Understanding General Education Requirements (GERs)

. . . and the Additional Courses Required by the College of Liberal Arts

The University GERs have several categories and are labeled with a letter which matches the academic category. For example, [D] = a Diversity course. An entire listing of these courses can be found starting near page 41 of the WSU General Catalog (click on "Courses Satisfying General Education Requirements"). GER courses must be outside your major.
The College of Liberal Arts also has its own additional requirements. Those requirements can also be found on the Web (scroll to bottom) or in the catalog (available at the Bookie). Like the GERs, requirements by the College of Liberal Arts must be taken outside your major and should be completed as early as possible.

What classes do I need to take?
The GER and College of Liberal Arts requirements have been summarized for you below. This information can also be found in the WSU General Catalog (under "General Education Program," and click on "University Graduation Requirements").

NOTE: A valuable tool is the student degree audit, which can be run instantly at the registrar's Web page. The degree audit feature will, among other things, help demonstrate what classes you have taken and which ones remain.

Lower Division Requirements (100- to 200-Level Courses)

1. American Diversity = [D] (3 credits):

Required for those who first began taking college classes in fall 2000. The [D] requirement will always piggyback on some other GER, so look for the courses which qualify as a [D] near page 40 (it is not necessary to take a separate course to fulfill this requirement).

2. World Civilizations = [A] (6 credits)

GenEd 110

GenEd 111

3. Communications Proficiency* (6 credits)

3 credits of [W] (Engl 101 or 105):

3 credits of either another [W] (English 200, 201, 301, 302, 402, 403, or Phil 102) OR 3 credits of a [C] (ComSt 102, 235, 302, 324, or H D 205):

*Note: Prior to enrollment in freshman writing courses, all students must take a writing placement examination for the purpose of placement in the appropriate course. Failure to do so will preclude you from enrolling in the course. The writing placement examination is administered during Alive! (summer new student orientation), at the beginning of the fall semester, and prior to spring registration. Questions should be directed to the WSU Writing Lab, CUE 303, 509-335-4072. ALSO: Students who gain credit for Engl 101 through Running Start, Advanced Placement, or course work at another college may be exempt from the writing placement examination.

4. Mathematics Proficiency = [N] (3-4 credits)

You need to take a math course at WSU that is recognized as an [N]. The most common math class for political science majors is Math 210. Before enrolling in such a class, you will need to take a placement exam (exception: your SAT score may permit otherwise). However, if you have received credit for a math course through Running Start, Advanced Placement, or course work from another college, you may not have to take another math course if WSU recognizes it as fulfilling the [N] requirement.

5. Arts and Humanities requirement = [H] or [G] (3 credits):

(see choices pp. 41-42)
[H] = Arts and Humanities
[G] = Arts and Humanities or Intercultural Studies

6. Social Sciences requirement = [S] or [K] (3 credits):

(see choices pp. 42-43)
[S] = Social Sciences
[K] = Social Sciences or Intercultural Studies

6a. Extra GER requirement (3 credits):

Pick 3 more credits from a course labeled as [H], [G], [S], or [K].

6b. Extra College of Liberal Arts requirement (6 credits):

Pick 6 more credits from courses labeled as [H], [G], [S], [K], or [I].

7. Intercultural Studies = [I], [G] or [K] (3 credits)

8. Sciences = [B], [P], [Q] (12 credits)
GER requires 10 credits, College of Liberal Arts adds 2 more credits. So, you need 12 credits of sciences, subject to the following guidelines:

at least 3 credits of a course designated [B] ;
AND
at least 3 credits of a course designated [P] ;

Of the required 12 credits, at least two of those courses must have a lab [L]:

4 credits more of a [B], [P], or [Q]:
(see choices near page 40 of the university catalog)

** One scenario that could meet the above requirements: Biol 102 (4 credits, includes a lab), Geo 101 (4 credits, includes a lab), FSHN 130 (3 credits of science), and Bio 201 (1 hour).
Caution: If you took Biol 102 you cannot also get credit for Biol 101, 103, or 105 (see course description).

Upper Division Requirements

Note: Must complete at least 40 credits of 300- or 400-level classes and have an overall GPA of at least 2.0 to graduate.

9. Tier III Course = [T] (3 credits)

Upper division course labeled as a Tier III must be outside your major. See choices beginning near page 44. Prerequisite (generally): completion of 60 credits.

10. The University Writing Portfolio

(Not to be confused with the "Writing in the Major" [M] requirement.)
Complete before earning 60 credits and before taking a "Writing in the Major" course. Questions? Please call 335-7959. Transfer students should speak with their advisor as soon as possible concerning this requirement.

11. Writing in the Major

Two courses in your major that have an [M] near the course description. Complete your writing portfolio before taking your [M] courses.

[M] [M]

12. College of Liberal Arts Foreign Language Requirement

Two (2) years in high school of the same language
OR
One (1) year in college of the same language (hour exceptions may apply)

13. Apply for graduation once you complete 70 credits. It helps AVOID problems early!