Penn State University General Education Requirements: A Comprehensive Overview

General Education at Penn State forms the cornerstone of the undergraduate journey. It's designed to equip students with a broad foundation of knowledge and skills, preparing them for success in a rapidly evolving global landscape. This article provides an in-depth look at the General Education requirements at Penn State University, covering their purpose, core components, and how they contribute to a well-rounded education.

The Purpose of General Education

The core of the undergraduate experience is General Education. Penn State's General Education program, which spans the sciences, arts, and humanities, aims to prepare students for personal and professional success in our increasingly interconnected global society. Students gain the abilities, knowledge, and experiences necessary to live in interconnected contexts through General Education, which improves life for themselves, others, and the world at large. The capacity to contextualize information through critical thinking, devise solutions to intricate challenges, and make moral decisions are becoming increasingly vital skills for a flexible workforce as professions become more dynamic and career pathways become less predictable.

Core Literacies

General Education at Penn State focuses on developing several key literacies in students:

KEY LITERACIES - the ability to identify, interpret, create, communicate and compute using materials in a variety of media and contexts.
CRITICAL AND ANALYTICAL THINKING - the habit of mind characterized by comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating a conclusion.

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INTEGRATIVE THINKING - the ability to synthesize knowledge across multiple domains, modes of inquiry, historical periods, and perspectives, as well as the ability to identify linkages between existing knowledge and new information.
GLOBAL LEARNING - the intellectually disciplined abilities to analyze similarities and differences among cultures; evaluate natural, physical, social, cultural, historical, and economic legacies and hierarchies; and engage as community members and leaders who will continue to deal with the intricacies of an ever-changing world.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICAL REASONING - the ability to assess one’s own values within the social context of problems, recognize ethical issues in a variety of settings, describe how different perspectives might be applied to ethical dilemmas, and consider the ramifications of alternative actions.

General Education Requirements Breakdown

To earn a baccalaureate degree, a minimum of 120 credits must be earned. Some programs may have requirements exceeding 120 credits. The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints.

Here's a breakdown of the specific areas and requirements within General Education:

World Language Proficiency: Students must attain a 12th-credit level of proficiency in one world language in addition to English. This can be demonstrated through examination or coursework.
Breadth in Knowledge Domains: This component ensures students explore a variety of academic disciplines. It includes courses in:
- Humanities (GH)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS)
- Arts (GA)
- World Languages
- Natural Sciences (GN)
- Quantification (GQ) (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; world language credits in this category must be in a second world language in addition to English or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language)
- Select 3 credits from approved list.

Course Attributes and Identification

The University Course Description page provides a summary of the applicable attributes to determine if a course satisfies a requirement. The keystone symbol appears by the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. In order to ensure that students participate in the full breadth of General Education, students may not select a course in their academic major to satisfy one of the Knowledge Domains area requirements. For example, an Economics major may not use an ECON course or a course cross-listed with ECON to fulfill a General Education requirement. GA, GH, GN, GS, and Inter-Domain courses.

Flexibility and Exploration

The General Education program extends the concept of flexibility to all aspects of the degree program. Penn State wants students to use General Education as an opportunity to experiment and explore, to take academic risks, to discover, and to learn. To these ends, students may, with the permission of their adviser and dean's representative, substitute a 200- to 499-level course for an Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, or Social and Behavioral Sciences course found on the General Education list.

First-Year Seminar

May include a First-Year Seminar; a student's campus of enrollment determines whether or not a First-Year Seminar is required. Students at the University Park campus are required to complete at least 1 credit of first-year seminar and meet any other first-year requirements specified by their home college. Students at the Commonwealth campuses are required to complete the first-year experiences specified by their campus. First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their enrollment home for these requirements.

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Experiential Learning

Students may, with the permission of their adviser and dean's representative, meet the United States Cultures (US) and International Cultures (IL) requirement through completion of an experiential learning program or practicum (one-semester or year long) approved by their College Dean's Office.

Inter-Domain Courses

Each of the General Education areas will receive approximately equal attention (in course topics, assignments, or other course components). Each such course is taught by an instructor, or team of instructors, with appropriate expertise. Inter-Domain courses are proposed by faculty (or teams of faculty) with expertise in the relevant disciplines represented; proposals will follow the established curricular processes for course approvals. Single-offering or permanent approval for the Inter-Domain Courses designation(s) may be requested.

General Education Learning Objectives

For any General Education or Integrative Studies course, one-time offering approval may be requested.

Key questions to consider when designing or evaluating a General Education course include:

Which of the seven General Education Learning Objective(s) will be addressed in the course?
What component(s) of the course will help students achieve the General Education Learning Objectives covered in the course?
How will students be assessed to determine their attainment of the Learning Objective(s) of General Education covered in the course?

Specific General Education Areas

Writing and Speaking (GWS): In Writing and Speaking (GWS) courses, students do more than improve their abilities to communicate information clearly. They learn to set forth arguments persuasively and well, both orally and in writing. Students should emerge from their GWS courses as more accomplished writers and speakers, competent in a wide variety of settings. GWS Student Learning Criteria.
Quantification (GQ): In Quantification (GQ) fields, students practice and master basic mathematical and statistical skills of lifelong value in solving real world problems. Students should learn to apply mathematical skills appropriate to solve such problems.
Health and Wellness (GHW): In Health and Wellness (GHW) fields, students focus on the physical and psychosocial well-being of individuals and communities. They expand their theoretical and practical knowledge about health and wellness-concepts that are multidimensional and culturally defined. The University provides opportunities for students to study such diverse topics as nutrition, physical activity, stress, sleep, healthy leisure, alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use, sexual health, and safety-all useful in maintaining lifelong health and wellness and in creating healthy work and community environments.
Natural Science (GN): In Natural Science (GN) fields, students develop the skills necessary to make informed judgments about scientific information and arguments. Along with building knowledge of foundational scientific principles, students expand their understanding of how and why science works, why it is an effective tool for knowledge generation, and how it can address contemporary questions and challenges.
Arts (GA): In Arts fields (GA), students focus on exploring or creating works of art. Students should become familiar with the importance of significant creative works, the traditions and history associated with those works, and the important role that the arts play as expressions of the cultural values of society and the human condition.
Humanities (GH): In Humanities (GH) fields, students focus on exploring important works of literature, history, religion, philosophy, and other closely related forms of cultural expression, thereby broadening their understanding of diverse ways of seeing, thinking about, and experiencing the self and society. Students will enlarge their intellectual horizons and knowledge of the world through encountering humanistic representations of both lived experiences and imaginative or speculative constructions, past or present. Students thus become increasingly prepared to live as thoughtfully engaged members of multiple communities, whether local, regional, or global. GH Student Learning Criteria.
Social and Behavioral Science (GS): In Social and Behavioral Science (GS) fields, students focus on analyzing the forces that influence behaviors, values, habits, attitudes, and institutions. GS courses allow students to explore the multiple perspectives and methodologies useful in analyzing and addressing complex social issues.

Non-College Specific Degrees

Bachelor of Humanities degree majors are required to take 18 credits (referenced below). The Bachelor of Philosophy degree is the only one not offered through any college or school but rather on a University-wide basis. This degree allows students to plan their own programs, in conjunction with a faculty preceptor, within the framework of the academic program of the University.

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