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Home >> 2010 - 2011 Undergraduate Catalog >> Programs & Courses >> USG Core Curriculum >> USG Core Curriculum

USG Core Curriculum

The University System of Georgia Common Core is designed to make transfer from one system institution to another as smooth as possible with a minimum of credit loss.

Principles Across the Core that are Common to All Institutions

Each Institution's core curriculum will:

Encourage the development of written and oral communication skills and critical thinking within the broader academic context.
Permit opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.
Include offerings that reflect the special characteristics of the institution.
Feature international components that increase global awareness and introduce the student to different cultural perspectives.
Include an informed use of information technology.
Employ pedagogy designed to increase intellectual curiosity and to initiate a continuing interest in the subject matter.
Feature courses that are challenging and rigorous and provide learning experiences that distinguish a field.
Introduce the methods used by technical and scientific professionals such as the evaluation of empirical data, problem recognition, problem definition, the application of scientific principles, and logical problem solving.
Be cohesive and provide entry to both specialized studies in the student's chosen field and remaining courses (whether upper or lower division) in the institution's general education curriculum.
Be designed with the assumption that students have met all admissions standards to the institution (with appropriate academic support provided for those who have not).

Curriculum Framework for the Common Core

A. Essential Skills (9-10 hours)

English Composition I
English Composition II
College Algebra, Pre-Calculus or Calculus I, depending on major

Transfer Students: Transfer evaluation of courses in Area A is determined on a course-by-course basis.

B. Institutional Options (4 hours)

These courses address institution-wide general education outcomes chosen by the University. Examples include, but are not limited to, global issues, oral communication, information technology, critical thinking, wellness, geography, and foreign languages. At Southern Polytechnic State University, the Institutional Option courses are:

Public Speaking (COMM 2400)
Science, Technology and Society (STS 2400)

Transfer Students: If you have completed Area B at your original institution, Southern Polytechnic State University will accept this area in its entirety. If you did not complete this area at your original institution, you will be required to take the courses above to complete the necessary hours. We will accept courses in this area whether or not we offer the course at SPSU.

C. Humanities/Fine Arts (6 hours)

These are courses that address humanities/fine arts learning outcomes and which the undergraduate curriculum committee has approved. Interdisciplinary courses are acceptable.

Transfer Students: If you have completed Area C at your original institution, Southern Polytechnic State University will accept this area in its entirety. If the area has not been completed, you will be required to take additional course work to complete the necessary hours. We will accept courses in this area whether or not we offer the course at SPSU.

D. Science, Mathematics, and Technology (10-11 hours)

These are courses approved by the undergraduate curriculum committee that address learning outcomes in the sciences, mathematics, and technology. These need not be sequential courses. Interdisciplinary courses are acceptable. Required are:

Two four-hour laboratory science courses
Three additional credit hours in mathematics, science, or technology

Transfer Students: Transfer evaluation of courses in Area D is on a course-by-course basis. SPSU will accept any approved course in this area. If you have completed Area D at your original institution, Southern Polytechnic State University will accept this area in its entirety. If the area has not been completed, you will be required to take additional course work to complete the necessary hours.

E. Social Sciences (12 hours)

These are courses approved by the undergraduate curriculum committee that address learning outcomes in the social sciences, including, but not limited to, history and American government. Interdisciplinary courses are acceptable. If credit course work is used to satisfy the U.S./Georgia history and constitution requirement, course(s) shall be part of this area.

Transfer Students: If you have completed Area E at your original institution, Southern Polytechnic State University will accept this area in its entirety. If the area has not been completed, you will be required to take additional course work to complete the necessary hours, but never exceeding a total of fourteen semester hours between you former institution and SPSU. We will accept courses in this area whether or not we offer the course at SPSU.

F. Courses Related to the Program of Study (18 hours)

These are courses numbered below 3000 that are related to your program of study, and courses which are prerequisites to major courses at higher levels.

Transfer Students: Transfer evaluation of courses in Area D is on a course-by-course basis. If you have completed Area F at your original institution, Southern Polytechnic State University will accept this area in its entirety, provided your major does not change. If the area has not been completed, you will be required to take additional course work to complete the necessary hours.

Core Courses

Listed below are Southern Polytechnic State University core-curriculum courses and the credit hours for those courses.

Area A

Essential Skills

Three Courses are Required

All students must complete Composition I and II and either Math 1111 or Math 1113 depending on their major.

Take both English classes and one mathematics class, depending on your major.


Course		Title	Hours
ENGL 1101		Composition I	3
ENGL 1102		Composition II	3
MATH 1111		College Algebra	3
		or
MATH 1113		Pre-calculus	4
		or
MATH 2253		Calculus I	4
	Area Total is 9 or 10 Hours depending on major

NOTE: See your academic advisor for information about which specific math course you should take.

Area B

Institutional Option

Two Courses Are Required

All students must complete Speech 2400 and Science, Technology, and Society 2400.

Take both of these


Course		Title	Hours
COMM 2400		Public Speaking	2
STS 2400		Science, Technology, and Society	2
	Area Total is 4 Hours

Area C

Humanities/Fine Arts
Two Courses Are Required

All students must complete One Course From Each of the Following Two Groups for a total of two courses.

Literature of the World

Take one of these eleven courses.

Course	Title	Hours
ENGL 2111	World Literature I	3
ENGL 2112	World Literature II	3
ENGL 2120	British Literature	3
ENGL 2121	British Literature I	3
ENGL 2122	British Literature II	3
ENGL 2130	American Literature	3
ENGL 2131	American Literature I	3
ENGL 2132	American Literature II	3
ENGL 2141	Western Literature I	3
ENGL 2142	Western Literature II	3
ENGL 2300	African-American Literature and Culture	3

Art and Culture of the World

Take one of these seven courses.


Course		Title	Hours
ARTS 2001		Art Appreciation	3
ARTS 2002		Drama Appreciation	3
ARTS 2003		Music Appreciation	3
ARTS 2004		History of Contemporary American Music	3
FREN 1002		Elementary French II	3
GRMN 1002		Elementary German II	3
SPAN 1002		Elementary Spanish II	3
FREN 2001		Intermediate French I	3
SPAN 2001		Intermediate Spanish I	3
FREN 2002		Intermediate French II	3
SPAN 2002		Intermediate Spanish II	3
	Area Total is 6 Hours

Area D

Science, Mathematics, and Technology

Three Courses are Required

All students must complete two courses from the sciences group and one course from the mathematics group.

Sciences Group

Take any two courses from this list of nine courses for a total of 8 hours

Course	Title	Hours
ASTR 1000K	Introduction to the Universe	4
BIOL 2107K	Biology Principles I	4
BIOL 2108K	Biology Principles II	4
CHEM 1211K	Principles of Chemistry I	4
CHEM 1212K	Principles of Chemistry II	4
PHYS 1111K	Introductory Physics I	4
PHYS 1112K	Introductory Physics II	4
PHYS 2211K	Principles of Physics I	4
PHYS 2212K	Principles of Physics II	4

Mathematics Group

Take one from this list of three courses for a total of 3 or 4 hours


Course		Title	Hours
MATH 1113		Pre-calculus	4
MATH 2240		Survey of Calculus	3
MATH 2253		Calculus I	4
MATH 2254		Calculus II	4
	Area Total is 11 or 12 Hours

Area E

Social Sciences

Four Courses Are Required

All Students must complete one course from each of the following four groups

American Context Group

Take one of these three.

Course	Title	Hours
HIST 2111	U.S. History to 1877	3
HIST 2112	U.S. History since 1877	3
POLS 1101	American Government	3

NOTE: Any of the above three courses will satisfy the legislative requirements for U.S. Constitution and Georgia History

World History Group

Take one of these two.

Course	Title	Hours
HIST 1111	World Civ: Pre 1500	3
HIST 1112	World Civ: Post 1500	3

Behavioral Sciences Group

Take one of these two.

Course	Title	Hours
ECON 1101	Introduction to Economics	3
PSYC 1101	Introduction to General Psychology	3
SOCI 1101	Introduction to Sociology	3

Cultures and Societies Group

Take one of these five.


Course		Title	Hours
ANTH 1102		Introduction to Anthropology	3
ES 1100		Ethnic Studies	3
GEOG 1101		Introduction to Human Geography	3
POLS 2401		Global Issues	3
RELG 1200		World Religion	3
	Area Total is 12 Hours

Area F

Courses Related to the Major Program of Study

See your advisor or your academic department for the required courses in this area.

NOTE: The additional hours in Areas A and D carry over to Area F or general degree requirements.

	Area Total is 18 Hours.
Total Hours for USG CORE	60