General Education Requirements

General education is a highly valued and integral part of all the associate’s and bachelor’s degrees at Herzing University. The value of a sound general education for a well-rounded college graduate, including those in highly technical fields, is articulated in the University’s general education philosophy statement below. The requirements suggested on the following pages apply to all associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, unless specified differently in a specific program outline.

Herzing University General Education Philosophy Statement

The purpose of the general education requirements is to ensure that every graduate of Herzing University acquires an essential core of an undergraduate education that establishes the foundations for living a productive life, appreciating the liberal arts, and engaging in life-long learning in a continually changing world. For this reason, these core requirements provide for breadth across technical and non-technical courses, which include science, mathematics, computer literacy, communications, critical thinking, and cultural diversity. A graduate of Herzing University is expected to be able to apply analytical skills appropriate for a university-educated person and to be able to investigate issues that arise while living in a culturally diverse society.

General Education Requirements for Associate’s Degrees

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the general education requirements, students should be able to:

1. Express themselves in a coherent way both personally and professionally
2. Incorporate research and synthesis skills into their personal and professional practice
3. Manipulate appropriate technology for papers, projects, research, and reports
4. Apply analytical skills to solve problems
5. Analyze the implications of diversity in society

Students enrolled in associate’s degree programs must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Some programs may require more semester credit hours of general education, depending on their content and outcomes. *

4.00 Semester Credit Hours in Computer Applications ♦
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in English Composition
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in General Education Electives ♦
1.00 Semester Credit Hour in Information Literacy
4.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics (College Algebra or Above)
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Natural Science or Humanities With a Critical Thinking Focus ** ♦ ▲
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social or Behavioral Science
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Speech

* Transfer students may transfer courses that are within 1.00 semester credit hour of the courses listed above to meet these discipline requirements. Any resulting deficiency in the total of 24.00 semester credit hours required in general education may be made up with general education electives from any of the listed disciplines.

** A course with a critical thinking focus would be a course that addresses the theories and application of critical analysis with an emphasis on developing sequential reasoning skills. Examples may be courses in critical thinking, philosophy, science, or logic.

♦ In the state of Minnesota, a minimum of 20.00 semester credit hours in general education is required, not counting computer applications. However, all Herzing University students must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education, including computer applications, to complete the requirement for graduation from all associate’s degree programs. Minnesota students must complete at least 2.00 semester credit hours of general education in the humanities.

▲ Students in the state of Georgia must take a science course to fulfill this requirement.