General Education Requirements

The general education component is the common requirement of all baccalaureate students at Arkansas Tech University. The knowledge and skills acquired in the general education component enable students to analyze problems, to arrive at intelligent conclusions, and to make reasoned choices in their professional and personal lives. A well rounded, liberal education should increase the choices available to Arkansas Tech University's graduates, thereby improving the quality of their lives and the lives of those whom they influence.

Many of the general education courses were designed to deal primarily with processes rather than simply with facts, to help students to develop individually and as members of a group, and to instill in students the desire to continue to learn throughout their entire lives.

Students who earn degrees at Arkansas Tech University should:

1. Be able to listen attentively, and read, write, and speak clearly and effectively.

2. Show competence in reasoning and handling of abstract and quantitative ideas and be able to create mathematical models and use mathematical techniques to solve the problems which they encounter.

3. Demonstrate a basic competency in the accessing, processing, and presenting of information through computer technologies.

4. Have a knowledge of the history of Western and Non-Western cultures and recognize the interdependent nature of the global economic, political, and social institutions and systems.

5. Have a basic knowledge of a foreign culture or language and an appreciation of the differences in thought processes, methods of communication, and value systems from culture to culture.

6. Understand the nature and function of the arts, explore and learn to enjoy the possibilities of artistic creation, and discover how the full range of human experience is given expression in works of art.

7. Comprehend the basic principles, philosophy, and methodology of science and the influence of science and technology on society.

8. Have an understanding of the history and culture of the United States and of the development and change of American social, political and economic systems.

9. Have a basic knowledge of some of the great philosophical concepts and ideas of the world and develop the capacity to comprehend moral and ethical issues.

10. Understand and appreciate the importance of the factors that contribute to personal health and wellness.

To accomplish the above goals, Arkansas Tech requires the completion of the following general education curriculum. Students should refer to the curriculum in their major area of study for specific courses either recommended or required by the academic department to fulfill the general education requirements.

General Education Requirements

English - 6 hours

Three hours from one of the following:

ENGL 1013 Composition I

ENGL 1043 Honors Composition I

Three additional hours from one of the following:

ENGL 1023 Composition II

ENGL 1053 Honors Composition II

Mathematics - 3 hours

Three hours from one of the following:

MATH 1113 College Algebra

Any higher level mathematics course

Science - 8-12 hours

Four hours of a biological science with laboratory from one of the following:

BIOL 1014 Introduction to Biological Science

Any higher level biology course that includes a lab (Note that BIOL 1014 is specifically designed to meet general education objectives and is highly recommended unless you meet the prerequisites for a different course specified by your major).

Four additional hours of a physical science with laboratory from one of the following:

PHSC 1013 Introduction to Physical Science AND
PHSC 1021 Physical Science Laboratory

CHEM 1114 Survey of Chemistry

CHEM 2124 General Chemistry I

GEOL 1014 Physical Geology

PHYS 1114 Applied Physics

PHYS 2014 Physical Principles I

PHYS 2024 Physical Principles II

PHYS 2114 General Physics I

PHYS 2124 General Physics II

PHSC 1053 Astronomy AND PHSC 1051 Observational Astronomy Lab OR
PHSC 3053 Astronomy AND PHSC 3051 Observational Astronomy Lab

Physical Activity - 2 hours

Two hours from the following:

Physical education activity courses

Recreation (RP) coeducational activity courses

Wellness science activity courses

Theatrical dance activity

Appropriate military science courses completed through cross-enrollment agreement with UCA.

Fine Arts - 3 hours

Three hours from one of the following:

*ART 2123 Experiencing Art

MUS 2003 Introduction to Music

TH 2273 Introduction to Theatre

*ENGL 2173 Introduction to Film

*JOUR 2173 Introduction to Film

Art Majors:

Any of the above course options, except ART 2123

Music Majors:

Any of the above courses options, except MUS 2003

Humanities - 3 hours

Three hours from one of the following:

*ENGL 2003 Introduction to World Literature

ENGL 2013 Introduction to American Literature

PHIL 2003 Introduction to Philosophy

Social Sciences - 12 hours

Three hours from one of the following:

HIST 2003 U.S. History to 1865

HIST 2013 U.S. History from 1865

POLS 2003 American Government

Nine additional hours from the following:

*HIST 1503 World Civilization I

*HIST 1513 World Civilization II

HIST 2003 U.S. History to 1865

HIST 2013 U.S. History from 1865

POLS 2003 American Government

ECON 2003 Principles of Economics I

SOC 1003 Introductory Sociology

PSY 2003 General Psychology

*ANTH 1213 Introduction to Anthropology OR

*ANTH 2003 Cultural Anthropology

*GEOG 2013 Regional Geography of the World

AMST 2003 American Studies

*Of the above 18 hours in Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Science, three hours must be from one of the following:

ART 2123 Experiencing Art

ENGL 2173 Introduction to Film

JOUR 2173 Introduction to Film

ENGL 2003 Introduction to World Literature

HIST 1503 World Civilization I

HIST 1513 World Civilization II

ANTH 1213 Introduction to Anthropology OR

ANTH 2003 Cultural Anthropology

GEOG 2013 Regional Geography of the World

State Minimum Core

The courses that comprise Tech's general education curriculum also constitute the University's State Minimum Core, established in accordance with Act 98 of 1989, for implementation the fall semester of 1991. Act 98 requires colleges and universities to identify "a minimum core of courses which shall apply toward the general education core curriculum requirements for baccalaureate degrees at state supported institutions of higher education and which shall be fully transferable between state institutions."