The General Education Program is designed to foster critical skills by helping students develop the ability to solve problems, think analytically, and communicate clearly. The program provides a common connection among all Nova Southeastern University undergraduates through a rigorous set of writing; mathematics; arts and humanities; and social, biological, and physical science requirements. In keeping with our mission to foster professional adaptability, we also recognize that AI literacy has become a foundational competency essential to modern life. As a result of the General Education Program, students develop effective communication skills in speaking, listening, writing, reading, and critical interpretation. The program also helps students place ideas in their proper context and appreciate the role of different cultural traditions.
Mission Statement
The NSU undergraduate General Education Program prepares students to be responsible citizens in a dynamic, global environment and fosters intellectual curiosity, and knowledge about diverse ideas and cultures by helping students develop the ability to solve problems effectively, think analytically, and communicate clearly. The program provides a common connection among all NSU undergraduates through a rigorous set of writing; mathematics; arts and humanities; social and behavioral science, and biological, and physical science requirements.
This content reflects the General Education Program section of the Undergraduate Student Catalog.
All students are required to complete general education requirements. Students normally complete general education requirements by the end of their junior year through a series of courses in the areas of written communication (including written communication and oral communication); mathematics; arts and humanities (including literature, history, ethics, and general humanities the performing arts); social and behavioral sciences; and biological and physical sciences.
Using Credits for Major and Minor Requirements
Most courses may count toward both general education and major/minor requirements. Students should refer to their program curriculum and consult their academic adviser to determine which courses serve both sets of requirements.
The General Education program learning outcomes are based on three (3) pillars (categories), aligned with the mission of NSU and the Gen Ed program: Foundation, Critical Thinking, and Communication. The pillars and their respective General Education Program Learning Outcomes are as follows:
|
Category |
Description |
Learning Outcomes |
|
Foundation |
Knowledge and comprehension of the terminology, concepts, methodologies, and theories used within the subject area. |
Students will state and explain the terminology, concepts, methodologies, and theories used within the subject area. |
|
Critical thinking |
Analysis of problems, issues, ideas, and evidence before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion. |
Students will locate, define, and critically evaluate problems or information from multiple perspectives and develop reasoned solutions within the subject area. |
|
Communication |
Development and expression of ideas in different forms. |
Students will clearly and effectively communicate knowledge and ideas in forms appropriate to the subject area. |
Nova Southeastern University requires that undergraduate students complete 30 credit hours as part of the General Education Program. Some majors have determined specific courses to be used to satisfy general education requirements. Students should consult the following curriculum requirements of their college or school and contact their academic adviser to determine their major's specific general education requirement list. Honors courses (with the HONR prefix) may be used to satisfy general education requirements of the appropriate general education section.
Students should refer to Course Descriptions for specific course prerequisites. Additionally, students should read the Academic Requirements—New Students section of the Undergraduate Student Catalog for information on eligibility to take college-level written composition and mathematics courses, which are required as part of the General Education Program.
Equivalent courses taken prior to NSU enrollment at an accredited community college, or another university may be considered for a transfer of credit to fulfill a program's general education requirements.
|
General Education |
Credits |
|
Written Composition – 6 COMP credits at above COMP 1500 |
6 |
|
Mathematics – 6 MATH credits at or above MATH 1040 |
6 |
|
Arts and Humanities – 6 credits in any courses with a prefix of ARTS, HIST, HUMN, LITR, PHIL, SPCH, THEA, FILM, MUSC, DANC, or WRIT, or in a foreign language |
6 |
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences – TECH 3200† and 3 additional credits in any other courses with a prefix of ANTH, COMM, ECN, GEOG, GEST, INST, POLS, or PSYC. |
6 |
|
Science – 6 credits in any courses with a prefix of BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, MBIO, SCIE, NEUR, or PHYS |
6 |
|
Total General Education Credits |
30 |
See a list of general education courses (PDF).
Some majors may require more than 30 general education credits due to specific courses
needed to complete the degree.
* Students must take at least one pure humanities course (3 credit) in the Arts and
Humanities domain. The remaining 3 credits could be taken in any of the 5 domains
according to their majors. “Courses in basic composition that do not contain a significant
literature component, courses in oral communication, and introductory foreign language
courses are skill courses and not pure humanities courses.” (SACSCOC, Interpretation
of Core Requirement 9.3-General education requirements)
† All undergraduate students must take TECH 3200, Artificial Intelligence in Action.
NSU recognizes that we must treat AI proficiency with the same pedagogical weight
as traditional rhetoric and quantitative reasoning.
|
Committee Member |
|
College |
Department |
|
Aya Shigeto |
College of Psychology |
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience |
|
|
David Griffin |
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice |
Department of Teaching and Learning |
|
|
Eric Samansky |
Halmos College of Arts and Sciences |
Department of Mathematics |
|
|
Gregory Simco |
College of Computing, AI, and Cybersecurity |
Department of Computing |
|
|
Hyungkee Baek
|
H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship |
Finance and Economics |
|
|
Star Vanguri |
Halmos College of Arts and Sciences |
Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts |
|
|
Maria Ballester – Chair |
Halmos College of Arts and Science |
Department of Chemistry and Physics |
|
|
Meline Kevorkian |
Academic Affairs |
|
|
|
Ramina Benjamin |
H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship |
Marketing and Accreditation |
|
|
Victor Castro |
Halmos College of Arts and Science |
Department of Chemistry and Physics |
|
|
Yvette Fuentes |
Halmos College of Arts and Science |
Department of Humanities and politics |