Perspectives

Students who have successfully completed the General Education curriculum at East Stroudsburg University shall:

• Have embraced a sense of values and a commitment to ethical behavior
• Possess a broad perspective of knowledge as well as its creation and an understanding of the interrelationships among disciplines
• Value learning and possess intellectual curiosity

General Knowledge

Students who have successfully completed the General Education curriculum at East Stroudsburg University shall:

• Comprehend life and time from historical and contemporary perspectives and draw from experience to make informed decisions in the present and future
• Understand and appreciate human creativity, expression, and exemplary works that have been produced throughout human existence in the various performance, visual, practical and literary art forms
• Use concepts from the behavioral, life and social sciences in order to understand oneself and one’s relationship with other people and to comprehend the nature and function of communities and institutions.
• Understand the physical world and its interrelationship with human activity in order to make decisions that are based on scientific evidence and responsive to the values and interests of the individual and society
• Know and appreciate some of the best original scholarly and creative works that have been produced throughout history
• Use varying modes of inquiry utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies
• Understand the diverse dimensions and complex interrelationships of culture, language, ethnicity, gender, and nationality, and of the challenges of global interdependence
• Attain knowledge and skills for enriching the quality of life through physical activities which enhance cultural awareness and promote lifetime fitness

Competencies

All courses in the General Education Curriculum should be designed so that students who have successfully completed the General Education Curriculum at East Stroudsburg University:

• Participate effectively in the communication process by listening, speaking, reading, and writing
• Use mathematical systems effectively in conceptualization and communication
• Utilize appropriate technology effectively

Required: 5 credits

English Composition: 3 credits

Students are placed in Composition Skills 090 or English Composition 103 based upon their writing and verbal SAT scores. Those placed in ENGL 090 must take and pass it before they can be admitted into ENGL 103. Students may be exempted from and receive credit for English Composition, ENGL 103, if they take and achieve a high score on the CLEP general examination in English Composition (with essay). Students must receive a minimum grade of “C” to fulfill the English Composition requirement.

Lifetime Fitness Activities: 2 credits

This requirement is waived for students graduating after May 2014. Some of these courses may be offered as needed. Students are still obligated to fulfill the 120-credit requirement for graduation.

Distributive Electives: 45 credits

Each student must complete at least 15 credits in each of three areas:

Group A — Arts and Letters

Group B — Science

Group C — Social Science

In each group, the student may take three credits in each of three subjects and six credits in a fourth subject or three credits in each of five subjects. Courses that satisfy General Education requirements are identified as GE in department course listings. Students should meet with their faculty advisers to plan appropriate choices to meet these requirements. Some GE courses may have specific prerequisites.

Arts and Letters (Group A) 15 credits

1. English Language and Literature
2. Fine Arts - Art, Communication Studies, Music, and Theatre
3. Foreign Languages
4. Performing Arts - Dance, Communication Studies, Music, and Theatre
5. Philosophy

(The distinction between fine and performing arts may be obtained from the faculty adviser.)

Science (Group B) 15 credits

1. Biology
2. Chemistry
3. Computer Science
4. Mathematics
5. Physics
6. Psychology

Social Science (Group C) 15 credits

1. Economics
2. Geography
3. History
4. Political Science
5. Sociology-Anthropology

Co-requisite courses may be counted under General Education requirements in Groups A, B, or C if appropriate.

Exceptions

Required Science Courses: Where coursework in biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics is required (or listed as recommended in the catalog) for the major, a student with a declared major may substitute those courses for courses in the same departments listed under Science Group B. If a student adopts the above provision and later changes his or her major to a field which does not require coursework in those disciplines, the student may nevertheless receive General Education credit for courses taken in those departments.

Foreign Language Courses: Students may substitute a higher-level foreign language course taught in the language for courses listed under Foreign Language Group A.

Teacher Certification: Students pursuing teacher certification must take two mathematics courses and two English courses (including one composition and one literature course).

Teacher Certification Requirements: Please refer to The College of Education in the Program Offerings section of this catalog.