Oct 15, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Education Requirements


The General Education Program

Students who graduate from Oakland University have demonstrated success in two programs of study: their major degree program and OU’s innovative general education program. The major program prepares students for professional success through a study of the knowledge and “hard skills” associated with their chosen careers or disciplines. The general education program provides students with the diverse learning experiences necessary to develop the breadth of knowledge and “soft skills” valued by employers and essential to our students’ successful engagement as citizens and as members of their local, global and professional communities.

While the general education program at Oakland University focuses on transferable “soft skills” and abilities, our wide-range of course offerings demonstrate our faculty’s commitment to providing students a broad knowledge base and opportunities to enrich their current interests and cultivate new ones through individualized programs of general study.

Build Transferable Skills

The general education program at Oakland University is designed to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and critical capacities that serve as a foundation for meeting their academic, professional, civic, and personal goals and responsibilities. The core skills of critical thinking, effective communication, information literacy, and social awareness shape each of the courses offered in our general education program. Because they are essential to our students’ educational success, these core skills are recognized as University Learning Outcomes (ULOs).

Through their general education classes, Oakland University students

  • develop into CRITICAL THINKERS capable of comprehensively exploring issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion;
  • become EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS who analyze rhetorical situations, adapt their discourse to diverse genres and media, treat their sources and source material ethically, and meet the expectations of a variety of discourse communities in the academy and beyond;
  • build an integrated set of abilities that allow them to be INFORMATION LITERATE citizens who reflectively discover information, understand how that information is produced and valued, and use information ethically to create new knowledge and participate as lifelong learners in society; and
  • become generous, SOCIALLY AWARE, citizens who demonstrate their intercultural competence and consider the ethical implications of their words, actions, and engagement with or indifference to other communities.

Create Your Own Program of Study

OU’s general education program permits students to design their own program of study, choosing from an impressive array of course offerings. Students may choose approved general education courses that complement their major or minor area of study or choose approved courses that will take them out of their academic comfort zones, encouraging them to explore, develop, create, and engage with a variety of new ideas, methods, and skills. For example, to fulfill the Writing Intensive in General Education requirement, students may choose from more than seventy-five approved courses across the university, including writing intensive classes in art, biology, economics, communication, technical writing, environmental science, exercise science, education, business, journalism, philosophy, psychology, political science, religion, and theatre. Courses in the Global Perspective area include everything from Masterpieces of World Cinema to Principles of Global Macroeconomics, from Issues in Global Health to Exploring African Music. To fulfill the Natural Science and Technology area, students may choose from a range of courses, including Life on Earth, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Environmental Science, Language and the Brain, and the Physics of Everyday Life.

Students should meet regularly with their advisors to develop a plan of study that meets their interests, goals, and aspirations and satisfies the graduation requirements.

The program of study in general education at OU consists of courses in three areas: Foundation, Exploration, and Integration.

  1. Writing Foundations (WRT 1060 - Composition II) and Formal Reasoning constitute the FOUNDATION area of General Education. These courses help students develop the processes, skills, and knowledge essential for success in their studies.
  2. Approved courses in the EXPLORATION area provide the fundamental abilities that a well-educated person should have, including a critical appreciation of the ways we gain and create knowledge and an understanding of the universe, of society, and of humankind. In their General Education studies at OU, students may choose from a variety of courses in the areas of the Arts, Language and Culture, Literature, Global Perspective, Natural Science and Technology, Social Science and Western Civilization.In their advanced years in the general education program, students are given an opportunity to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills they have already developed through Knowledge Applications and Capstone courses.
  3. The INTEGRATION area helps students synthesize what they have learned in both the general education program and in their major, to identify and make use of the connections among the various disciplines and to apply their knowledge to addressing real world problems. This integrated knowledge forms the basis for students’ lifelong learning, preparing them for successful careers and for productive personal and civic lives.

Oakland University’s general education program also helps students develop advanced writing skills and engages students in a study of U.S. Diversity.

  1. Through two WRITING INTENSIVE courses, students gain a depth in both general and discipline-specific writing skills. Writing Intensive in General Education and Writing Intensive in the Major courses may also satisfy other areas within the General Education program.
  2. Because Oakland University is committed to ensuring that students develop an understanding of, and appreciation for, the history, advantages and challenges of the diversity of the United States, the general education program offers a range of courses that fulfill the U.S. DIVERSITY area, including courses in art history, anthropology, cinema, communication, dance, economics, literature, history, music, nursing, political [LG1] science, theatre, and writing and rhetoric. U.S. diversity courses may also satisfy other areas within the general education program.

General Education Requirements

Each candidate for an Oakland University baccalaureate will need to satisfactorily complete approved courses in each of the following areas: Foundation, Exploration, Integration, Writing, and U.S. Diversity. 

1. Two courses in the Foundation Area

At least one course of at least three credits from the list of approved courses in each of the following areas:

Notes

For alternative ways of meeting the Writing Foundations requirement, see the Academic Policies and Procedures  section of the catalog.

Students must earn at least a C in WRT 1060  to meet the Writing Foundations requirement.

Students must satisfactorily complete an approved Formal Reasoning course prior to their junior standing.

2. One course from each of the seven Exploration Areas

At least one course of at least three credits from the list of approved courses in each of the following seven areas:

  • Arts
  • Language and Culture
  • Global Perspective
  • Literature
  • Natural Science and Technology
  • Social Science
  • Western Civilization

Notes

Language and Culture courses do not satisfy the Global Perspective area.

Students may meet the Language and Culture requirement through the satisfactory completion of a course having a prerequisite of an 1140 language course, or an American Sign Language course having COM 1500 as a prerequisite. The course can not be used to satisfy any other general education area requirement.

The Language and Culture General Education area is waived for international students whose native language is not English and who have completed the equivalent of a high school diploma at a school that used a language other than English for instruction. Appropriate documentation attesting to the language of instruction and graduation from high school programs is necessary.

3. Two courses from the Integration Area

At least one course of at least three credits from the list of approved courses in each of the following areas:

  • Knowledge Applications
  • Capstone

Notes

Knowledge Applications courses must be outside the rubric of the student’s major.

Students must complete the Capstone requirement at Oakland University.

4. Two courses from the Writing Intensive Area

At least one course of at least three credits from the list of approved courses in each of the following areas:

  • Writing Intensive in the Major
  • Writing Intensive in General Education

Notes

Writing Intensive in the Major and Writing Intensive in General Education courses may also satisfy other areas within the general education program.

Writing Intensive requirements cannot be met with WRT 1050  or WRT 1060 .

Students must have earned a grade of C in the Writing Foundations course to enroll in a Writing Intensive course.

Students must complete the Writing intensive in the Major requirement at Oakland University.

Students may not apply non-classroom experience (course competency, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and/or CLEP credits) to satisfy general education requirements for Writing Intensive courses.

5. One course of at least three credits from the U.S. Diversity Area

Note

U.S. Diversity may be fulfilled through courses that also satisfy the Exploration areas.

Notes

Students using this catalog to meet general education requirements may also use any course subsequently approved by the General Education Committee and published in a later catalog to satisfy requirements in a particular area. If a course listed below is removed from lists of approved courses in later catalogs, it may still be used to meet a general education requirement by students following the 2023-2024 catalog until the catalog expires (six years).

Transfer students should refer to the course catalog section, Transfer Student Information.

Some of the approved courses below may not be offered every semester. Students should check with their advisers to ensure that their preferred courses will be offered.

Note that courses in these knowledge areas may not double count with each other:  Writing Foundations, Formal Reasoning, Arts, Language and Culture, Global Perspective, Literature, Natural Science and Technology, Social Science, Western Civilization, and Knowledge Applications. Additional general education requirements include U.S. Diversity, Writing Intensive in General Education, Writing Intensive in the Major, and a Capstone, all of which may be met by double counting approved general education courses. It is possible for a course to be triple counted if, in addition to meeting the requirements for Explorations, Knowledge Applications or Capstone, it also meets the requirements for U.S. Diversity and Writing Intensive in General Education or Writing Intensive in the major.

General Education Course Listing

General Education Courses:


Foundation Area


Writing Foundations


The Writing Foundations area prepares students to demonstrate:

  • knowledge of the elements, writing processes and organizing strategies for creating analytical and expository prose
  • effective rhetorical strategies appropriate to the topic, audience, context and purpose

Notes

For alternative ways of meeting the Writing Foundations requirement, see the Academic Policies and Procedures  section of the catalog.

Students must earn at least a C in WRT 1060  to meet the Writing Foundations requirement.

* WRT 1060 - Composition II  

Exploration Area


Arts


The Arts area prepares students to demonstrate:

  • knowledge of cultural or historic artistic traditions in visual, auditory, movement, theatrical or cinematic art
  • knowledge of the role of art as critical commentary on society and as an aesthetic expression of experience

Language and Culture


The Language and Culture area prepares students to demonstrate:

  • knowledge of an additional language and its associated culture
  • knowledge of linguistic and cultural diversity and the contributions of such diversity to the global society

Notes

Language and Culture courses do not satisfy for the Global Perspective area.

Students may meet the Language and Culture requirement through the satisfactory completion of a course having a prerequisite of an 1140 language course, or an American Sign Language course having COM 1500 as a prerequisite.  The course can not be used to satisfy any other general education area requirement.

The Language and Culture General Education area is waived for international students whose native language is not English and who have completed the equivalent of a high school diploma at a school that used a language other than English for instruction. Appropriate documentation attesting to the language of instruction and graduation from high school programs is necessary.

Global Perspective


The Global Perspective area prepares students to demonstrate:

  • knowledge of two or more of the following: environments, political systems, economies, societies, and religions in any region outside of the United States.
  • knowledge of the role that different cultural heritages (past and present) play in forming values in another part of the world, enabling the student to function in a global context.

Natural Science and Technology


The Natural Science and Technology area prepares students to demonstrate:

  • knowledge of major concepts from natural science or technology, including developing and testing of hypotheses; drawing conclusions; and reporting of findings and some laboratory experience or an effective substitute
  • how to evaluate sources of information in science or technology

Social Science


The Social Science area prepares students to demonstrate:

  • knowledge of concepts, methods and theories designed to enhance understanding of human behavior and/or societies
  • application of concepts and theories to problems involving individuals, institutions, or nations

Western Civilization


The Western Civilization area prepares students to demonstrate:

  • knowledge of the historical events and/or philosophical ideas of European or American culture
  • knowledge of how Western ideas or institutions have evolved over time

Writing Intensive


Writing Intensive in General Education


Notes

Writing Intensive in the Major and Writing Intensive in General Education courses may also satisfy other areas within the general education program.

Writing Intensive requirements cannot be met with WRT 1050  or WRT 1060 .

Students must have earned a grade of C in the Writing Foundations course to enroll in a Writing Intensive course.

Students may not apply non-classroom experience (course competency, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and/or CLEP credits) to satisfy general education requirements for Writing Intensive courses.

Writing Intensive in the Major


Notes

Writing Intensive in the Major and Writing Intensive in General Education courses may also satisfy other areas within the general education program.

Writing Intensive requirements cannot be met with WRT 1050  or WRT 1060 .

Students must have earned a grade of C in the Writing Foundations course to enroll in a Writing Intensive course.

Students may not apply non-classroom experience (course competency, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and/or CLEP credits) to satisfy general education requirements for Writing Intensive courses.

Students must complete the Writing intensive in the Major requirement at Oakland University

Integration Area


Knowledge Applications


The Knowledge Applications area prepares students to demonstrate:

  • how knowledge in a field outside of the student’s major can be evaluated and applied to solve problems across a range of applications
  • knowledge of the personal, professional, ethical, and societal implications of these applications

Notes

Knowledge Applications courses must be outside the rubric of the student’s major.

Capstone


 The Capstone course prepares students to demonstrate:

  • appropriate uses of a variety of methods of inquiry and a recognition of ethical considerations that arise
  • the ability to integrate the knowledge learned in general education and its relevance to the student’s life and career

Notes

Requirement may be met by an approved course in the major or an approved course outside of the major.

Students must complete the Capstone requirement at Oakland University.

U.S. Diversity


U.S. Diversity prepares the student to demonstrate knowledge of how diverse value systems and societal structures in the United States are influenced by at least two of the following: race, gender, and ethnicity identify major challenges and issues these raise in society. Approved diversity courses may double count in the major and/or general education.

Note  

U.S. Diversity may be fulfilled through courses that also satisfy the Exploration areas.

Notes


Students using this catalog to meet general education requirements may also use any course subsequently approved by the General Education Committee and published in a later catalog to satisfy requirements in a particular area. If a course listed below is removed from lists of approved courses in later catalogs, it may still be used to meet a general education requirement by students following the 2023 - 2024 catalog until the catalog expires (six years).

Transfer students should refer the transfer student page.

Some of the approved courses may not be offered every semester. Students should check with their advisers to ensure that their preferred courses will be offered.