General Education Requirements

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.wofford.edu.

These requirements are intended to promote breadth of knowledge, integration of disciplinary perspectives, and understanding of diverse cultures. Wofford’s program seeks to develop skills in reading, written and oral communication, use of technology, critical thinking, creative expression, numerical reasoning, problem solving, and collaborative and independent learning. The college identifies these competencies as vital to intellectual and personal growth. While these competencies are developed in all courses in the curriculum, they are the explicit focus of general education courses.

Courses which meet General Education requirements are listed below. The same course may not be used to satisfy more than one General Education requirement, but can be used to satisfy major requirements.

HUMANITIES 101, 3 Credit Hours

All new first-year students are required to take HUM 101 First-Year Seminar in the Humanities during the fall semester of their initial year of enrollment.  Students who do not pass the course during the fall semester will be required to retake it during the spring semester of their first-year of enrollment.

Course Title Hours
HUM 101First-Year Seminar in the Humanities3

WELLNESS, 2 Credit Hours

Two one-credit hour courses, First Year Interaction Seminar (FYI 101) and any Physical Education (PHED) course.

Course Title Hours
FYI 101First-Year Interaction Seminar1
Physical Education, (PHED 100-level)1

FOREIGN LANGUAGES, 3-10 Credit Hours

Foreign language placement is made by the faculty of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures and is normally determined by the student's previous level and quantity of foreign language study.  The requirement is met by successfully completing a course sequence (101/102) OR one 200-level course as noted below.  Please note introductory-level Chinese (CHIN 101/102) and Arabic (ARBC 101/102) language courses meet everyday and are 5 credit hours each.

Course Title Hours
Select one of the following:10 or 4
Beginning Active Arabic
and Beginning Active Arabic
Intermediate Active Arabic
Intermediate Active Arabic
Select one of the following:10 or 5
Beginning Active Chinese
and Beginning Active Chinese
Low Intermediate Chinese
Low Intermediate Chinese
Select one of the following:6 or 3
Beginning Active French
and Beginning Active French
Intermediate Active French
Intermediate Active French
Select one of the following:6 or 3
Beginning Active German
and Beginning Active German
Intermediate Active German
Intermediate Active German
Select one of the following:6 or 3
Beginning Active Spanish
and Beginning Active Spanish
Communication & Culture
Intermediate Active Spanish
Intermediate Active Spanish

ENGLISH, 6 Credit Hours

 ENGL 102 Seminar in Literature and Composition is required of all students and one 200-level English (ENGL) literature course (excluding ENGL 260).

Course Title Hours
ENGL 102Seminar in Literature and Composition (Select one of the following:)3
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Literary Study
English Literature to 1800
English Literature Since 1800
Survey of American Literature
Survey of World Literature
Introduction to the Study of Film

FINE ARTS, 3-4 Credit Hours

This requirement is met by completing one of the options below.

Course Title Hours
Art History (ARTH), 200-or 300-level course3
Studio Art (ARTS), 200-level course3
Music (MUS), 200-level course (except for MUS 220)3
Theatre (THEA), 200-level (except THEA 210), 385 or 390 course3
Four semester hours in THEA 2104
Four semester hours from Applied Music courses:4
Men's Glee Club
Wofford Singers
Women's Choir
Concert Band
String Ensemble
Private Instruction
Chamber Singers
Instrumental Chamber Music
Wofford Concert Orchestra

CULTURES & PEOPLES, 3 Credit Hours

Courses meeting this requirement focus on the study of cultures other than European and European-settler cultures, or the interaction between and comparison of European and non-western cultures.  A complete list of approved Cultures & Peoples course can found on the Registrar's website.  On the schedule, these courses are designated with the attribute of 'CP'.

SOCIAL SCIENCE, 3 Credit Hours

One three-credit hour course from the following options:

Course Title Hours
Introduction to Archaeology and Physical Anthropology
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology and Communications
Human Ecology
Ethnography
Ethnographic Film
Ecological Anthropology
Medical Anthropology
Cultures of Southeast Asia and Oceania
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Foundations of Education
Introduction to Environmental Social Science
Sustainable Food Systems
Foundations of American Politics
Foundations of World Politics
Comparing States & Societies
Introduction to Sociology
Social Problems
Race and Ethnicity
Sex & Gender Across Cultures
Environmental Sociology
Sex, Gender and the Family
Social Psychology
Social Inequalities & Stratification
The Development of Sociological Theory
Globalization & Society

HISTORY, 3 Credit Hours

One 100-level History (HIST) course.

RELIGION, 3 Credit Hours

One 200-level Religion (REL) course.

PHILOSOPHY, 3 Credit Hours

One three-credit hour course in Philosophy (PHIL) at any level.

MATHEMATICS, 3 Credit Hours

One three-credit hour course in Mathematics (MATH) at any level.

NATURAL SCIENCE, 7- 8 Credit Hours

The natural science requirement is met by successfully completing  two courses, either two lab science courses OR one lab science and one science in context course.  Lab science courses give students hand-on experience in doing science while science in context courses  explore features that make science an important way of understanding the natural world in contemporary society.

Course Title Hours
Lab Science Courses
Biological Inquiry (with lab)
Introduction to Genetics & Molecular Biology (with lab)
Introduction to Cellular Biology (with lab)
Chemistry: Concepts & Methods (with lab)
General Chemistry I (with lab)
General Chemistry II (with lab)
Scientific Investigations Using Computation (with lab)
Introduction to Earth System Science (with lab)
Introduction to Sustainability Science (with lab)
Introduction to Environmental Science (with lab)
Physics: Concepts & Methods (with lab)
General Physics I (with lab)
General Physics II (with lab)
Physics for Science & Engineering I (with lab)
Physics for Science & Engineering II (with lab)
Psychology: Concepts & Methods (with lab)
Introduction to Psychological Science (with lab)
Biological Psychology (with lab)
Science in Context Courses
Biology: Science in Context
Chemistry: Science in Context
Environmental Studies: Science in Context
Physics: Science in Context
Psychology: Science in Context

Note that some science courses have prerequisites or require permission of instructor.