For a quick desk reference, print the GER Quick Guide assembled by the HSB Advising Center
The General Education Requirement (GER) consists of 20 courses: six common core courses and 14 courses in the University Distribution.
The six common core courses include:
- ENG 1011 The Craft of Language
- ENG 1021 Texts and Contexts
- PHL 1011 The Human Person
- PHL 1031 Moral Philosophy
- HIS 1011-1021 Historical Introduction to Western Civilization
The GER University Distribution requirement includes 14 courses, exclusive of free electives, distributed as follows:
- Foreign Language (2 courses)
- Art/Literature (1 course)
- Mathematics (2 courses)
- Natural Sciences (2 courses)
- Philosophy (1 course in addition to the common core courses)
- Social Sciences (3 courses)
- Theology (3 courses)
Foreign Language (Two courses)
Two courses in sequence in a modern or classical foreign language at the second-year level (1211-1221) or higher are required.
- Students are placed into a language course based on the level of completed coursework in high school and their performance on a language placement test taken prior to entering SJU. Please Note: If a student believes that s/he has been placed in a challenge level beyond his/her ability, the student must talk with both his/her professor and the Chair of the Foreign Language Department about a possible switch to a lower level.
- Students who have insufficient preparation for language study at the second year level may satisfy the requirement through an intensive three-semester, twelve-credit sequence (FRE, GRM, ITA, SPA 1011/1021/1031 or SPA 1051/1061/1071). The initial course (e.g., 1011/1051) is used as a free elective.
- Students whose primary language is not English may request permission to satisfy the language requirement by completing comparable courses in English (ESL 1251-1261).
- Students with a documented learning difference may also request permission to satisfy the language requirement in an alternate manner (Please contact Mr. James Scott for additiona information).
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Art/Literature (One course)
This requirement may be satisfied by a course in fine and performing arts, English, a modern foreign language, a classical language, or a course in classical literature in translation. Departments list courses that satisfy this requirement in the SJU Catalog.
- Compiled list of approved GER Art/Lit Courses
- Please Note: Painting & drawing, 3-D media (e.g., ceramics), photography, theater performance, film production, and writing courses such as journalism and creative writing DO NOT fulfill the Art/Lit Requirement.
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Mathematics (Two courses)
Business Majors typically complete MAT 1151 Finite Mathematics with Applications in Business and MAT 1161 Brief Business Calculus.
- Additional higher level math combinations also satisfy the HSB requirements (e.g., MAT 1251-1261 Applied Calculus I & II).
- See the Math Substitution Chart published by the HSB Dean’s Office for other options (please note that these substitutions are designed to accommodate internal transfer students from the College of Arts & Sciences).
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Natural Sciences (Two courses)
Students (other than natural science majors) may satisfy the natural science requirement by completing any two of the introductory courses in biology, chemistry, or physics for which they qualify or by completing any two of the special one semester science courses designed for non-science majors. A lab science is not required.
- Pharmaceutical Marketing Majors are required to take BIO 1321 The Human Organism and BIO 1341 Intro to Pharmacology.
- Food Marketing Majors are required to take CHM1081 and CHM 1091 Food Chemistry.
Examples of courses designed for non-science majors that meet the GER requirement:
Biology
1301 The Environment
1311 Heredity & Evolution
1321 The Human Organism
1331 Plants & Civilization
1341 Intro to Pharmacology (GER for Pharm MKT)
1501 Unseen Life on Earth
Chemistry
1031 Chem for the Consumer
1051 Environmental Pollution
1081-1091 Food Chemistry
(GER for FMKT majors only)
Environmental Science
1031 Intro to Planet Earth
1041 Planet Earth in Depth
Physics
1311 Physics: Concepts & Applications
1321 Astronomical Universe
1331 Energy: Problems & Promises
1341 Physics by Experiment
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Philosophy (one course in addition to the Human Person and Moral Philosophy)
In addition to the two philosophy courses specified under the GER common courses, all students are required to complete a course chosen from those listed under the heading “The God, World & Society” in the Philosophy section in the SJU Undergraduate Catalog.
For additional information on the philosophy requirement, please see the Philosophy & the GER website.
Courses that satisfy the philosophy GER requirement include any 2000-level course, EXCEPT the following:
2071 Logic
2081 Symbolic Logic
2181 Legal Theory
2221 Business, Society & Ethics
2861 Seminar in Philosophy
2881 Language & Meaning
2911-2951 Readings & Research in Philosophy
2953-2963 Honors Readings & Research in Philosophy
2971 Senior Seminar
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Social/Behavioral Sciences (Three courses)
HSB students are required to take ECN 1011 Micro Economics and ECN 1021 Macro Economics. The third course can be taken in any of the following areas:
Sociology
SOC 1011 and SOC 1021 may be taken independently, and either course serves as prerequisite for upper division courses in sociology which also satisfy the GER
Psychology
PSY 1001 – 1781 are courses specifically designed to satisfy the social/behavioral sciences requirement. Courses at the 2000 level or above may be taken to satisfy the requirement if the student has completed PSY 1001
Political Science
Any introductory or upper division course
Other
EDU 1011 (Soc 2011) Schools in Society is cross listed as a sociology course and therefore satisfies the GER
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Theology (Three courses)
Students complete one course at each level. The courses must be taken in sequence.
Level 1: Christian Foundations – Courses 1000-1499
Level 2: Other Ways of Seeing and Knowing – Courses 1500-1999
Level 3: Synthesis and Specialization – Courses 2000-2999
For additional information, please print a resource published by the Theology Department - Theology @ SJU.
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