General Education at º£½ÇÉçÇø offers students an intellectual foundation for their academic, professional, and personal lives. The General Education program is aligned with the University's mission to help students "refine their abilities to reason and to communicate clearly so as to become responsible citizens and leaders." General Education refers to the part of the university's education common to all students. By facilitating students' exploration of questions across multiple fields of study, general education courses foster knowledge, while also engaging students in issues encountered by citizens in a democracy.
Core intellectual skills embodied in our university learning goals—critical thinking, writing & critical reading, speaking & listening, quantitative reasoning, and various aspects of responsible citizenship (ethical reasoning, considering diverse perspectives, and civic implications)—are practiced and integrated continuously across general education.
Courses in the other segments of general education focus on a particular learning goal in addition to their topic content (e.g., quantitative reasoning in the natural sciences, communication in the arts and humanities, responsible citizenship in the social and behavioral sciences) and also give focused attention to critical thinking and at least one other learning goal. Courses that target a specific university learning goal have learning objectives and graded assignments tied to the learning goal; they also provide explicit instruction, practice, and feedback related to the development of that skill.
Semester Hour Requirements in the General Education Program
Language (2 composition + 1 speech)
9 semester hours
Humanities and Fine Arts
9 semester hours
Mathematics
3 semester hours
Scientific Awareness
7 semester hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences
9 semester hours
Senior Seminar/Study Abroad/Capstone
3 hours
One Cultural Diversity course included above
(*indicated by an asterisk below)
TOTAL
40 hours
Students following catalogs prior to Fall 2006 must satisfy the constitution requirement.
Please refer to the catalog section titledÌý"Academic Regulations" for the complete list of requirements for graduation.
General Education Courses Required of ALL Teacher Licensure Candidates Either as Part of the Above Required 40 semester hoursÌýor in addition to the IAI Core or Transfer General Education:
A 3 semester hour Diversity Course or Third World/Non-Western Course
"C" or better in ENG 1001G, ENG 1002G, CMN 1310G or their equivalents (a minimum of 9 semester hours is required.)
"C" or better in 3 semester hours of college level math
PLS 1153G or HIS 3600G or an equivalent U.S. Constitution course
Note: Post-baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Candidates must meet all general education requirements with the exception of Senior Seminar.Ìý
General Education Courses Listed by Category
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
(9 semester hours with a "C" or higher in each course)
Courses transferred in fulfillment of these requirements will be accepted only if they were completed with grades of "C" or higher.
College Composition I (3 credits)
ENG 1001
College Composition I: Critical Reading & Source-Based Writing. (3 credits)
African American and Africana Literatures. (3 credits)
*
ENG 2706
Latin American and Latinx Literatures. (3 credits)
*
ENG 3009
Myth and Culture. (3 credits)
*
ENG 3010
Literary Masterworks. (3 credits)
ENG 3090
Literary Masterworks, Honors. (3 credits)
ENG 3099
Myth and Culture, Honors. (3 credits)
*
ENG 3100
Cultural Foundations I. (3 credits)
(cross listed with PHI 3100G)
*
ENG 3110
Cultural Foundations II. (3 credits)
(cross listed with PHI 3110G)
*
World Languages and Cultures
WLE 2061
German Literature in Translation. (3 credits)
*
WLE 2062
Hispanic Literature in Translation. (3 credits)
*
WLE 2063
Francophone Literature in Translation. (3 credits)
*
WLF 2201
Intermediate French I. (4 credits)
*
WLF 2202
Intermediate French II. (4 credits)
*
WLG 2201
Intermediate German I. (4 credits)
*
WLG 2202
Intermediate German II. (4 credits)
*
WLS 2201
Intermediate Spanish I. (4 credits)
*
WLS 2202
Intermediate Spanish II. (4 credits)
*
WLS 2291
Intermediate Spanish I Honors. (4 credits)
*
WLS 2292
Intermediate Spanish II, Honors. (4 credits)
*
History
HIS 1500
Roots of the Modern World: Society and Religion. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1521
World History: Human Rights in History. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1522
World History: Slavery and Freedom. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1525
World History: Empires in Global History. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1526
World History: The Twentieth-Century World. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1527
World History: Gaming the Past. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1590
Roots of the Modern World: Society and Religion, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1595
World History: Empires in Global History, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1596
World History: The Twentieth-Century World, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1597
World History: Human Rights in History, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1598
World History: Slavery and Freedom, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1599
World History: Gaming the Past, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2010
History of the United States to 1877. (3 credits)
HIS 2020
History of the United States Since 1877. (3 credits)
HIS 2030
US History: The Black Experience. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2040
US History: Gender and Sexuality. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2050
US History: Building Latino/a/e Communities. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2060
US History: The History of Your Life. (3 credits)
HIS 2090
History of the United States to 1877, Honors. (3 credits)
HIS 2091
History of the United States Since 1877, Honors. (3 credits)
HIS 2094
US History: Gender and Sexuality, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2096
US History: The History of Your Life, Honors. (3 credits)
Humanities Interdisciplinary Courses
HIC 2000
Introduction to the Humanities: Interdisciplinary Problem-Solving. (3 credits)
HIC 2100
Introduction to the Health & Medical Humanities. (3 credits)
*
HIC 2190
Introduction to the Health & Medical Humanities, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Medieval Studies
Ìý
MDVL 2000
Introduction to Medieval Studies. (3 credits)
Philosophy
PHI 1000
God, Freedom, Knowledge and Values: An Introduction to Philosophical Questions. (3 credits)
PHI 1090
God, Freedom, Knowledge and Values: An Introduction to Philosophical Questions, Honors. (3 credits)
PHI 1900
Logical and Critical Reasoning. (3 credits)
PHI 1990
Logical and Critical Reasoning, Honors. (3 credits)
PHI 3100
Cultural Foundations I. (3 credits)
(cross listed with ENG 3100G)
*
PHI 3110
Cultural Foundations II. (3 credits)
(cross listed with ENG 3110G)
*
Religious Studies
Ìý
RLS 1200
Introduction to Religious Studies. (3 credits)
*
RLS 1290
Introduction to Religious Studies, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Fine Arts
Art
ART 2012
Asian Art. (3 credits)
*
ART 2310
Introduction to Art. (3 credits)
ART 2330
Art Appreciation. (3 credits)
ART 2601
Art in the Pre-Modern Era. (3 credits)
ART 2602
Art in the Modern Era. (3 credits)
ART 2691
Art in the Pre-Modern Era, Honors. (3 credits)
ART 2692
Art in the Modern Era, Honors. (3 credits)
ART 3340
Multicultural Aesthetics. (3 credits)
*
ART 3610
African Art. (3 credits)
*
ART 3611
Art in India and Southeast Asia. (3 credits)
*
ART 3612
Art in China and Japan. (3 credits)
*
Film Studies
Ìý
FILM 2759
History of Cinema. (3 credits)
*
Music
MUS 2555
The Enjoyment of Music. (3 credits)
MUS 2557
The Evolution of Jazz and Rock. (3 credits)
MUS 2558
Film Music: Exploring the Evolution of Music in Film. (3 credits)
MUS 3550
Survey of American Music. (3 credits)
MUS 3553
Survey of Western Musical Masterworks. (3 credits)
MUS 3562
Global Music. (3 credits)
*
MUS 3592
Global Music, Honors. (3 credits)
*
MUS 3593
Survey of Western Musical Masterworks, Honors. (3 credits)
Theatre
THA 2010
Experiencing the Arts: An Exploration of the Visual and Performing Arts. (3 credits)
THA 2140
Introduction to the Theatre. (3 credits)
*
THA 2190
Introduction to the Theatre, Honors. (3 credits)
*
THA 2801
Musical Theatre on Film. (3 credits)
*
THA 3751
Origins of Theatre. (3 credits)
*
THA 3752
Theatre from the 17th Century to the Present Day. (3 credits)
*
THA 3754
Theatre and Film. (3 credits)
*
THA 3755
African-American Theatre: Historical and Contemporary. (3 credits)
*
THA 3757
Contemporary World Theatre. (3 credits)
*
THA 3758
Topics in World Theatre History. (1 to 3 credits)
MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENT
(3 semester hours)
MAT 1160
Mathematics: A Human Endeavor. (3 credits)
MAT 1170
Problem Solving. (3 credits)
MAT 1300
Quantitative Literacy. (3 credits)
MAT 1320
Mathematical Modeling. (3 credits)
MAT 1441
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I. (5 credits)
MAT 2110
Brief Calculus with Applications. (3 credits)
MAT 2120
Finite Mathematics. (3 credits)
MAT 2190
Finite Mathematics, Honors. (3 credits)
MAT 2250
Elementary Statistics. (4 credits)
MAT 2290
Elementary Statistics, Honors. (4 credits)
MAT 2420
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II. (3 credits)
SCIENTIFIC AWARENESS REQUIREMENT
(7 semester hours)
Complete at least one course in the biological sciences and one in the physical sciences. At least one of the courses must be a laboratory course:
Biological Sciences
3 or 4 hours
Physical Sciences
3 or 4 hours
Ìý
Biological Sciences
BIO 1001
Biological Principles and Issues. (3 credits)
BIO 1002
Practical Botany. (3 credits)
BIO 1003
Life of Animals. (3 credits)
BIO 1004
Practical Microbiology. (3 credits)
BIO 1091
Biological Principles and Issues, Honors. (3 credits)
BIO 1092
Practical Botany, Honors. (3 credits)
BIO 1093
Life of Animals, Honors. (3 credits)
BIO 1094
Practical Microbiology, Honors. (3 credits)
BIO 1550
General Biology II. (4 credits)
BIO 2002
Environmental Life Sciences. (3 credits)
BIO 2003
Heredity and Society. (3 credits)
BIO 2005
Human Biology. (4 credits)
BIO 2091
Human Physiology, Honors. (4 credits)
BIO 2092
Environmental Life Sciences, Honors. (4 credits)
BIO 2093
Heredity and Society, Honors. (4 credits)
BIO 3003
An Introduction to Evolution. (3 credits)
BIO 3080
Behavior of Domestic Animals and their Wild Kin. (3 credits)
BIO 3155
Introduction to Evolutionary Medicine. (3 credits)
BIO 3333
Sustainable Energy and the Environment. (3 credits)
BIO 3888
Tropical and Marine Ecology. (4 credits)
Physical Sciences
Technology
TEC 2004
Materials Science and Evaluation. (4 credits)
TEC 2300
Science and Technology: A Promise or a Threat? (3 credits)
(cross listed with GEOÌý2300G)
Chemistry
CHM 1040
The World of Chemistry. (4 credits)
CHM 1310
General Chemistry I. (3 credits)
CHM 1315
General Chemistry Laboratory I. (1 credits)
CHM 1390
General Chemistry I, Honors. (3 credits)
CHM 1395
General Chemistry Laboratory I, Honors. (1 credits)
CHM 3025
The Chemistry in Your Life. (3 credits)
Earth Science/Geography/Geology
GEO 1120
The Natural Environment. (4 credits)
GEO 1300
Introduction to Earth Sciences. (4 credits)
GEO 1390
Introduction to Earth Sciences, Honors. (4 credits)
GEO 1400
Weather and Climate. (4 credits)
GEO 1490
Weather and Climate, Honors. (4 credits)
GEO 2450
Oceanography. (3 credits)
Physics
PHY 1010
Sustainable Energy. (3 credits)
PHY 1051
Physics of the Modern World. (3 credits)
PHY 1052
Adventures in Physics. (3 credits)
PHY 1053
Adventures in Physics Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1055
Principles of Astronomy. (3 credits)
PHY 1056
Principles of Astronomy Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1071
Physics of Sound and Music. (3 credits)
PHY 1072
Physics of Sound and Music Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1095
Principles of Astronomy, Honors. (3 credits)
PHY 1096
Principles of Astronomy Laboratory, Honors. (1 credits)
PHY 1151
Principles of Physics I. (3 credits)
PHY 1152
Principles of Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1351
General Physics I. (3 credits)
PHY 1352
General Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1391
General Physics I, Honors. (3 credits)
PHY 1392
General Physics I Laboratory, Honors. (1 credits)
PHY 3045
Wonders of Astronomy. (3 credits)
PHY 3050
Excursions in Physics. (3 credits)
SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES REQUIREMENT
(9 semester hours)
Choose courses from at least two different disciplines.
Anthropology
ANT 2200
Introduction to Anthropology. (3 credits)
*
ANT 2290
Introduction to Anthropology, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Technology
TEC 2225
Technology, History and Human Societies. (3 credits)
(cross listed with HIS 2225G)
*
Economics
ECN 2800
Economics of Social Issues. (3 credits)
*
ECN 2801
Principles of Macroeconomics. (3 credits)
ECN 2802
Principles of Microeconomics. (3 credits)
ECN 2891
Principles of Macroeconomics, Honors. (3 credits)
ECN 2892
Principles of Microeconomics, Honors. (3 credits)
Education Foundations
Ìý
EDF 2555
Education in a Diverse Society: The Multilingual/Multicultural Classroom. (3 credits)
*
EDF 2595
Education in a Diverse Society: The Multilingual/Multicultural Classroom, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Geography
GEO 1100
Cultural Geography. (3 credits)
*
GEO 1190
Cultural Geography, Honors. (3 credits)
*
GEO 1200
World Regional Geography. (3 credits)
*
GEO 1290
World Regional Geography, Honors. (3 credits)
*
GEO 2000
Food and Agriculture. (3 credits)
History
HIS 2225
Technology, History and Human Societies. (3 credits)
(cross listed with TEC 2225G)
*
HIS 3600
The U.S. Constitution and the Nation. (3 credits)
HIS 3690
The U. S. Constitution and the Nation, Honors. (3 credits)
HIS 3700
Turning Points in the History of Religion and Science. (3 credits)
HIS 3790
Turning Points in the History of Religion and Science, Honors. (3 credits)
Hospitality Tourism and Management
HTM 2600
Sustainable Communities. (3 credits)
Human Services
HSL 2300
Personal and Family Financial Literacy. (3 credits)
Journalism
JOU 2001
Journalism and Democracy. (3 credits)
JOU 2091
Journalism and Democracy, Honors. (3 credits)
Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
Philosophy
PHI 2500
The Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics. (3 credits)
*
PHI 2590
The Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics, Honors. (3 credits)
*
PHI 3050
Social and Political Philosophy. (3 credits)
PHI 3700
Language and Human Nature. (3 credits)
Political Science
PLS 1153
American Government and Constitution. (3 credits)
PLS 1193
American Government and Constitution, Honors. (3 credits)
PLS 2000
Introduction to Public Affairs. (3 credits)
PLS 2253
Introduction to International Relations. (3 credits)
*
PLS 2293
Introduction to International Relations, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Psychology
PSY 1879
Introductory Psychology. (3 credits)
PSY 1890
Introductory Psychology, Honors. (3 credits)
Public Health
PUBH 2200
Health Citizenship. (3 credits)
*
PUBH 3560
Women's Health. (3 credits)
*
Sociology
SOC 1838
Introductory Sociology. (3 credits)
*
SOC 2750
Social Problems in Contemporary Society. (3 credits)
*
SOC 2890
Social Problems in Contemporary Society, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
WGS 2309
Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies. (3 credits)
*
WGS 2310
Introduction to Studies of Sexuality and Gender Diversity. (3 credits)
*
SENIOR SEMINAR/STUDY ABROAD/CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT
(3 semester hours)
EIU 4100
Folklore, Culture, and Society. (3 credits)
EIU 4101
Spaceship Earth: The Present State. (3 credits)
EIU 4102
Technology and Society. (3 credits)
EIU 4104
World Film: Language and Culture in Film. (3 credits)
EIU 4105
Controversial Issues in Education. (3 credits)
EIU 4106
War Stories. (3 credits)
EIU 4107
The Idea of a University: Yesterday and Today. (3 credits)
EIU 4108
Special Topics in Women's, Gender and/or Sexuality Studies. (3 credits)
EIU 4109
The Politics of Human Rights. (3 credits)
EIU 4110
Frontiers of Communication. (3 credits)
EIU 4111
Plants and Civilizations. (3 credits)
EIU 4112
Women and Technology. (3 credits)
EIU 4113
The European Union: A Multi-cultural Approach. (3 credits)
EIU 4114
Senior Seminar: Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies in Matters of Culture. (3 credits)
EIU 4115
Pop Culture Economics. (3 credits)
EIU 4116
Conspiracy Theories in the U.S. (3 credits)
EIU 4118
Sociobiology: The Biological Origins of Social Practices. (3 credits)
EIU 4121
Leisure Time: The American Perspective. (3 credits)
EIU 4123
Social Movements, Crowds, and Violence. (3 credits)
EIU 4125
Cultural Diversity in the United States. (3 credits)
EIU 4126
Body, Health, and Society. (3 credits)
EIU 4128
Politics and Popular Culture. (3 credits)
EIU 4129
Law and Technology. (3 credits)
EIU 4131
Modern Biomedical Science: Promise and Problems. (3 credits)
EIU 4142
Telecommunication Issues in the Third Millennium. (3 credits)
EIU 4150
International Culinary Tourism. (3 credits)
EIU 4151
Nutritional Dilemmas and Decisions. (3 credits)
EIU 4155
The European Witchhunts. (3 credits)
EIU 4158
Freedom of Expression. (3 credits)
EIU 4160
Personal Financial Investments. (3 credits)
EIU 4161
Social Justice and the Stage. (3 credits)
EIU 4162
Voices of Change: Theatre as a Catalyst. (3 credits)
EIU 4165
Journalistic Media in Society. (3 credits)
EIU 4167
The Meaning of Life. (3 credits)
EIU 4168
The Internet as a Social Phenomenon. (3 credits)
EIU 4169
Women in Science. (3 credits)
EIU 4170
History on Film. (3 credits)
EIU 4171
Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels: A History of Graphic Narratives. (3 credits)
EIU 4172
Communication, Organizations and their Environments. (3 credits)
EIU 4173
Environmental Communication. (3 credits)
EIU 4174
Documentary Film and Society. (3 credits)
*
EIU 4190
Spaceship Earth: The Present State, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4191
Leisure Time: The American Perspective, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4192
Film and Contemporary Society, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4193
The Holocaust, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4194
Leadership: Theory and Practice, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4195
The European Witchhunts, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4197
Freedom of Expression: Dissent, Hate, and Heresy, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4198
Mischievous Molds, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4199
The Politics of Human Rights, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4290
Plants and Civilization, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4291
Pop Culture Economics, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4296
Body, Health, and Society, Honors. (4 credits)
Study Abroad Capstone
Study Abroad Program (2+ semester hours) and STA 4000G (1 semester hour) – Study Abroad is a high quality international academic opportunity that enables students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for leadership in an interdependent world. The University offers study abroad programs in more than 30 countries around the world. Competitive scholarships are available. Students should plan and apply early. After successful completion of an approved EIU study abroad program, and 75 semester hours, students are eligible to take STA 4000G. As a capstone, STA 4000G will require students to exercise their abilities to think critically about their global education experiences. STA 4000G incorporates university assessment activities, which may include tests, surveys and other instruments. To allow ample time for writing and discussion, STA 4000G, will be limited to a maximum of 25 students.
Departmental Capstone
CDS 4600
Seminar in Communication Disorders and Sciences. (3 credits)
CDS 4690
Honors Seminar in Communication Disorders and Sciences. (3 credits)
CMN 4680
Capstone in Communication Studies. (3 credits)
CIT 4749
Capstone Project in Computer Information Technology. (3 credits)
CRM 4700
Contemporary Topics in Criminology and Criminal Justice. (3 credits)
ECN 4689
Economics Research Capstone. (3 credits)
ENG 4300
English Studies Capstone. (3 credits)
ENG 4390
English Studies Capstone, Honors. (3 credits)
EGT 4704
Engineering Technology Capstone. (4 credits)
HIS 4375
History Capstone Seminar. (3 credits)
HIS 4644
Honors Thesis Departmental Capstone I. (3 credits)
HIS 4644
Honors Thesis Departmental Capstone II. (3 credits)
HSL 4859
Administration of Human Services Programming. (3 credits)
JOU 4730
Journalism Capstone Seminar. (3 credits)
MUS 4400
Seminar in Methods of Teaching Instrumental Music. (4 credits)
MUS 4401
Seminar in Methods of Teaching Vocal/General Music. (4 credits)
MUS 4760
Seminar and Practicum in Music Instruction. (3 credits)
NUR 4355
Teaching and Learning in Nursing: A Capstone Course. (3 credits)
NUR 4604
Issues and Practicum in Professional Nursing. (4 credits)
NUR 4644
Teaching and Learning in Nursing: A Capstone Course Honors. (3 credits)
NTR 4751
Nutrition Therapy. (4 credits)
PLS 4600
Political Science Capstone. (3 credits)
PUBH 4250
Planning Health Programs. (3 credits)
SOC 4700
Current Issues in Sociology. (3 credits)
STA 4000
Study Abroad Capstone. (1 credits)
Information sourced from the 2026-2027 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.
