GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM
(F System) AND ACADEMIC POLICIES
(Updated 3/20/12)
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS AND BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE DEGREES
(for students matriculating from Fall 1995 to the present)
Regardless of their field of study, students who earn at least 6 credits of foreign language earn a B.S.; students
who earn 16 credits of foreign language earn a B.A.
Goals and objectives, as approved by the faculty in May of 1994, are listed here for advisors to assist students to
see the purpose of each requirement and to make connections among the liberal arts and major fields of study
and career interests, and their development as well-rounded individuals.
FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION
Goal: To acquire the knowledge and ability to use logic and language both as a means for further study and as a
basis for an educated life of responsible service.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. Communication courses are intended to be taken in the freshman year as they build important
foundational skills; transfers should take them early on.
2. Some communication courses serve as prerequisites for other courses: e.g., ENG 110 is the pre-requisite
for most F1 courses; PHIL 101 is the prerequisite for F7 courses. Check the catalogue.
3. Some courses require placement testing as a prerequisite.
ENGLISH COMPOSITION
Requirement: For students matriculating prior to Fall 2005, a sequence of English 101-102, or English 103
(depending on placement) with a grade of D or better, or demonstrated proficiency (Minimum 6 credits for the
sequence). For students matriculating in Fall 2005 or later, ENG 110 or ENG 110H (4 credits).
Goal: To articulate and support clear, intelligent ideas in written essays that demonstrate the student's concern
for subject, audience, and purpose.
Objectives - To demonstrate the ability to:
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write short expository and argumentative essays;
read critically;
write an academic research paper, utilizing library and other resources and acceptable methods of
documentation from the MLA and APA style guides;
use standard English correctly and consistently.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. ENG 110 is the pre-requisite for most F1 literature courses.
2. Enrollment in composition courses is by placement only. For Freshmen, ACT scores are used; for all
other students needing to fulfill this requirement, a placement test must be taken prior to enrollment.
3. If a student places into ENG 99, he/she should take it during his/her first semester. The course does not
count in credits toward graduation or in the GPA calculation, but does count in the student's total
semester load for billing and Financial Aid purposes.
4. ENG 110H is an advanced version of ENG 110. Enrollment is by placement only. If a student places
into ENG 110H but would prefer to take ENG 110, they are eligible to do so.
5. The office of the Registrar determines if a transfer course is the equivalent of ENG 110 based on its
having a research component.
6. Students who feel they have the appropriate content knowledge may opt to attempt the English
Proficiency Exam administered through the Academic Dean's Office.
MATHEMATICS
Requirement - MATH 101, 114A, 121*, 122 or 231 course with a grade of D or better, or demonstrated
proficiency. (Minimum 3 credits)
*Students under the old curriculum who took Math 121 (Statistics) prior to fall 2010 are not eligible to
use it to fulfill their math foundations requirement (including Transfer students who entered Edgewood fall
2010 with a transferrable statistics course). Transfers students who start at Edgewood fall 2011 will be eligible
to fulfill their Cornerstone M tag for the new curriculum with a previously taken statistics course.
CAUTION: Some majors require students to take a specific Foundations math course! Check the catalogue.
Goal - To acquire the ability to approach problems in a systematic way and to have a basic understanding of
mathematical language and ways of thinking.
Objectives - To demonstrate:
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the ability to understand, analyze and solve mathematical problems and present the solutions in an
appropriate manner;
the ability to use logical deductive reasoning in approaching a variety of problems;
an understanding of basic mathematics as a self-contained field of inquiry and as a fundamental tool for
other scientific disciplines.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. If a student places into MATH 98, he/she should take it during his/her first year. The course does not
count in credits toward graduation, but does count in the student's total semester load for billing and
Financial Aid purposes.
2. Enrollment in Math courses is by placement only. For freshmen, ACT scores are used; for all other
students needing to fulfill this requirement, a placement test must be taken prior to enrollment. Transfer
students do not need placement testing to take another math course if they have already taken a
Foundations math equivalent elsewhere.
3. For transfer students:
a. The Registrar determines if a transferred math course fulfills the Foundations requirement. This is
indicated on the Transfer Credit Evaluation.
b. Departments determine if math course(s) transferred into Edgewood (as indicated on Transfer Credit
Evaluation) fulfill major/minor requirements.
c. Transfer coursework may fulfill both Foundations and major requirements; however, the credits will
be counted only once.
4. Students who feel they have the appropriate content knowledge may opt to attempt a Math Proficiency
Exam administered through the Academic Dean’s Office, or a Math Proficiency Exam for MATH 101
administered by the Math Department.
5. Some majors/minors require students to take specific math courses, e.g., Elementary Education and
Business. (See College Catalogue)
SPEECH
Requirement - COMMS 101 with a grade of D or better, or demonstrated proficiency. (Minimum 3 credits)
Goal - To develop an authentic and articulate public voice, i.e., to develop a student's capacity to say what
he/she means when speaking in public and to say it cogently, coherently, clearly, intelligibly, and in a manner
appropriate to the occasion.
Objectives - To demonstrate:
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a sound and prudent inventional capacity, i.e., an ability to generate and support the ideas and arguments
appropriate to public forums and to shape those materials in view of the audience to be addressed;
a capacity for disposition, i.e., an ability to organize materials so as to secure and maintain favorable
attention from an audience;
an effective oral style, i.e., an ability to publicly express thoughts clearly, economically, appropriately,
and in a lively manner;
a capacity to communicatively present thoughts in public settings, i.e., a capacity to deliver what one has
to say in ways which focus attention on what one means and which are responsive to audience and
occasion;
habits of listening and criticism appropriate to the public forum.
Policy Advisors Need to Know
Students with a work background in public speaking may wish to attempt the Speech Proficiency exam
administered by the Academic Dean's Office.
LOGIC: THE PRACTICE OF CRITICAL THINKING
Requirement - PHIL 101 with a grade of D or better, or demonstrated proficiency. (Minimum 3 credits)
Goal - To acquire the ability to clarify ideas, form well-grounded judgments, and unite judgments in an orderly
manner, so as to reason to a valid conclusion.
Objectives - To demonstrate:
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knowledge of precise terms for expressing ideas; then to employ them in categorizing, defining and
dividing;
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the ability to make judgments through the study and analysis of various kinds of propositions: namely,
categorical, conditional, disjunctive and conjunctive;
the ability to reason and to build effective arguments through the study and employment of deductive
and inductive methods.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. Logic is the pre-requisite for all F7 philosophy courses.
2. A Logic Proficiency Exam is available through the Academic Dean’s Office.
COMPUTER COMPETENCY
Requirement - Demonstrated proficiency as determined by the individual student's major.
Goals: To provide an understanding of the operation and use of computers.
Objectives - To demonstrate:
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a basic understanding of the use of computer systems and how they operate;
develop an introductory level of computer proficiency appropriate to the student's major discipline.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. Check the catalogue under individual departments for specific requirements; in some cases, students
may not need to take a course to satisfy the departmental requirement, but need to demonstrate certain
proficiencies.
2. The Declaration of Major form should indicate how a student will fulfill this requirement, whether by a
course or demonstrated proficiency.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Requirement - For a B.S., at least 6 credits in one language; for a B.A., 16 credits in one language, or 14 credits
in one and 8 in a second. Normally, for students with no previous foreign language, courses 101 and 102 of the
language with a passing grade and a minimum of 6 credits satisfy the requirement.
Goal - To acquire in a cultural context an introductory knowledge of the structure and vocabulary of a second
language.
Objectives - To demonstrate:
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knowledge of the grammatical structure and vocabulary in order to have meaningful communication;
knowledge of the culture in order to better understand the people and their language;
varying capacities in the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.
FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN LEARNING
Goal - To provide students with the foundations necessary for the development of literacy and critical abilities
in the arts, sciences and humanities, thereby to grow in self-knowledge, sense of personal responsibility and
moral direction.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. Foundations of Human Learning courses (see General Education (F System) – Foundations of Human
Learning Courses) are intended to be completed in the freshman and sophomore years, or, for transfer
students, early on. CAUTION: Certain majors/minors may require or recommend specific Human
Learning courses; consult the catalog.
2. Taking an introductory Foundations course in a field of study is a useful way for students to "explore"
the field and their own interests and abilities.
3. Only those courses “coded” F1- F8 in the course number fulfill Foundations of Human Learning
requirements.
4. Foundations requirements may not be fulfilled through Independent Study or the Pass/Fail option.
5. Students must earn a D or better to fulfill the Foundations requirement.
6. It is acceptable for students to “double-dip,” i.e., to fulfill a Foundations requirement and a major/minor
requirement with one course.
F1 LITERATURE
Requirement - An F1 course in literature. (Minimum 3 credits)
Literature involves the study of writings of an imaginative or critical character.
Objectives - Foundational study of literature should enable a student to:
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respond to the human experience revealed in the text; understand the genre and form as well as the
context of the text;
see the text in relation to some of its contexts (author, historical, ethnic or cultural, or literary tradition,
etc.);
develop his/her ability to experience literature with thoughtful enjoyment;
develop skills of interpretation and critical evaluation of literature.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. ENG 110 is the pre-requisite for all F1 literature courses offered through the English Department.
2. F1 literature courses are offered in the English, Theatre Arts and Foreign Language Departments.
F2 HISTORY & APPRECIATION OF THE FINE ARTS
Requirement - An F2 course in the history and appreciation of the fine arts: art, music, film or theater, or a
course in aesthetics. (Minimum 3 credits)
The arts are a means of creative expression which awakens the imagination. Understanding a work in terms of
aesthetics, criticism, culture and history relates art to the human senses and intellect. The arts provide a model
of experiential learning and engage students in self-expression. Experience in the arts fosters discipline, selfconfidence, communication, cooperation and collective accountability.
Objectives - Foundational study in fine arts history and appreciation should enable the student to:
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describe a work in terms of its historical and cultural context;
express aesthetic awareness and critical judgments of creative works utilizing cognitive and emotional
parameters.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. Students are frequently confused about the difference between F2 and F3 Studio, so advisors should
explain the objectives of each.
2. Attaining sufficient credits may be an issue for some transfer students who come in with only 1 or 2
credits in the area of arts appreciation. These students need to fulfill the credit requirement by taking an
F2 course or be referred to the Associate Academic Dean.
F3 FINE ARTS STUDIO EXPERIENCE
Requirement - An F3 studio course in art, creative writing, music, dance or theater arts. (Minimum 2 credits)
Objectives - Foundational study in the studio arts should:
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enable the student to express personal ideas, thoughts, and feelings in an original and creative manner;
explore a variety of media and to foster perceptual, creative and aesthetic awareness;
assist students in developing critical and evaluative skills in forming judgments of their own works and
the works of others;
guide students in the artistic process by instructing them in selection of elements, materials, and
techniques.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. The studio arts include: visual arts (e.g., ceramics or drawing), theatre and music performance, and
creative writing; students may also satisfy this requirement by transferring in courses in ballet or modern
dance, as determined by the Registrar.
2. Attaining sufficient credits may be an issue for some transfer students who come in with only 1 credit of
studio coursework. These students need to fulfill the credit requirement by taking an F3 course.
3. For students who opt to satisfy the requirement in music by enrolling in one of the Foundations
performing ensembles, they must take 2 semesters at 1 credit each semester. (See College Catalogue)
4. Some majors may require or recommend specific F3 courses. See the Catalogue.
F4 SOCIAL SCIENCES
Requirement - An F4 course chosen from the following disciplines: economics, political science,
anthropology, psychology or sociology.
(Minimum 3 credits)
The social sciences apply the methods of science to understand individual and social behavior. The social
sciences cover a very wide and differentiated range of phenomena, including the examination of human
behavior and the investigation of biological and environmental causes of behavior and pro-processes and factors
in human development; explorations of the relationships of persons and structures of power and authority in
families, religious, civic, economic and political associations, territorial, ethnic/racial and national communities,
nation-states and multi-national associations; analyses of the production and distribution of economic resources;
and the consideration of the relationships between science, religion, morality, law and the state, distinctions
between knowledge and values and "personal troubles" and "public issues" and the social and political
implications of using these distinctions.
Objectives - Foundational study in the social sciences should enable the student to:
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gain the ability to search in a disciplined way for answers to questions about human social behavior and
societal change;
learn the value of empirical analysis, including the ability to choose appropriate research methods and
evaluation studies in the social sciences;
examine the link between the individual's experiences and larger social processes and public issues.
Policy Advisors Need to Know
Some majors/minors require or recommend specific social science courses. Check the college catalogue’s
departmental listings.
F5 NATURAL SCIENCES
Requirement - Effective April, 2009 students can fulfill the general education science requirement one of two
ways (the 11-credit rule for new transfer students no longer applies):
1. An F5 science sequence. No minimum credit requirement.
2. Two science classes with labs and one additional science. Refer to the list of lab and non-lab
science courses. The additional science does not require a lab or a credit minimum.
Natural science is a process of investigating phenomena. Any natural phenomena which can be observed and
measured, and for which methodology and instrumentation can be developed and validated is within the domain
of the natural sciences. The legacy of science, the process of investigating natural phenomena, is a body of
scientific knowledge consisting of a data base, an array of methodologies, an array of concepts and an array of
theories and models.
Objectives - Foundational study of the natural sciences should enable the student to:
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see the natural sciences as a human activity that, in part, deals with a variety of problems that societies
face when interacting with the environment, and to understand the relationship between science and
technology and the implications of both for society;
demonstrate an understanding of the process of investigating phenomena, including: the ability to
formulate a testable hypothesis, describe observations that would support or refute the hypothesis, and
plan an investigation that would provide the appropriate observations with attention to identification,
control and measurement of the variables of the system;
demonstrate competency in making distinctions between observations and inference, cause and effect,
principle and application, fact and assumption;
attain a basic scientific literacy, which includes both an understanding of some of the basic and
fundamental ideas that underlie all of the natural sciences, as well as an understanding of content in at
least one area at a sufficient depth to be competent in understanding the basic ideas behind articles
written about that topic in both popular and scientific literature;
understand that the natural sciences are an accumulated, yet impermanent body of knowledge;
understand both the usefulness and limitations in the use of modeling in the natural sciences.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. A sequence means two semesters of the same science, as indicated in the catalogue (e.g., General
Biology I and II).
2. Several F5 courses have numerous pre-requisites, including competency in math, so check the current
catalogue. Delaying math remediation will mean delaying fulfillment of the year-long science sequence.
3. Some majors require students to take specific science courses. See the catalogue’s departmental listings.
F6 HISTORY
Requirement - An F6 course in history. (Minimum 3 credits)
History is the account civilizations render to themselves and their posterity of their pasts. Reading, writing and
analyzing such accounts helps students acquire knowledge, sympathetic understanding, critical thinking skills,
an increase in the faculty of judgment, and promotes civic literacy.
Objective - Foundational study in history should enable a student to:
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know the persons, periods, events and trends, including both art and literature, and the scientific and
technological developments of the particular time and place treated in the course;
identify and use historical terms, such as proletariat, serf, depression, Marxism, class, gender and
ideology;
understand concepts, such as historical causation and consequence, the themes of continuity and change,
and the nature of change;
investigate the complexity of the human condition in time, the dynamic and global nature of history,
historians’ approaches to the past, and the necessity for on-going research and reinterpretation;
find appropriate primary and secondary sources;
analyze, synthesize, and critically confront historical documents to develop a thesis;
write the results of inquiry and reflection clearly and correctly.
F7 PHILOSOPHY
Requirement - An F7 course in philosophy. (Minimum 3 credits)
The study of philosophy seeks to stimulate consideration of the ultimate human questions, such as: the nature of
the universe, the cause of the universe, the purpose of existence, and the criteria for genuine human living
within the context of the search for goodness, truth, beauty and happiness.
Objectives - Foundational study in philosophy should enable a student to:
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question the basic assumptions of the discipline which he or she studies;
understand the recurrent philosophical questions about the human condition;
recognize the relationship between fundamental beliefs and the recurring questions about the actions of
individuals, groups, and nations.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. The pre-requisite for all F7 philosophy courses is PHIL 101 Logic: the Practice of Critical Thinking
2. Students are often confused about the difference between the PHIL Logic requirement and the F7
requirement. Be sure to explain the difference and that both must be fulfilled.
F8 RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Requirement - An F8 course in religious studies. (Minimum 3 credits)
Religious studies is a reflection and critical study in the context of the Catholic Christian tradition of the
religious element in human experience.
Objectives - Foundational study in religious studies should enable a student to:
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begin an exploration of the perspective necessary to advance the study of the arts and sciences in a
Christian spirit;
study those historical, philosophical and theological questions which underlie fundamental beliefs about
the human condition;
become acquainted with a vision of peace and justice which grows out of the Christian tradition;
examine the roots of the traditions at Edgewood expressed in the mission statement of the College,
including intellectual competence, a Catholic tradition in an ecumenical context, and the importance of
community and service.
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY OPTION
An interdisciplinary course integrates the objectives of two or more disciplines, providing the opportunity to
explore the connections among various areas of human knowledge. These courses will interconnect distinct
bodies of knowledge, ways of knowing, and applications of learning to enable students to integrate areas of
study in Foundations of Communication and Human Learning.
Objective - In addition to meeting the objectives of each discipline involved in the course, an interdisciplinary
course should enable a student to:
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analyze the relationship between specific areas of human knowledge and
integrate knowledge from two or more disciplines.
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. An approved interdisciplinary course or courses may be substituted for one or more of the Foundations
requirements whose objectives are developed within the course. UCC determines which Foundations
requirements will be fulfilled.
2. Since an interdisciplinary course will have at least 2 Foundations designations and since students may
often choose which Foundations area a course will satisfy, they should take care to register for the
appropriate course number and "F" code. For example, see options for Introduction to Women’s Studies
in the college catalogue: students may use the course to fulfill only ONE Foundations requirement.
3. Transferred interdisciplinary courses are evaluated by the Registrar to determine what Foundations
requirements are fulfilled.
HUMAN ISSUES
Requirement - Completion of a Human Issues Study is a requirement for graduation. Students may satisfy the
requirement by one of three methods explained below. (Minimum 3 credits)
Goal - To provide the student with the opportunity to confront a significant human issue with intellectual rigor
through several disciplinary perspectives within the context of Dominican values and the liberal arts.
The objectives for students engaged in a Human Issues Study are:
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To relate intellectual life to their particular concerns and values and to the contemporary world;
To discover methods of inquiry useful in examining their own particular concerns;
To understand liberal education through awareness of differing academic perspectives;
To integrate and synthesize bodies of knowledge and relate these to their professional and personal
interests;
To confront broad human issues and questions with intelligence, good judgment, and integrity.
1. HI 305/405 Seminar Sequence: Taking a HI sequence on a specified topic is the most structured
method. Topics vary each year and are listed in the timetable. A student who successfully completes the HI
305/405 sequence will have fulfilled the Human Issues requirement at 4 credits. The prerequisite for HI 305 is
junior standing; HI 305 is the prerequisite for HI 405.
2. HI 404 Topics Seminar: Some Human Issues Seminars are offered as one-semester special topics
courses. Current titles are listed on EdgeReg. The HI 404 seminar may be cross-listed with another
department. Students who successfully complete HI 404 will have met their Human Issues requirement. Credits
vary from 3 to 4.
3. Independent Study The student develops a topic of his/her own choosing with a Human Issues advisor (a
Statement of Intent must be approved by the Human Issues Office) and completes the study on his/her own,
often with a service or experiential component. The HI advisor guides the student and must approve the project.
Most independent studies are written; however, students have the option to present their Human Issues orally or
through some other creative project. Students must register for HI 479 for a total of 3 credits, sometimes split
over two terms (e.g., 1 credit in Summer; 2 credits in Fall)
Policies Advisors Need to Know
1. Since the HI requirement is unique to the Edgewood curriculum and part of the college's Dominican
heritage, advisors should take time to explain and promote the value of the Human Issues Study in their
meetings with students.
2. Remind students when they reach junior standing (60 credits) that they should determine the method by
which they will complete their HI requirement. Suggest that students pick up a brochure from the HI
office and go to an orientation session. Advisors may also want to suggest appropriate faculty to serve
as the student's HI advisor.
3. If students want to use the independent method, help them determine when they should register for HI
479. Depending on the student’s semester credit load, the independent study may be “free” if the student
is within the annual 34 credit/full-time tuition package.
4. All COR 2 courses with 3+ credits can fulfill the Human Issues requirement.
POLICIES ABOUT DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
1. Minimum of 120 Credits Needed for Graduation
a. Some students may complete all Foundations, Major and Human Issues requirements and still need to take
electives to reach the 120 credit minimum. Other students may exceed the 120 credit minimum by completing
all the requirements of their program(s). The Nursing degree requires at least 128 credits.
b. If students have courses that fulfill both Foundations requirements and the Major requirements, suggest that
students think about using the resulting availability of credits toward a double major, a concentration, or a
minor; thus, conserved credits in one area may be used strategically in another. Students may need your
assistance in developing such options.
c. Students must complete a minimum residency requirement of 32 earned credits at Edgewood (not to
include awarded credits for proficiency testing). Departments may have other residency policies for their
majors/minors; check the catalog.
d. Many departments allow “double dipping” whereby a Foundations and major requirement is fulfilled by one
course. Take care that the credits for the course are not counted twice when reviewing a student's credits earned.
2. Cumulative Grade Point Average of At Least 2.0
Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, with no grades of Incomplete on their record in order to
be eligible for graduation. (See college catalog)
3. Exceptions to Stated Policies for Degree Requirements
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Questions about Transfer courses: If a student believes that a course taken at another institution was
inadvertently missed or not recorded on the Credit Evaluation he/she is advised to contact the Registrar's
Office and to bring in a catalogue description and/or syllabus for further review. Students should not
take a syllabus for review directly to departments or faculty, as it is the Registrar who has authority to
accept a course in transfer.
Exceptions to General Education Requirements: If a student believes that he/she may have fulfilled a
requirement by other means than those stated, he/she should contact the Associate Academic Dean who
has the authority to make exceptions to General Education requirements. Waivers are rare; substitutions
require a valid academic reason. Advisors may not waive or make substitutions for Foundations
requirements.
Alternate Routes to Fulfilling Requirements: See Credit for Prior Learning and the catalog.
4. General Education Requirements for Students Matriculating Prior to Fall 1995
Students matriculating prior to Fall 1995 must use slightly different Foundations requirements. Contact the
Registrar for more complete information.
5. Requirements for Students Who Have Stopped Out
Students who have stopped out for five or more years must fulfill the degree requirements indicated in the
current catalog when they return to Edgewood. This includes general education requirements and major/minor
requirements. Students who have stopped out for fewer than five years may fulfill the degree requirements
stated in the catalog in which they matriculated.
7/11.Director of Advising