General Education Requirements
Alabama State University general education requirements is a substantial component of each undergraduate degree programs and is required of all students to ensure breadth of knowledge is acquired. Colleges and/or departments may require additional or more specific course work for their programs than are listed throughout the catalog.
In September 1998, to facilitate the development of a statewide transfer/articulation program and as mandated by Section 16-5-8 of the Code of Alabama, the Alabama Articulation and General Studies Committee (AGSC) developed a statewide freshman and sophomore level general studies (“general education”) curriculum to be taken at all colleges and universities. The curriculum consists of five areas that outline the minimum general academic content that is covered in the freshman and sophomore years prior to transfer to a four-year institution in Alabama to ensure the. The AGSC general studies curriculum core includes study in the areas of written composition, humanities and fine arts, natural sciences and mathematics, and history, social, and behavioral sciences.
Curriculum Area Required Hours
|
| English Composition (AGSC AREA I) |
(6 hours) |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (AGSC AREA II) |
(12 hours) |
| Natural Sciences (AGSC AREA III) |
(8 hours) |
| Mathematics (AGSC AREA III) |
(3 hours) |
| History, Social and Behavioral Sciences (AGSC AREA IV) |
(12 hours) |
| Orientation (Required of All Undergraduates) |
(1 hour) |
| Total Core Curriculum Hours |
(42 hours) |
Area I: Written Composition (6 semester hours) Effective written communication skills are essential in a literate society. Minimum requirements include at least 6 semester hours in written composition.
Area II: Humanities and Fine Arts (12 semester hours) Study in the humanities addresses the ability to deal with questions of values, ethics, or aesthetics as they are represented in literature, philosophy, religion, and the arts, and is fundamental to general education. Minimum requirements include at least 12 semester hours in humanities with a minimum of 3 semester hours in literature, 3 semester hours in the arts, and the remaining semester hours from the humanities and/or fine arts.
Area III: Natural Sciences and Mathematics (11 – 12 semester hours) Study in the natural sciences and mathematics emphasizes the scientific method and applies quantitative or inductive reasoning. Minimum requirements include at least 11 semester hours with at least 3 semester hours in mathematics at the pre-calculus algebra level or Finite Mathematics level unless otherwise specified and at least 8 semester hours in the natural sciences which must include laboratory experiences. Disciplines in the natural sciences include but are not limited to, astronomy, biology, chemistry geology, and physics. (Note: Some mathematics courses are offered for 4 semester credit hours. This would account for the variation in hour requirements in Area III.)
Area IV: History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences (12 semester hours) Study in history and the social and behavioral sciences deals primarily with the study of human behavior, social and political structures, and economics. Minimum requirements include 12 semester hours with at least a 3 semester hour course in history and at least 9 semester hours from among other disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. Disciplines include, but are not limited to, anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology. Courses should be broad in scope and content, include global or international perspectives, and must emphasize the methods of inquiry in the social sciences.
As a part of the General Studies Curriculum, students must complete a 6-semester hour sequence either in literature (Area II) or history (Area IV). The maximum semester hour total for Areas I-IV is 41-42 semester hours.
Area V: Pre-Professional, Major, and Elective Courses (19 – 23 semester hours) Area V is designated for courses appropriate to the degree/major requirements of the individual student (it may also include electives).
Degree-seeking students must meet General Education requirements in Areas I-V according to the student’s specific degree program and major. In order to be applied to degree requirements, transfer credit and coursework must be applicable to the degree or program the student is pursuing. The content and level of instruction of transfer coursework is evaluated to ensure that student competencies in the coursework are equivalent to those required in courses approved for the State’s general education coursework requirements, or to similar coursework offered at Alabama State University.
Freshman Orientation 100 is a one credit hour courses designed for first time freshmen and new transfer students who enter ASU are required to take the course, with the exception of transfer students with the orientation course which has similar competencies. The course content aids new students in making a satisfactory adjustment to the collegiate environment, understanding the history of Alabama State University, financial literacy, and embedding written communications.
Students should consult their plan of study on Hornets Web and communicate with the appropriate College advisor in the Advisement Center, and/or their faculty advisor to determine the best options for fulfilling any general education requirements that may be needed.