UNIVERSITY-WIDE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

  The University of Georgia Core Curriculum
  Hours Required For the Undergraduate Degree
  Oral Communication and Computers
  Cultural Diversity Requirement
  Environmental Literacy Requirement
  Examinations on the Constitutions
  Examinations on United States and Georgia History
  Regents' Writing and Reading Skills Courses
  Basic Physical Education
  English 1101 and 1102
  Resident Requirement

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.

Briefly, the Core Curriculum includes:

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

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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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.

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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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.

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Cultural Diversity Requirement

All students who matriculate in fall 2002 and thereafter must comply with the University of Georgia Cultural Diversity Requirement. To see specific school/college requirements or the Cultural Diversity policy statement, click below.

School/College Cultural Diversity Requirements

Academic Affairs Policy Statement No.11, Procedures for Establishing or Changing Implementation Plans for the Cultural Diversity Requirement

Cultural Diversity Certification Officers

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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.

Students who matriculated on the quarter system may have already satisfied this requirement; see Quarter System Environmental Literacy Requirement.

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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)
    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.

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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.

Group examinations are given free of charge once each fall and spring semester for first time test takers only.

Individual testing appointments are available for a $15 charge. Call University Testing Services (UTS) at 706-542-3183 for an appointment.

Reexamination is also permitted by appointment at UTS in Clark Howell Hall. Please visit www.testing.uga.edu for more information.

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Regents' Writing and Reading Skills Courses

www.gsu.edu/rtp

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' Writing and Reading Skills Courses (RGTE 0199 and RGTR 0198) have been developed to help in the attainment of this goal. The objectives of the courses are:

  1. to provide System-wide information on the status of student competence in the areas of reading and writing.
  2. to provide a uniform means of identifying those students who fail to attain the minimum levels of competence in the areas of reading and writing.

Passing the Regents' Writing and Reading Skills Courses is defined as completing the courses and passing the corresponding Regents' Test. Students who pass will receive an "S"; those not passing will receive a "U."

Students may exempt these courses through examination by passing the Regents' Reading Test and the Regents' Essay Test or an approved alternative test in reading comprehension and in writing. Listed below are the Board of Regents-approved alternatives that may be used in lieu of passing the Regents' Reading Skills and Regents' Writing Skills courses.

REGENTS’ READING SKILLS COURSE

The Regents' Reading Skills course may be exempted in the following circumstances, based upon the student’s SAT or ACT scores:

REGENTS’ WRITING SKILLS COURSE

The Regents' Writing Skills course may be exempted in the following circumstances, based upon the student’s AP, SAT or ACT scores in combination with the specified grade in English 1101.

Effective Summer 2006, the following combinations of SAT Verbal (or ACT English) scores and grades in English 1101 may be used to satisfy the Regents' Writing Skills course: AP scores which serve to exempt students from ENGL 1101, when coupled with the appropriate SAT/ACT score, will serve to exempt the Regents' Writing Skills course.

In addition, the Regents' Writing Skills course may be exempted if English 1101 is satisfied by taking and successfully passing the UGA Department of English Placement Test with the scores shown below:

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' Skills courses in order to receive a degree from a University System institution.

In order to implement effectively the goals of the Regents' Writing and Reading Skills and Regents' Testing Program:

  1. Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs shall pass the Regents' Reading Skills and Regents' Writing Skills courses as a requirement for graduation. Students, including transfer students and/or readmitted students, will be required to satisfy the Requirement in the semester after they have earned 30 hours of college-level credit. All students who have not satisfied the Requirement during the semester in which they will have earned 45 credit hours or satisfied the .. by one of the exemptions listed above, shall be required to take the appropriate Skills course(s) each subsequent term of attendance until they have passed the course(s) by completing the course(s) and passed the corresponding Regents' Test. No enrolled student required to take one or both Skills courses may take the Regents's Test without permission from his/her instructor.
  2. Having satisfied the Regents' Requirement shall not be a condition of transfer into an institution. Students transferring from System programs which require the test shall be subject to all provisions of this policy. Students from institutions outside the System, or from System programs not requiring the test, who transfer into a System institution with 30 or more college-level credit hours shall take the test no later than their second semester of enrollment and in subsequent terms shall be subject to all provisions of his policy.
  3. Students whose native tongue is not English may contact Dr. David Payne of the English Department at 542-2158 or via e-mail addressed to dhpayne@uga.edu for information on an alternate way of satisfying the Regents' Requirement.
  4. For extraordinary situations, each institution shall develop special procedures for certifying the literacy competence of students. A written description of those procedures shall be submitted to the Chancellor for approval. A record of the action shall be reported by the Chancellor to the Education Committee of the Board of Regents. Such procedures shall include provision for remediation if needed and formal examination prior to certifying competency. Such examination shall equal or exceed the standards of the Regents' Testing Program.
  5. Students may request a formal review of their failure on the essay component of the Regents' Test if their essay received at least one passing score among the three scores awarded and if they have successfully completed the courses in English composition required by the local institution. This review will be conducted in accordance with Board-approved procedures.
  6. These regulations shall not prohibit institutions from increasing requirements affecting the Regents' Testing Program, provided such increased requirements are authorized by the Chancellor, and provided further that such requirements are published in the official bulletin of the institution prior to implementation. Such additional requirements shall in no way affect the transfer of students from one institution to another or the readmission of students to University System institutions.
Students' Review Procedures--Regents' Testing Program
  1. The review will be initiated at the campus level, with procedural matters to be determined by the institution. The on-campus review, however, will be conducted by the three (3) faculty members designated by the institution as a review panel.
  2. The on-campus review panel may (a) sustain, by majority opinion, the essay's failing score, thus terminating the review process, or (b) recommend, by majority opinion, the re-scoring of the essay by the Regents' Testing Program central office. The student will be notified concerning the results of the on-campus review.
  3. If the on-campus panel recommends re-scoring of the essay, that recommendation will be transmitted in writing, along with a copy of the essay, to the office of the system Director of the Regents' Testing Program. The Director will utilize the services of three (3) experienced Regents' essay scorers other than those involved in the original scoring procedures for the essay component of the Regents' Test. The decision of this panel on the merits of the essay will be final, thus terminating the review process. The student will be notified through the institution concerning the results of the review.

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Basic Physical Education

  1. All students entering the University fall 1991, and thereafter, who matriculate for their first baccalaureate degree are required to pass one semester credit hour of basic physical education. This requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of any combination of basic physical education courses. Basic physical education courses are designated PEDB 1010-1990; courses for physical education majors (PEDS), health promotion and education majors (HPRB) or recreation majors (RLST) will not satisfy the basic requirement. This requirement shall not apply for those entering a second or subsequent bachelor's degree program. The total number of credit hours in basic physical education courses that may be applied toward an undergraduate degree will be determined by individual schools and colleges. Students entering the University prior to fall 1991 and who graduate fall 1991 or later may at their option choose whether they will be governed in their degree requirement by the basic physical education requirement at the time they matriculated or by the new requirement.
  2. All students entering the University fall 1977 through summer 1991 who matriculate for their first baccalaureate degree are required to pass five quarter hours (or the semester equivalent) of basic physical education. This requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of any combination of basic physical education courses. Basic physical education courses are designated PEDB 1010-1990; courses for physical education majors (PEDS), health promotion and education majors (HPRB) or recreation majors (RLST) will not satisfy the basic requirement. This requirement shall not apply for those entering a second or subsequent bachelor's degree program. The number of credit hours which may be applied toward an undergraduate degree will be determined by individual schools and colleges.
  3. All baccalaureate degree candidates who entered the University prior to fall 1977 are required to satisfy six courses of basic physical education. Students entering the University with 60 semester hours or more credit will be considered to have met this requirement. Students transferring fewer than 60 semester hours will exempt one course in basic physical education for each fifteen hours of credit transferred. A maximum of six credit hours may be applied toward a degree.
The above requirements are applicable to all students except as follows:
  1. Veterans: Veterans who have served 180 days or more may receive credit based on their military service, depending on date of matriculation. Veterans may receive no more credit for basic physical education courses than is required for a degree. To establish credit, veterans will be required to present a copy of their DD214 form to the Admissions Office.

  2. Army and Air Force ROTC Participants: Students who have successfully completed the Army ROTC Advanced Camp or the Air Force ROTC Field Training Encampment shall be considered to have met the basic physical education requirement, if they have not already satisfied it with basic physical education course work.

  3. Disabled Students: Adapted physical education classes are available to facilitate the meeting of the University physical education requirement by disabled students. Policies with regard to physical education for disabled students are as follows:

    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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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 (2.0) or better is required for English 1101 and an average of 2.0 or better is required for both courses.

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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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.)

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. For more information on transferring credit from UGA international exchange programs and approved study abroad programs, please contact the Office of International Education (706-425-3274).

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.

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