Core Curriculum Requirements

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Core IMPACTS Curriculum Requirements

Georgia State University requires all students seeking an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to satisfactorily complete a basic core of general education subjects. Georgia State’s core IMPACTS curriculum provides students with a broad background in general education and reflects the special mission of this university as an urban research institution with an international, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural focus. Because of ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the core IMPACTS curriculum, changes may occur periodically in its configuration. Every attempt will be made to notify students when such changes occur.

The core IMPACTS curriculum is designed to provide students with a wide array of courses as a means of gaining a basic education in the liberal arts and assisting students in their choice of a major. Students should normally choose among the courses in these areas and select a major before taking courses in the Field of Study. Students who have chosen a major before the completion of core IMPACTS curriculum should review the departmental sections of the catalog to see specific recommendations for course selection. Some programs, such as art, music, and nursing, require students to begin major-related coursework in their freshman year to meet course sequencing requirements.

Institutional Foundations (4 Credit Hours)

PERS 2001 is a group of interdisciplinary courses that provides a better understanding of the contemporary world through the study of different cultures. Only one course from this group may be used to fulfill requirements in this section.

PERS 2002 is a group of interdisciplinary courses that deals with scientific approaches to important issues on the environment, public health, or technology. Only one course from this group may be used to fulfill requirements in this section.

PERS 2003 is a group of interdisciplinary courses that focus on the human condition, how people have expressed themselves through the arts and humanities, and how such representations have had broad historical and/or contemporary impact. Only one course in this group may be used to fulfill requirements in this section.

PHIL 1010 - Critical Thinking 2 Credit Hours
SCOM 1000 - Human Communication 2 Credit Hours
PERS 2001 - Perspectives on Comparative Culture 2 Credit Hours
PERS 2002 - Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems 2 Credit Hours
PERS 2003 - Perspectives on Human Expression 2 Credit Hours

Mathematics & Quantitative Skills (3-4 Credit Hours)

Beginning Fall 2019, students may only take MATH 1111 , MATH 1113 , and MATH 2211 twice without special approval. All attempts prior to Fall 2019 will count in the two attempt limit.

If a 4-hour course is selected, the additional hour will be counted in the Field of Study or as an elective (for bachelor’s students).

Students should select mathematics courses that are appropriate for their preferred degree program. Students are strongly advised to consult with an academic advisor before selecting a mathematics course. Specific recommendations may also be listed in the catalog section for the degree program.

Majors in sciences and mathematics programs (i.e., biology, computer science, chemistry, geology A.S., geoscience B.S., mathematics, medical technology, neuroscience, physics, radiologic sciences, and sciences/math education) are required to take either MATH 1113 or MATH 2211 . Engineering students are required to take MATH 2211 . It is recommended that all other science and mathematics majors listed above take MATH 1113 . Special sections of MATH 1113 are available for majors in computer science, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics, as well as for majors in biology, chemistry, geology A.S., geoscience B.S., medical technology, radiologic sciences, and sciences/math education.

Students who have earned 30 hours but have not completed their Mathematics & Quantitative skills courses must enroll in the next course necessary to make progress towards completion in every semester in which they take classes. For students with Learning Support requirements in mathematics, taking the required Learning Support course counts as making progress towards completion.

Note: A math placement test is recommended for all students who do not have credit for one of these math courses and is required for students who wish to take MATH 1111 , College Algebra, or higher. See counselingcenter.gsu.edu/testing/ for more information.

MATH 1001 - Quantitative Reasoning 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1111 - College Algebra 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1113 - Precalculus 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1220 - Survey of Calculus 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours
MATH 2201 - Calculus for the Life Sciences I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2202 - Calculus for the Life Sciences II 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2211 - Calculus of One Variable I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2212 - Calculus of One Variable II 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2215 - Multivariate Calculus 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2420 - Discrete Mathematics 3 Credit Hours

Political Science and US History (6 Credit Hours)

Georgia law requires all students to pass examinations on (a) the history of the United States and the history of Georgia and (b) the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Georgia. Students may satisfy these requirements by earning passing grades in HIST 2110 and POLS 1101 . (See 1425 Federal and State Constitution and History Requirements )

HIST 2110 - Survey of United States History 3 Credit Hours
POLS 1101 - Introduction to American Government 3 Credit Hours

Arts, Humanities & Ethics (6 Credit Hours)

This section includes course work in Fine Arts, Humanities, World Languages and Cultures. Some foreign language courses are not open to native speakers of that language. Please consult the course description before making a selection in this section. Placement exams in French, German, and Spanish are available. See Placement Testing for more information.

Select two courses from groups 1 through 3 below. The two courses may not come from the same group.

Communication in Writing (6 Credit Hours)

ENGL 1101 & ENGL 1102 are the standard writing and communications courses at Georgia State. However, students meeting specific eligibility requirements may take ENGL 1103 - Advanced English Composition in the Communicating in Writing section. See your academic advisor for additional information.

Students who have earned 30 hours but have not completed these courses must enroll in the next course necessary to make progress toward completing them in every semester in which they take classes. For students with Learning Support requirements in writing, taking the required Learning Support course(s) counts as making progress towards completion of the requirement.

ENGL 1101 - English Composition I 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 1102 - English Composition II 3 Credit Hours

Technology, Mathematics and Sciences (11 Credit Hours)

Courses with a laboratory component may be offered in two different but equivalent formats: As separate lecture and lab courses (e.g., BIOL 1103 and BIOL 1103L ) or as a single course that includes both lecture and lab sections (e.g., BIOL 1103K ). Please review the two groups below to make up the course work for this section.

Select one two-course sequence (8 Credit Hours)

ASTR 1010K - Astronomy of the Solar System 4 Credit Hours
or
ASTR 1010 - Astronomy of the Solar System 3 Credit Hours and
ASTR 1010L - Astronomy of the Solar System Lab 1 Credit Hours
and
ASTR 1020K - Stellar and Galactic Astronomy 4 Credit Hours
or
ASTR 1020 - Stellar and Galactic Astronomy 3 Credit Hours and
ASTR 1020L - Stellar and Galactic Astronomy Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 1103K - Introductory Biology I 4 Credit Hours
or
BIOL 1103 - Introductory Biology I 3 Credit Hours and
BIOL 1103L - Introductory Biology I Lab 1 Credit Hours
and
BIOL 1104K - Introductory Biology II 4 Credit Hours
or
BIOL 1104 - Introductory Biology II 3 Credit Hours and
BIOL 1104L - Introductory Biology II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 2107 - Principles of Biology I 3 Credit Hours and
BIOL 2107L - Principles of Biology I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
or
BIOL 2107K - Principles of Biology I 4 Credit Hours
and
BIOL 2108 - Principles of Biology II 3 Credit Hours and
BIOL 2108L - Principles of Biology II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
or
BIOL 2108K - Principles of Biology II 4 Credit Hours
CHEM 1151 - Survey Of Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours and
CHEM 1151L - Survey Of Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
or
CHEM 1151K - Survey of Chemistry I 4 Credit Hours
and
CHEM 1152 - Survey Of Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours and
CHEM 1152L - Survey of Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
or
CHEM 1152K - Survey of Chemistry II 4 Credit Hours
CHEM 1211K - Principles of Chemistry I 4 Credit Hours
or
CHEM 1211 - Principles of Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours and
CHEM 1211L - Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
and
CHEM 1212K - Principles of Chemistry II 4 Credit Hours
or
CHEM 1212 - Principles of Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours and
CHEM 1212L - Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
ENVS 1401 - Environmental Science 3 Credit Hours and
ENVS 1401L - Environmental Science Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
and
ENVS 1402 - Plant Resources in the Environment 3 Credit Hours and
ENVS 1402L - Plant Resources in the Environment Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
GEOG 1112 - Introduction to Weather and Climate 3 Credit Hours and
GEOG 1112L - Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
and
GEOG 1113 - Introduction to Landforms 3 Credit Hours and
GEOG 1113L - Introduction to Landforms Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
GEOL 1121 - Introductory Geology I 3 Credit Hours and
GEOL 1121L - Introductory Geology I Lab 1 Credit Hours
and
GEOL 1122 - Introductory Geology II 3 Credit Hours and
GEOL 1122L - Introductory Geology II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
PHYS 1111K - Introductory Physics I 4 Credit Hours
or
PHYS 1111 - Introductory Physics I 3 Credit Hours and
PHYS 1111L - Introductory Physics I Lab 1 Credit Hours
and
PHYS 1112K - Introductory Physics II 4 Credit Hours
or
PHYS 1112 - Introductory Physics II 3 Credit Hours and
PHYS 1112L - Introductory Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
PHYS 2211K - Principles of Physics I 4 Credit Hours
or
PHYS 2211 - Principles of Physics I 3 Credit Hours and
PHYS 2211L - Principles of Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
and
PHYS 2212K - Principles of Physics II 4 Credit Hours
or
PHYS 2212 - Principles of Physics II 3 Credit Hours and
PHYS 2212L - Principles of Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours

Select one course (3-4 Credit Hours)

(must be from a discipline different from one selected in group 1 above)

If a 4 hour course is selected in this section, the additional hour will be counted as an elective (for bachelor’s programs).

Specific recommendations may also be listed in the catalog section for the degree program.

Any course from Section D1 above 4 Credit Hours
ASTR 1000 - Introduction to the Universe 3 Credit Hours
ASTR 1500 - Life in the Universe 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2240 - Introduction to Human Physiology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2260 - Foundations of Microbiology 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 1050 - Chemistry for Citizens 3 Credit Hours
CSC 1010 - Computers and Applications 3 Credit Hours
DATA 1501 - Introduction to Data Science 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 2001 - Natural Resources and the Future of Energy 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 2200 - Mapping Our World: Introduction to Geospatial Technologies 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1113 - Precalculus 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1220 - Survey of Calculus 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours (formerly MATH 1070 )
MATH 2201 - Calculus for the Life Sciences I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2202 - Calculus for the Life Sciences II 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2211 - Calculus of One Variable I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2212 - Calculus of One Variable II 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2420 - Discrete Mathematics 3 Credit Hours
Higher numbered mathematics course 3-4 Credit Hours
NEUR 2000 - Introduction to Neuroscience 3 Credit Hours
NUTR 2100 - Principles of Nutrition 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 2030 - Physical Science: Physics of Music and Speech 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 1100 - Introduction to Biological Psychology 3 Credit Hours

Social Science (6 Credit Hours)

Students must take three credit hours of a standard social science and another 3 credit hours from the Global course grouping - for a total of 6 credit hours of social sciences.

Global Economics, Global Politics, and World History (3 Credit Hours)

Requirement: Select one course

ECON 2100 - Global Economics 3 Credit Hours
GLOS 2401 - Global Issues 3 Credit Hours
POLS 2401 - Global Issues 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1111 - Survey of World History to 1500 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1112 - Survey of World History since 1500 3 Credit Hours

Social Science (3 Credit Hours)

Students should select one courses from the Social Sciences area for this requirement.

AAS 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 2010 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 1102 - Introduction to Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
CRJU 2200 - Social Science and the American Crime Problem 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2105 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2106 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1101 - Introduction to Human Geography 3 Credit Hours
GERO 2000 - Introduction to Gerontology 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 1101 - Introduction to General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1160 - Introduction to Social Problems 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 2010 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies 3 Credit Hours

Field of Study (18 Credit Hours)

Courses in the Field of Study, which constitute the remaining 18 semester hours in the core IMPACTS curriculum, may be found in the college sections on degree requirements. These listings should also be consulted to see if there are any courses recommended from among the offerings in core IMPACTS curriculum. Students seeking a B.S. in mathematics and secondary school teaching will be required to take an additional nine semester hours of introductory education courses above the general requirement of 18 semester hours.