Tennessee Board of Regents
General Education Program Course Parameters
SACS Requirements
The institution…offers a general education program that:
- Is a substantial component of each undergraduate degree
- Ensures breadth of knowledge (Courses do not narrowly focus on those skills, techniques and procedures specific to a particular occupation or profession.)
- Is based on coherent rationale
Each institution must:
- Define and publish the general education and major program requirements.
- Identify competencies within the general education core and provide evidence that graduates have attained those college-level competencies.
Characteristics of General Education Courses
General education course work is designed to provide a foundation and a context in which upper division learning and work in the major take place. It is the general education component that gives the college degree integrity and distinguishes it from a credential. The SACS Criteria for 2004 (Principles of Accreditation) stipulate that the courses in a general education program “do not narrowly focus on those skills, techniques, and procedures specific to a particular occupation or profession.” Consequently, general education courses are not deliberately designed to meet pre-major requirements or to support solely the needs of a specific major or program. Institutions may wish to include such more narrowly focused courses in a separate pre-major or liberal studies component.
The goals and objectives for each TBR general education category give clear indication of the criteria which general education courses must meet. Included below are category characteristics designed to clarify what is and what is not an appropriate or acceptable general education course.
Category Characteristics
- Communication
For the purposes of the Communication requirement, courses will come from such areas as English composition, oral presentational communication, and other areas emphasizing communicating to an audience. This requirement does not include course work in areas such as writing intensive courses in disciplines like literature, history, or philosophy.
Category Characteristics cont.
- Humanities/ Fine Arts
For the purposes of the Humanities/Fine Arts requirement, courses will come from the areas of art, dance, literature, philosophy, music, theatre, and those offerings from other disciplines that also include, among other criteria, analytical study of primary texts and works of art as forms of cultural and creative expression. This requirement does not include course work in areas such as studio, performance, or skills-based language courses. Also excluded are pre-major and discipline-applied courses such as medical ethics, school art, children’s literature, and narrowly focused religion courses such as Old Testament Survey, Life of Paul, or Fundamentals of Islam.
- Social/Behavioral Science
For the purposes of the Social/Behavioral Sciences requirement, courses will be expected from areas such as anthropology, economics, geography, psychology, political Science, and sociology. Courses from these areas
should be examined on the basis of how well they meet the goals and outcomes of the Social/Behavioral Sciences category. Courses from other
areas such as criminal justice, education, and social work, are designed as
pre-major courses, rather than general education courses.
- History
For universities: A two-semester sequence in American History (HIST 2010, 2020) is required for all degree programs not exempted from Chapter 767 of the Public Acts of 1974. Tennessee History (HIST 2030) may substitute for one semester of American History.
For community colleges: A two-semester history sequence is required, to be selected from the following:
HIST 1010, 1020 (Western Civilization)
HIST 1110, 1120 (World Civilization)
HIST 1210, 1220 (World History)
HIST 2010, 2010 (American History)*
*HIST 2030 (Tennessee History) may substitute for one semester of
American History.
Students at community colleges should take the history sequence appropriate for their intended majors at the receiving institution.
Category Characteristics cont.
- Natural Sciences
For the purposes of Natural Science courses will come from areas such as astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and interdisciplinary studies in science. A significant laboratory experience is required. Not eligible are introductory or foundational science courses designed primarily as prerequisite or foundational experiences leading to a major in professional science areas like nursing, dietetics, and engineering.
- Mathematics
For the purposes of the Mathematics requirement, courses will come from those such as Probability and Statistics, Finite Mathematics, Pre- Calculus Trigonometry, Calculus or other courses which clearly expand students understanding of mathematics beyond the study of two years of high school algebra and one year of high school geometry. Not eligible are logic courses or any course that does not meet all of the measurable outcomes for the Mathematics category.
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