Contact: Dr. Terry Kundell, Chair of the General Education Committee (tlkundell@umes.edu)
General Education Program Fall 2024 5-16-24 (PDF)
General Education Program Fall 2024 5-16-24 (Word)
GEP Overview
A total of 38 credits is required (39 credits if taking a 4-credit math course).
All students are expected to complete a common body of academic coursework. The General Education Program (GEP) is designed to promote the development of a comprehensive educational base that will effectively support a student’s choice of a major. Therefore, students should consult with their freshman or departmental advisors when making course selections. See Course Descriptions for descriptions of courses in the GEP.
GEP Student Learning Competencies/Goals
- Written and Oral Communication: Ability to prepare essays, other written assignments, and spoken presentations that demonstrate clarity, coherence, and organization
- Critical and Ethical Analysis and Reasoning: Ability to demonstrate logic and balanced thinking in writing and speaking; formulation of solutions to problems by objective consideration of all possible alternatives; demonstration and recognition of importance of ethics
- Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning: Ability to identify and apply basic scientific principles to enhance understanding of our universe; to assign and use numbers; to read and analyze numerical data; to create models, to draw inferences, and to support conclusions
- Technological and Information Literacy: Ability to use hardware, software, and services to analyze, interpret, manage, and deliver accurate information using voice, data, and video; ability to identify, retrieve, evaluate, and ethically use information effectively and efficiently in both academic and professional environments
- JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) UMES signature course reflecting mission: Ability to discuss critically contributions that have been made by members of diverse cultural and gender groups and other historically marginalized people; interpret how external factors influence identity and the intersection of multiple identities; recognize the difference between interpersonal bias and systematic and structural injustice and how they impact historically marginalized populations; and critically reflect on strategies purposed to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in both academic and professional environments
GEP Assessments
- All SLO’s are currently assessed annually, and many assessments are of all students taking a specific General Education Program course.
- Written Communication: Evaluated using the Accuplacer’s Writeplacer 2008-May 2021. Evaluated with a custom rubric in ENGL 102: Principles of Composition II with summary scores from all students reported from 2021-present. Item analysis of a randomized representative sample of rubrics collected in AY 2024-2025 is scheduled for summer 2025. An additional assessment using the Territorium E-Proficiency Profile (EPP) by ETS is currently being piloted with first-year data under consideration. https://territorium.com/product/assessment-services/epp/
- Oral Communication: Evaluated with a custom rubric in ENGL 203: Fundamentals of Contemporary Speech with summary scores from all students reported from 2001-present. Item analysis of a randomized representative sample of rubrics collected in AY2024-2025 scheduled for summer 2025. An additional assessment using the Territorium E-Proficiency Profile (EPP) by ETS is currently being piloted with first-year data under consideration.
- Critical Thinking (Critical and Ethical Analysis and Reasoning): Territorium E-Proficiency Profile (EPP) by ETS being piloted in 3 sections of ENGL 305 in Fall 2024 and 4 sections of ENGL 305 in Spring 2025 with potential for being administered to all ENGL 305 students in 2025-2026.
- Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning: Territorium E-Proficiency Profile (EPP) by ETS being piloted in 3 sections of ENGL 305 in Fall 2024 and 4 sections of ENGL 305 in Spring 2025 with potential for being administered to all ENGL 305 students in 2025-2026. An AACU VALUE Rubric was piloted with results reported in the Fall of 2024 in NUDT 210 with continuation in Spring of 2025.
- Technological and Information Literacy: IC3 Digital Literacy Fast Track Assessment completed by all students in ENGL 101: Principles of Composition I and evaluated by domain with annual reporting of scores and subscores. Pre- and post-testing in random sections of BUED 212 and BUAD 213 occur biannually to measure student growth and general education course efficacy.
- JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (new in GEP Fall 2024): Customized AACU VALUE rubric evaluation completed in two JEDI courses BUAD 311 and HUED 230 in 2024-2025 with initial reporting of results following Fall of 2025.
GEP Curriculum
Curriculum Area 1: Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
Curriculum Area 1: Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
Students take 1 course from any of the courses within Arts, Languages, and Literature. Students take Speech.
1.1 Arts, Languages, and Literature
- ARTS 101 Exploration of the Visual Arts (3 credits)
- ARTS 310 African American Art History (3 credits)
- ARAB 101 Fundamentals of Arabic I (3 credits)
- ASLS 203 American Sign Language I (3 credits)
- CHIN 101 Fundamentals of Chinese I (3 credits)
- ENGL 204 Introduction to Fiction (3 credits)
- ENGL 205 Introduction to Drama (3 credits)
- ENGL 206 Introduction to Poetry (3 credits)
- ENGL 207 Introduction to Creative Writing (3 credits)
- FREN 101 Fundamentals of French I (3 credits)
- HIND 101 Fundamentals of Hindi I (3 credits)
- HONR 101 Honors Freshman Seminar: Selves and Others
- JAPN 101 Fundamentals of Japanese I (3 credits)
- KORE 101 Fundamentals of Korean I (3 credits)
- PORT 101 Fundamentals of Portuguese I (3 credits)
- SPAN 101 Fundamentals of Spanish I (3 credits)
- THAR 101 Introduction to Theater
1.2 Speech
Students must pass ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 with grade of “C” or above before taking ENGL 203.
- ENGL 203 Fundamentals of Contemporary Speech
Curriculum Area 2: Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
Curriculum Area 2: Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
Students take 2 courses from any of the courses within Social and Behavioral Sciences.
- CRJS 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 credits)
- ECON 201 Principles of Economics (Macro) (3 credits)
- ECON 202 Principles of Economics (Micro) (3 credits)
- GEOG 201 The World Geography I (3 credits)
- GEOG 202 The World Geography II (3 credits)
- HIST 101 History of World Civilization I (3 credits)
- HIST 102 History of World Civilization II (3 credits)
- HIST 201 History of American Civilization I (3 credits)
- HIST 202 History of American Civilization II (3 credits)
- HONR 201 Honors Sophomore Seminar: Leadership: From Theory to Practice (3 credits)
- HUEC 203 Human Development: A Lifespan Perspective (3 credits)
- HUEC 220 Perspectives on Aging (3 credits)
- HUEC 361 Contemporary Family Issues (3 credits)
- PHIL 201 Introduction to Logic (3 credits)
- PHIL 202 Ethics (3 credits)
- POLI 200 Introduction to American Government (3 credits)
- POLI 220 Introduction to Political Behavior (3 credits)
- POLI 342 Urban Politics (3 credits)
- PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
- SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
- SOCI 201 Social Problems (3 credits)
Curriculum Area 3: Biological and Physical Sciences (7 credits)
Curriculum Area 3: Biological and Physical Sciences (7 credits)
Students take 2 science courses and 1 science laboratory course within Biological and Physical Sciences.
- ANPT 114 Introduction to Animal Science (4 credits)
- BIOL 101 Theories and Applications of Biological Sciences (3 credits)
- BIOL 103 Biological Science Laboratory (1 credit)
- CHEM 102 General Chemistry II (3 credits)
- CHEM 104 General Chemistry II Laboratory (1 credit)
- ENVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Sciences (3 credits)
- NUDT 210 Elements of Nutrition (3 credits)
- PLSC 184 Introduction to Plant Science (3 credits)
- PLSC 185 Introduction to Plant Science Laboratory (1 credit)
Majors in the STEM disciplines often require students take courses from the following list. Check the Curriculum Area 3 section for your STEM major to determine the science courses to take.
- BIOL 111 Principles of Biology I Credit: 3
- BIOL 113 Principles of Biology I Laboratory (1 credit)
- BIOL 112 Principles of Biology II (3 credits)
- BIOL 114 Principles of Biology II Laboratory (1 credit)
- BIOL 118 Introduction to Biology for Allied Health Programs (3 credits)
- BIOL 120 Introduction to Biology for Allied Health Programs Laboratory (1 credit)
- CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry I (3 credits)
- CHEM 113 Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory (1 credit)
- PHYS 121 General College Physics I (3 credits)
- PHYS 123 General College Physics I Laboratory (1 credit)
- PHYS 122 General College Physics II (3 credits)
- PHYS 124 General College Physics II Laboratory (1 credit)
- PHYS 161 General Physics I Mechanics and Particle Dynamics (3 credits)
- PHYS 163 General Physics I Laboratory (1 credit)
- PHYS 181 Introductory Physics I (3 credits)
- PHYS 183 Introductory Physics I Laboratory (1 credit)
- PHYS 182 Introductory Physics II (3 credits)
- PHYS 184 Introductory Physics II Laboratory (1 credit)
Curriculum Area 4: Mathematics (3-4 credits)
Curriculum Area 4: Mathematics (3-4 credits)
Students in non-STEM Humanities majors that do not require a College Algebra (or higher) math course and a separate Statistics course do not have to take Math placement testing. These students take MATH 103. English, Digital Media Studies, Applied Design, and Art Education are examples.
- MATH 103 Topics for Mathematical Literacy (3 credits)
Students in most majors have to take the math placement testing and are placed into MATH 099 or a credit math course based on the score. Students who place into MATH 099 must take it before taking the credit math course and must pass with a grade of “C” or above before taking the credit math course. Math 099 does not meet the GEP requirement and does not apply toward graduation requirements.
- MATH 102 Applications of College Mathematics (3 credits)
- MATH 109 College Algebra Credit: (3 credits)
- MATH 110 Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry (3 credits)
- MATH 111 Honors Elementary – Mathematical Analysis (4 credits)
- MATH 112 Calculus I (4 credits)
Curriculum Area 5: English Composition (9 credits)
Curriculum Area 5: English Composition (9 credits)
Students take 3 composition courses.
- ENGL 101 Principles of Composition I (3 credits)
- ENGL 102 Principles of Composition II (3 credits)
- ENGL 305 Technical Writing (3 credits) or
- ENGL 310 Advanced Composition (3 credits)
Curriculum Area 6: Institution-Specific Courses (7 credits)
Curriculum Area 6: Institution-Specific Courses (7 credits)
These courses are identified by the University as being essential to a full GEP for UMES students. One course from each of the 3 areas is required of all students.
6.1 Freshman Experience
- GNST 100 Freshman Experience or departmental first-year experience course (1 credit)
Examples of departmental courses that should be included are AGNR 111, ARTS 100, AVSC 100, BUED 100, CSDP 100, CRJS 100, DNSC 100, EDCI 100, ENGE 100, ENGL 100, EXSC 100, HUEC 100, REHA 100, SOSC 100.
6.2 Computer Literacy
- BUAD 213 Business Software Applications
- BUED 212 Computer Concepts/ Applications 1
- ETGE 110 Introduction to Cybersecurity and Essentials
- ETGE 111 Technology and Society
- ETGE 112 Cyber Operations (CyberOps)
6.3 JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion): UMES Signature Course
- BUAD 311 Justice and Diversity in Organizations
- CRJS 455 Unequal Justice
- DMST 440 African American Cinema
- ENGL 348 Afrofuturism
- ENGL 359 Writing by Women
- EXSC 111 Personal Health and Fitness in Diverse Social Contexts
- EXSC 265 Contemporary Issues in Kinesiology
- EXSC 382 Socio-Cultural Analysis of Sport
- HUEC 230 Multicultural Perspectives on Families in the US
- HUEC 463 Food, Clothing, and Culture
Last updated by Dr. Terry Kundell, tlkundell@umes.edu, on 2/28/25
