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 Requirement
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 I FOUNDATION COURSES
English and math courses common throughout the University System.		 9 hours
Area II SCIENCES
Physical Sciences (3-4 hours); Life Sciences (3-4 hours)		 7-8 hours
Area III QUANTITATIVE REASONING 3-4 hours
Area IV WORLD LANGUAGES, CULTURE, HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS
World Languages and Culture (9 hours); Humanities and the Arts (3 hours)		 12 hours
Area V SOCIAL SCIENCES 9 hours
Area VI COURSES RELATED TO THE PROGRAM OF STUDY 18 hours

For a detailed listing of the courses under each area, see Core Curriculum in the Majors 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   HIST 2112
    HIST 2111 and  HIST 2112H
    HIST 2111H and  HIST 2112H
    HIST 2111H and  HIST 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 4100/6100
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 Requirement

http://www.reg.uga.edu/or.nsf/html/regents_test

"By a policy statement issued in 1972, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia instituted the requirement that each institution of the University System of Georgia ensure that students obtaining a degree possess certain minimum skills of reading and writing. These skills are referred to as the Regents' Writing and Reading Skills. There are two System-mandated courses in writing and in reading that are designed to meet the Regents' Writing and Reading Skills requirement.

Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs leading to the baccalaureate degree must pass the Regents' Reading Skills (RGTR 0198) and Regents' Writing Skills (RGTE 0199) courses as a requirement for graduation. 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." (Source: Board of Regents web page - http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwrtp/overview.htm)

Listed below are the approved alternatives to taking the Regents' Reading Skills and Regents' Writing Skills courses.

Regents' Reading Skills Course

The Regents' Reading Skills course may be exempted upon verification of any one of the following:

Regents' Writing Skills Course

The Regents' Writing Skills course may be exempted in one of the following circumstances:
For students who entered UGA or any other USG institution before summer 2008, the following RGTE 0199 exemptions are available: Any undergraduate student who does not exempt the Regents' Test requirement and is not enrolled in Learning Support Reading or English is required to take the test every semester (not including summer) until he/she passes both parts of the Test.

A student who registers for both but does not take the test is considered to have failed the test.

Students who have not satisfied both the reading and writing portions of the Regents' requirement by the end of their second semester must enroll in appropriate remediation (non-credit Workshops or Regents' Skills courses) each semester until they pass the Test. The type of remediation is determined by the score earned on the Regents' Test. The Skills courses, RGTE 0199 and RGTR 0198, are graded S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) and students who are required to enroll in one or both of these courses will be allowed to take the Regents' Test only when only when their instructors have certified that they have completed the course(s) with an S. No credit toward graduation is earned for RGTR or RGTE.

Students transferring from University System of Georgia (USG) institutions will be treated as if they are native UGA students for purpose of this requirement. Students from institutions outside the University System of Georgia who transfer to the University of Georgia with two or more semesters of college must satisfy the requirement through exemption or testing by the end of their first semester of enrollment at UGA, they must enroll in appropriate remediation each semester until they pass the Test.

Students whose native language is not English may contact Dr. David Payne, Department of English (dhpayne@uga.edu) for information on satisfying the Regents' requirement.

Students who have taken and failed the Essay portion of the Regent's test may request a formal review if their essay received at least one passing score and if they have successfully completed the required English composition courses. This review will be conducted in accordance with the Board of Regents 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.

For complete information regarding the Regents' Test policy, including the sample Reading Tests, approved Essay topics, see the Board of Regents web site - http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwrtp/

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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

ENGL 1101 and ENGL 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.