General Studies Areas

• Core Areas– Literacy & Critical Inquiry (L)– Mathematical Studies (MA/CS)– Humanities & Fine Arts (HU)– Social & Behavioral Sciences (SB)– Natural Sciences (SQ/SG)

• Awareness Areas– Cultural Diversity (C)– Global Awareness (G)– Historical Awareness (H)

General studies help you get a well-rounded

education!

General Studies Requirements

• Minimum: 35 semester hours – 1 course ► 1 core, 2 awareness (max)– 1 course ► 2 awareness (max)– 1 course CANNOT be used for 2 core areas

• You can use AP or CLEP credits for general studies, but CLEP can’t be used for SQ, SG, or L.

Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L]

• What is required? 6 semester hours in courses with the (L) designation, 3 in a lower division class and 3 in an upper division class.

• Why is it required? Sharing ideas that change the world demands the ability to communicate effectively and engage in critical inquiry.

Mathematical Studies [MA]What is the requirement? One 3 semester hour course that meets the MA requirement such as college mathematics, finite mathematics or calculus. Check with your advisor about which MA course is required for your major. Some majors may require additional math courses beyond the MA.Why is it required? Mathematical Studies (MA) strives to further enhance a student’s mathematical knowledge beyond fluency in symbolic manipulation.  Courses satisfying criteria for the MA component have a focus of applied analysis, critical thinking and quantitative reasoning abilities beyond that of the traditional algebra curriculum.  Students are required to satisfy the MA criteria prior to completing their first 30 hours of coursework. 

Mathematical Studies [CS]What is the requirement? In addition to the MA requirement, mathematics at ASU also involves a three hour CS designated course in Computers/ Statistics/ Quantitative Applications.

Why is it required? The CS requirement was established to provide students with a relevant technological experience beyond simple user interaction with software.  Courses satisfying CS, employ analytical skills that require application of theoretical principles in various problem domains.   The ability to employ a statistical analysis beyond that of basic descriptive statistics for the purpose of analysis and decision making is necessary skill we would like for all graduates to have.  Courses that satisfy CS can be found throughout the course offerings across most fields of study.

Humanities, Fine Arts & Design [HU]What is the requirement? 15 semester hours total in HU and SB (6 in one, and 9 in the other). 3 of the 15 must be upper division.

Why is it required? The humanities disciplines are concerned with questions of human existence and meaning, the nature of thinking and knowing, with moral and aesthetic experience.  They are concerned with the study of the textual and artistic traditions of diverse cultures, including traditions in literature, philosophy, religion, ethics, history, and aesthetics. 

Social/Behavioral Sciences [SB]• What is the requirement? 15 semester hours in HU and SB

(6 in one and 9 in the other). 3 of the 15 must be upper-division.

• Why is it required? The social & behavioral sciences provide knowledge about human behavior, within society and individually. Social scientists’ observations (cultural, economic, geographic, historical, linguistic, political, psychological, and social) make an important contribution to civic dialogue.

Natural Sciences [SQ/SG]What is the requirement? Two laboratory science classes (either 2 SQ or 1 SQ and 1 SG), 4 semester hours each. Class = 3 credits, 3 hours per week.

Lab = 1 credit, 3 hour block. Why is it required? Scientific advances will increasingly affect our lives. To ensure that these changes benefit society, educated political and public opinion leaders need to understand the principles of science, how to think scientifically, and the importance of understanding the fundamental behavior of matter and energy.

Cultural Diversity in the U.S. [C]What is the requirement? One 3 semester hour course that carries the [C] designation.

Why is it required? The objective of the cultural diversity requirement is to promote awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity within the contemporary United States through the study of cultural, social, or scientific contributions of gender, racial, ethnic and/or linguistic minority groups within the United States, their interactions, and their experiences.

Global Awareness [G]

What is the requirement? One 3 semester hour course that carries the [G] designation.

Why is it required? The Global Awareness [G] requirement is intended to help students understand the values, elements, and social processes of non-U.S. cultures. A global perspective is key to dealing with such issues as economic globalization, conflicts among civilizations, international welfare disparities, and the migration of peoples and their cultures.

Historical Awareness [H]What is the requirement? One 3 semester hour H course is required. Many courses simultaneously meet one of three core areas (L, SB, or HU) and H.

Why is it required? The modern world is the product of a long series of prior events that involves all that humans have felt, thought, imagined, said, and done. In order to understand contemporary human societies, cultures, institutions, etc., we must know how they were shaped by various factors over time—factors that include social, economic, and political forces.