General Education Requirements

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General Education Requirements

The University's General Education requirement represents a conviction on the part of the faculty that all students need to reason logically, communicate effectively, and relate to the world around them. While courses completed in a field of study develop specific knowledge and skills in a chosen profession, general education courses not only enhance awareness of the world and the people in it, but also foster an appreciation of the arts and humanities, and provide a basic understanding of mathematical and scientific principles.

General education courses are not hurdles to be overcome; rather, they are the means by which students learn to think, describe, interpret, and analyze the world. Their primary aim is to educate, rather than train, and to instill a desire for life-long learning. Specifically, these courses are designed to produce students who have developed:

an effective command of written and spoken English;
an informed appreciation of the roles of the arts and the humanities;
a familiarity with the nature and function of the social sciences;
an appreciation of the methods of critical inquiry;
an ability to deal with moral and ethical issues;
a rational basis for selecting a vocation;
an understanding of other cultures and other times; and
a comprehension of how knowledge is acquired and applied.

To fulfill the requirement, students must complete 38-39 hours of course work in six major areas:

English composition (six hours)
Analytical reasoning (six hours)
Arts (three hours)
Humanities (nine hours)
Natural sciences (eight-nine hours)
Social sciences (six hours)

REGULATIONS
Students must complete the 38/39-hour general education requirement prior to graduating from LSU. It is recommended that students complete the requirement during their first four semesters at the University.
Only those courses on the approved list below, and their honors equivalents, may be used to satisfy the general education requirement.
No more than six hours of credit taken through correspondence study may be applied to a student's general education requirement.
An entering student may receive three or six hours of credit in English composition on the basis of ACT scores and/or performance on approved placement tests.
An entering student may receive credit for one or more of the required mathematics courses on the basis of placement test scores.
Advanced placement and advanced standing credit may be used to satisfy the general education requirement.
General education courses will be graded on the "A," "B," "C," "D," "F" system. No courses taken on a pass/fail basis will count toward the general education requirement.
In addition, each student must demonstrate computer literacy in ways deemed appropriate by the faculty of the senior college in which the student is enrolled.
A request for an exception to the general education requirement must be submitted to the dean of the student's college. The student's request and the dean's evaluation of that request must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs for a final decision.

TRANSFER COURSE APPROVAL

Deans are to determine the applicability of transfer courses to a component of LSU's general education requirements.

If the course is deemed to be applicable, and there is no equivalent LSU course, deans are asked to enter a course substitution on the Student Records and Registration data base, indicating that the course is accepted for general education credit. Documentation concerning this decision should be kept on file in the college.

If it is determined that the course is equivalent to an LSU course, colleges should notify the Office of Undergraduate Admissions so that the Admissions Transfer Table can be updated.

If the college does not approve a transfer course for general education credit, the student may petition the Office of Academic Affairs for a decision.

LSU 25+ STUDENTS

LSU 25+ students who gain admission to the University as regularly admitted students are subject to the catalog in effect at the time of their admission as regular students.

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES

In the list of courses at the back of this catalog, general education courses are designated by stars (Ú) placed before the course numbers.

AREA/COURSES

SEM. HRS

I. ENGLISH COMPOSITION

6

All students must have credit in English 1000 or 1001, and 1002, or the equivalent.
 

English

1000 English Composition

3

1001 (1004) English Composition

3

1002 (1003/1005) English Composition

3
 

Honors

1001 Seminar in Ancient Western Civilization

3

1101 Seminar in Comparative Civilizations

3

 

II. ANALYTICAL REASONING

6

Students earning credit in Mathematics 1023 may not also earn credit in 1020, 1021, or 1022.

All students must have credit in one of Mathematics 1020, 1021, 1023, or 1029, plus one additional course from the following:
   

Computer Science

  

1248 Introduction to Programming with Applications in Statistics

3
   

Experimental Statistics

  

2201 Introduction to Statistical Analysis

4

4001 Statistical Methods

4
   

Mathematics

  

1020 College Algebra: Five-Hour Format

3

1021 College Algebra

3

1022 Plane Trigonometry

3

1023 College Algebra and Trigonometry

5

1029 Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics

3

1100 (1101) The Nature of Mathematics

3

1431 Calculus with Business and Economic Applications

3

1435 Mathematics for Business Analysis

3

1441 Calculus with Application to Technology

3

1550 (1551) Analytic Geometry and Calculus I

5

1552 (1553) Analytic Geometry and Calculus II

5
   

Philosophy

  

1021 Introduction to Philosophy: Elementary Logic

3

2010 Introduction to Symbolic Logic

3

 

III. ARTS

3

Architecture

  

2401 Appreciation of Architecture

3

3005 History of Architecture I

3

3006 History of Architecture II

3
   

Art

  

1001 Introduction to Fine Arts

3

1011 Art Structure

3

1440 Historical Survey of the Arts

3

1441 Historical Survey of the Arts

3

2401 Art of the Ancient Near East and Egypt

3

2411 Oriental Art

3

2470 Survey of 20th Century Art

3
   

Interior Design

  

1051 Introduction to Interior Design

3

3741 History of Interior Design and Decoration I

3

3742 History of Interior Design and Decoration II

3
   

Landscape Architecture

  

1151 Introduction to Landscape Architecture

3

2141 Landscape of the Ancient World

3

2142 The Landscape of Western Civilization

3

2143 The Contemporary Landscape

3
   

Music

  

1751 Music Appreciation

3

1752 Music Appreciation

3

1799 Rudiments of Music

3

2000 History of Jazz

3

2053 Survey of Music History I

3

2054 Survey of Music History II

3
   

Philosophy

  

2023 Philosophy of Art

3
   

Theatre

  

1020 (1021) Introduction to Theatre

3

2028 Introduction to Dramatic Literature

  

 

IV. HUMANITIES

9

Students must take three humanities courses to fulfill this requirement.
   

African and African-American Studies

  

1001 Elementary Swahili Language and Culture I (See also SWAH 1001)

4

1002 Elementary Swahili Language and Culture II (See also SWAH 1002)

4

2003 Intermediate Swahili Language and Culture III (See also SWAH 2003)

4

2004 Intermediate Swahili Language and Culture IV (See also SWAH 2004)

4
   

Arabic

  

1101 Beginning Arabic

4

1102 Beginning Arabic

4
   

Chinese

  

1101 Beginning Mandarin Chinese

5

1102 Beginning Mandarin Chinese

5

2001 Intermediate Mandarin Chinese

3

2002 Intermediate Mandarin Chinese

3
   

Classical Studies

  

3020 Classical Epic in Translation

3

3032 Greek and Roman Tragedy in English Translation

3

3040 Greek and Roman Comedy in English Translation

3
   

Communication Disorders

  

2050 Introduction to Language

3
   

Construction Management

  

1000 Construction and Culture

3
   

English

  

2024 (2824) Critical Strategies

3

2025 Fiction

3

2027 Poetry

3

2029 Drama

3

2123 (2823) Studies in Literary Traditions and Themes

3

2148 Shakespeare

3

2300 (2824) Interpreting Discourse

3

2593 Images of Women: An Introduction

3

2673 Literature and Ethnicity

3

2674 Introduction to African-American Literature

3

3020 British Literature I: Middle Ages, Renaissance, and 18th Century

3

3022 British Literature II: Romantics, Victorians, and Moderns

3

3070 American Literature I: Forging a Nation

3

3072 American Literature II: Coming of Age

3
   

French

  

1001 Elementary French

4

1002 Elementary French

4

1050 Elementary French

4

1201 Elementary Cajun French

4

1202 Elementary Cajun French

4

2101 Intermediate French

3

2102 Intermediate French

3

2155 Readings in French Literature

3

3071 Survey of French Literature

3

3072 Survey of French Literature

3

3080 French Culture and Civilization

3
   

German

  

1101 Elementary German

4

1102 Elementary German

4

2090 Germanic Mythology

3

2101 Intermediate German

3

2102 Intermediate German

3

2155 Readings in German Literature

3

3083 Survey of German Literature, 1830-1890

3

3084 Survey of German Literature, 1890-Present

3
   

Greek

  

1001 Elementary Greek

5

2051 Intermediate Greek

5

2053 Homer

3

2055 Greek Drama

3
   

History

  

1001 (1002) Western Civilization to 1500

3

1003 (1004) Western Civilization Since 1500

3

1007 World History Since 1500

3

2001 The Ancient Near East and Greece

3

2002 Rome: Republic and Empire

3

2011 England: Roman Times Through 1688

3

2012 Britain from 1689 to the Present

3

2021 Modern Europe

3

2022 Modern Europe

3

2055 (2056) The United States to 1865

3

2057 (2058) The United States from 1865 to the Present

3

2061 African-American History

3

2085 Colonial Latin America

3

2086 Latin America Since Independence

3

2095 East Asian Civilization to 1800

  

2096 East Asian Civilization Since 1800

  
   

Honors

  

1001 Seminar in Ancient Western Civilization

3

1003 Lectures in Ancient Western Civilization

3

1101 Seminar in Comparative Civilizations

3

1103 Lectures in Comparative Civilizations

3

2002 Seminar in Roman and Medieval Civilization

3

2004 Lectures in Roman and Medieval Civilization

3

2012 The 19th Century

3

2013 The 20th Century

3

2202 Seminar in Colonial and Early National America

3

2204 Lectures in Colonial and Early National America

3

3001 European Civilization from 1500 to 1789: The Old Regime

4

3003 Western Civilization from 1789: Modern World

4
   

Italian

  

1001 Elementary Italian

4

1002 Elementary Italian

4

2101 Intermediate Italian

3

2102 Intermediate Italian

3

2155 Readings in Italian Literature

3

3001 Italian Culture and Civilization

3

3071 Survey of Italian Literature

3

3072 Survey of Italian Literature

3
   

Japanese

  

1001 Beginning Japanese

5

1002 Beginning Japanese

5

2001 Intermediate Japanese

3

2002 Intermediate Japanese

3
   

Landscape Architecture

  

1150 Views of the American Landscape

3
   

Latin

  

1001 Elementary Latin

5

2051 Intermediate Latin

5

2053 Intermediate Latin

3

2065 Golden Age Narrative Poetry

3

2066 Golden Age Prose

3

2074 Golden Age Lyric Poetry

3

4010 Survey of Latin Literature

3
   

Mass Communication

  

2000 Introduction to Mass Media

3
   

Philosophy

  

1000 Introduction to Philosophy

3

2020 Ethics

3

2023 Philosophy of Art

3

2024 Philosophy in Literature

3

2028 Philosophy of Religion (see also REL 2028)

3

2033 (2034) History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

3

2035 (2036) History of Modern Philosophy

3
   

Religious Studies

  

1003 (1015) Introduction to Religion

3

1004 Old Testament

3

1005 (1006) New Testament

3

2001 Faith and Doubt

3

2027 Eastern Religions

3

2028 Philosophy of Religion (see also PHIL 2028)

3

2029 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

3
   

Russian

  

1001 Elementary Russian

5

2051 Intermediate Russian

5

2053 Intermediate Russian

3

2055 Readings in Russian Literature

3

2075 Introduction to Russian Culture and Civilization

3

4081 Russian Literature in Translation: 19th Century

3
   

Spanish

  

1101 Elementary Spanish

4

1102 Elementary Spanish

4

2101 (2103) Intermediate Spanish

3

2102 (2104) Intermediate Spanish

3

2155 Readings in Spanish Literature

3

3043 Introduction to Latin American Literature I

3

3044 Introduction to Latin American Literature II

3

3071 Survey of Spanish Literature

3

3072 Survey of Spanish Literature

3
   

Speech Communication

  

2010 Interpersonal Communication

3

2040 Introduction to Performing Literature

3

2060 Public Speaking

3

2063 Argumentation and Debate

3

2862 Honors: Contemporary Public Address

3
   

Swahili

  

1001 Elementary Swahili Language and Culture I (See also AAAS 1001)

4

1002 Elementary Swahili Language and Culture II (See also AAAS 1002)

4

2003 Intermediate Swahili Language and Culture III (See also AAAS 2003)

4

2004 Intermediate Swahili Language and Culture IV (See also AAAS 2004)

4
   

Women's and Gender Studies

  

2500 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies

3

 

V. NATURAL SCIENCES

8-9

To complete the natural science requirement a student must take at least eight semester hours, including one two-semester sequence from the following list.
 

Astronomy

1101 The Solar System

3

1102 Stellar Astronomy

3
 

Biological Sciences

1001 General Biology

3

1002 General Biology

3
 

1201 Biology for Science Majors

3

1402 General Plant Biology

4
 

1201 Biology for Science Majors

3

1502 (1503) Introductory Zoology

3
 

Chemistry

1001 Chemical Fundamentals

3

1002 Chemistry of Life and the Environment

3
 

1201 General Chemistry

3

1202 General Chemistry

3
 

1421 Honors: General Chemistry

3

1422 Honors: General Chemistry

3
 

Geography

2050 Physical Geography: The Atmosphere

3

2051 Physical Geography: Land and Water Surfaces, Plant and Animal Realms

3
   

Geology

1001 General Geology: Physical

3

1003 General Geology: Historical

3
 

1002 Honors: General Geology: Physical

3

1004 Honors: General Geology: Historical

3
 

Honors

1007 Introduction to Life Sciences

4

1008 Introduction to Life Sciences

4
 

Physical Science

1001 Physical Science

3

1002 Physical Science

3
 

1021 Physical Science with Laboratory

3

1022 Physical Science with Laboratory

3
 

Physics

1201 General Physics for Physics Majors

4

1202 General Physics for Physics Majors

4
 

2001 General Physics

3

2002 General Physics

3
 

2101 General Physics for Technical Students

3

2102 General Physics for Technical Students

3
 

The remaining credit hours may include (1) a laboratory associated with the chosen sequence, (2) an individual lecture course from the following list, or (3) a lecture course from the two-semester list but in a science discipline different from the two-semester sequence.
 

Laboratories and other individual science courses.
 

Agriculture

1005 Science and Society

3
 

Agronomy

1001 Introduction to Managed Plant Systems in the Modern World

3
 

Astronomy

1108 Astronomy Laboratory

1

1109 Astronomy Laboratory

1
 

Biological Sciences

1005 Introductory Biology Laboratory

2

1011 Microorganisms and Man

3

1012 Microorganisms and Man Laboratory

1

1208 (1207) Biology Laboratory for Science Majors

1

1509 Introductory Zoology Laboratory

1
 

Chemistry

1212 General Chemistry Laboratory

2
 

Fisheries

1001 Natural Resource Conservation

3
 

Geology

1066 Dinosaurs, Catastrophes, and Extinctions

3

1601 Physical Geology Laboratory

1

1602 Historical Geology Laboratory

1
 

Nuclear Science

2051 Introduction to Nuclear Science

3
 

Oceanography and Coastal Sciences

1005 (1006) Introduction to Oceanography

3
 

Physics

1100 Introduction to Physics

3

1208, 1209 General Physics Laboratory for Physics Majors

1,1

2108 Introductory Physics Laboratory

1

2109 General Physics Laboratory

1

2401 Introduction to Concepts in Physics

3

 

VI. SOCIAL SCIENCES

6
 

African and African American Studies

2000 Introduction to African and African American Studies

3

2050 Contemporary Africa

3
 

Agricultural Economics

2003 Introduction to Agricultural Economics

3
 

Anthropology

1001 Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Prehistory

3

1003 Introduction to Cultural and Social Anthropology

3

2015 Introduction to Archaeology

3

2050 World Archaeology

3

2051 Introduction to World Ethnography

3

2423 Introduction to Folklore (see also ENGL 2423)

3
 

Economics

2010 Economic Principles and Problems

3

2020 Economic Principles and Problems (Continued)

3

2030 (2031) Economic Principles

3
 

English

2423 Introduction to Folklore (see also ANTH 2423)

3
 

Geography

1001 Human Geography: Americas and Europe

3

1003 Human Geography: Africa and Asia

3
 

German

2075 German Civilization (See also HIST 2075)

3
 

History

2075 German Civilization (See also GERM 2075)

3
 

Honors

1003 Lectures in Ancient Western Civilization

3

1103 Lectures in Comparative Civilizations

3

2004 Lectures in Roman and Medieval Civilization

3

2012 The 19th Century

3

2013 The 20th Century

3

2204 Lectures in Colonial and Early National America

3

3001 European Civilization from 1500-1789: The Old Regime

4

3003 Western Civilization from 1789: The Modern World

4
 

International Studies

2001 Introduction to International Studies

3
 

Political Science

1001 Fundamental Issues of Politics

3

2051 (2052) American Government

3

2053 Introduction to Comparative Politics

3

2057 Introduction to International Politics

3

2060 Introduction to Political Theory

3
 

Psychology

2000 (2001) Introduction to Psychology

3

2004 Psychology of Adjustment

3

3081 Personality

3
 

Sociology

1001 Human Societies

3

2001 (2002) Introductory Sociology

3

2411 Industrial Sociology

3

3601 Social Interaction

3

4111 Development of Social Thought

3

REGENTS' CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

The Louisiana Board of Regents awards a Certificate of Excellence to students who complete a 50-hour general education program. To qualify for the certificate, baccalaureate graduates must have attained a 3.00 grade-point average ("A" = 4.0) in all course work taken and must have completed the following general education requirements:

English

Six hours (composition); Three hours (literature)

Mathematics

Six hours

Computer Literacy

(Requirements to be determined by each campus)

Natural Sciences

Eleven hours (to be met by taking required courses for majors; to include laboratory courses)

Arts

Three hours

Humanities

Fifteen hours (to include at least three hours at the sophomore level or above; to include at least six hours of a foreign language above the introductory level)

Social Sciences

Six hours

Total

Fifty hours

Students may obtain equivalent credit for required or suggested course work in accordance with policies and procedures in other colleges or universities, e.g., for advanced- placement (AP) tests of the College Board or the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). No credit hours earned in introductory foreign language course work can be used to fulfill requirements for the Regents' Certificate of Excellence. Introductory course work (or its equivalent) and advanced course work must be in the same foreign language.

REGENTS' STATEWIDE ARTICULATION

The Louisiana Board of Regents and higher education institutions recognize the importance of well-designed transfer articulation policies and practices. Louisiana State University and A&M College participates in the Board of Regents’ Statewide Articulation Consortium. This consortium has developed an articulation agreement for general education courses. Students who plan to transfer to another Louisiana public institution should consult the office of admission for information about the course transfer agreement.

 

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