• Students should take these in their first year, and we encourage them as early as possible.
• Students take both:
  • FYS 107 (Writing-Focused Seminar)
  • FYS 207 (Quantitative-Focused Seminar)
• FYS can be taken in any order or even in the same term.
• Students may select any topic that interests them and fits their schedule for an FYS.
• SEP students must take at least one SEP-aligned topic section and can take both FYS on a SEP-aligned topic section if they choose. SEP-aligned topic sections are offered every term in both FYS 107 (Started at the Bottom: Now We’re Here) and FYS 207 (Getting Woke to Being Broke).

• Students should complete their Foundations requirements as early as possible (during their first year is recommended) particularly their Writing and Mathematics requirements to build skills that will serve them well throughout their college career
• Foundations: Mathematics
  • Many majors require math courses as major requirements which students can use to fulfill the General Education requirement.
  • Any student may also meet their Foundations: Mathematics requirement when they score 61 or higher on the WOU ALEKS Math Assessment in a timed and proctored environment. Students may submit a request for a proctored exam after taking an ALEKS test with an initial practice score of 61 or higher. For more information, go to: https://wou.edu/math/aleks/aleks-gen-ed/

• Foundations: Writing
  • All students must complete or demonstrate proficiency for WR 121 and WR 122.
  • WR 121 proficiency can be earned with a score of 560-800 on the writing portion of the SAT and/or a score of 21-30 on the writing portion of the ACT.
  • For more information on Writing Proficiency, go to: https://wou.edu/english/first-year-writing/
• Foundations: Communication & Language courses include but are not limited to Foreign Language. Students may not “test out” of this requirement with a TOESL score as with the previous BA requirement.

• These courses are also meant to be approachable to students early in their college career and may also be taken in the first year.
• Students may find an Exploring Knowledge that also meets a major requirement and can use the course to meet both requirements.
• However, students cannot be required to complete a specific course in general Education as part of the major and the Exploring Knowledge courses present a great opportunity for students to explore content and ideas that interest them.

• We expect that students will take these interdisciplinary courses later in their college careers to build on their work in the Foundations and Exploring Knowledge categories. Some of these courses have a prerequisite that may be met in an earlier General Education category. Students can plan ahead if they like by choosing courses in Foundations or Exploring Knowledge that will prepare them. 

Who is responsible for waiving, substituting and reviewing General Education requirements?

Petitions go to the Director of General Education for review. Most petitions will be decided by the Director, but may also be forwarded to the full General Education Committee for guidance. Petitions related to the Foundations Writing requirement may be forwarded to the Director of First Year Writing for review and guidance. For additional information about petitions: https://wou.edu/gened/petitions/

Why don’t Divisions and Departments determine whether a General Education course should be waived?

The General Education requirements align to the General Education Learning Outcomes, not to individual disciplinary fields. All academic divisions are represented on the General Education Committee to provide their input on decision-making around General Education requirements.

Can students use WOU courses that have not been approved for General Education to meet a General Education requirement?

WOU courses that have not been reviewed and approved via the Faculty Senate curriculum process for inclusion in General Education should not be considered as available to meet General Education requirements.

Can a student use a General Education course in more than one category, depending on what they still need to fulfill?

No. General Education courses are only approved to fulfill one category based upon the alignment to content criteria and learning outcomes. They cannot be used in multiple categories.

If a transfer student has a transfer course that they would like to count both toward General Education and to another academic program, what should they do?

If the major program determines that a course should permanently articulate as a WOU course, then it will articulate to the same General Education requirement as well. Thus, the student should first confer with the major program. If it is determined that the course does not articulate, the student can still request review to meet General Education requirements. If the student is unsure, they can consult with the General Education Director, who will facilitate review of the course by the necessary academic units.

What if a student has a two-year degree that is not clearing their General Education requirements?

You can submit a petition to have the degree reviewed: https://wou.edu/gened/petitions/

Does a student who changes their catalog year, but has already completed one or more year at WOU have to take a First Year Seminar?

Students who started at WOU prior to 2019-20 Academic Year and completed 30 or more credits of college-level work before changing catalog years have sufficient experience with collegiate expectations to have met the spirit of the First Year Seminars. They will meet the requirement, but will not earn those 8 credits, which may be applied as electives.

This requirement does not automatically waive if the student started with us as a First Time Freshman to prevent new students with a lot of high school dual credits from mistakenly opting out of First Year Seminars. Contact the General Education program at gened@wou.edu to get this exception applied for a catalog changing student.

Can a student change their catalog year for General Education requirements only?

Yes. If a student changes their catalog year to 2019-20 or later for the General Education requirements they do not have to change their catalog year for major or minor program requirements. They will meet their baccalaureate requirements by completing General Education and their major coursework.

Can a student change their program catalog year without changing their catalog year for General Education requirements?

Yes. If a student changes their catalog year to 2019-20 or later for their major they can complete the LACC requirements, but will also need to meet the additional graduation requirements for a B.A. or B.S. as part of the pre-2019 General Education.

What General Education Requirements should students try to complete in their first year?

Students should complete their First Year Seminars in their first year, along with their Foundations: Writing and Foundations: Mathematics requirements.

Can CS 121 be used for Critical Thinking?

CS 121 does not align to any General Education content criteria or learning outcomes. This course is not eligible for General Education credit.

Can General Education requirements also fulfill program requirements?

Students can fulfill requirements in General Education and in other academic programs with the same course. However, major and minor programs may not require specific General Education courses to be taken as “hidden requirements” to maintain a program under 90 credits.

Is the Biology 234-5-6 for Human Anatomy & Physiology sequence allowable for Scientific Perspectives?

BI 234-5-6 at WOU are not currently approved for General Education in Science Perspectives. You may take BIO 134 and BIO 135 if you would like an anatomy and physiology course.

How do the new General Education requirements integrate with B.A./B.S. requirements?

Beginning with the 2019-20 academic year, B.A. and B.S. requirements are built into each academic major program. There are no additional graduation requirements for baccalaureate degrees beyond the General Education requirements and the University requirements (180 total credits, 60 upper division credits, 45 of most recent 60 taken at WOU).

If a student demonstrates Writing or Mathematics proficiency (through a placement test, for example) to meet a General Education requirement do they also earn credit?

A student who demonstrates proficiency via a timed and proctored version of the ALEKS placement test (https://wou.edu/math/aleks/aleks-gen-ed/), or writing proficiency through the WOU writing placement challenge exam (https://wou.edu/english/first-year-writing/) may meet the requirement, but not earn credit.

Can a student complete their Foundations: Communication and Language requirement with a successful TOEFL or IELETS score?

No. There are many different courses that align to the learning outcomes and content criteria for the Foundations: Communication and Language category. Foreign-language proficiency does not meet this requirement.

Is there an online pathway through General Education?

While there is no fully online pathway through all of the General Education requirements, most requirements have at least one online or hybrid option available. Students can search for options using WolfWeb.