Navigating General Education Requirements at Clemson University

Academic institutions, like Clemson University, are dedicated to imparting knowledge, fostering intellectual and ethical growth in students, pursuing truth, and contributing to the overall betterment of society. Clemson University's general education requirements aim to ensure that undergraduate students are not only technically skilled but also broadly educated, enabling them to become informed, productive, and critically thinking citizens. These requirements ensure learning across different disciplines and domains of knowledge. This foundational study across epistemologies is an important component of developing higher order thinking skills.

General Education Requirements Overview

Undergraduate students enrolling after May 15, 2005, must adhere to the general education requirements in effect at the time of their enrollment. Students who withdraw from the University and later return, or those who do not maintain continuous enrollment (excluding summers), will typically be subject to the requirements in place upon their return. To meet general education competencies, Clemson University requires a total of 33 credit hours, divided into two main components:

I. General Education Coursework: 31 credit hoursII. Distributed Coursework: 2 credit hours

The general education curriculum, known as Crossings, is designed to integrate intellectual development with the student's growth as thinkers and citizens, supporting and augmenting their major courses of study. The model provides the academic structure whereby skills, knowledge, and intellectual development acquired in the general education curriculum crosses with those in the major course of study. It is where theoretical knowledge crosses into engaged learning and practical applications. Integrity is a core value for our University, and it is of paramount importance in academic settings.

I. General Education Coursework (31 Credit Hours)

The 31 credit hours of general education coursework are further divided into six categories, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience. Note that some curricula may have more restrictive requirements than those listed below. Science and Technology in Society and Cross-Cultural Awareness requirements may be satisfied by other General Education courses, as indicated in the footnotes below, as long as the student completes a total of 31 hours in area I. and satisfies requirements A-F below:

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A. Communication: at least 6 creditsB. Mathematical, Scientific, and Technological Literacy: at least 10 creditsC. Arts and Humanities: at least 6 creditsD. Social Sciences: at least 6 creditsE. Cross-Cultural Awareness: at least 3 creditsF. Science and Technology in Society: at least 3 credits

A. Communication (at Least 6 Credits)

Effective communication is a highly valued skill for students, faculty, and employers alike. * May be satisfied either by the courses above or by an approved departmental cluster of courses, see II. Distributed Coursework. Students taking clusters must still earn at least 31 hours from the General Education Coursework list.

B. Mathematical, Scientific, and Technological Literacy (at Least 10 Credits)

This category aims to equip students with a fundamental understanding of mathematics, science, and technology. It is divided into two subcategories:

Mathematics (3 Credits)

Students can choose from a variety of courses, including:

MATH 1010 - Essential Mathematics for the Informed Society (3 Credits)

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MATH 1020 - Business Calculus I (3 Credits)
MATH 1060 - Calculus of One Variable I (4 Credits)
MATH 1070 - Differential and Integral Calculus (4 Credits)
MATH 1080 - Calculus of One Variable II (4 Credits)
MATH 2070 - Business Calculus II (3 Credits)

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STAT 2220 - Statistics in Everyday Life (3 Credits)
STAT 2300 - Statistical Methods I (3 Credits)
STAT 3090 - Introductory Business Statistics (3 Credits)
STAT 3300 - Statistical Methods II (3 Credits)
Note: For Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Special Education majors only, the approved cluster of MATH 1150, MATH 1160 and MATH 2160 satisfies the requirement.

Natural Science with Lab (4 Credits)

This requirement ensures that students gain hands-on experience in scientific inquiry. Course options include:

ASTR 1010 - Solar System Astronomy (3 Credits) and ASTR 1030 - Solar System Astronomy Laboratory (1 Credit)
ASTR 1020 - Stellar Astronomy (3 Credits) and ASTR 1040 - Stellar Astronomy Laboratory (1 Credit)
BIOL 1030 - General Biology I (3 Credits) and BIOL 1050 - General Biology Laboratory I (1 Credit)
BIOL 1040 - General Biology II (3 Credits) and BIOL 1060 - General Biology Laboratory II (1 Credit)
BIOL 1090 - Introduction to Life Science (4 Credits)
BIOL 1100 - Principles of Biology I (5 Credits)
BIOL 1110 - Principles of Biology II (5 Credits)
BIOL 1200 - Biological Inquiry Laboratory (1 Credit) and BIOL 1220 - Keys to Biodiversity (3 Credits) 1 Credit and BIOL 1230 - Keys to Human Biology (3 Credits)
CH 1010 - General Chemistry (4 Credits)
CH 1020 - General Chemistry (4 Credits)
CH 1050 - Chemistry in Context I (4 Credits) 1
CH 1060 - Chemistry in Context II (4 Credits) 1
GEOL 1010 - Physical Geology (3 Credits) and GEOL 1030 - Physical Geology Laboratory (1 Credit)
GEOL 1120 - Earth Resources (3 Credits) 1 and GEOL 1140 - Earth Resources Laboratory (1 Credit)
GEOL 2020 - Earth History (4 Credits)
PHSC 1070 - Introduction to Earth Science (4 Credits)
PHSC 1080 - Introduction to Physical Science (4 Credits)
PHSC 1170 - Introduction to Chemistry and Earth Science for Elementary Education Majors (4 Credits)
PHSC 1180 - Introduction to Physics, Astronomy, and Earth Science for Elementary Education Majors (4 Credits)
PHYS 1220 - Physics with Calculus I (3 Credits) and PHYS 1240 - Physics Laboratory I (1 Credit)
PHYS 2000 - Introductory Physics (4 Credits)
PHYS 2070 - General Physics I (3 Credits) and PHYS 2090 - General Physics I Laboratory (1 Credit)
PHYS 2080 - General Physics II (3 Credits) and PHYS 2100 - General Physics II Laboratory (1 Credit)
PHYS 2210 - Physics with Calculus II (3 Credits) and PHYS 2230 - Physics Laboratory II (1 Credit)
PHYS 2220 - Physics with Calculus III (3 Credits) and PHYS 2240 - Physics Laboratory III (1 Credit)

C. Arts and Humanities (at Least 6 Credits)

This category exposes students to various forms of artistic expression, ethical considerations, and philosophical thought. It is divided into Literature and Non-Literature subcategories. Student learning outcome for Arts and Humanities: Students will analyze, interpret, and employ aesthetic, ethical, linguistic, and/or philosophical discourse in relevant contexts.

Literature (3 Credits)

Students can select from a range of 2000-level ENGL literature courses or other approved courses, such as:

ENGL 2020 - The Major Forms of Literature (3 Credits)
ENGL 2120 - World Literature (3 Credits)
ENGL 2130 - British Literature (3 Credits)
ENGL 2140 - American Literature (3 Credits)
ENGL 2150 - Literature in 20th- and 21st-Century Contexts (3 Credits)
ENGL 2160 - African American Literature (3 Credits)
CHIN 4010 - Pre-Modern Chinese Literature in Translation (3 Credits)
FR 3000 - Survey of French Literature (3 Credits)
FR 3040 - French Short Story (3 Credits)
GER 2600 - Selected Topics in German Literature (3 Credits)
GER 3060 - The German Short Story (3 Credits)
GER 3600 - German Literature to 1832 (3 Credits)
GER 3610 - German Literature from 1832 to Modernism (3 Credits)
HON 1900 - Freshman Colloquium: Arts and Humanities (Literature) (3 Credits)
HON 2210 - Studies in Literature (3 Credits)
ITAL 3010 - Introduction to Italian Literature (3 Credits)
ITAL 3020 - Modern Italian Literature (3 Credits)
JAPN 4010 - Japanese Literature in Translation (3 Credits)
JAPN 4060 - Introduction to Japanese Literature (3 Credits)
RUSS 3600 - Russian Literature to 1910 (3 Credits)
RUSS 3610 - Russian Literature Since 1910 (3 Credits)
SPAN 3040 - Introduction to Hispanic Literary Forms (3 Credits)
SPAN 3110 - Survey of Spanish-American Literature (3 Credits)
SPAN 3130 - Survey of Spanish Literature I (3 Credits)

Non-Literature (3 Credits)

This subcategory broadens students' perspectives through courses in art, culture, philosophy, and other humanities disciplines. Options include:

AAH 1010 - Survey of Art and Architectural History I (3 Credits)
ART 2100 - Art Appreciation (3 Credits) 2
ART 3750 - Writing for the Arts in Charleston (3-6 Credits)
ASL 3050 - Deaf Studies in the United States (3 Credits) 2
CAAH 2010 - Cultural Literacies Across Media (3 Credits) 2
CHIN (PHIL) 3120 - Philosophy in Ancient China (3 Credits)
CHIN (PHIL) 3130 - Philosophy in Modern China (3 Credits)
CHIN (PHIL) 4140 - Philosophy in Medieval China (3 Credits)
CHIN 4990 - Selected Topics in Chinese Culture (3 Credits)
COMM 1800 - Introduction to Cross-Cultural Communication (3 Credits) 2
COMM 3030 - Communication Law and Ethics (3 Credits)
COMM 3080 - Public Communication and Popular Culture (3 Credits)
COMM 3090 - Visual Discourse and the Public (3 Credits)
COMM 4020 - Mass Communication: History and Criticism (3 Credits)
ENGL (GW) 3010 - Great Books of the Western World (3 Credits)
ENGL 3550 - Global Studies in Popular Culture (3 Credits)
ENGL (WCIN) 3570 - Film (3 Credits)
ENGL (LANG, WCIN) 4540 - Selected Topics in International Film (3 Credits)
FR 3070 - French Civilization (3 Credits)
GER 3400 - German Culture (3 Credits)
GW (ENGL) 3010 - Great Books of the Western World (3 Credits)
GW 4050 - The Darwinian Revolution (3 Credits)
HON 1910 - Freshman Colloquium: Arts and Humanities (Non-Literature) (3 Credits)
HON 2010 - Structures and Society (3 Credits) 1
HON 2030 - Society, Art, and Humanities (3 Credits)
HON 2100 - Experiencing the Arts (3 Credits)
HON 2220 - Studies in Arts and Humanities (3 Credits)
HUM 3010 - Humanities (3 Credits)
HUM 3020 - Humanities (3 Credits)
HUM 3060 - Creative Genius in Western Culture (3 Credits)
HUM 3090 - Studies in Humanities (3 Credits) 2
JAPN 3070 - Japanese Civilization I (3 Credits)
JAPN 3080 - Japanese Civilization II (3 Credits)
LANG 3400 - Cosmopolis: The Myth of the City (3 Credits)
LANG 3420 - Sacred and Profane Bodies (3 Credits)
LANG 3560 - Faces of Evil (3 Credits)
LANG (ENGL, WCIN) 4540 - Selected Topics in International Film (3 Credits)
LARC 1160 - History of Landscape Architecture (3 Credits) 1
MUSC 2100 - Music Appreciation: Music in the Western World (3 Credits) 2
MUSC (THEA) 3080 - Survey of Broadway Musicals I (3 Credits)
MUSC (THEA) 3090 - Survey of Broadway Musicals II (3 Credits)
MUSC 3110 - History of American Music (3 Credits)
MUSC 3120 - History of Jazz (3 Credits)
MUSC 3130 - History of Rock and Roll (3 Credits)
MUSC 3140 - World Music (3 Credits) 2
MUSC 3170 - History of Country Music (3 Credits)
MUSC 3610 - Marching Band (1 Credits)
MUSC 3620 - Symphonic Band (1 Credits)
MUSC 3630 - Jazz Ensemble (1 Credits)
MUSC 3640 - Concert Band (1 Credits)
MUSC 3690 - Symphony Orchestra (1 Credits)
MUSC 3700 - Clemson University Singers (1 Credits)
MUSC 3710 - Womenâs Chorus (1 Credits)
MUSC 3720 - Menâs Chorus (1 Credits)
PHIL 1010 - Introduction to Philosophic Problems (3 Credits)
PHIL 1020 - Introduction to Logic (3 Credits)
PHIL 1030 - Introduction to Ethics (3 Credits)
PHIL 1240 - Technology and Its Discontents (3 Credits) 1
PHIL 2100 - Evolution and Creation (3 Credits) 1
PHIL (CHIN) 3120 - Philosophy in Ancient China (3 Credits)
PHIL (CHIN) 3130 - Philosophy in Modern China (3 Credits)
PHIL 3160 - Modern Philosophy (3 Credits)
PHIL 3170 - Nineteenth-Century Philosophy (3 Credits)
PHIL 3180 - Twentieth-Century Philosophy (3 Credits)
PHIL 3230 - Theory of Knowledge (3 Credits)
PHIL 3240 - Philosophy of Technology (3 Credits) 1
PHIL 3250 - Philosophy of Science (3 Credits)
PHIL 3260 - Science and Values (3 Credits) 1
PHIL 3270 - Philosophy of Social Science (3 Credits)
PHIL 3440 - Business Ethics (3 Credits)
PHIL 3450 - Environmental Ethics (3 Credits) 1
PHIL (CHIN) 4140 - Philosophy in Medieval China (3 Credits)
REL 1010 - Introduction to Religion (3 Credits) 2
REL 1020 - World Religions (3 Credits) 2
REL 3010 - The Old Testament (3 Credits)
REL 3020 - Survey of New Testament Literature (3 Credits)
REL 3030 - The Quran (3 Credits)
REL 3060 - Judaism (3 Credits)
REL 3070 - The Christian Tradition (3 Credits)
REL 3090 - The Religious History of the American South (3 Credits)
REL 3120 - Hinduism (3 Credits)
REL 3130 - Buddhism (3 Credits)
REL 3150 - Islam (3 Credits)
REL 3350 - Islam and the West (3 Credits)
RUSS 3400 - Russian Culture of the Nineteenth Century (3 Credits)
SPAN 3070 - The Hispanic World: Spain (3 Credits)
SPAN 3080 - The Hispanic World: Latin America (3 Credits)
STS 1010 - Survey of Science and Technology in Society (3 Credits) 1
STS 1020 - Ideas, Machinery, and Society (3 Credits) 1
STS 2150 - A Critical Approach to the Global Challenge of Technological Revolutions (3 Credits) 1
STS 3010 - Science in Context (3 Credits) 1
STS 3030 - Technology, Culture and Society (3 Credits) 1
THEA 2100 - Theatre Appreciation (3 Credits)
THEA 2790 - Theatre Practicum (1 Credits)
THEA (MUSC) 3080 - Survey of Broadway Musicals I (3 Credits)
THEA (MUSC) 3090 - Survey of Broadway Musicals II (3 Credits)
THEA 3150 - Theatre History I (3 Credits)
THEA 3160 - Theatre History II (3 Credits)
THEA 3170 - African-American Theatre I (3 Credits)
WS 3010 - Introduction to Womenâs Studies: Womenâs Lives (3 Credits)
WCIN (ENGL) 3570 - Film (3 Credits)
WCIN (ENGL, LANG) 4540 - Selected Topics in International Film (3 Credits)

D. Social Sciences (at Least 6 Credits)

E. Cross-Cultural Awareness (at Least 3 Credits)

This requirement encourages students to develop an understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives. Courses that fulfill this requirement include:

AAH 1020 - Survey of Art and Architectural History II (3 Credits)
AGRB 2050 - Agriculture and Society (3 Credits) 1
ANTH 2010 - Introduction to Anthropology (3 Credits)
ART 2100 - Art Appreciation (3 Credits)
ASL 3050 - Deaf Studies in the United States (3 Credits)
CAAH 2010 - Cultural Literacies Across Media (3 Credits)
COMM 1800 - Introduction to Cross-Cultural Communication (3 Credits)
GEOG 1030 - World Regional Geography (3 Credits)
HIST 1720 - The West and the World I (3 Credits)
HIST 1730 - The West and the World II (3 Credits)
HIST 1930 - Modern World History (3 Credits)
HON 1930 - Freshman Colloquium: Cross-Cultural Awareness (3 Credits)
HON 2090 - Border Crossings: Experiences in World Cultures (1-3 Credits)
HUM 3090 - Studies in Humanities (3 Credits)
IS 1010 - Cross-Cultural Awareness International Experience (0 Credits)
IS 2100 - Selected Topics in International Studies (3 Credits)
LANG 2500 - Introduction to World Languages (3 Credits)
LANG 2540 - Introduction to World Cinemas (3 Credits)
MUSC 2100 - Music Appreciation: Music in the Western World (3 Credits)
MUSC 3140 - World Music (3 Credits)
PAS 3010 - Introduction to Pan African Studies (3 Credits)
POSC 1020 - Introduction to International Relations (3 Credits)
POSC 1040 - Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 Credits)
PSYC 2500 - Pursuing Happiness (3 Credits)
REL 1010 - Introduction to Religion (3 Credits)
REL 1020 - World Religions (3 Credits)
WS 1030 - Women in Global Perspective (3 Credits) or
Through a University-approved cross-cultural experience

F. Science and Technology in Society (at Least 3 Credits)

This category examines the impact of science and technology on society, encouraging students to think critically about these issues. Courses include:

AGED (EDF) 4800 - Foundations of Digital Media and Learning (3 Credits)
AGRB 2050 - Agriculture and Society (3 Credits) 2
AGRB (ECON) 4570 - Natural Resource Use, Technology and Policy (3 Credits)
AVS 3150 - Animal Welfare (3 Credits)
AVS 4150 - Contemporary Issues in Animal Science (3 Credits)
BIOL 2000 - Biology in the News (3 Credits)
BIOL 2010 - Biotechnology and Society (3 Credits)
BIOL 2030 - Human Disease and Society (3 Credits)
BIOL 2040 - Environment, Energy and Society (3 Credits)
BIOL 2100 - Evolution and Creationism (3 Credits)
BIOL 2110 - Introduction to Toxicology (3 Credits)
BIOL 2200 - Biology: Concepts, Issues, and Values (3 Credits)
BIOL 4730 - History of Modern Biology (3 Credits)
CH 1050 - Chemistry in Context I (4 Credits)
CH 1060 - Chemistry in Context II (4 Credits)
COMM 1070 - Media Representations of Science and Technology (3 Credits)
COMM 3070 - Public Communication of Science and Technology (3 Credits)
CPSC 2920 - Computing, Ethics and Global Society (3 Credits)
CTE 1150 - Contemporary Technological Problems (3 Credits)
CTE 2210 - Exploring Technology (3 Credits)
ECE 1010 - Robots in Business and Society (3 Credits)
ECON 3190 - Environmental Economics (3 Credits)
ECON (AGRB) 4570 - Natural Resource Use, Technology, and Policy (3 Credits)
EDF (AGED) 4800 - Foundations of Digital Media and Learning (3 Credits)
ENGL 3490 - Technology and the Popular Imagination (3 Credits)
ENGR 2200 - Evaluating Innovations: Fixtures, Fads and Flops (3 Credits)
ENGR 2210 - Technology, Culture and Design (3 Credits)
ENR 3120 - Environmental Risks and Society (3 Credits)
ENR (FOR) 4160 - Forest Policy and Administration (3 Credits)
ENSP (GEOL) 1250 - Sustainable Resource Use (3 Credits)
ENSP 2000 - Introduction to Environmental Science (3 Credits)
ENSP (PES) 3150 - Environment and Agriculture (3 Credits)
ENSP 4000 - Studies in Environmental Science (3 Credits)
ENT 2000 - Six-Legged Science (3 Credits)
FDSC 2140 - Food Resources and Society (3 Credits)
FOR (ENR) 4160 - Forest Policy and Administration (3 Credits)
GEOL 1120 - Earth Resources (3 Credits)
GEOL 1200 - Natural Hazards (3 Credits)
GEOL (ENSP) 1250 - Sustainable Resource Use (3 Credits)
GEOL 2700 - Experiences in Sustainable Development: Water (3 Credits)
GEOL 3000 - Environmental Geology (3 Credits)
HCG (NURS) 3330 - Health Care Genetics (3 Credits)
HIST 1220 - History, Technology, and Society (3 Credits)
HIST 1240 - Environmental History Survey (3 Credits)
HIST 3210 - History of Science (3 Credits)
HIST 3220 - History of Technology (3 Credits)
HIST 3230 - History of American Technology (3 Credits)
HIST 3920 - History of the Environment of the United States (3 Credits)
HIST 4240 - Topics in History of Medicine and Health (3 Credits)
HIST 4910 - Studies in t…

II. Distributed Coursework (2 Credit Hours)

Details regarding distributed coursework are not provided in the user's text.

Support for Students and Faculty

Clemson University is committed to providing support services to students throughout their academic journey, as they develop into lifelong learners. The Division of Undergraduate Learning supports faculty members in creating outstanding learning experiences for undergraduate students, facilitating multiple initiatives and programs to support Clemson studentsâ academic journeys.

Global Challenges

Global Challenges represent significant concerns faced by multiple populations around the world. In exploring Global Challenges within courses, we are helping our students reinforce learning in critical thinking, evaluation, and ethical analysis.

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