Briefly, the Core Curriculum includes:
For a detailed listing of the courses under each area, see Core Curriculum in the Programs of Study section of this Bulletin.
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A baccalaureate degree program must require at least 21 semester hours of upper
division courses in the major field and at least 39 semester hours of upper division
work overall.
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Students who matriculated on the quarter system may have already satisfied this
requirement; see
Quarter System Environmental Literacy Requirement.
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Each institution of the University System of Georgia shall assure the other institutions, and the System as a whole, that students obtaining a degree from that institution possess certain minimum skills of reading and writing.
The Regents' Testing Program has been developed to help in the attainment of this goal. The objectives of the Testing Program are:
Passing the Regents' Test is defined as having passed all components of the test by scoring above the cutoff score specified for each component or having fulfilled the requirements by achieving specified scores on other approved standardized tests. The test may be administered either in its entirety or as one or more components depending on the needs of the students. If one component of the test is passed, that component need not be retaken.
Effective summer semester 2003, students graduating in summer semester 2003 or later will satisfy the Regents' Test requirement for graduation if they meet the following qualifications:
For on-line information regarding the policy modification go to www.reg.uga.edu (Policies)
A student holding a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education will not be required to complete the Regents' Test in order to receive a degree from a University System institution.
In order to implement effectively the goals of the Testing Program:
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The School of Health and Human Performance is committed to fulfilling the physical education needs of all students. An adapted physical education program operates as a normal extension of the basic physical education program for students who, because of temporary or permanent disability or medical conditions, cannot participate in the mainstream physical education program. It is through this adapted program that, with few exceptions, all students are able to satisfy the basic physical education requirement. Students with health problems or disabilities should consult with the Staff Physician at the University Health Service. Students will in turn be referred to the adapted physical education specialist who works in concert with the University Staff Physician, and subsequently will be placed in appropriate physical education activities.
There are no exceptions to the physical education requirement for reasons of age, sex, or disability except upon special recommendation by the Staff Physician at the University Health Service.
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Transfer students not receiving freshman English credit for writing courses taken at other institutions should bring catalog descriptions of those courses for review to the Freshman English Office, 135 Park Hall.
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Students whose first matriculation at UGA is prior to fall 2003 and who are candidates for first baccalaureate
degrees after fall 1995 must earn 40 of the last 60 semester credit hours in residence. In addition, such
students must earn 12 of the semester credit hours required for the major in residence.
Courses which are remedial in nature and are numbered less than 1000 shall not be counted in satisfaction of this requirement.
Study Abroad: Students may receive resident credit for University-sponsored studies abroad programs for which course registration and fee payment are effected through the University.
Other University-approved academic programs: Students participating in a University-approved academic program, including the National Student Exchange (NSE), UGA international exchange programs, and approved study abroad programs, are exempt from the part of the residence requirement which requires that 45 (or 40) of the last 60 semester credit hours must be completed in residence. In such cases, students need to complete 45 (or 40) semester hours at the University of Georgia in order to satisfy the residence requirement.
Credit earned through programs sponsored by other institutions, organizations, or approved student exchange programs will be recorded as transfer credit.
Students who present acceptable college credit earned before September 1960, or who are enrolled for a second baccalaureate degree, may satisfy the resident requirement by completing in residence 30 semester hours in courses numbered 2000 and above with a cumulative average grade of 2.0 or better. Students enrolled in the combined B.S.-M.D. program with the Medical College of Georgia may satisfy the resident requirement at the University by completing 30 semester hours in residence in courses approved by the Dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
The University of Georgia Core Curriculum
The Core Curriculum was established within the University System of Georgia as a means of facilitating the transfer of credit for students at the lower division level as they work toward baccalaureate degrees within University System colleges and universities. The various institutions within the University System, in establishing their core curricula, provide for (1) 60 semester credit hours of which a minimum of 42 are in general education and 18 in major-related courses; (2) assurances that all courses satisfactorily completed in the core curriculum of any unit of the University System will be acceptable and transferable to other units of the University System; and (3) the preservation of the maximum possible amount of institutional autonomy.
Area A ESSENTIAL SKILLS
English and math courses common throughout the University System. 9-10 hours
Area B INSTITUTIONAL OPTIONS
UGA students select these courses with the assistance of an academic advisor. 4-5 hours
Area C HUMANITIES/FINE ARTS
Two courses selected from an approved list with the assistance of an academic advisor. 6 hours
Area D SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND TECHNOLOGY
Two science courses and one mathematics/technology course. 10-11 hours
Area E SOCIAL SCIENCES
Four courses which may also satisfy history and constitution requirements. 12 hours
Area F COURSES RELATED TO THE PROGRAM OF STUDY 18 hours
Hours Required For the Undergraduate Degree
A baccalaureate degree must contain a minimum of 120 semester hours. Baccalaureate
degree programs also have a maximum of 120 semester hours (exclusive of physical
education hours). Exceptions to the maximum degree length requirements may be made
only with approval of the Board of Regents.
Oral Communication and Computers
Each undergraduate major at the University of Georgia will require students to demonstrate oral communication and basic computer skills appropriate for a graduate in the major.
Environmental Literacy Requirement
All students who matriculate in fall 1993 and thereafter must attain knowledge of basic
principles concerning environmental issues. This requirement may be satisfied by taking one
course from a list of approved courses. See
Courses Approved to Satisfy the Environmental
Literacy Requirement and Semester Environmental Literacy Requirement.
Examinations on the Constitutions
Examinations on the Constitution of the United States and that of the
state of Georgia are required of all persons receiving a degree from
the University, including those transferring Political Science 1101
from institutions outside the state unless exempted by courses
dealing with these constitutions.
Approved courses for exemption are as follows:
U.S. Constitution
POLS 1101
POLS 1105H
POLS 4700
POLS 4710
HIST 2111 and 2112
HIST 2111 and 2112H
HIST 2111H and 2112H
HIST 2111H and 2112
U.S. and Georgia Constitution
POLS 1101 (taken in Georgia)
POLS 1105H (taken in Georgia)
Georgia Constitution
POLS 2201 (University System course; not offered at UGA, but may be offered at other System institutions)
POLS 4650 (taken in Georgia)
POLS 4660
HIST 4100
Examinations are given once each semester; dates are announced in the
Schedule of Classes. One re-examination is permitted. Students who fail
both examinations must satisfy the requirement with course work.
Examinations on United States and Georgia History
A passing grade on an examination on the history of the United States and Georgia is required of all persons
receiving a baccalaureate degree from the University unless exempted by one of the following courses:
HIST 2111,
HIST 2112,
HIST 2111H,
HIST 2112H,
HIST 3080H.
Examinations are given to freshmen during orientation and twice each semester by Testing Services. Reexamination is permitted. Examination dates are announced in the Schedule of Classes.
Regents' Testing Program
www.gsu.edu/rtp
Students' Review Procedures--Regents' Testing Program
Basic Physical Education
The above requirements are applicable to all students except as follows:
English 1101 and 1102
English 1101 and 1102 (English Composition) are required for all undergraduate degrees from the University of Georgia. A grade of C or better is required for English 1101 and an average of 2.0 or better is required for both courses.
Resident Requirement
Candidates for first baccalaureate degrees who matriculate at UGA fall 2003 and thereafter must earn at least
45 of the last 60 semester credit hours in residence. In addition, 15 of the semester credit hours required for
a student’s major must be earned in residence. (Some majors may require more than the minimum of 15 semester
credit hours.)