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 (does not include Brenau’s A.A. degree). This exemption does not 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.
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
Demonstate 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 ones 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.
Note: BY 201 & 202 can not be used toward the science requirement and the reasoning requirement.
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 ones health status and implement a plan for heath 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).
- Evening/weekend or online 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
- 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 students communication elective, if needed.
- International Students will exempt the Modern Language requirement with a TOEFL score of 500 or above.
Communication Elective - 3 hours
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.
Technique Requirement
Students must take a total of 16 hours of technique. The breakdown of those hours must be:
- 4 ballet
- 4 modern
- 4 jazz
- 4 - choose from ballet/modern/jazz/or tap
Students must be enrolled in at least one technique class per semester. Prior to graduation students must attain and enroll in a 300 level, or higher, technique class in at least one genre of: ballet, modern, or jazz dance.
Courses may be chosen from DA 201-202, 301-302, 401-402 Ballet Technique, DA 205-206, 305-306, 405-406 Modern Dance Technique, DA 208-209 & 314-315 Jazz Dance, and DA 214 Intermediate Tap Dance. Dance faculty placement is required for all technique courses.
Minor or Concentration
Student must complete a minor (as outlined in the catalog) or a minimum of 18 hours of a subject concentration. The minor the student chooses must be followed as stated in the catalog. When required by the catalog, the minor department must approve the minor. Please note that minors list on the official transcripts (with the degree and major) while concentrations do not.
Be aware when planning the minor that some of the minor courses may satisfy Liberal Education LE requirements.
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.
