General Education
Goals | Core Courses | Gen Ed Options | Transfer CreditGeneral Education Goals
General education goals, a required part of every Michigan Tech degree, include developing in each student
- fundamental scholastic habits of careful reading, communication, critical reasoning, balance, analysis and argument
- the ability to apply multiple disciplinary perspectives in interpretation, analysis, and creative problem solving
- respect for diversity and awareness of complex contexts of their study and their work
- knowledge of a broad range of topics and disciplines complementary to the major
The General Education curriculum is made up of the following requirements:
- Four core courses (13 credits)
- Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) requirement (15 credits)
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) requirement (16 credits)
- Co-curricular activities (3 semester units, typically 6 half-credit classes)
General Education requirements are not normally waived, substituted or modified. Advisors may submit specific requests in special situations, such as when students have received incorrect advice. Requests are reviewed on an individual basis by the office of the Provost for the General Education Council.
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Core Courses (13 credits)
The core courses are designed to promote active engagement in learning, coherence within the curriculum, integration within and across academic disciplines, development of strong communication skills, and development of university-level abilities. The core consists of the following:
- Perspectives on Inquiry (UN 1001, 3 credits)—an interdisciplinary, writing-intensive seminar taken in the first semester of the first year
- World Cultures (UN 1002, 4 credits)—an interdisciplinary lecture/ lab course focuses on globalization and human diversity. It is taken in the second semester of the first year. Two semesters of a single modern language along with UN 1003 World Cultures Activities may substitute for UN 1002—see Modern Language Option for World Cultures below.
- Revisions (UN 2001, 3 credits)—a writing and communications course taken during the sophomore year
- Institutions (UN 2002, 3 credits)—an interdisciplinary course on human social, political and economic institutions taken fall during the sophomore year
The core courses are designed to be taken according to the above schedule and are restricted to enrollment by the class year. Some core courses also have previous core courses as prerequisites. Students who do not take these courses on schedule risk being unprepared to complete general education requirements and may face graduation delays.
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Modern Language Option for World Cultures (UN 1002)
Two semesters of a single modern language taken at Michigan Tech, along with UN 1003 World Cultures Activities, may substitute for UN 1002. Two semesters of language and UN 1003 satisfy the requirement for UN 1002 and 3 credit hours of HASS distribution requirements. Note the following:
- Students may begin their two semesters of modern language in the fall or spring semesters of their first year.
- Students choosing this option must enroll concurrently in UN 1003 World Cultures Activities and a modern language.
- Students with transfer or AP credit, or who plan to study abroad, should see the Humanities Department Modern Language Director for advice.
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General Education Transfer Credit
- After enrollment at Michigan Tech a student may not transfer in credits to meet UN 1001 and UN 1002.
- Students may transfer credits to satisfy the Revisions (UN 2001) and Institutions (UN 2002) requirements even after enrollment at Michigan Tech, but must see the Transfer Services Office before taking to verify they are taking the correct course.
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