Each student is assigned to the academic catalog for the year in which they entered the university. This catalog describes all of the student’s requirements for graduation, including their General Education requirements. A student may change their academic catalog to a later one if they wish. Doing so may change their requirements for graduation. The General Education requirements have changed in the academic catalog beginning in Academic Year 2018-19. This is why this chapter lists two sets of requirements for General Education. A student will need to know which catalog they have been assigned to in order to know which of these two sets of requirements they must complete.

Prior to 2018-19

In Plymouth State University’s General Education program, students take three First Year Experience courses. In addition, students take two courses in each of four Directions. These courses are designed to excite students about learning and to give them breadth of knowledge and experience with different approaches to learning. Though taught by the various academic departments, they are required of no major and are open to all students. Connections courses help students develop more advanced academic skills, appreciation of difference, and appreciation of wellness within specific academic contexts. Three of the seven Connections must be explored within the context of the major; the other four may be explored in that context or in some other.

First-Year Experience

• First-Year Seminar credits – 3
• Composition credits – 3
• Mathematics Foundation credits – 3

Directions

• Creative Thought credits – 6
• Past and Present credits – 6
• Scientific Inquiry credits – 6 to 8
• Self and Society credits – 6

Connections

• Diversity* credits – 3
• Global Awareness* credits – 3
• Integration* credits – 3
• Wellness* credits – 3

• Quantitative Reasoning in the Disciplines **
• Technology in the Disciplines**
• Writing in the Disciplines**

* These connections may be double counted with a major, minor, or any other general education requirement.
** These connections are 3-credit experiences taken as part of the major and hence add no credits to those required for the major.

Total Credits 45-47

2018-19 and 2019-20

In Plymouth State University’s General Education program, students take three First Year Experience courses. In addition, students must take one course in each of the Directions categories as well as an additional 4-8 credits of Directions (total of 20 credits of Directions). These courses are designed to excite students about learning and to give them breadth of knowledge and experience with different approaches to learning. Though taught by the various academic departments, they are required of no major and are open to all students. Connections courses help students develop more advanced academic skills, appreciation of difference, and appreciation of wellness within specific academic contexts. Three of the seven Connections must be explored within the context of the major; the other four may be explored in that context or in some other.

Overview of the Three Components

First Year Experience

• Tackling a Wicked Problem credits – 4
• Composition credits – 4
• Mathematics Foundation credits – 3 to 4

Directions:

• Creative Thought credits – 3 to 4
• Past and Present credits – 3 to 4
• Scientific Inquiry credits – 3 to 4
• Self and Society credits – 3 to 4
• Additional Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI)* credits – 4 to 8

Connections:

• Diversity** credits – 3 to 4
• Global Awareness** credits – 3 to 4
• Integration** credits – 3 to 4
• Wellness** credits – 3 to 4
• Quantitative Reasoning in the Disciplines ***
• Technology in the Disciplines***
• Writing in the Disciplines***

Total Credits 43–49

*Directions should total 20 credits (unless the major has a waiver for a specific Direction).

**These Connections may be double counted with a major, minor, or any other General Education requirement.

***These Connections are three or four-credit experiences taken as part of the major and hence add no credits to those required of the major.

2020-21 and After

In Plymouth State University’s General Education program, students take three First Year Experience courses. In addition, students must take one course in each of the Directions categories as well as an additional 4-8 credits of Directions (total of 20 credits of Directions). These courses are designed to excite students about learning and to give them breadth of knowledge and experience with different approaches to learning. Though taught by the various academic departments, they are required of no major and are open to all students. Connections courses help students develop more advanced academic skills, appreciation of difference, and appreciation of wellness within specific academic contexts. Three of the six Connections must be explored within the context of the major; the remaining three may be explored in that context or in some other. Finally, each student must take a General Education capstone course to fulfill the Integrated Capstone requirement.

Overview of the Four Components

First Year Experience

• Tackling a Wicked Problem credits – 4
• Composition credits – 4
• Mathematics Foundation credits – 3 to 4

Directions:

• Creative Thought credits – 3 to 4
• Past and Present credits – 3 to 4
• Scientific Inquiry credits – 3 to 4
• Self and Society credits – 3 to 4
• Additional Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI)* credits – 4 to 8

Connections:

• Diversity** credits – 3 to 4
• Global Awareness** credits – 3 to 4
• Wellness** credits – 3 to 4
• Quantitative Reasoning in the Disciplines ***
• Technology in the Disciplines***
• Writing in the Disciplines***

Integrated Capstone:

• Integrated Capstone*** credits – 4

Total Credits 44–49

*Directions should total 20 credits (unless the major has a waiver for a specific Direction).

**These Connections may be double counted with a major, minor, or any other General Education requirement.

***These Connections are three or four-credit experiences taken as part of the major and hence add no credits to those required of the major.

*** The Integrated Capstone cannot be a course required by the major.