Welcome to the General Education Experience


 

Spring 2009 Course Listings
(updated 10/3/08)

Fall 2008 Course Listings
(updated 04/15/08)

Summer 2008 Course Listings
(updated 04/15/08)

New! GEC Petition Forms ONLINE

 

Summary of General Education Experience

At Southern Methodist University, the philosophical basis for our undergraduate curriculum is our steadfast belief that the liberal arts are central to the goals of higher education.  The Master Plan of 1963 articulated the University's educational commitment as follows:  "The essence of the educational philosophy which undergirds the Master Plan is that professional studies must rise from the solid foundation of a basic liberal education.  The aim of this University, in other words, is to educate its students, as worthy human beings and as citizens, first, and as teachers, lawyers, ministers, research scientists, businessmen, engineers, and so on, second."

Students graduating from Southern Methodist University must successfully complete courses in written English, quantitative reasoning, information technology and science and technology.  In addition, recognizing the rapidly changing sources of knowledge, students are asked to take courses in both disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies.  Finally, our students must choose one of the more than eighty majors approved in the four undergraduate schools.

I. Fundamentals                              

   1. Rhetoric (Written English)             6 hours

   2. Mathematical Sciences                3 hours

   3. Information Technology                 3 hours

II. Wellness                                    2 hours

III. Science and Technology     6 hours

   (at least 3 hours must be in a Natural Science)                               

IV. Perspectives                          15 hours

V. Cultural Formations               6 hours

VI. Human Diversity

   3 Co-Curricular hours

TOTAL GEC…………………..... 41 hours