Responsibility for understanding and meeting graduation requirements rests entirely with the student.
Some courses in the St. Olaf curriculum count for more than one graduation requirement at the same time. A course taken for Studies in Natural Science may also be the first course in the chemistry major. A course taught in the Department of English may simultaneously satisfy requirements for Literary Studies and Multicultural Studies. Courses with writing usually fulfill more than one requirement. In addition, students may complete requirements with courses taken on international and off-campus programs.
General Education Requirements Worksheet
General Education Requirements Key
The codes for the General Education Requirements are listed below. When a course fulfills a General Education requirement, the code for each requirement being fulfilled is noted under heading "General Education Requirement Fulfilled" in the Class and Lab Schedule. For example, a course fulfilling both Historical Studies in Western Culture (HWC) and Multicultural Studies - Global (MCS-G) would be coded -- HWC, MCS-G.
FYW= General Education 111 (taken during first year), American Conversations 102, Asian Conversations 111, or Great Conversation 116
WRI= Writing (completion of four courses designated as courses with writing)
FOL= Foreign Language (fourth college semester course numbered 232 or higher in French, German or Spanish; third college semester course or higher in Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Latin, Norwegian, or Russian)
FOL-C= Chinese 231 or higher, taught in Chinese
FOL-F= French 232 or higher, taught in French
FOL-G= German 232 or higher, taught in German
FOL-K= Greek 231 or higher, taught in Greek
FOL-J= Japanese 231 or higher, taught in Japanese
FOL-L= Latin 231 or higher, taught in Latin
FOL-N= Norwegian 231 or higher, taught in Norwegian
FOL-R= Russian 231 or higher, taught in Russian
FOL-S= Spanish 232 or higher, taught in Spanish
ORC= Oral Communication (one course)
MAR= Mathematical Reasoning (one course)
PHA= Physical Activity (completion of two different .25 PHA activity courses in Dance or Physical Education or one .50 Physical Education Activity PHA course in the Physical Education Department). Only one intercollegiate sport credit may be applied to the PHA requirement.
HWC= Historical Studies in Western Culture (two courses)
MCS-G= Multicultural Studies - Global (one course focusing on a culture outside of the Western tradition)
MCS-D= Multicultural Studies - Domestic (one course which examines cultural diversity within the United States)
ALS-A= Artistic Studies (one course focusing on artistic forms) Any fractional courses applied must total one full-course credit in a single department.
ALS-L= Literary Studies (one course focusing on literary forms)
BTS-B= Biblical Studies (Religion 121, taken during first year)
BTS-T= Theological Studies (one course in Christian theology)
NST= Studies in Natural Science (Two courses in different departments or interdisciplinary programs. At least one course must be in biology, chemistry, or physics, and at least one must be a laboratory course.)
NST-B= Studies in Natural Science, Biology non-lab
NST-B, NSL= Studies in Natural Science, Biology with lab
NST-C= Studies in Natural Science, Chemistry non-lab
NST-C, NSL= Studies in Natural Science, Chemistry with lab
NST-P= Studies in Natural Science, Physics non-lab
NST-P, NSL= Studies in Natural Science, Physics with lab
NST= Studies in Natural Science, other non-lab
NST, NSL= Studies in Natural Science, other with lab
HBS= Studies in Human Behavior and Society (Second course must be in a department or program different from the first HBS course)
EIN= Ethical Issues (one upper-level course)
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the Christian Theology requirement (BTS-T)
Foundation Courses
First-Year Writing [FYW] - 1 course
Objective: To equip students for effective writing in the liberal arts and introduce writing as a means of learning.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of General Education 111 in the first year of study. Students who initially transfer 15 or more courses to St. Olaf are exempt from this requirement.
Placement: Students who need to improve their writing skills complete English 110: Critical Skills in Composition, in the first semester of the first year, then complete a General Education 111 in the second semester of the first year. All other students may enroll directly in a General Education 111 section.
Courses with Writing [WRI] - 4 courses
Objective: To sustain and improve writing skills.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of four courses across the curriculum designated as Courses with Writing.
Foreign Language [FOL] - 0-4 courses
Objective: To develop non-English language skills to an intermediate level, deepen understanding of language as a human phenomenon and generate insights into a culture other than one's own.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of the fourth college semester course (numbered 232 or higher) taught in the French, German or Spanish languages; or satisfactory completion of the third college semester course (numbered 231 or higher) taught in the Chinese, Greek, Latin, Japanese, Norwegian or Russian languages.
Placement: The college provides placement examinations for new students. On the basis of examination results and the admissions record, the college assists with initial placement in a first-, second-, third- or fourth-semester course. All students are advised to begin foreign language study in the first semester of the first year and to continue their language study in each subsequent semester until the requirement is completed. In cases where a student's schedule of courses makes that impossible, the student should consult with his or her adviser.
Students may also fulfill the foreign language requirement by demonstrating proficiency at the required third- or fourth-semester level either through a St. Olaf proficiency examination or by transfer of college credits in a single foreign language at the appropriate levels as determined by the relevant St. Olaf foreign language department and the registrar. Proficiency reports from persons not known to St. Olaf must be based on documented exposure or training by the student in a foreign language equivalent in length to three or four college semesters or demonstration of a sufficient length of time in a non-English speaking culture to give credence to a proficiency report. As a rule, proficiency reports from persons outside of St. Olaf are not acted upon until the student arranges for a final proficiency exam by persons and methods agreed to by members of the foreign language faculty, the registrar and, if necessary, the dean of the college. Such exams may involve an expense paid by the student. Students fulfilling the foreign language requirement with courses transferred from an American institution should first consult with the registrar. These transferred courses must be in a single language and at the appropriate level.
Alternatives to the foreign language requirement are rarely considered and only if strict adherence to course requirements and class attendance are met. Students experiencing special language difficulty or students for whom English is a second language should consult the registrar or the director of academic advising.
Oral Communication [ORC] - 1 course
Objective: To develop oral communication competence and confidence.
Requirement: A course that incorporates specific instruction, practice and feedback, designated as ORC.
Mathematical Reasoning [MAR] - 1 course
Objective: To develop an understanding of mathematics and mathematical problem-solving.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of a course approved for Mathematical Reasoning credit.
Placement: The college provides a placement examination for new students. On the basis of examination results and the admissions record, most students are advised to complete the requirement in the first year. In some instances, however, students are advised to complete the requirement later. The college assists with placement.
Physical Activity [PHA] - 2 one-quarter (.25) credit physical activity courses or a .50 credit course.
Objective: To enhance knowledge of present and long-term physical well-being.
Requirement: Two different one-quarter (.25 credit) activity courses providing participation in structured physical activity in Physical Education or Dance or a .50 credit course in Physical Education. Participants in a recognized intercollegiate sport or dance company may register and receive credit for one of the two required .25 credit courses. Credit for intercollegiate sport or dance company participation cannot be earned as an elective. It can be earned only once as part of the PHA requirement.
Core Courses
Historical Studies in Western Culture [HWC] - 2 courses
Objective: To develop historical perspective on and critical appreciation of the major traditions, institutions and achievements of Western culture.
Requirement: Two courses which may be taken in a variety of departments.
Multicultural Studies [MCS-G, MCS-D] - 2 courses
Objective: To develop an understanding and appreciation of global and domestic cultural diversity.
Requirement: One full-credit course focusing on culture outside of the Western tradition and one course which includes a component focusing on cultural diversity within the United States. The course and the component may be taken in a variety of departments.
Artistic and Literary Studies [ALS-A, ALS-L] - 2 courses
Objective: To develop appreciation and understanding of artistic and literary forms.
Requirement: One course focusing on artistic forms and one course focusing on literary forms. The courses may be taken in a variety of departments. Fractional courses totaling one course may satisfy the Artistic Studies requirement if they are all in the same artistic form and are accredited for Artistic Studies.
Biblical and Theological Studies [BTS-B, BTS-T] - 2 courses
Objective: To introduce the Biblical tradition and to develop a critical and coherent understanding of Christian belief.
Requirement: An introductory Biblical studies course (Religion 121), taken during the first year, and one course in Christian theology. Students who initially transfer 15 or more courses to St. Olaf are only required to complete the Christian theology course.
Studies in Natural Science [NST, NSL] - 2 courses
Objective: To develop an understanding of scientific knowledge, the process of scientific discovery and the role of the sciences in society and culture.
Requirement: Two courses in different departments or interdisciplinary programs. At least one must be in biology, chemistry or physics, and at least one must be a laboratory course.
Studies in Human Behavior and Society [HBS] - 2 courses
Objective: To introduce concepts, theories and methods for the empirical understanding of individual and social human behavior.
Requirement: Two courses in different departments or programs.
Integrative Course
Ethical Issues and Normative Perspectives [EIN] - 1 course
Objective: To analyze ethical issues from a variety of perspectives that provide norms of justice and well-being and guide moral reasoning. One or more perspectives from the Christian theological tradition will be included.
Requirement: One upper level course (numbered 200 or higher) which may be taken in a variety of departments.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the Christian theology requirement or permission of instructor
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