General Education Requirements

The General Education component for all undergraduate students is further explained in the following sections. General Education curriculum consists of System General Education Requirements. SDBOR Policy 2:7, SDBOR Policy 2:26, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.3, and SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.4 identify (a) the purpose of the requirement, (b) the skills to be developed in each course that satisfies the requirement, and (c) the approved courses. Students may only select general education courses from the approved list. These requirements are effective for students entering Fall 2017.

Click on a link to be taken to the entry below:

• General Education Requirements for Associate Degree
• General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree
• System General Education Requirements (SGRs)
  • System Goal #1
  • System Goal #2
  • System Goal #3
  • System Goal #4
  • System Goal #5
  • System Goal #6
• Policies Applicable to System General Education Requirements
  • Guidelines for Baccalaureate & Associate Degrees
  • Placement into Initial Math & English Courses
  • Completion of Pre-General Education Courses in English & Mathematics
  • Additional Guidelines for Associate Degrees
  • Additional Guidelines for Baccalaureate Degrees
• Fraction of Credits for Transfer Students

General Education Requirements for Associate Degree

(SDBOR Policy 2:26, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.3)

The general education component of all associate degree programs shall consist of the System General Education Requirements. Students may only select general education courses from a limited approved list to meet the System General Education Requirements. These requirements are effective for students entering Fall 2017.

System General Education Requirements shall include 24 credits of course work. At least 3 credit hours shall be earned from each of 6 goals (total of 18 credits). Each institution shall identify 6 credit hours of additional course work from the six goals. For all institutions, students have the flexibility to select an additional three credit hours from Goal #3, #4 or #6 with courses selected from different disciplinary prefixes. 

Associate of Arts Degrees

System General Education Requirements: 24 credits

*Three (3) additional credits selected from approved list of courses from different disciplinary prefixes for Goals #3, #4, or #6.

Associate of Science Degrees

System General Education Requirements: 24 credits

*Three (3) additional credits selected from approved list of courses from different disciplinary prefixes for Goals #3, #4, or #6.

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

(SDBOR Policy 2:7, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.4)

The General Education component of all baccalaureate programs shall consist of the System General Education Requirements. Students may only select general education courses from a limited approved list to meet the System General Education Requirements. These requirements are effective for students entering Fall 2017.

System General Education Requirements shall include 30 credits of course work. At least 3 credit hours shall be earned from each of 6 goals (total of 18 credits). Each institution shall identify 12 credit hours of additional course work from the six goals.

System General Education Requirements: 30 credits

System General Education Requirements (SGRs)

These requirements are common across the entire South Dakota Regental System. The System General Education Requirements (SGRs) are designed to achieve these six goals.

System Goal #1: Written Communication

Credit Hours: 6

Students will write effectively and responsibly and will understand and interpret the written expression of others.

Student Learning Outcomes

As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Write using standard American English, including correct punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure;
2. Write logically;
3. Write persuasively, with a variety of rhetorical strategies (e.g., expository, argumentative, descriptive);
4. Incorporate formal research and documentation into their writing, including research obtained through modern, technology-based research tools.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2, #3, and #4

Note: Student enrollment in the initial English course is determined by the Board of Regents placement guideline.

System Goal #2: Oral Communication

Credit Hours: 3

Students will communicate effectively and responsibly through listening and speaking.

Student Learning Outcomes

As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Prepare and deliver speeches for a variety of audiences and settings;
2. Demonstrate speaking competencies including choice and use of topic, supporting materials, organizational pattern, language usage, presentational aids, and delivery;
3. Demonstrate listening competencies by summarizing, analyzing, and paraphrasing ideas, perspectives and emotional content.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2, and #3

System Goal #3: Social Sciences/Diversity

Credit Hours: 6 (in 2 disciplines)

Students will understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the human community through study of the social sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes

As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Identify and explain basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected social science disciplines from different spatial, temporal, cultural and/or institutional contexts;
2. Apply selected social science concepts and theories to contemporary issues;
3. Identify and explain the social or aesthetic values of different cultures.

In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of at least one of the following:

4. The origin and evolution of human institutions;
5. The allocation of human or natural resources within societies;
6. The impact of diverse philosophical, ethical or religious views.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2 and #3
At least one of the following: #4, #5, or #6

System Goal #4: Humanities and Arts/Diversity

Credit Hours: 6 (in 2 disciplines or a sequence of foreign language courses)

Students will understand the diversity and complexity of the human experience through study of the arts and humanities.

Student Learning Outcomes

As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of values, beliefs, and ideas embodied in the human experience;
2. Identify and explain basic concepts of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities.

In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to do at least one of the following:

3. Identify and explain the contributions of other cultures from the perspective of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities;
4. Demonstrate creative and aesthetic understanding;
5. Explain and interpret formal and stylistic elements of the literary or fine arts;
6. Demonstrate foundational competency in reading, writing, and speaking a non-English language.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2
At least one of the following: #3, #4, #5, or #6

Note:

• Students must complete a course from another subject if they are using one from either ART or ARTH.

System Goal #5: Mathematics

Credit Hours: 3

Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.

Student Learning Outcomes

As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Use mathematical symbols and mathematical structure to model and solve real world problems;
2. Demonstrate appropriate communication skills related to mathematical terms and concepts.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1 and #2

Note: Student enrollment in the initial Mathematics course is determined by the Board of Regents placement guideline.

System Goal #6: Natural Sciences

Credit Hours: 6

Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.

Student Learning Outcomes

As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Demonstrate the scientific method in a laboratory experience;
2. Gather and critically evaluate data using the scientific method;
3. Identify and explain the basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected natural sciences;
4. Apply selected natural science concepts and theories to contemporary issues.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2, #3 and #4

Policies Applicable to System General Education Requirements

Guidelines for Baccalaureate & Associate Degrees

(SDBOR Policy 2:5, SDBOR Policy 2:7, SDBOR Policy 2:26, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.3, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.4)

1. The System General Education Requirements will be effective for students entering in Fall 2005.
2. Only 100/200 level courses will be included. Exceptions based on student background may be made utilizing the established university academic appeal process.
3. Honors courses equivalent to identified System General Education courses will meet the System requirements.
4. Students who complete the System General Education Requirements at any SD Board of Regents institution and then transfer to another SD Board of Regents institution even if the receiving institution has different credit/course distribution and approved course lists.  All prerequisites for associate and baccalaureate programs must be completed as determined by the student’s degree plan.
5. A student who has not completed all general education requirements at the sending institution will be required to complete additional coursework consistent with the course requirements at the receiving South Dakota Regental institution.

Placement into Initial Math & English Courses

(SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 7.6, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.4)

The Board of Regents has developed a standardized placement process to ensure that entering students are placed into Math and English courses most appropriate for their ability and background.

Entering students must show evidence of their level of academic preparation prior to their enrollment into their initial mathematics and English courses. All entering students seeking an associate or baccalaureate degree must provide valid Enhanced ACT scores (within the last five years) or must take the ACT COMPASS or the College Board Accuplacer examination in the areas of writing skills, mathematics, and reading. All non-degree seeking students enrolling in English and mathematics courses must provide Enhanced ACT scores or must take the ACT COMPASS or the College Board Accuplacer examination in the areas of writing skills and mathematics.

In addition to scores on these assessments, other information such as high school GPA and curriculum completed may also be considered as placement decisions are made.

Transfer students who have completed equivalent general education coursework in English and mathematics are exempt from this requirement.

Students transferring will be allowed to transfer their placement test scores and/or relevant course credits and continue their sequence of courses in English and/or mathematics.

Each institution shall give students prior notice that it will provide reasonable accommodations for test takers in keeping with institutional practices implementing the South Dakota Human Relations Act of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (refer to Board Policy 1:19).

Completion of Pre-General Education Courses in English & Mathematics

(SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 7.6, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.4)

Effective Fall 2003, students are required to complete pre general education courses in a timely manner. Pre-general education courses include ENGL 031, ENGL 032, ENGL 033, MATH 021, MATH 091, MATH 092, MATH 093, MATH 095, and MATH 101.

1. Completion of Pre-General Education Courses
   1. Students placed in pre-general education courses must enroll in and complete the courses within the first 30 credit hours attempted.
   2. If a student does not successfully complete the pre-general education course(s) within the first 30 credit hours attempted, a registration hold is placed on the student’s record. In any subsequent registration during the next 12 credit hours attempted, the student must enroll in and successfully complete the pre-general education course(s).
   3. If the pre-general education course(s) is not successfully completed within the first 42 credit hours attempted, the only course(s) in which a student may enroll is the pre-general education course(s); and the student’s status is changed from degree seeking to non-degree seeking.
   4. Students transferring from non-Regental institutions must enroll in pre-general education courses during the first 30 attempted Regental credit hours. These students may enroll in other courses concurrently with the pre-general education courses. If the student does not complete the pre-general education courses during the first 30 Regental credit hours attempted, during the next 12 credit hours attempted, the student must enroll in and complete the pre-general education course(s). If the student does not successfully complete the pre-general education course(s) within 42 attempted Regental credit hours, the only course(s) in which a student may enroll is the pre-general education course(s); and the student’s status is changed from degree seeking to non-degree seeking. The Vice President for Academic Affairs may grant an exception.
2. Credit Hours and Grades
   1. Credit hours for the pre-general education courses are included in the total number of credit hours attempted.
   2. The grades assigned for courses numbered less than 100 will be RI, RS and RU.

Note: A Satisfactory Progress (SP) grade may be granted only for students enrolled in MATH 095. If the grade of SP is awarded the following conditions apply:

1. The grade is an alternative to RS and RU.
2. The student must have made satisfactory progress during the course but the student did not develop mastery of all the required content. If the student successfully mastered the materials, the grade of RS should be assigned. If progress was not made, the grade of RU should be assigned.

Additional Guidelines for Associate Degrees

(SDBOR Policy 2:26, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.3)

Students transferring from a non-regental campus to a Regental campus who have previously earned an Associate of Arts degree will not automatically be judged as having fulfilled the general education requirements of the receiving campus. Such students must fulfill all college, major, minor, certificate, and other degree requirements of the receiving campus.

Students transferring from a South Dakota technical institute to a Regental campus who have previously earned an Associate of Applied Science degree will not automatically be judged as having fulfilled the general education requirements of the receiving campus. Such students must fulfill all college, major, minor, certificate, and other degree requirements of the receiving campus.

Students who complete the System Associate Degree General Education Requirements at any SD Board of Regents institution and then transfer to another SD Board of Regents institution will have fulfilled the System Associate Degree General Education Requirements at the new institution even if the receiving institution has different credit/course distribution and approved course lists. All prerequisites for associate and baccalaureate programs must be completed as determined by the student’s degree plan. See SDBOR Policy 2:5 for additional guidance on transfer of general education credits.

Additional Guidelines for Baccalaureate Degrees

(SDBOR Policy 2:7, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 8.4)

Effective fall 2017, System General Education Requirements, in general, will be completed in the first 90 credit hours of a baccalaureate degree program.

Students transferring from a South Dakota technical institute to a Regental campus who have previously earned an Associate of Applied Science degree will not automatically be judged as having fulfilled the general education requirements of the receiving campus. Such students must fulfill all college, major, minor, certificate, and other degree requirements of the receiving campus.

Students who complete the System General Education Requirements at any SD Board of Regents institution and then transfer to another SD Board of Regents institution will have fulfilled the System General Education Requirements at the new institution even if the receiving institution has different credit/course distribution and approved course lists. All prerequisites for associate and baccalaureate programs must be completed as determined by the student’s degree plan. See SDBOR policy 2:5 for additional guidance on transfer of general education credits.

Fraction of Credits for Transfer Students

Transfer credits applied to a general education goal meet the credit requirement if .33 credits (or fewer) remain for that goal. If .34 credits or greater remain to meet the minimum required credits for the goal, the student must take additional credits from the approved list of courses in the University Catalog. For example, a student who transferred in 5.67 credits towards the SGR #3 Social Science 6 credit requirement has met the goal.