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General Education Requirements

General Education

In particular, the general education curriculum is represented by the areas listed alphabetically below. To the extent relevant to each area and to the particular disciplines or courses the area represents, Concordia students will be expected to mature in their ability to (a) discover, confront and explore unfamiliar information and ideas; (b) use available academic resources and skills to think analytically, critically and synthetically; (c) use appropriate and current technology for research and problem solving; and (d) ideally move beyond the academic data itself to formulate and express new insights and ideas.

FIRST YEAR SEMINAR (1 CREDIT REQUIRED)

Students with fewer than 20 transfer credits or who earned their credits through PSEO are required to take this course.

FINE ARTS (4 CREDITS REQUIRED)

The fine arts curriculum increases students' awareness, understanding and critical appreciation of varied aesthetic expression; and seeks to foster their creative talents.

(# Recommended for Teacher Education)

HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE (4 CREDITS REQUIRED)

History offerings help students understand historical sources on their own terms and to recognize the interplay of political, intellectual, social, economic and cultural factors in the development of civilizations. It thereby provides one method whereby present-day circumstances can be better understood and evaluated. Political science courses help students understand their own government and the role of each citizen in the democratic process. Applied globally, political science pertains to the relationships between different governments and peoples and explores how their interests and welfare are connected by many of the same factors examined by historians.

COMMUNICATION (4 CREDITS REQUIRED)

Communication courses pertain to the study of verbal and nonverbal messages between communicators in interpersonal, group, public, intercultural and mass media contexts. Communication theory and analysis informs student choice of ethical as well as effective strategies and skills used to relate and respond to ideas.

GLOBAL STUDIES (4 CREDITS REQUIRED)

Very broadly construed, global courses help students recognize global interdependence and/or cultural connections; as such, they enhance students' ability to work constructively with a people, language, or culture other than their own.

SOCIAL AND BEHAVORIAL SCIENCE (4 CREDITS REQUIRED)

Social and behavioral science courses provide the perspectives and tools for students to understand human behavior individually, in groups and in organizations.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION (3 CREDITS REQUIRED)

The health and physical education curriculum provides students with the resources and strategies necessary for healthy, balanced and vigorous lives.

LITERATURE (4 CREDITS REQUIRED)

The literature curriculum helps students develop their abilities to think critically about, write coherently on and discuss enthusiastically a variety of literary texts; students develop both an intellectual understanding of the power of literature and an aesthetic appreciation for diverse literary works.

MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCE (8 CREDITS REQUIRED)

Mathematics offerings are designed to develop students' understanding of basic mathematical concepts, to develop their abilities to analyze and solve mathematical problems and to promote mathematical awareness in the analysis of problem solving strategies and the interpretation of results. Natural science courses examine the physical nature of the world. Biology involves plant, animal and human life; physical science deals with the processes of the earth; while earth science studies the earth and the universe.

All students must take a total of 8 credits of mathematics and natural science, with at least two credits in each of the following three areas.

Mathematics (minimum 3 credits required)

A Math Placement Exam is required of all incoming students. Students who do not pass this exam must successfully complete Intermediate Algebra (MAT100) before taking a general education math course.

# Recommended for Teacher Education.

Biology (minimum 3 credits required)

Physical Science (minimum 2 credits required)

RELIGION AND THEOLOGY (8 CREDITS REQUIRED; 4 BIBLE, 4 CHRISTIAN FAITH)

Students meet their general education requirements in theology by taking a minimum of three credits from the "Bible" category and four credits from the "Christian Faith" category. Students in professional church work programs must select from those courses in both categories that are also requirements in the minor in confessional Lutheranism.

Note: # courses for Church Work students

Biblical (3 or 4 credits)

Christian Faith (4 credits)

WRITING (4 CREDITS REQUIRED)

The writing course provides students with an awareness of written communication-specifically the process of research, synthesis and analysis-as well as opportunities to practice their own writing skills in an academic setting.