Navigating General Education Requirements at Utah Valley University

The Certificate of Completion in General Education at Utah Valley University (UVU) encompasses the courses necessary to fulfill the university's general education requirements. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of UVU's general education program, its objectives, requirements, and significance for students pursuing associate and bachelor's degrees.

The Purpose of General Education at UVU

General education at UVU is designed as a shared academic experience. It allows students to explore diverse subjects, intellectual traditions, and perspectives, broadening their awareness of the world and equipping them with essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. These foundational elements are further developed within their chosen disciplines, enabling them to thrive as learners and professionals who can contribute meaningfully to their communities. While specialized knowledge is gained through major programs, the General Education program cultivates broad learning across the liberal arts and sciences.

Transferability and Articulation

Completing UVU's General Education program satisfies the general education requirements at all Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institutions. General Education courses are designed to transfer seamlessly across USHE institutions, adhering to common naming, numbering, and credit standards. Students transferring before completing all General Education requirements will receive credit for completed coursework with a passing grade, as approved by the sending institution. However, transfer students may need to complete additional coursework to fulfill any remaining General Education requirements, and minimum grades may not always satisfy major or prerequisite requirements. Receiving institutions may adjust course designations with student consent to facilitate degree completion. It is crucial for students to verify that they meet their major's specific General Education requirements.

Core Competencies Emphasized in General Education

UVU's General Education program focuses on developing several core competencies essential for success in academic and professional pursuits:

Communication: This involves the ability to effectively convey and interpret information through various formats (written, oral, and non-verbal), tailored to diverse audiences and contexts.
Critical Thinking: Critical thinking is the active and skillful process of analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information from various sources to make reasoned, logical judgments and decisions. It integrates problem-solving strategies to draw conclusions supported by evidence.
Quantitative & Scientific Literacy: This encompasses the ability to apply mathematical, statistical, and scientific methods to investigate questions, analyze and interpret data, evaluate trends and uncertainties, and make evidence-based conclusions.
Civic and Global Engagement: This involves a broad and informed understanding of local, national, and global communities.

General Education Course Requirements

The following list identifies General Education core, institutional requirement, and breadth area courses as they apply to UVU's General Education program. These courses satisfy the General Education requirements for both the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science degrees, as well as the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees at UVU.

Specific Degree Requirements

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degrees: These degrees require a minimum of 9 credits in General Education, including 3 credits in Written Communication and 3-4 credits in Quantitative Literacy. Individual programs may require additional General Education coursework, as approved by the GE Committee, beyond these requirements.
Bachelor's Degrees:
- Global/Intercultural (GI) Requirement: This is a graduation requirement at the bachelor's degree level. Courses that may be used to complete this requirement will be coded with a GI course attribute. The purpose of the Global/Intercultural requirement is to assist students to become better prepared to understand and participate in the global and cultural interdependencies that characterize our world. Students who take courses at another university and want to use those courses for the Global/Intercultural requirement must petition through the GI committee.
- Writing Enriched (WE) Requirement: This is part of the bachelor's degree curriculum. Every student earning a bachelor’s degree must successfully complete at least two WE-designated courses. These courses are identified by a WE course attribute. The purpose of the WE requirement is to help students learn the writing conventions and genres of their disciplines and professions, so they are better prepared for the writing necessary in their chosen career.

Institutional Oversight and Faculty Involvement

UVU's general education curriculum is primarily governed by state policy (R470). The university emphasizes a collaborative approach to curriculum development, incorporating input from faculty, staff, students, and administration. Faculty members play a central role in establishing curricula, ensuring alignment with state requirements, institutional priorities, and university-wide learning outcomes.

Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the policies of the university and the requirements of their specific academic programs. Information regarding program graduation requirements is available in the university catalog and in a student's degree audit. Ultimately, satisfying all graduation requirements rests upon the student.

Graduation Requirements

A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for graduation.
Candidates for graduation will be held to the requirements of the catalog year of their declared program.
A student must have attended UVU during a catalog year to use those requirements towards graduation.
The expiration clock starts the term the student is declared in a degree.
If a student is unable to complete their program within the maximum timeframe, they will need to consult with their academic advisor and move to an active catalog.
Programs that are no longer offered may not be pursued by students who were not admitted or formally matriculated in them during the accepted period of time.
Students who were admitted or matriculated into a program while it was offered must complete the program prior to the expiration of the program's final catalog year.
Students may not combine portions of different catalogs to fulfill graduation requirements.
Once a catalog is selected, students must abide by all the graduation requirements specified within that catalog.
In some cases, the university may not have the resources to allow a student to remain in a discontinued program, even if the catalog has not yet expired.

Additional Degree Options

Students may earn multiple associate degrees.
Students may earn multiple Bachelor's degrees.
Students may complete multiple emphases under a specific bachelor’s degree. Additional emphases shall appear on transcripts, but no additional diplomas shall be awarded.
A bachelor’s degree with two majors may be awarded when a student completes all requirements for two programs and does not meet the additional 30 semester hours required for a second bachelor’s degree. The student shall receive a single bachelor’s degree; the diploma and transcript shall list both majors. Students shall apply for graduation for only one degree type, such as a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, when applying for a double major. To be awarded a double major, students shall complete both programs before or during the semester of graduation. If a student has already graduated in one of the majors, they cannot apply for a double major.

General Requirements

Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above.
Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above.
Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above.
A second language is required to obtain the Associate in Arts Degree. This language must be different from the student’s native language.
Academic Certificates require 9-36 credit hours.
25% of earned credits must be earned in residency at UVU.
The requirements for graduate degrees vary considerably.
Students should submit a graduation application for each degree or certificate they will complete.
In some cases, UVU will automatically award certificates and associate degrees to eligible students who have completed all relevant requirements.
Degrees and certificates are awarded each semester.
In addition to the requirements of their program, students must resolve any Missing (M) or Incomplete (I) grades, or other grade changes.
Commencement exercises are held once each year at the end of spring semester. Students who have completed their graduation requirements during the summer, fall, or spring of that academic year are invited to participate.
Graduates are only permitted to walk within their graduating academic year.
Summer graduates have the option to walk in the spring ceremony prior to their final summer term, or in the following academic year ceremony. If they walk in the spring ceremony prior to their degree completion, they may not walk with honors and will not be eligible to be valedictorian for their College/School.
Honors designations are computed on hours completed; 20 hours minimum for associate degrees and 30 hours minimum for bachelor's degrees. These distinctions are awarded and based only upon cumulative GPA and are not related to participation in the UVU Honors Program.
Graduate students do not qualify for honors distinction.
Each of the Colleges and Schools of the university will select a valedictorian from a list (supplied by the Registrar's Office Graduation department) of candidates graduating with honors during the academic year. The status of valedictorian is determined by each college/school, based on competitive criteria.

Why General Education Matters

Many students question the value of general education requirements, wondering why they need to take courses outside their chosen field of study. Understanding the purpose behind these requirements can shift one's perspective. Colleges and universities have developed shared sets of common knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) expected for graduates. A “general” education, often referred to as G.E. or Gen Ed, is also known as a “liberal” education. The term “liberal” as used here has nothing to do with politics or with one’s political or social beliefs.

In today's rapidly evolving world, a broad foundation of knowledge is crucial. Specialization alone is not enough. General education fosters critical thinking, curiosity, flexibility, analytical skills, creativity, and adaptability - qualities that are highly valued by employers. By providing a broader perspective, general education enables students to connect seemingly disparate concepts and apply knowledge in innovative ways.

Systems Thinking and General Education

Every bit of knowledge you acquire is part of another larger system, and the more you understand that larger system, the more effective you will be.

Read also: Navigating Gen Ed Requirements

So, you come to UVU planning to get a degree in marketing or nursing or computer science, but then you learn about general education requirements. These mean much more than being forced to take a bunch of classes you aren’t interested in. Think how much better you will be prepared if you have learned critical thinking, curiosity, flexibility, analytics, creativity, and adaptability - if you have a broad foundation of knowledge to draw upon, not just a narrow specialization.

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