Requirements

A student's course of study may include a number of different kinds of requirements. 

·University General Education requirements: All students must satisfy the University's General Education requirements.

· College or School requirements: Some Colleges or Schools require particular courses or levels of competencies that are not required of all university students.

· Major requirements: These are requirements specific to the major the student has chosen.

· Minor requirements: Not all students declare a minor, but if they do, the course of study can be more or less prescribed.

Requirements of all types are provided in the on-line Catalog  http://www.catalog.uconn.edu .

New students automatically follow the new Catalog requirements. However, all undergraduate students have the option to change from their original requirements and follow the new Catalog. To use the form to request a change.  Catalog Change Form

For all students who entered the University prior to May 2005 and chose to stay in the older Catalog requirements, refer here:  Requirements Prior to May 2005.

General Education Requirements Effective Summer 2005

The University Senate enacted these requirements to ensure that all University of Connecticut undergraduate students become articulate and acquire intellectual breadth and versatility, critical judgment, moral sensitivity, awareness of their era and society, consciousness of the diversity of human culture and experience, and a working understanding of the processes by which they can continue to acquire and use knowledge. It is vital to the accomplishment of the Universitys mission that a balance between professional and general education be established and maintained in which each is complementary to and compatible with the other.

Every student must meet a set of core requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree, though some schools and colleges may add to the requirements listed here. To avoid delaying the progress of their degree, students should always consult the requirements listed for their particular school or college before registering. The school or college may refer the student to these Academic Regulations when the requirements and choices duplicate those listed here. 

Content Areas
There are four Content Areas:
One - Arts and Humanities. Six credits.
Two - Social Sciences. Six credits.
Three - Science and Technology. Six to seven credits.
Four - Diversity and Multiculturalism. Six credits.

The courses in Content Areas One, Two, and Three must be taken in six different academic units. Content Area courses may be counted toward the major. 

Normally, the six credits required as a minimum for each Content Area will be met by two three-credit courses. However, in Content Area One, one-credit performance courses may be included. Students may use no more than three credits of such courses to meet the requirement.

In Content Area Three, one of the courses must be a laboratory course of four or more credits. However, this laboratory requirement is waived for students who have passed a hands-on laboratory science course in the biological and/or physical sciences. 

In Content Area Four, at least three credits shall address issues of diversity and/or multiculturalism outside of the United States (International courses). 

One, and only one, Content Area Four course may also serve as a Content Area One, Content Area Two, or Content Area Three requirement. 

Content Area One - Arts and Humanities
Arts and Humanities courses provide a broad vision of artistic and humanist themes. These courses enable students themselves to study and understand the artistic, cultural and historical processes of humanity. They encourage students to explore their own traditions and their places within the larger world so that they, as informed citizens, may participate more fully in the rich diversity of human languages and cultures. 

Content Area Two - Social Sciences
The social sciences examine how individuals, groups, institutions, and societies behave and influence one another and the natural environment. Courses in this group enable students to analyze and understand interactions of the numerous social factors that influence behavior at the individual, cultural, societal, national, or international level. They use the methods and theories of social science inquiry to develop critical thought about current social issues and problems. 

Content Area Three - Science and Technology
These courses acquaint students with scientific thought, observation, experimentation, and formal hypothesis testing, and enable students to consider the impact that developments in science and technology have on the nature and quality of life. Knowledge of the basic vocabulary of science and technology is a prerequisite for informed assessments of the physical universe and of technological developments.

Content Area Four - Diversity and Multiculturalism
In this interconnected global community, individuals of any profession need to be able to understand, appreciate, and function in cultures other than their own. Diversity and multiculturalism in the university curriculum contribute to this essential aspect of education by bringing to the fore the historical truths about different cultural perspectives, especially those of groups that traditionally have been under-represented. These groups might be characterized by such features as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identities, political systems, or religious traditions, or by persons with disabilities. By studying the ideas, history, values, and creative expressions of diverse groups, students gain appreciation for differences as well as commonalities among people. 

Competencies

University of Connecticut undergraduates need to demonstrate competency in five fundamental areas  computer technology, information literacy, quantitative skills, second language proficiency and writing. The development of these competencies involves two parts: one establishing entry-level expectations and the second establishing graduation expectations. The entry-level expectations apply to all incoming students. The exit expectations may vary for different major fields of study. 

Computer Technology Competency
Entering students are expected to have the basic computer technology skills required to begin university study. Students should take online assessments of knowledge and competency and utilize available workshops/online tutorials to make up any gaps. Each major has established expectations for the computer technology competencies of its graduates and built the development of these into the major curriculum. Further details are given under the description of each major in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Information Literacy Competency
Information literacy involves a general understanding of how information is created, disseminated and organized, and an ability to access, evaluate, synthesize and incorporate information into written, oral, or media presentations. Basic information literacy is taught to all freshmen as an integral part of ENGL 110/111, in collaboration with the staff of the University Libraries. Each major program has considered the information literacy competencies required of its graduates and built those expectations into the upper-level research and writing requirements in the major. Further details are given under the description of each major in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Quantitative (Q) Competency
All students must pass two Q courses, which may also satisfy Content Area requirements. One Q course must be from Mathematics or Statistics. Students should discuss with their advisor how best to satisfy these requirements based on their background, prior course preparation and career aspirations. Students may be encouraged to complete MATH 101: Basic Algebra With Applications (a course that does not carry credit toward graduation) prior to enrolling in their first Q course. In some cases, advisors may recommend postponing registration in a Q course until after the student has completed a semester of course work at the University.

Second Language Competency
A student meets the minimum requirement if admitted to the University with three years of a single foreign language in high school, or the equivalent. When the years of study have been split between high school and earlier grades, the requirement is met if the student has successfully completed the third-year high school level course. With anything less than that, the student must take one year (2 semesters) of college level study in a single language. 

Writing (W) Competency
All students must take either ENGL 110 or 111. Students passing ENGL 250 are considered to have met the ENGL 110 or 111 requirement. Additionally, all students must take two writing-intensive (W) courses, which may also satisfy Content Area requirements. One of these must be at the 200-level and associated with the student's major. Approved courses for each major are listed in their sections of this catalog. (Note: English 110 or 111 is a prerequisite to all writing-intensive courses).

Last updated 7/3/07