General Education | Penn State (2024)

General Education is the heart of the undergraduate experience. From the sciences to the arts and humanities, General Education at Penn State prepares students to thrive personally and professionally in our diverse global society. Through General Education, students acquire skills, knowledge, and experiences for living in interconnected contexts, making life better for themselves, others, and the world. As professions become more dynamic and career paths less predictable, the ability to place information into context through critical thinking, develop solutions to complex problems, and make ethical decisions become essential skills for a resilient workforce. Creative and analytical practice prepares students of all disciplines to be resourceful in the application of their knowledge towards complex problem solving and to communicate that knowledge in a variety of forms.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GENERAL EDUCATION

We invite students to challenge themselves in General Education and encourage them to make intentional course decisions that create:

Strong Foundations General Education | Penn State (1)

Build a basis of effective communication and quantitative literacy.

Transformative Exploration General Education | Penn State (2)

Follow intellectual curiosity to deepen or widen your learning.

Integrative Learning General Education | Penn State (3)

Practice synthesizing knowledge from different perspectives.

General Education | Penn State (2024)

FAQs

What is a general Education course in Penn State? ›

The baccalaureate degree General Education program consists of 45 credits that are distributed among two General Education components: (1) Foundations Skills (15 credits) and (2) Knowledge Domains (30 credits) in the Natural Sciences, Arts, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Health and Wellness Physical ...

What is GS at Penn State? ›

It is also a required course for all majors and minors in economics, and meets requirements for a General Education (GS) or Bachelor of Arts social science course.

What are the four main components of general Education? ›

Each instructor helps students develop greater competency in one or more of the four General Education goal areas: Thinking Critically and Creatively; Communicating Effectively; Making Local to Global Connections; and Understanding Responsibilities of Community Membership.

What is the move 3 rule at Penn State? ›

Move "3" in Knowledge Domains: Instead of taking the required credits GN, GHW, GA, GH, and GS, a student can move three credits from one knowledge domain into a different knowledge domain. The exception to this is that a student cannot take 3 credits out of GHW because the domain cannot go down to 0 credits.

Why do colleges make you take general education courses? ›

Why Do Students Have to Take General Education Courses? The requirement for general education courses is intended to expand students' knowledge beyond their main area of study, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience.

What is another name for general education courses? ›

Basically, General Education (or Gen Ed for short) is required curriculum that makes up the foundation of an undergraduate degree. This set of standard classes goes by many other names, including Core Curriculum and Shared Experience.

What is the easiest class at Penn State? ›

Top 30 Easiest Classes:
  • MUSC-063: Beginning Sitar II (1.27)
  • NURS-101: The Nature of Nurse Practice (1.31)
  • MUSC-007: Ensemble Performance: Penn Baroque and Recorder Ensemble (1.32)*
  • THAR-100: Introduction to Theatre (1.34)
  • CINE-118: Iran Cinema: Gender/Politics/Religion (1.35)
  • MKTG-292: Creativity (1.35)

Are all general education classes the same? ›

Each school/college at every UC campus has its own set of general education classes. You can find out how to meet the requirements of a specific campus by checking out the campus general catalogs.

What GPA is an A Penn State? ›

Grade-Point Average
GradeGrade Point
A4.00
A-3.67
B+3.33
B3.00
5 more rows

What is the definition of general education? ›

: a program of education (as in some liberal-arts colleges and secondary schools) intended to develop students as personalities rather than trained specialists and to transmit a common cultural heritage compare liberal education.

What is a general education pattern? ›

General education (GE) is the cornerstone of degree attainment and supports student learning in the discipline-specific coursework required to earn a degree in a field of study.

What is the meaning of GE in education? ›

General Education courses are required classes taken by students enrolled in traditional four-year degree programs at accredited academic institutions. These courses focus on central ideas in Western societies, such as psychology, sociology, English literature and political science.

What is the 2 2 option at Penn State? ›

Students starting at a campus outside of University Park can participate in the 2+2 plan—two years at a starting campus followed by the final years at University Park or any campus offering the intended degree.

How many times can you fail a class at Penn State? ›

Faculty Senate Policy 47-80 limits students to a maximum of two (2) attempts, where attempts are defined as earning a grade OR late-dropping a class.

What is the meaning of general education courses? ›

General Education (GE) courses introduce students to the fundamental ideas and intellectual activities that scholars across campus—in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences—draw on in their work.

What is GH in Penn State? ›

(GH) Humanities | Penn State Brandywine.

Does Penn State have education course? ›

The College of Education educator preparation programs are fully accredited at the Initial and Advanced levels by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

What is the abbreviation for general education courses? ›

These are called general education classes or requirements. In addition, authors or editors will sometimes compile a list of educational materials and include them in a bibliography or similar section labeled as gen. ed.

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