Current Requirements
The General Education curriculum consists of the following requirements:
- Four Core Courses (13 credits)
- Perspectives on Inquiry (UN1001)
- World Cultures (UN1002) or Modern Language Option
- Composition (UN2001)
- Institutions (UN2002)
- Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS, after 2008) or Distribution (before 2008) requirement (15 credits)
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) requirement (16 credits)
- Co-curricular Activities (3 semester units, typically 6 half-credit classes)
For more detailed information, please see the Undergraduate Catalog. Advisors may find additional information, including course lists for distribution requirements, through the Registrar's Office.
New Requirements in Fall 2013
In 2012, several changes were made to the general education program which will be effective in Fall 2013. The main change is a new set of courses for the core course requirement.
- First-year Courses
- Composition (UN1015). 3 credits. This course has been moved to the first year.
- Global Issues (UN1025). 3 credits. This course will replace World Cultures (1002). The Modern Language Option will change to one semester of a 3000 level language course or higher. (UN1003 will no longer be required).
- Second-year Courses
- Humanities and Fine Arts Students can choose from a list of 2000 level courses.
- Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students can choose from a list of 2000 level courses.
- HASS Courses
- 12 credits (formerly 15 credits).
- Degree programs will no longer be able to specify one HASS elective course.
- Courses Removed
- Perspectives (UN1001), World Cultures (UN1002), and Institutions (UN2002) will no longer be taught, and will be removed from the catalog.
- Transfer Credits
- Students will be permitted to transfer courses from other institutions to satisfy these requirements. Students must check with the Michigan Tech Transfer Services Office to find out which courses qualify before a class is taken off-campus.
The total number of general education credits allocated to core/HASS/ has been reduced by 4 credits, from 28 to 24 credits. HASS courses currently specified by departments should be added to the degree program if departments wish to require these courses in their programs.
Please see Senate Proposal 15-12 for the complete description of the changes.
In 2012-2013, committees will be established to consider additional changes in the general education program to improve alignment with university student learning goals. See Senate Proposal 22-12 for details.