WSU Degree and General Education Requirements

General Requirements Master's Degrees
Bachelor's Degrees Associate's Degrees
Diversity Requirement General Education
Humanities/Creative Arts Social Sciences
Physical & Life Sciences

General Requirements ­ All Degrees

  1. Students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 for all WSU work. No more than 20 credit hours of "D" grade may be applied toward graduation. A college or department may reject any or all "D" grade work toward major or minor requirements.
  2. Graduation credit hours must be earned after students have matriculated. Credit hours earned prior to matriculation must be approved by the Graduation Office.
  3. All financial obligations to the university must be cleared.

Requirements for Master's Degrees

WSU offers graduate programs leading to a Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.), a Master's Degree in Professional Accountancy (MPAcc), a Master's Degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.), and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice (M.S.C.J.). Information concerning admission to these programs is located within the Jerry and Vickie Moyes College of Education, the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics, and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences sections of this catalog. Students should contact the Teacher Education Department at 801-626-6278, the School of Accountancy at 801-626-6897, the M.B.A. Program at 801-626-7545, or the Criminal Justice Department at 801-626-6146 for application forms and additional information.

Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees

  1. A minimum of 120 credit hours.
  2. A minimum of 40 upper-division credit hours (courses numbered 3000 and above).
  3. A minimum of 30 hours in residency (WSU courses).
  4. At least a 2.0 (C) WSU grade point average (GPA).
  5. Completion of WSU general education, diversity, major and minor requirements.
  6. One of the following bachelor's degrees must be specified and the WSU general education, major and minor requirements completed. Some departments may specify completion of specific general education courses.

Foreign Language Requirement

The Bachelor of Arts degree must include a foreign language or ASL (American Sign Language) requirement which may be met by one of the following:

  1. Documentation of a proficiency level of "Intermediate Low" or better through an examination administered by the WSU Foreign Language Department or through an examination by a recognized testing agency.
  2. Completion of WSU foreign language course 2020 with a grade of "C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit.
  3. Completion of any upper-division WSU foreign language course with a grade of "C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit.
  4. Students for whom English is a second language may meet the BA foreign language requirement by:
    - verifying their proficiency in their (non-English) native language in cooperation with the Foreign Language Department and
    - verifying their proficiency in English as a Second language by passing the ESL Special Examination.
  5. Documentation of a minimum proficiency level in American Sign Language through an examination administered by the American Sign Language/Interpreting Program at Salt Lake Community College. The signer must produce and maintain American Sign Language with "continuity and precision."
  6. Completion of WSU American Sign Language course 2020 with a grade of "C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit.
Refer to the Foreign Language section of this catalog for additional information on obtaining foreign language credit.

The Bachelor of Music degree and Bachelor of Music Education degree requirement is for two semesters of foreign language chosen from French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The requirement may be satisfied by taking two semesters of the same language, or one semester each of two different languages.

Scientific Inquiry (SI) Requirement

The Bachelor of Science degree must include two or more courses totaling a minimum of six (6) credit hours over and above general education requirements that emphasize scientific inquiry through either experimental, analytical or statistical methods. These courses will address the formulation of hypotheses, the collection of data and the empirical testing of theories through analytical or laboratory inquiry, or will address quantitative methods (taught at a level that requires quantitative literacy).

A student may not use a given course to satisfy both the general education requirements and the above requirement for the Bachelor of Science; however, certain courses used to complete a program of study (major, minor, support/elective) may be used to fulfill the Bachelor of Science requirement. 

Following is a list of courses approved to be used to fulfill the Bachelor of Science requirement. 

Students should consult with an advisor before selecting general education courses.

College of Applied Science & Technology SI Courses

College of Arts & Humanities SI Courses

John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics SI Courses

Jerry and Vickie Moyes College of Education SI Courses

Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions SI Courses

Honors Program SI Course

College of Science SI Courses

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences SI Courses

Requirements for Associate's Degrees

A.A./A.S. Degree Requirements (General Studies)

If you are getting an Associate's Degree in General Studies, contact the Academic Advisement Center (see http://weber.edu/aac). 

  1. A minimum of 60 credit hours.
  2. A minimum of 20 hours in residence (for transfer students).
  3. At least a 2.0 (C) WSU grade point average (GPA).
  4. Completion of WSU general education and diversity requirements.

The Associate of Arts Degree must include a foreign language or ASL (American Sign Language) requirement which may be met by one of the following:

  1. Documentation of a proficiency level of "Novice High" or better through an examination administered by the WSU Foreign Language Department or through an examination by a recognized testing agency.
  2. Completion of WSU foreign language course 1020 with a grade of "C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit.
  3. Completion of any WSU foreign language course at a level beyond the first year with a grade of "C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit.
  4. Documentation of three years of the same language completed in high school with a minimum grade of "B".
  5. Documentation of a minimum proficiency level in American Sign Language through an examination administered by the American Sign Language/Interpreting program at SLCC.   The signer must "demonstrate proficiency in temporal aspect, spatial agreement and in describing things around her/him and the deaf culture."
  6. Completion of WSU American Sign Language course 1020 with a grade of "C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit.

A.A.S. Degree Requirements

  1. A minimum of 63 credit hours.
  2. A minimum of 20 hours in residence (for transfer students).
  3. At least a 2.0 (C) WSU grade point average (GPA).
  4. General education requirements are specified by each program and include at least the following:
  1. English EN1010 and one other course in oral or written communication (6 credit hours);
  2. Math or discipline-specific statistics as designated by specific programs (3 credit hours);
  3. One course in each of the three following areas (9 credit hours): Creative Arts & Humanities (CA or HU), Life & Physical Sciences (LS or PS), and Social Sciences (SS).

Institutional Certificates require a minimum of 10 credit hours at WSU. Refer to the listings under the academic department for specific requirements.

Diversity Requirement

To satisfy the University diversity requirement, each student who is a candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Music degree, a Bachelor of Music Education degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, a Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree, an Associate of Science degree, or an Associate of Arts degree will complete a minimum of 3 credit hours from the list below of courses approved for the diversity requirement. Courses taken as part of a student=s major or minor program requirements or taken to satisfy the General Education requirements may also count toward the diversity requirement if on the approved list.

General Education Requirements

The mission of the general education program at Weber State University is to 1) assist undergraduate students in the development of a world view inclusive of knowledge from both the arts and sciences and 2) to develop skills essential to the acquisition, evaluation, synthesis, and communication of information associated with both personal and professional development. Thus, the purpose of the general education component of a student's undergraduate degree program is to assist the student in his/her intellectual, personal, professional, and cultural development.

Combined with a concentrated study in a major discipline, the general education component serves to develop the depth and breadth of knowledge and skills that exemplifies the educated citizen. General education involves a set of interrelated educational experiences that assists the student in becoming a self reliant interdependent individual in a global community.

The ultimate objective of the undergraduate program at Weber State University is to combine the objectives of general education and discipline-specific education in assisting students to be able to:

CORE REQUIREMENTS

The core requirements listed below apply to all Bachelor's degrees and A.A./A.S. degrees.  It is recommended that students complete these requirements within the first 60 credit hours.  General education requirements for A.A.S. degrees vary and are specified by each program.

1. COMPOSITION (6 credit hours) - Engl EN1010, Intro to Writing, and Engl EN2010, Intermediate Writing, (with a grade of C or above).

2. AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS (3 credit hours) - one of the following:

  1. PolSc AI1100, American National Government, or Hist AI1700, American Civilization, or Econ AI1740, Economic History of the United States.
  2. For history majors: Hist 2700, History of the United States to 1877, and Hist 2710, History of the United States since 1877.
  3. Present advanced placement credit in American History, American Government or suitable transfer courses from other institutions.

3. QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (3 credit hours) - one of the following:

  1. Completion of one three-credit mathematics course (with a grade of C or above): MathQL1030, Contemporary Mathematics, Math QL1040, Intro to Statistics, Math QL1050, College Algebra, Math QL1080, Pre-calculus, or any math course with either Math QL1050 or Math QL1080 as a prerequisite.
  2. A score of 65 or greater on the COMPASS college algebra exam.
  3. A score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus or AP Statistics exam.

4. COMPUTER & INFORMATION LITERACY (2 to 5 credit hours) - Successful completion of approved four-part (A,B,C,D) requirement. Can be met by taking proficiency exams with a C grade or better, courses with a C- grade or better, or a combination of the two.

Completion of one three-credit TBE TE1700 Microcomputer Applications course and/or one one-credit IS&T 2000 will meet Parts A, B, and C of the requirement.

Part A. WORD PROCESSING - TBE TA1501 ½ credit exam or TBE TA1701 one-credit course, Intro to Word Processing.

Part B. OPERATING SYSTEMS, E-MAIL, AND DATABASES - TBE TB1502 ½ credit exam or TBE TB1702 one-credit course, Intro to Windows and Databases.

Part C. SPREADSHEETS -TBE TC1503 ½ credit exam or TBE TC1703 one-credit course, Intro to Spreadsheets.

Part D. INFORMATION LITERACY (Library and Internet research skills) - TBE TD1504 ½ credit exam or either LIBSCI TD1704 one-credit online course Internet Navigator or LIBSCI TD2201 two-credit course Library Science Skills, Resources, and Research or LIBSCI/BUSADM TD2704 one-credit course Information Resources in the Business Disciplines or LIBSCI TD2804 one-credit course Information Resources in the Social Sciences.

Exams are credit/no credit, courses vary.

Students should check with the advisor for their Major to determine the best way to meet the computer literacy requirement.  More information is also available at: http://programs.weber.edu/cil/.


BREADTH REQUIREMENTS

Courses selected to fulfill the following general education requirements must each be from a different program (e.g., have a different course abbreviation, with the exception of Hnrs ­ Honors courses).
Students should consult with an advisor before selecting general education courses.
View Gen Ed Course Descriptions

Humanities/Creative Arts

Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts, or Bachelor of Integrated Studies
Select nine (9) credit hours -- at least three (3) credit hours
from Humanities and at least three (3) credit hours from Creative Arts.
Each course must be from a different program (e.g. have a different course abbreviation), with the exception of Hnrs – Honors courses.

Associate of Applied Science
Select three (3) credit hours from Humanities or Creative Arts.

Groups - Humanities

Anthropology

Art

Communication

Foreign Language

Honors

Library Science

Literature

Music

Philosophy

Theatre

* HU1115 is cross listed in Art, Communication, English, Foreign Languages & Literature, Library Science and Theatre.

Groups - Creative Arts

Art

Dance

Honors

Music

Theatre

Social Sciences

Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts, or Bachelor of Integrated Studies
Select six (6) credit hours in addition to the American Institutions requirement.
Each course must be from a different program (e.g. have a different course abbreviation), with the exception of Hnrs – Honors courses.

Associate of Applied Science
Select three (3) credit hours.

Groups - Social Sciences

Anthropology

Child and Family Studies

Criminal Justice

Economics

Geography

Gerontology

Health Promotion and Human Performance

History

Honors

Information Systems & Technologies

Political Science

Psychology

Social Work

Sociology

Women's Studies

Physical & Life Sciences

Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts, or Bachelor of Integrated Studies
Select nine (9) credit hours -- at least three (3) credit hours
from Physical Sciences and at least three (3) credit hours from Life Sciences.
Each course must be from a different program (e.g. have a different course abbreviation), with the exception of Hnrs – Honors courses.

Associate of Applied Science
Select three (3) credit hours from Physical or Life Sciences.

Groups - Physical Sciences

Chemistry

Geography *

Geosciences *

* Only one course from either the Geography (Geogr) or the Geosciences (Geosci) areas in the above list may be used to fulfill the Physical Sciences general education requirement.

Honors

Physics

Groups - Life Sciences

Anthropology

Botany

Health Science

Honors

Microbiology

Nutrition

Zoology

Elementary Education majors should refer to the Teacher Education Department section of this catalog for specific science requirements.

 

AP, CLEP and Transfer Credit

General education requirements may also be satisfied by:

AP Credit

Students who have completed advanced placement courses in high school and passed the Education Testing Service examination with acceptable scores (3, 4, or 5) may be granted WSU credit hours for each, and will be given general education credit in the appropriate category. (Refer to the Credit by Examination or Petition section and/or contact the Admissions Office for more information.)

CLEP Credit

All students are eligible to take the CLEP (College Level Examination Program) battery which, if passed satisfactorily, may satisfy most of the general area requirements. (Refer to the Credit by Examination or Petition section.)

Transfer Credit

Students who have completed all general education requirements for a bachelor's degree at another institution in the Utah System of Higher Education prior to transferring to Weber State University will not be required to meet the above requirements. Transfer students from out-of-state institutions who have completed an identical general education program to that of WSU will only be required to complete the American Institutions and Quantitative Literacy requirement. Contact the Admissions Office for more information.

 

 

Weber State University 2004-2005 Catalog