General Education Requirements

General Education Paradigm/Philosophy

General Education course selections prepare students to become thoughtful, generative learners. Through exploring broad areas of knowledge - the human condition; the global and historical; the cultural and aesthetic; and the communicative, mathematical, scientific, and technological - students will develop the knowledge bases, and intellectual competencies, and be exposed to the values requisite for participating responsibly in, and adapting to, a complex and diverse world.

Knowledge Bases

A generally educated person possesses knowledge in the following areas:

  • Human Awareness and Understanding

    • Comprehends the dynamics of human behavior, development, and relationships

    • Comprehends the dynamic relationship between culture and human awareness

    • Comprehends the factors that promote physical, mental, and social well-being

  • Global and Historical Knowledge and Understanding

    • Comprehends a general knowledge of the nature, origins, and contributions of civilizations

    • Comprehends the workings and interrelations of personal, business, and government economies

    • Comprehends political, social, and economic systems and their effects upon society

  • Cultural and Aesthetic Knowledge and Understanding

    • Comprehends the contributions of the arts, humanities, and sciences of the human experience upon the individual and their world

    • Comprehends the development of the arts and sciences and their impact upon the individual and their world

    • Comprehends cultural systems and their effects

  • Communication

    • Comprehends the importance of human communication and understands a variety of effective communication methods

    • Comprehends the importance of effective communication

    • Comprehends methods for gathering, synthesizing, and integrating information in written and oral communication

    • Comprehends the connection between critical thinking and effective communication

  • Mathematics, Science and Technology

    • Comprehends the basic concepts and investigative processes of the natural sciences

    • Understands various mathematical skills and techniques, and is able to apply them appropriately to solve real world problems

    • Comprehends the way science and technology shape our world

Intellectual Competencies

A generally educated person:

  • Reads, writes, speaks, and listens effectively

  • Acquires, evaluates, analyzes, presents, and communicates information

  • Employs quantitative and qualitative analyses to solve problems

  • Uses information technology in communication, research, and problem solving

  • Organizes concepts into orderly systems

  • Works collaboratively within complex systems and diverse groups

  • Applies ethical judgment to everyday life

  • Applies the scientific method of inquiry

Values

A generally educated person values:

  • Intellectual honesty

  • Curiosity and openness to new ideas

  • Recognition of one’s own creative and intellectual potential

  • Acceptance of differences among people, and cultural diversity

  • Civic engagement

  • Lifelong learning

  • Social justice and equality

Need More Information? Contact:

(904) 646-2300 or info@fscj.edu.

Curriculum

Students select general education courses from the five broad liberal arts discipline areas: communication, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social/behavioral sciences. Per Florida State Statute 1007.25(3): “General education core course options shall consist of a maximum of five courses within each of the subject areas of communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.” Courses identified with an asterisk (*) are designated as state core courses, accepted as general education at all state colleges and universities. To determine which general education courses are required for your degree plan, please refer to your specific Program of Study.

Associate in Arts students: Please refer to the program degree program for general education course requirements, including state core course selections. Please see an advisor for questions about specific general education courses required by your intended transfer institution for your intended transfer major.

Associate in Science students: Please refer to your specific Program of Study to determine which general education courses are required for your degree plan.

A minimum grade of C or higher is required in all general education courses.

General Core Course Digital Badges

Digital badges highlight skills and competencies learned in certain general education core courses that are important to employers for workforce and professional success. Digital badges are automatically awarded to eligible students at no additional cost. The digital badges shown below are recognized by all institutions in the Florida College System and the Florida State University System. Please refer to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) for more information about digital badges.

Digital Badge

Eligibility Criteria

Implementation Date

Fundamentals of Written Communication

Earned grade of C or higher in course, course, or any course for which these are prerequisites

2022-23 Academic Year

I. Communication

State core course options are identified with an asterisk (*).

  • *ENC1101 - English Composition I Credit Hours: 3

  • *ENC1101C - English Composition I Enhanced Credit Hours: 4

  • ENC1102 - Writing About Texts Credit Hours: 3

  • SPC2017 - Introduction to Speech Communications Credit Hours: 3

  • SPC2065 - Speech Communication for Business and the Professions Credit Hours: 3

  • SPC2608 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3

II. Humanities

State core course options are identified with an asterisk (*).

  • AML2010 - American Literature: Colonial Times to 1900 Credit Hours: 3

  • AML2020 - American Literature: 1865 to Present Credit Hours: 3

  • *ARH2000 - Art in the Humanities Credit Hours: 3

  • ARH2050 - Art History from Prehistory to 15th Century Credit Hours: 3

  • ARH2051 - Art History from 15th to 21st Century Credit Hours: 3

  • DAN2100 - Dance in the Humanities Credit Hours: 3

  • ENG2100 - Film Studies Credit Hours: 3

  • ENL2012 - English Literature to 1750 Credit Hours: 3

  • ENL2022 - English Literature Since 1750 Credit Hours: 3

  • *HUM2020 - Topics in the Humanities Credit Hours: 3

  • HUM2210 - Humanities: Prehistory to the 15th Century Credit Hours: 3

  • HUM2230 - Humanities: Mainstream of Cultures, 15th to 20th Century Credit Hours: 3

  • HUM2250 - Humanities: 20th and 21st Century Cultural Perspectives Credit Hours: 3

  • HUM2410 - Humanities of Asia Credit Hours: 3

  • HUM2450 - Humanities in the Americas Credit Hours: 3

  • *LIT2000 - Literature in the Humanities Credit Hours: 3

  • LIT2100 - Great Ideas in World Literature Credit Hours: 3

  • *MUL2010 - Music in the Humanities Credit Hours: 3

  • *PHI2010 - Philosophy in the Humanities Credit Hours: 3

  • PHI2600 - Moral and Political Philosophy Credit Hours: 3

  • PHI2603 - Introduction to Applied Ethics Credit Hours: 3

  • REL2000 - Religion in the Humanities Credit Hours: 3

  • REL2300 - World Religions Credit Hours: 3

  • *THE2000 - Theatre in the Humanities Credit Hours: 3

III. Mathematics

State core course options are identified with an asterisk (*).

  • *MAC1105 - College Algebra Credit Hours: 3

  • *MAC1105C - College Algebra Enhanced Credit Hours: 5

  • MAC1114 - College Trigonometry Credit Hours: 3

  • MAC1140 - Precalculus Algebra Credit Hours: 4

  • MAC1147 - Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry Credit Hours: 5

  • MAC2233 - Calculus for Business and Social Sciences Credit Hours: 3

  • *MAC2311 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4

  • MAC2312 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry II Credit Hours: 4

  • MAC2313 - Calculus with Analytic Geometry III Credit Hours: 4

  • MAP2302 - Differential Equations Credit Hours: 3

  • *MGF1106 - Topics in College Mathematics Credit Hours: 3

  • *MGF1107 - Explorations in Mathematics Credit Hours: 3

  • *STA2023 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hours: 3

IV. Natural Sciences

State core course options are identified with an asterisk (*). Note: ISC1075 may fulfill the requirement for Biological Sciences or Physical Sciences but not both.

Biological Sciences

  • BOT1010C - Botany Credit Hours: 4

  • *BSC1005 - Life in Its Biological Environment Credit Hours: 3

  • BSC1005L - Biology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1

  • *BSC2010C - Principles of Biology I Credit Hours: 4

  • BSC2011C - Principles of Biology II Credit Hours: 4

  • BSC2020C - Human Biology Credit Hours: 4

  • BSC2050 - Biology of Environmental Systems Credit Hours: 3

  • *BSC2085C - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credit Hours: 4

  • BSC2086C - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credit Hours: 4

  • ISC1075 - Principles of Science and Investigation Credit Hours: 3

  • MCB2010C - Microbiology Credit Hours: 4

  • OCB2000C - Fundamentals of Marine Biology Credit Hours: 4

  • ZOO1010C - General Zoology Credit Hours: 4

Physical Sciences

  • *AST1002 - Introduction to Astronomy Credit Hours: 3

  • AST1002L - Astronomy Laboratory Credit Hours: 1

  • *CHM1020 - Chemistry for Liberal Arts Credit Hours: 3

  • CHM1025C - Introduction to General Chemistry Credit Hours: 4

  • CHM1032C - Principles of General Chemistry Credit Hours: 4

  • *CHM2045C - General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis I Credit Hours: 4

  • CHM2046C - General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis II Credit Hours: 4

  • *ESC1000 - Earth and Space Science Credit Hours: 3

  • ESC1000L - Earth and Space Science Laboratory Credit Hours: 1

  • *EVR1001 - Introduction to Environmental Science Credit Hours: 3

  • GLY1010C - Physical Geology and Laboratory Credit Hours: 4

  • ISC1075 - Principles of Science and Investigation Credit Hours: 3

  • OCE2001 - Survey of Oceanography Credit Hours: 3

  • OCE2001L - Oceanography Laboratory Credit Hours: 1

  • *PHY1020C - Physics for Liberal Arts with Laboratory Credit Hours: 3

  • *PHY2048C - Physics I With Calculus Credit Hours: 4

  • PHY2049C - Physics II With Calculus Credit Hours: 4

  • *PHY2053C - General Physics I Credit Hours: 4

  • PHY2054C - General Physics II Credit Hours: 4

  • PSC1341 - Physical Science Credit Hours: 3

V. Social and Behavioral Sciences

State core course options are identified with an asterisk (*).

  • AMH2010 - United States History to 1877 Credit Hours: 3

  • *AMH2020 - United States History From 1877 to the Present Credit Hours: 3

  • AMH2070 - History of Florida Credit Hours: 3

  • AMH2092 - African-American History and Culture (From African Origins to 1877) Credit Hours: 3

  • AMH2093 - African-American History and Culture from 1877 to the Present Credit Hours: 3

  • *ANT2000 - General Anthropology Credit Hours: 3

  • ANT2410 - Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3

  • ANT2511 - Introduction to Physical-Biological Anthropology Credit Hours: 3

  • DEP2004 - Human Growth and Development Credit Hours: 3

  • *ECO2013 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3

  • INP1390 - Human Relations in Business and Industry Credit Hours: 3

  • INR2002 - International Relations Credit Hours: 3

  • LAH2000 - History of Latin America Credit Hours: 3

  • *POS2041 - American Federal Government Credit Hours: 3

  • POS2112 - State and Local Government Credit Hours: 3

  • *PSY1012 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3

  • *SYG2000 - Introductory Sociology Credit Hours: 3

  • SYG2010 - Social Problems Credit Hours: 3

  • SYG2430 - Marriage and Family Credit Hours: 3

  • WOH1012 - World History to 1500 Credit Hours: 3

  • WOH1022 - World History Since 1500 Credit Hours: 3

  • WST2010 - Introduction to Women’s Studies Credit Hours: 3