General Education
General education exposes students to a common core of knowledge from a diversity of viewpoints and hones their thinking and communication skills to better enable them to apply their knowledge. All students at UW-Whitewater must fulfill the general education requirements to complete their degree, meaning every student graduates from our university with the tools they need for success in the workplace and in all areas of their life ahead.
Education for the professions is built upon this base. University graduates need to understand the reciprocal interaction for profession, society and their daily lives. Career opportunities now and in the future will require individuals who can actively respond to changing work environments, continue to learn and grow, and work cooperatively with people of diverse backgrounds.
Exploring the General Education courses, usually done during the first few years of schooling, offers a unique opportunity to experience a wide range of subject areas. The broad exposure provided by the General Education program helps students to make better informed career decisions in college and better equips them to respond to evolving personal aspirations and changing career opportunities.
Contact Us
Jeffrey Zimmerman
General Education Coordinator/Associate Professor
Geography, Geology & Environmental Science
For questions regarding general education course proposals, instructor professional development, or general education assessment
Phone: (262) 472-1595
Location: Upham Hall 105
Dr. Susan Johnson
Associate Dean/Associate Professor
College of Letters & Sciences
For questions/appeals regarding a student's university general education requirements or CORE course enrollment
Phone: (262) 472-4766
Location: Laurentide Hall 4114
UW Whitewater General Education Philosophy
The UW-Whitewater General Education curriculum helps all students build a foundation for success in college, work, and life. The curriculum is designed to engage students with a common core of knowledge from multiple disciplinary perspectives and to hone critical thinking, communication, life-long learning and inquiry, knowledge application, and problem-solving skills. To this end, the General Education CORE, proficiency courses, and electives serve as the foundational learning experience for students throughout their college career. The General Education program provides the breadth of knowledge and skills which prepares students to actively respond to changing work environments, continue to learn and grow, and interact cooperatively in diverse contexts.
The goals of the general education program are to help students develop the skills and knowledge that are needed for success in our rapidly changing, increasingly diverse and interconnected world, including:
Goals & Learning Outcomes
Students will demonstrate breadth and integration of knowledge through:
- Exploration of enduring issues, questions, and problems of human experience across the core areas of knowledge, including engagement with:
- Fine and performing arts
- Natural sciences and mathematics
- Cultural, social, and humanistic studies
- Global Issues and challenges, both historical and contemporary
- Ability to contextualize knowledge through various disciplinary approaches
- Capacity to apply learning and think in interdisciplinary and integrative ways about the complexity and interconnectedness of the world
Rationale: A broad knowledge of human cultures and of the natural world provides students with a solid foundation to be successful in their major and as informed members of society. In all fields of study, the exposure to multiple perspectives, historical context, and contemporary debates helps prepare students to engage with the “big questions” that face our world today.
Students will demonstrate their critical and creative thinking by the ability to:
- Explain and analyze relevant ideas, arguments, and problems
- Evaluate the quality of ideas, evidence, materials, and arguments using appropriate criteria
- Recognize and engage multiple perspectives and alternatives
- Draw conclusions from complex information
- Synthesize existing information to produce new insights or approaches
- Craft logical and persuasive arguments supported by relevant and compelling evidence
- Design, evaluate, and implement strategies to solve problems or answer open-ended questions
Rationale: Thinking critically and creatively means the ability to analyze and evaluate complex information and to come up with new ideas and solutions to pressing problems. In an information-rich world, students need to be able to make informed decisions and develop arguments, based on relevant evidence from a variety of different sources and perspectives. Critical and creative thinking helps students develop their own perspectives in both their personal and professional lives.
Students will demonstrate their communication skills by the ability to:
- Read and listen closely and critically to interpret, analyze and evaluate written texts, images, speech, performances and multimedia communications
- Communicate in a focused, coherent, and organized manner with appropriate attention to audience, purpose and context
- Write effective analytical, reflective and expository essays and research papers
- Speak effectively in public, small group, and interpersonal settings
- Use clear and precise language as well as appropriate conventions, tools, and technology
- Implement the process of drafting, revising and editing
Rationale: Strong communication skills, both speaking and writing to a variety of audiences and across a range of media and contexts, contribute to success in and out of the classroom. In addition, critical reading and listening skills are also key components in developing effective communication skills.
Students will demonstrate their information literacy by the ability to:
- Identify and articulate information needs by precisely defining a question, topic of inquiry or problem
- Select appropriate resources for finding information and formulate effective search strategies
- Critically evaluate, analyze and integrate relevant sources using appropriate criteria
- Use and cite information sources correctly and ethically
- Choose and effectively use appropriate tools and technologies for these tasks
Rationale: Information literacy refers to the ability to determine what information is necessary for a particular purpose, and to the skills needed to gather, evaluate, understand, and use that information ethically and effectively. Information may take a variety of forms and media, including textual, visual, and quantitative. In an environment of proliferating and diverse information, information literacy skills help students make informed choices in their personal, professional, and academic lives.
Students will demonstrate their quantitative reasoning by the ability to:
- Explain information presented in mathematical forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words
- Convert relevant information into various mathematical forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words)
- Efficiently and accurately carry out calculations to solve problems using appropriate tools and technology
- Make judgments and draw appropriate conclusions based on the quantitative analysis of data
- Support arguments with quantitative information in narrative and other appropriate forms
Rationale: Quantitative reasoning refers to the use of numbers and measurable data to understand and interpret the world. But quantitative reasoning encompasses much more than simply mathematics and calculation skills. It reflects a habit of mind and a range of capacities that can explain, interpret, evaluate, and communicate quantitative information. Students need to be able to use quantitative reasoning skills to solve problems from a variety of domains and in everyday life.
Students will demonstrate their personal and civic responsibility through:
- Self-awareness
- Recognize and examine their own values, perspectives and biases
- Understand their own roles and responsibilities as members of multiple diverse communities
- Understand the impact of their own actions on the community, the environment, and the world
- Understanding of others
- Understand the cultures and diversity of the United States and other countries, both historical and contemporary
- Recognize the existence and impact of discrepancies in power, privilege and access between individuals, groups and societies
- Articulate and respect the multiple perspectives that arise from differing experiences
- Responsible action
- Interact effectively and conscientiously with diverse people in diverse contexts including in campus, professional, and community settings
- Make informed ethical decisions that respect the social and environmental contexts
Rationale: Personal and civic responsibility refers to skills and knowledge that help students take their place in a multi-cultural and always-changing world. To become informed, engaged, reflective, and responsible citizens, students need to engage with a range of ethical questions, from social issues to environmental concerns.
Students will demonstrate foundations for life-long learning by the ability to:
- Implement strategies and skills needed for collaborative and self-directed learning
- Monitor and reflect on their own learning
- Integrate, transfer and apply learning in new contexts
- Recognize and apply the factors and habits that are essential for personal health and well-being
Rationale: Learning is a never-ending process that requires curiosity and openness to learning. By cultivating a set of skills and dispositions associated with life-long learning, students will be able to adapt, monitor and direct their own growth and well-being throughout college and beyond.
For more information on the new General Education Learning Outcomes, which took effect in Spring 2016, please access the General Education Learning Outcomes document.
Communication and Calculation Skills (12-13 credits or waivers)
ENGLISH 101: Freshman English I
ENGLISH 102: Freshman English II
COMM 110: Introduction to Human Communication
MATH 139 Quantitative Reasoning or MATH 140 Mathematical Ideas or MATH 142 College Algebra
Quantitative and Technical Reasoning (7-11 credits)
Selected from science, math and computer science courses from at least two different disciplines. At least one course must be a 4-5 credit laboratory science.
Cultural Heritages (6 credits)
CORE 110: World of the Arts*
CORE 390: World of Ideas*
Communities (6 credits)
CORE 130: Individual and Society*
CORE 120: Historical Perspectives* OR
CORE 140: Global Perspectives*
Personal Health and Fitness (1 credit)
PENGRL 192: Personal Health and Fitness**
Breadth Electives (8-12 credits)
Select from courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, ethnic studies, women and gender studies, and interdisciplinary courses. (No more than one course from a discipline may be counted in electives.)
* For transfer students, Core courses requirements will be determined on the basis of the number of credits transferred and the distribution of the student course work.
** Transfer students may substitute 1 credit of PEGNRL coursework.
You have probably looked at the requirements for your planned degree and major, but remember that you also have the opportunity to take electives - courses that you pick to explore areas that you are interested in. The choices you make can be exciting and might even lead to new areas of study that you had not considered, and they also can help fulfill your general education requirements.
UW- Whitewater offers more than 300 general education elective courses. With so many options available, sometimes the choices are hard to make. To help guide your decisions, the general education elective course is divided into nine categories. Begin your explorations by using the links below to find out more about the types of courses in each category.
Descriptions of the Elective Categories
Courses in this area focus on artistic concepts, structures, and forms providing immersion in and exposure to visual, performing, and creative arts. Some classes emphasize the history and appreciation of the arts while others provide the opportunity to create or perform artistic works. Students will develop critical, creative, and interpretive skills as well as an understanding of the relationship between art, creativity, and the broader social and cultural context.
Courses in this area focus on individuals and communities within the United States whose identities and experiences are shaped by discrepancies in power, privilege and access. Drawing from a variety of disciplines, these classes address factors that many include gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, ability, immigration status, and others. Students will enhance their intercultural knowledge and skills, and in particular learn to articulate and respect the perspectives that arise from these differing experiences while critically examining their own values, perspectives and biases. Courses may also provide opportunities to put this learning into practice through experiences with diverse individuals or groups.
Courses in this area provide the opportunity to explore world cultures or global systems through the study of a world language, history and culture of another country, or issues and concepts that are relevant across social and political boundaries. Drawing from different disciplinary perspectives, these courses emphasize awareness of commonalities of the human experience as well as the factors and experiences that differentiate cultures and countries. Students will develop skills and knowledge that will help them meet the challenges of a diverse and ever-changing world as an informed and responsible citizen.
Courses in this area examine the diversity of human experience and expression from historical, philosophical, religious, literary, and/or linguistic perspectives. These courses usually focus on the traditions, beliefs, texts, and artifacts that make up a culture, and place emphasis on critical analysis and interpretation of primary sources. Students will enhance their critical and creative thinking and communication skills, and grapple with complexity and diverse perspectives.
Courses in this area will explore the phenomena of the natural world in the context of everyday life and contemporary problems. Through a variety of disciplines, these courses will encourage curiosity and appreciation of scientific discovery and inquiry through the examination of scientific processes. Students will develop their ability to read and comprehend scientific information and use that information to make judgements and draw appropriate conclusions about its influence on the world around them.
Courses in this area will explore the phenomena of the natural world in the context of everyday life and contemporary problems. Through a variety of disciplines, these courses will encourage curiosity and appreciation of scientific discovery and inquiry through the examination of scientific processes. Students will develop their ability to read and comprehend scientific information and use that information to make judgements and draw appropriate conclusions about its influence on the world around them.
Additionally, GL courses will include hands-on scientific experimentation in which the students will perform scientific processes to collect and/or analyze data to answer scientific questions. Students will understand the process of obtaining and evaluating scientific knowledge and how it impacts society and technological growth.
Courses in this area will enhance students' quantitative reasoning skills, including their capacity to explain, interpret, evaluate, and communicate quantitative information. Students will learn to use models or algorithms to solve problems and will apply quantitative concepts to real-world situations. These skills may be drawn from mathematics and computational strategies, but may extend to logic, statistics, and inductive or deductive reasoning.
Courses in this area focus on the scientific study of human behavior, culture, and society. They may examine individual behavior, interpersonal interactions, or interactions between people and the broader social, political, economic, or natural environment. Students will develop the ability to think critically about these issues and apply appropriate theories and quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze and evaluate social problems.
Courses in this area will explore knowledge and behaviors that are essential to enjoying a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Courses may emphasize a range of topic including, health, physical fitness, learning and time management, and personal and career development. Students will develop lifelong learning skills such as self-monitoring, reflection, educated decision-making, and implementing strategies for personal change.
The Courses
The core of the General Education program is a series of five multi-disciplinary courses, each of which brings together material and perspectives from several disciplines so that students may understand both a common body of knowledge and its interconnections:
CORE 110 - The World of the Arts: This course introduces students to “The Arts” including music, theater, dance, and visual art. Students will gain insight into the basic components of the arts, the role of the arts in society, the interrelationship of the arts, and the historical contexts of the arts. Students will engage with performing arts events and art exhibits. Arts from all over the world will be considered. [See Course Objectives]
CORE 120 - Historical Perspectives: This course examines major events, conflicts, and figures in world history during the long 20th century. Students will address global issues from a variety of perspectives, to better understand the movements, ideas, and people that shape the present day. [See Course Objectives]
CORE 130 - Individual and Society: This course serves as an introduction to the social sciences and interdisciplinary fields including anthropology, psychology, race and ethnic studies, sociology, and women's and gender studies. Using these academic perspectives and scientific approaches, this course critically examines social problems in US society. The course focuses on how we experience life as individuals and members of cultural and societal systems that shape our identities, behaviors, and perceptions. [See Course Objectives]
CORE 140 - Global Perspectives: This course introduces students to key terms, concepts, issues and relationships in economics, geography and political science. The course investigates how increasing globalization impacts issues such as the authority and competence of the nation-state, population growth and migration, economic development and trade and patterns of international cooperation and conflict. [See Course Objectives]
CORE 390 - The World of Ideas: This course examines themes and issues that have had a significant impact upon the world's civilizations. Readings will focus on primary texts representing major historical periods, world cultures, and diverse perspectives. This course will stress critical and analytical thought, drawing upon knowledge obtained in this and earlier core courses. [See Course Objectives]
Course Catalog
These classes can all be found in the online course catalog, where you can find the course number, full description, semester availability, class schedule and more.
Course Learning Objectives
World of the Arts
This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:
- Understand and articulate the role and value of the arts and how the arts relate to history and culture.
- Compare and contrast arts, histories, and cultures; analyze historical, conceptual, and cultural contexts to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.
- Interpret, analyze, and evaluate arts performances, including live performances, using appropriate arts-related terminology, ideas, and theories.
- Build a foundation for future participation in, and enjoyment of, theatre, dance, music, and the visual arts through attendance of live events, and through learning arts specific interpretive skills.
Historical Perspectives
This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:
- Think critically and analytically, integrate and synthesize knowledge, and draw conclusions from complex material.
- Understand and appreciate American and other cultures, both contemporary and historical, appreciate diversity, and live responsibly in an interdependent world.
- Acquire a base of knowledge common to educated persons, and the capacity to expand that base over their lifetime.
- Understand the gatherings of peoples and cultures from many countries that have contributed to the American heritage and to contemporary American society.
- Understand the origins of international problems and the changing role of the U.S. in the world.
- Compare political and economic systems and their effects on international relations and U.S. foreign policy.
Individual and Society
This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:
- Demonstrate introductory knowledge of major concepts shared or overlapping in anthropology, psychology, race and ethnic studies, sociology, and women’s and gender studies
- Integrate multiple social science and interdisciplinary perspectives to analyze social problems
- Understand the process of scientific and systematic inquiry in the social sciences
- Critically evaluate sources of social science and interdisciplinary information and draw valid conclusions
- Understand the concept of the social construction of identity
- Apply an intersectional lens to describe how social structures contribute to differences in privilege, oppression, and access to opportunities
- Apply an intersectional lens to describe how social groups and individuals experience discrepancies in privilege, oppression, and access to opportunities
- Articulate the perspectives of people from various social groups
- Demonstrate effective strategies for collaborative learning
Global Perspectives
This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:
- Apply knowledge across various disciplinary approaches (Geography, Political Science, and Economics) in the exploration of global issues and challenges, both contemporary and historical, associated with an increasingly interconnected world.
- Explain and analyze relevant ideas, draw conclusions from complex information, and craft logical and persuasive arguments supported by relevant and compelling evidence.
- Develop analytical communication skills, with a focus on argumentation, reflection, and appropriate citation of sources. Students will incorporate core course ideas and content in their written and verbal communication, with consideration for audience, purpose, and context.
- Identify appropriate information sources; to evaluate, analyze, and integrate relevant information; and to use and cite sources correctly.
- Explain, interpret, summarize, and utilize numerical information presented in various forms, including maps, graphs, diagrams, and tables.
- Identify and understand multiple perspectives on the implications of global processes and events. Students will draw connections between an individual’s personal decision-making and global, national, and local issues that will help them to become more informed, engaged, and reflective citizens.
The World of Ideas
This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:
- Understand the ways ideas shape their perception of the world.
- Recognize the ways ideas were formed historically and to understand the ways in which the world is still shaped by ideas advanced hundreds of years ago.
- Appreciate intellectual traditions of diverse cultures and perspectives.
- Recognize commonalties and differences among diverse intellectual traditions.
- Refine their critical and analytical thinking skills in oral and written forms.
- Deal intelligently with questions and issues concerning ethics and values.
- Recognize and understand issues, questions, and problems that have been subject to continued human reflection.
- Appreciate the role of the humanities in students' educational experiences.
- Interpret different literary works.
- Develop a meaningful philosophy of life.
Instructor Resources
Syllabus Guidelines for General Education Electives
The General Education Review Committee expects that the syllabi for all elective courses in the General Education Program will:
- Identify the course as an elective within the General Education program.
- Explain which elective category that the course fulfills. Instructors are urged to use the descriptions of the elective categories as the basis for explanation.
- Identify which of the General Education learning goals and associated learning outcomes are emphasized in the course.
- Briefly explain how students will be assessed and given feedback on their achievement of those outcomes.
Proposers are welcome to use these sample syllabi as models.
These samples are posted to provide examples of course syllabi that meet GERC expectations for general education electives:
Definitions of Levels of Instruction
Introduced: Students are not expected to be familiar with the content or skills at the collegiate level. Instruction and learning activities focus on basic knowledge/skills and entry-level complexity.
Reinforced: Students are expected to possess a basic level of knowledge and familiarity with the content or skills at a collegiate level. Instruction and learning activities build on existing competencies with expanded complexity and integrative contexts.
Student organizations help you integrate yourself into the campus community. The College of Letters and Sciences has many offerings to choose from to suit your interests, including German Club, French Club, Spanish Club, and more.