General Education Program

How do I get advising for General Education?

Your academic advisor is also your General Education advisor. Since General Education is meant to complement and support your major, and many General Education requirements also fulfill major requirements, you should be working through your degree holistically.

I need help figuring out a General Education requirement. What should I do?

First, check in with your academic advisor. They are there to help you navigate all of your degree requirements and may have some recommendations. If your advisor can’t fully answer your question, the next step is to request an appointment with the General Education office. You can do this using the WCS button in your portal.

How do I pick from the available classes in these requirements?

You can find all of the available courses in each requirement by searching the WOU course catalog (you can access this catalog for each requirement through our “Requirements & Courses” page at www.wou.edu/gened/requirements. If you are looking for specific General Education options for an upcoming term, you can use the Attribute search feature in the WolfWeb scheduler tool to find the available General Education classes for a particular requirement.

How do I know which Foundations: Mathematics course to take?

Many majors have specific mathematics requirements, which also meet Foundations: Mathematics requirements for General Education. Check with your academic advisor. If you are not in a major that has a specific mathematics requirement, the ALEKS placement test is the best way to determine the right course for you. An ALEKS score of 61 or higher in a timed and proctored environment will meet your Foundations: Mathematics requirement.

I want to do Study Abroad. How can I find out which courses might work for General Education requirements?

Any Study Abroad courses that articulate as existing WOU General Education courses will meet the relevant requirement. For courses that do not articulate, book an appointment with the General Education office (use the WCS button in your portal) for a review of the possible options.

I took a class at WOU that is not a General Education class. Can I substitute it for one of my requirements?

WOU courses that have not been reviewed and approved by the General Education Committee for inclusion in the program are not eligible as substitute courses.

I have an AA degree from an out-of-state school. Will that meet my General Education requirements?

Many AA degrees are already articulated with WOU’s Gen Ed requirements. You can see the current list at https://wou.edu/admission/transfer/how-will-my-credits-transfer/. If you have an AA degree that is not articulated, you should complete a petition (www.wou.edu/gened/petitions-form) to request review of your AA degree as it may meet our requirements.

I have a few transfer classes that are coming in as electives, can they meet General Education requirements?

If you’ve taken a look at the brief requirement overviews for General Education at www.wou.edu/gened/requirements and think you have a transfer course that may meet a requirement you can submit a petition by using the petition form at www.wou.edu/gened/petitions-form. You can submit multiple courses on the same form. Make sure you have course descriptions and other documentation prepared to be included.

What are the First Year Seminars?

These small (no more than 25 students) classes bring together students in a community of learners to explore engaging topics. In First Year Seminars, you will have the chance to practice skills and habits regularly used by successful college students while becoming familiar with the WOU campus and community. Each student takes a writing-focused seminar (FYS 107) and a quantitative-focused seminar (FYS 207). These can be taken in any order.

How should I pick a First Year Seminar?

You can choose any topic that interests you and fits your schedule. Each student takes a writing-focused seminar (FYS 107) and a quantitative-focused seminar (FYS 207). These can be taken in any order.

What will happen if I don’t take my First Year Seminars before I finish my first year?

You will still need to complete the requirement. It’s in your best interest to complete the seminar during your first year to gain the most from it and you’ll likely enjoy working with other students who are in similar situations. First Year Seminar enrollment remains available to students through their sophomore year and after that will require an override to add an FYS course.

I had to withdraw from my First Year Seminar, do I need to take the same topic to replace the “W” on my transcript?

You do not need to take the same topic to repeat an FYS course and replace a grade; just make sure you are taking a topic in the same FYS course (either FYS 107 or FYS 207) to replace the topic with the unsatisfactory grade.

I want to change catalog years for General Education only. How do I do that?

Your academic advisor can help you change catalog years for General Education only by using the change of program/advisor electronic form.

I am finishing my LACCs but I would like to change to the new General Education program. What will happen to my LACC credits?

Most LACC credits also will meet General Education requirements, although perhaps in different categories. Because there were more courses and credits required to meet the LACC and Additional Graduation Requirements than are required to meet the new General Education requirements, some courses may become electives. However, students who change from a 2018-19 or earlier catalog to the new program with 30 or more credits will have their First Year Seminars waived.

How does an AAOT affect my General Education requirements?

Students with completed AAOT degrees do not need to take General Education requirements at WOU.

I have an AA degree from an out-of-state school. Will that meet my General Education requirements?

Many AA degrees are already articulated with WOU’s Gen Ed requirements. You can see the current list at https://wou.edu/admission/transfer/how-credits-transfer/. If you have an AA degree that is not articulated, you should complete a petition (www.wou.edu/gened/petitions-form) to request review of your AA degree as it may meet our requirements.

I have a few transfer classes that are coming in as electives, can they meet General Education requirements?

If you’ve taken a look at the brief requirement overviews for General Education at www.wou.edu/gened/requirements and think you have a transfer course that may meet a requirement you can submit a petition by using the petition form at www.wou.edu/gened/petitions-form. You can submit multiple courses on the same form. Make sure you have course descriptions and other documentation prepared to include.

I took WR 227 at a community college. Can I use this course to meet my Foundations: Writing requirement?

WR 227 does not currently meet Foundations: Writing for General Education. However, as this course articulates with WR 300, it will meet an Exploring Knowledge: Social Historic and Civic Perspectives requirement.

I am a new student – which General Education requirements should I take first?

First Year Seminars are a must. We recommend that you plan to take at least one of these courses in your first term and to complete the other by the end of your first year. In addition, Foundations: Mathematics and Foundations: Writing requirements cover skills that are used in many other classes–getting them done as soon as possible will have a positive impact on your success. Many General Education classes may also meet major requirements, so check with your academic advisor to see if they have some recommendations for classes to start with.

I have some AP credits – do they meet any General Education requirements?

Yes! Many AP exam scores will articulate as WOU classes that meet General Education requirements. You can see how your AP exam scores (and other accelerated learning options) might meet coursework by checking out https://wou.edu/registrar/credits-for-prior-learning/

Are there any requirements that might be covered by my SAT or ACT scores?

Writing 121 proficiency is determined with an SAT score of 560 or higher or an ACT score of 21 or higher.

How do I know which Foundations: Mathematics course to take?

Many majors have specific Mathematics requirements, which also meet Foundations: Mathematics for General Education. Check with your academic advisor. If you are not in a major that has a specific Mathematics requirement, the ALEKS placement test is the best way to determine the right course for you. An ALEKS score of 61 or higher in a timed and proctored environment will meet your Foundations: Mathematics requirement.

What are the First Year Seminars?

These small (no more than 25 students) classes bring together students in a community of learners engaged in exploring engaging topics. In First Year Seminars, you will have the chance to practice skills and habits regularly used by successful college students while becoming familiar with the WOU campus and community. Each student takes a writing-focused seminar (FYS 107) and a quantitative-focused seminar (FYS 207). These can be taken in any order.

Why do I have to take these General Education classes? They’re not in my major.

General Education requirements are part of the larger suite of degree requirements. Your major emphasizes a particular course of study, but General Education provides the opportunity to build a broad knowledge and skills base and emphasize habits of mind that will help you be successful with your college courses and beyond.

What are the requirements for General Education?

General Education requirements include the following broad categories: First Year Seminars (joining the WOU community of learners), Foundations (establishing knowledge and skills needed across the curriculum), Exploring Knowledge (building a broad disciplinary base) and Integrating Knowledge (synthesizing and applying learning through high impact practices). You can learn more about each of the General Education requirements at www.wou.edu/gened/requirements.

Are my General Education requirements different if I’m completing a BA or a BS?

Beginning with the 2019-20 academic year, all BA and BS requirements are included in the major program and are not additional graduation requirements. Thus, the General Education requirements are the same for all students whether they are in a BA or a BS degree track.

What is a High Impact Practice?

A teaching and learning practice that has been widely assessed and found to be highly beneficial for an inclusive group of college students in multiple contexts is a High Impact Practice. First Year Seminars are a High Impact Practice and all Integrating Knowledge courses are required to feature at least one High Impact Practice. You can learn more about the High Impact Practices featured in WOU General Education at https://wou.edu/gened/faculty-resources/high-impact-practices/

Do I have to take different High Impact Practices to meet my Integrating Knowledge requirements?

It is not required to take Integrating Knowledge Courses that feature different High Impact Practices.

Is there a way to complete my General Education requirements fully online?

During Spring 2020 all classes are available remotely. Most requirements do include at least one online or hybrid option (use the attributes search feature in the scheduler tool to find Gen. Ed. courses that are delivered remotely to find options available each term). We’re working on building a cohesive fully online pathway to meet the needs of students off campus. https://wou.edu/gened/alternate/

Do General Education classes require prerequisites?

Most General Education courses do not have prerequisites. While some Integrating Knowledge courses do have prerequisites, those are limited to courses that meet other General Education requirements. Some courses in Foundations: Communication and Language allow students to test into higher levels if they have language experience already.