General Education

Current students will continue to complete General Education requirements following the categories listed in the catalog year of their start.

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 designation courses. With so many options available, sometimes the choices are hard to make. To help guide your decisions, the general education courses are divided into categories. Begin your explorations by using the links below to find out more about the types of courses in each category.

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:

1. Understand and articulate the role and value of the arts and how the arts relate to history and culture.
2. Compare and contrast arts, histories, and cultures; analyze historical, conceptual, and cultural contexts to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.
3. Interpret, analyze, and evaluate arts performances, including live performances, using appropriate arts-related terminology, ideas, and theories.
4. 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:

1. Think critically and analytically, integrate and synthesize knowledge, and draw conclusions from complex material.
2. Understand and appreciate American and other cultures, both contemporary and historical, appreciate diversity, and live responsibly in an interdependent world.
3. Acquire a base of knowledge common to educated persons, and the capacity to expand that base over their lifetime.
4. Understand the gatherings of peoples and cultures from many countries that have contributed to the American heritage and to contemporary American society.
5. Understand the origins of international problems and the changing role of the U.S. in the world.
6. 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:

1. Demonstrate introductory knowledge of major concepts shared or overlapping in anthropology, psychology, race and ethnic studies, sociology, and women’s and gender studies 
2. Integrate multiple social science and interdisciplinary perspectives to analyze social problems
3. Understand the process of scientific and systematic inquiry in the social sciences
4. Critically evaluate sources of social science and interdisciplinary information and draw valid conclusions
5. Understand the concept of the social construction of identity
6. Apply an intersectional lens to describe how social structures contribute to differences in privilege, oppression, and access to opportunities
7. Apply an intersectional lens to describe how social groups and individuals experience discrepancies in privilege, oppression, and access to opportunities
8. Articulate the perspectives of people from various social groups
9. Demonstrate effective strategies for collaborative learning

Global Perspectives

This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:

1. 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.  
2. Explain and analyze relevant ideas, draw conclusions from complex information, and craft logical and persuasive arguments supported by relevant and compelling evidence.  
3. 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. 
4. Identify appropriate information sources; to evaluate, analyze, and integrate relevant information; and to use and cite sources correctly.
5. Explain, interpret, summarize, and utilize numerical information presented in various forms, including maps, graphs, diagrams, and tables. 
6. 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:

1. Understand the ways ideas shape their perception of the world.
2. 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.
3. Appreciate intellectual traditions of diverse cultures and perspectives.
4. Recognize commonalties and differences among diverse intellectual traditions.
5. Refine their critical and analytical thinking skills in oral and written forms.
6. Deal intelligently with questions and issues concerning ethics and values.
7. Recognize and understand issues, questions, and problems that have been subject to continued human reflection.
8. Appreciate the role of the humanities in students' educational experiences.
9. Interpret different literary works.
10. Develop a meaningful philosophy of life.