structures, and will be expected to
use appropriate electronic tools in order to do the following:
In addition, students are required to have classroom experience in, knowledge of, and appreciation for fundamental ethical issues relating to IT and our changing world. These issues may include, but are not limited to, computer security, privacy laws, public policy issues and professional codes of ethics, intellectual property issues, copyright, security, and financial data.

Required: Passing one approved three-credit course to meet all IT requirements, or completion of an appropriate combination of courses, proficiency examinations and/or modules.
Approved Courses
IT (all): ADJ 300, ANTH 395, CHEM 350, ENGR 117, GOVT 300, IT 103, MUSI 415
IT (all except ethics): AVT 180, CS 112, PHYS 251, PSYC 300, PSYC 301, PSYC 372, SOCI 410
IT (ethics): CS 105, CS 305, ENGR 107, IT 304, PHIL 112

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Core Requirements

Literature
(3 credits)
Goal: Courses in the literature category foster understanding and appreciation of the aesthetic, cultural, historical, and intellectual aspects of major literary works through critical analysis. Students will identify, analyze, write about, and discuss aspects of theme, plot, central ideas, narrative, audience, perspective, figurative language, and the relationship between structure and ideas.
Required: One approved course
Approved Courses: ARAB 325, CHIN 310, CHIN 311, CHIN 325, CHIN 328, CLAS 250, CLAS 260, CLAS 340, CLAS 350, CLAS 360, CLAS 380, ENGL 201, FREN 325, FREN 329, FRLN 330, GERM 325, PHIL 253, RELI 235, RUSS 325, RUSS 326, RUSS 327, SPAN 325
Arts
(3 credits)
Goal: Students develop an understanding of the aesthetic and intellectual components of the arts through either critical analysis of major artistic works or through creative work of their own. Courses in the arts category are intended to give students knowledge and understanding of the arts through critical and/or historical analysis, theory, and/or practice. Arts courses provide distinctive modes of thought, ways of working, and avenues for student achievement, and establish a foundation for ongoing intellectual and artistic development. Some courses will emphasize the development of artistic technique, problem solving and the creative/interdisciplinary process, and others will focus on developing aesthetic sensibility and understanding historical and cultural contexts.
Required: One approved course
Approved Courses:
ARTH 101, 102, 103, 200, 201, 321, 322, 324, 333, 334, 341, 342, 344, 360, 362, 372, 373, 376
AVT 103, 104, 215, 222, 232, 243, 252, 253, 262, 272
DANC 101, 119, 125, 131, 145, 161, 225, 231, 245, 301, 390, 391
ENGL 332
MUSI 100, 101, 102, 107, 301, 302, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 387, 389, 485
THR 101, 150, 151, 210, 230, 395

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Natural Science
(7 credits) Goal: Courses in this category are intended to provide students with an understanding of natural science. The critical approach of the scientific method, the relation of theory and experiment, the use of quantitative and qualitative information, and the development and elaboration of major ideas in science are addressed. Required: Two approved science courses; a course offering an overview of the principals of physics, chemistry and life sciences will be one of the two courses required of some students. At least one course will have laboratory experience. Approved Courses:
Non-Lab (3 credits):
ASTR 103, 302, CDS 101, CHEM 101, 102, 201, 202, CLIM 101, EVPP 201, GEOG 102, UNIV 301

Lab (4 credits):
ASTR 111, 112, 113, 114
BIOL 103, 104, 213, 303, 304
CHEM 103, 104, 155, 156, 211, 212, 251
EOS 121
EVPP 110, 111
GEOL 101, 102
PHYS 103, 104, 160, 243 and 244, 245 and 246, 260 and 261, 262 and 263
Western Civilization/World History
(3 credits) Goal: Course covers the period of western civilization from the Greek and Roman civilizations to the contemporary era. Students will develop awareness and understanding of a major civilization that has influenced thought, culture and politics in the United States and in the world. Required: One required course
Approved Course: HIST 100 or HIST 125

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Global Understanding (3 credits)
Goal: Courses in the "Global Understanding" category examine some of the principal global issues and concerns that shape our world today. After completing a course from this category, students will be able to analyze (that is, identify the causes and consequences of change in) significant global issues. While some courses may deal with a specific global problem, institution, or issue, others may focus on a specific area or region outside the contemporary Western world by incorporating specific comparisons of several cultures. All courses in this category help students develop an understanding of global issues as well as an awareness of how these issues are perceived and dealt with in different cultural and historical traditions and, where relevant, by different formal and informal institutions throughout the world. That is, these courses stress the interconnectedness, difference, and diversity that are central to understanding and operating in a global society.
Required: One approved course
Approved Courses:
ADJ 405
ANTH 302, 304, 306, 309, 311, 312, 313, 331, 332, 333, 385
ARTH 203, 204, 319, 320, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386
CEIE 100
COMM 305, 456
DANC 118, 318
ECON 360, 361, 362, 380, 390
ENGL 349, 350
GCH 205
GEOG 101
GLOA 101
GOVT 132, 133
HIST 130, 251, 252, 261, 262, 271, 272, 281, 282, 328, 329, 356, 364, 365, 387, 459, 460, 462
MSOM 305
MUSI 103, 431
RELI 100, 211, 212, 313, 315, 341, 374
RUSS 354
SOCI 120, 320, 332,
SPAN 322
THR 359
TOUR 210
WMST 100
Social and Behavioral Sciences
(3 credits)
Goal: Courses in this category are intended to provide students with an understanding of the social and behavioral sciences. Students will be engaged in reasoning using the methods of the social and behavioral sciences, including the scientific method, the use of quantitative and qualitative information, and the analysis of empirical observations in relation to theory. The development of major ideas in social science is also addressed in this category.
Required: One approved course
Approved Courses: ADJ 100, AFAM 200, ANTH 114, 120, 135, 396; CONF 101, ECON 100, 103, 104; ECON 110 & 111 (must be taken together), EDUC 372, GEOG 103, GOVT 101, 103; HEAL 230, HIST 120, LING 326, PSYC 100, 211, 231; SOCI 101, SOM 100, TOUR 311, WMST 200

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Synthesis Requirement
Goal: Students will engage in the connection of meaning and the synthesis of knowledge. Synthesis courses may link issues in the student's major to wider intellectual and community concerns. Other courses might be interdisciplinary. This course may be a capstone course in the major. This component also requires students to demonstrate advanced skills in oral and written presentation. This demonstration will build not only on the communication and synthesis experience of the third year, but also on the recurrent attention to these skills in the whole General Education program, from the foundation courses onward.
Required: One approved upper-division course.
Approved Courses: ADJ 303, ANTH 400, ARTH 394, AVT 497, 498; BINF 354, BIOL 301, BIS 490, CHSS 313, CEIE 490, COMM 326, 362, 454; CONF 490; CS 306, 491; DANC 490, ECE 447, 492, 493; ECON 309, EDCI 490, ENGL 325, EOS 304, EVPP 335, FRLN 385, GEOG 303, 304; GEOL 420,GOVT 490, 491; HIST 300, 499; IT 492, LAS 499, MATH 400, MUSI 490, NCLC 308, NEUR 354, NURS 465, PHIL 309, 343, 377, 378; RELI 490, RUSS 353, SOCI 377, 483; SOCW 323, SOM 498, SPAN 388, SYST 495, THR 440, 496; UNIV 342, 442
English Composition Requirement
The university requires students to complete at least two semesters of English composition. Please see the University Catalog section on Academic Policies for specific details.
Writing-Intensive Course Requirement
In addition to English composition and, as part of the university's commitment to literacy in all programs, at least one course in each major has been designated "writing intensive." Please see the University Catalog section on Academic Policies for specific details of this university requirement. See the description of each major for the specific courses that fulfill this requirement in that major.
Instructors must submit a form to propose or change a writing-intensive course. Proposal for Adding or Changing Writing-Intensive (WI) Courses

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