Liberal Education Requirements & Gold Curriculum
Gold Curriculum
Women’s College must complete the GOLD Program Curriculum in order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Gold Curriculum courses are designated by a “W” as the last character in the course number. Please see the table below for the required course hours. The number of required hours are prorated based on the number of transfer hours. Students are encouraged to take as many “W” courses as possible. This requirement can not be waived based on a previous degree.
These courses have a W as the ending character in the course number.
W courses can be searched by clicking on “Courses” in the catalog dashboard
and typing *W in the “Code or Number” box and then clicking the “filter” button.
W courses would replace the “standard” version in the students program. (ex. EH 101W would replace EH 101). W courses emphasize the experience and expertise of women throughout course design and delivery. Students will identify and analyze the contributions and experiences of women. More than 50% of course activities, readings, and assessments emphasize and explore female experience, perspective, or expertise.
Undergraduate students not enrolled in the Women’s College do not complete in the Gold Curriculum.
| Hours transferred: |
“W” course hours required for graduation: |
| 0-24 |
30 |
| 25-44 |
18 |
| 45-59 |
15 |
| 60-74 |
12 |
| 75-89 |
9 |
| 90+ |
6 |
Liberal Education Requirements:
Brenau University and its faculty are dedicated to the goal of providing students with a thorough background in the liberal arts, as well as academic and professional skills which will help them become enlightened and productive members of society. To that end, the faculty developed a liberal education curriculum based on expectations and learning outcomes.
This liberal education curriculum is divided into four learning portals: World Understanding, Scientific and Analytic Curiosity, Artistic and Creative Imagination and Communication and Language Fluency.
- World Understanding Learning
- Scientific and Analytic Curiosity
- Artistic and Creative Imagination
- Communication and Language Fluency
Courses applied in one portal may not be applied in another portal. However, courses applied in the Liberal Education may be applied toward a student’s major or minor.
Students with an A.A., A.S. or a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution are exempt from Liberal Education requirements for Brenau’s bachelor degree programs. This exemption does not extend to any other associate’s degree (ex. A.A.S., A.A.T.). This exemption does not affect transfer credit. All college-level credit that conforms to Brenau’s transfer credit policy will be recorded on the student’s Brenau transcript. This exemption does not affect any major courses required or any major foundation courses required.
Note: If an LE course has a “W” course version, that course can be used in place of the standard course version for the student’s LE requirement. (ex. EH 101 or EH 101W satisfy the LE writing requirement.
World Understanding Learning Portal
Historical Perspective - 3 hours
Demonstrate knowledge of major events and movements in history and use this knowledge to generate a more sophisticated understanding of current events.
Civic Engagement - 3 hours
Demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of civic engagement in a global society.
Global Awareness - 3 hours
Demonstrate an understanding of global issues and their implications for local communities.
Scientific & Analytic Curiosity Portal
Mathematics - 3 hours
Demonstrate quantitative reasoning through numeric, symbolic or geometric means.
Course taken will depend upon math placement of the student.
Science - 7-8 hours
Demonstrate competency in a specific curriculum and appraise the impact of that science in one’s life.
Students must have at least one four-hour lab science plus a second science of three or four hours.
Reasoning 3-4 hours
Be able to think critically and solve problems effectively.
Artistic & Creative Imagination Portal
Fine Arts - 3 hours
Understand artistic concepts and traditions through the experience of artistic endeavors.
Literature - 3 hours
Read and understand literature in its historical context.
Lifetime Fitness - 3 hours
Appreciate one’s health status and implement a plan for health and fitness.
- Women’s College students must have one hour of Lifetime Fitness (LF) or Leisure Sports (LS) or Dance (DA); one hour of Women’s Health (WH); and one hour of any P.E. (LS/LF/DA/or WH).
- Non-Women’s College students may transfer in the above or take HS 105 (3 hours) while at Brenau.
- Nursing and Dance majors have specific Lifetime Fitness requirements. Please see those major sections for information.
Communication & Language Fluency Portal
Writing - 6 hours
Compose effective and logical written communication.
Speaking - 3 hours
Demonstrate effective oral communication.
Modern Language - 0-3 hours
Communicate in a modern language other than English.
- Students must have modern language competency through the high beginner (102 or 115) level. It is possible for a student to place out of part or all of modern language via placement or CLEP. Please see the placement information section for specific guidelines. If the student takes 101, that course may be applied as the communication requirement, if needed, or as a general elective.
- International Students will exempt the Modern Language requirement with a minimum TOEFL score of 527 (paper based) or its equivalent.
Communication - 3 hours
Apply communication skills in a given context.
Choose from any course in the Communication and Language Fluency portal not already applied in the Liberal Education, or choose from the courses below. If a student takes 101 and 102 of the same language to satisfy the modern language requirement, the 101 course may satisfy the communication elective.
Concentration Requirements
The major in middle grades education has two areas of content concentration. The primary and secondary concentrations may be selected from language arts, mathematics, reading, science or social studies. Eighteen semester hours of content are required for the following disciplines: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies; and 15 hours are required for the reading concentration. Students may not choose language arts and reading as the two areas of concentration.
The total hours for the two concentration requirements (combined) will be 33-36 semester hours.
Total Required Hours
A minimum of 120 hours is required to graduate with this major. It is possible that the student may graduate with more than 120 hours based on placement and transfer credit.
Note: Courses marked with an * are Liberal Education courses.
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