General education requirements
Students pursuing a baccalaureate degree are required to complete 38-41 semester hours of general education
requirements:
- 12-14 hours of Basic Studies
- 23-26 hours of Introductory Studies, and
- 3 hours of Ethics studies.
Basic studies
Basic studies: 12 hours
CISS 170 |
 |
Introduction to Computer Information Systems or
CISS 176 Introduction to Computer Science |
3 hrs |
COMM 110 |
 |
Introduction to Speech |
3 hrs |
ENGL 112 |
 |
English Composition II |
3 hrs |
MATH 150 |
 |
College Algebra or
MATH 170 Finite Mathematics or
MATH 180 Precalculus or
MATH 201 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I or
MATH 215 Differential Calculus |
3 hrs |
Introductory studies
Students who begin their studies at Columbia College or who transfer to Columbia
College with 36 or fewer hours from other institutions will complete the classical program of study below.
Students who transfer to Columbia College with more
than 36 hours at the time of initial transfer may elect
to pursue either a classical program of study (below) or the
optional program of study.
For more information about the optional program of study, see the
Academic Programs section of the Academic Catalog.
Classical program of study
Students must select two courses, with a minimum of six hours, from each of the following areas,
except for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics area.
History: 6 hours
HIST 101 |
 |
Western Civilization I or
HIST 111 World History to 1500 |
HIST 102 |
 |
Western Civilization II or
HIST 112 World History Since 1500 |
HIST 121 |
 |
American History to 1877 |
HIST 122 |
 |
American History Since 1877 |
Arts and Humanities: 6 hours
ARTS 105 |
 |
Art Appreciation |
ARTS 111 |
 |
Art and Ideas I |
ARTS 112 |
 |
Art and Ideas II |
COMM 203 |
 |
Understanding Human Communication |
COMM 224 |
 |
Film History and Analysis |
ENGL 123 |
 |
Introduction to Mythology and Folklore |
ENGL 210 |
 |
Introduction to Fiction |
ENGL 211 |
 |
Introduction to Poetry |
ENGL 212 |
 |
Introduction to Drama |
ENGL 231 |
 |
English Literature I |
ENGL 232 |
 |
English Literature II |
ENGL 241 |
 |
American Literature I |
ENGL 242 |
 |
American Literature II |
ENGL 263 |
 |
World Literature I |
ENGL 264 |
 |
World Literature II |
MUSI 122 |
 |
Music Appreciation |
PHIL 201 |
 |
Introduction to Western Philosophy |
PHIL 202 |
 |
Introduction to Eastern Philosophies and Religions |
PHIL 210 |
 |
Logic and Critical Thinking |
RELI 101 |
 |
Religion and Human Experience |
RELI 202 |
 |
Introduction to Eastern Philosophies and Religions |
Natural Sciences and Mathematics: 5-6 hours
Students may elect to take two science lecture
courses, or a mathematics course and a science
lecture course, or a science lecture and
associated lab course totaling not less than five
hours, to satisfy the Natural Sciences and
Mathematics portion of the requirement.
ASTR 108 |
 |
Introduction to Astronomy |
BIOL 108 |
 |
Human Biology |
BIOL 108L |
 |
Human Biology Laboratory (2) |
BIOL 110 |
 |
Principles of Biology I |
BIOL 110L |
 |
Principles of Biology I Laboratory (2) |
BIOL 115 |
 |
Introduction to Environmental Science |
BIOL 115L |
 |
Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory (2) |
CHEM 108 |
 |
Physical Science Survey |
CHEM 108L |
 |
Physical Science Survey Laboratory |
CHEM 109 |
 |
Chemistry for Biological and Health Related Sciences |
CHEM 110 |
 |
Chemistry I |
CHEM 110L |
 |
Chemistry I Laboratory (2) |
ENVS 115 |
 |
Introduction to Environmental Science |
ENVS 115L |
 |
Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory (2) |
GEOL 110 |
 |
Introduction to Physical Geology |
GEOL 110L |
 |
Introduction
to Physical Geology Laboratory (2) |
MATH 201 |
 |
Calculus and Analytical Geometry I (5) or
MATH 215 Differential Calculus
(cannot meet both a Basic Studies requirement
and a Natural Sciences and Mathematics G.E. requirement) |
MATH 250 |
 |
Statistics I |
PHYS 108 |
 |
Physical Science Survey |
PHYS 108L |
 |
Physical Science Survey Laboratory (2) |
PHYS 111 |
 |
College Physics I |
PHYS 111L |
 |
Physics I Laboratory (2) |
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 hours
ANTH 101 |
 |
Introduction to Geography |
ANTH 112 |
 |
General Anthropology |
ANTH 270 |
 |
Minority Cultures and Relations |
ECON 293 |
 |
Macroeconomics |
ECON 294 |
 |
Microeconomics |
GEOG 101 |
 |
Introduction to Geography |
POSC 111 |
 |
American National Government |
POSC 292 |
 |
International Relations |
PSYC 101 |
 |
General Psychology |
SOCI 111 |
 |
General Sociology |
SOCI 112 |
 |
General Anthropology |
SOCI 210 |
 |
The Sociology of Gender |
SOCI 270 |
 |
Minority Cultures and Relations |
WMST 210 |
 |
The Sociology of Gender |
Total introductory studies: 23-26 hrs
Ethics: 3 hours
Every student who graduates from Columbia
College must complete an ethics course, either PHIL 330, Ethics, or an approved Departmental
ethics course in the student's major.
PHIL 330 |
 |
Ethics or
approved Departmental ethics course. |
Total general education requirements: 38-41 hours
Educators and policy-makers may view our General Education Matrix to learn how Columbia College general education goals and methods of assessment.