General Education
Purpose: General education is the foundational core of an undergraduate education. It provides students with a comprehensive educational experience and prepares them for study within their major. The foundational coursework teaches students to think critically and communicate effectively, solve problems, generate new ideas and create knowledge, make connections between academic disciplines, respect and understand differences, and develop intellectual curiosity and love of learning as citizens and leaders.
Board of Regents policy 2.3.7 identifies: (a) the purpose of the requirement, (b) the skills to be developed in each course that satisfies the requirement, and (c) the number of credits required for each general education goal. Students may only select general education courses from the approved list included in Academic Affairs Guidelines 2.3.7.A. Students may only select general education courses from the approved list included in this policy.
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Students pursuing a baccalaureate degree must meet the System-wide Graduation Requirements (SGR) goal of 30 credit hours as specific in BOR Policy 2:7.
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Students pursuing an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree must meet the System-wide Graduation Requirements (SGR) goal of 24 credit hours as specified in BOR Policy 2.7.
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The System General Education Requirements (SGRs) are common across the entire South Dakota Regental System and are designed to achieve these six goals.
Written Communication (6 credits)
Students will write effectively and responsibly and will understand and interpret the written expression of others.
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:
- Write using standard American English, including correct punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure;
- Write logically;
- Write persuasively, with a variety of rhetorical strategies (e.g., expository, argumentative, descriptive);
- Incorporate formal research and documentation into their writing, including research obtained through modern, technology-based research tools.
Each course meeting this goal includes the following learning outcomes: Required: #1, #2, #3, and #4.
Courses:
NOTE: Student enrollment in the initial English course is determined by the Board of Regents/Academic Affairs English Placement Guidelines (2.2.1.1.B.) ^TOP
Oral Communication (3 credits)
Students will communicate effectively and responsibility through listening and speaking.
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:
- Demonstrate the ability to speak thoughtfully, clearly, and effectively in a variety of contexts.
- Demonstrate active listening skills in a variety of contexts.
Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes: Required: #1 and #2.
Courses:
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Social Sciences (6 credits in 2 disciplines/prefixes)
Students will understand the diversity and complexity of the human experience through study of the social sciences.
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:
- Identify and explain basic concepts, terminology, theories, and systems of inquiry of the selected social science discipline,
- Apply selected social science concepts and theories to contemporary or historical issues from different behavioral, cultural, institutional, temporal, or spatial contexts, and
- Analyze the extent and impact of diversity among individuals, cultures, or societies in contemporary or historical contexts using social science methods and concepts.
Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes: Required: #1, #2, and #3.
Courses:
NOTE: Elementary Education and Special Education majors must take GEOG 210 , HIST 151 , HIST 152 , or POLS 100 . ^TOP
Fine Arts and Humanities (6 credits within 2 disciplines)
Students will understand the diversity and complexity of the human experience through study of the arts and humanities.
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of values, beliefs, practices, or ideas embodied in the human experience, and
- Demonstrate basic understanding of concepts of the selected discipline within the arts and humanities.
In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to do at least one of the following:
- Demonstrate ability to express creative, aesthetic, formal or stylistic elements of the disciplines.
- Demonstrate foundational competency in reading, writing, and speaking a non-English language.
- Identify and explain cultural contributions from the perspective of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities.
Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes: Required: #1 and #2. At least one of the following: #3, #4, or #5.
Fine Arts Courses:
Humanities Courses:
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Mathematics (3 credits)
Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:
- Use mathematics symbols and mathematical structure to model and solve real world problems, and
- Demonstrate appropriate communication skills related to mathematical terms and concepts.
Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes: Required #1 and #2.
Courses:
NOTE: Student enrollment in the initial Mathematics course is determined by the Board of Regents/Academic Affairs Mathematics Placement Guideline (2.2.1.1.A.) ^TOP
Natural Sciences (6 credits)
Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.
Student Learning Outcomes:As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:
- Explain the nature of science, including how scientific explanations are formulated, tested, and modified or validated,
- Distinguished between scientific and non-scientific evidence and explanations, and use scientific evidence to construct arguments related to contemporary issues,
- Apply basic observational, quantitative, or technological methods to gather and analyze data and generate evidence-based conclusions in a laboratory setting, and
- Understand and apply foundational knowledge and discipline-specific concepts to address issues, solve problems, or predict natural phenomena.
Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes: Required: #1, #2, #3, and #4.
Courses:
Guidelines for Baccalaureate & Associate Degrees
(SDBOR Policy 2.2.2.1, SDBOR Policy 2.3.7, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 2.3.7.B, SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 2.3.7.A) ^TOP
- The System General Education Requirements will be effective for students.
- Only 100/200-level courses will be included. Exceptions based on student background may be made utilizing the established academic appeal process.
- Honors courses equivalent to identified System General Education courses will meet the System requirements.
- Students who complete the System General Education Requirements at any SD Board of Regents institution and then transfer to another SD Board of Regents Institution even if the receiving institution has different credit/course distribution and approved lists. All pre-requisites for associate and baccalaureate programs must be completed as determined by the student’s degree plan. See SDBOR policy 2.2.2.1 for additional guidance on transfer of general education credits and Academic Affairs Guidelines 2.3.7.A.
- A student who has not completed all general education requirements at the sending institution will be required to complete additional coursework consistent with the course requirements at the receiving South Dakota Regental institution.
- NSU participates in the Interstate Passport Network (ending December 2023), Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), a network of accredited institutions that agree to transfer completed general education requirements as a block in a seamless and efficient process among its members. Students who transfer into NSU with a Passport from another Network-member institution will not have to repeat or take additional courses to satisfy general education requirements. Earning a Passport recognizes that a student has achieved learning outcomes in the following nine knowledge and skill areas, which all Network member institutions agree are consistent with their own general education learning outcomes:
- Foundational Skills: oral communication, written communication, quantitative literacy
- Knowledge of Concepts: natural sciences, human cultures, creative expression, human society and the individual
- Cross-cutting Skills: critical thinking and teamwork/value systems.
More specific information may be found at: https://www.sdbor.edu/administrative-offices/academics/Passport/Pages/default.aspx. A list of all approved schools may be found at: https://interstatepassport.wiche.edu/members/member-profiles/. If you are a transfer student interested in learning how this can help you, please email at records@northern.edu or call the Registrar’s Office at 605-626-2012 so that we may answer your questions.
(SDBOR-Academic Affairs Guidelines 7.6.A and 7.6.B)
The Board of Regents has developed a standardized placement process to ensure that entering students are placed into Math and English courses most appropriate for their ability and background.
Entering students must show evidence of their level of academic preparation prior to their enrollment into their initial mathematics and English courses. All entering students seeking an associate or baccalaureate degree must provide valid Enhanced ACT scores or SAT score (within the last five years), 11th grade Smarter Balanced test scores, or must take the College Board ACCUPLACER examination in the areas of writing skills and mathematics. All non-degree seeking students enrolling in English and/or mathematics courses must provide Enhanced ACT scores or must take the College Board ACCUPLACER examination in the areas of writing skills and mathematics.
In addition to scores on these assessments, other information may also be considered as placement decisions are made.
Transfer students who have completed equivalent general education coursework in English and mathematics are exempt from this requirement.
Students transferring will be allowed to transfer their placement test scores and/or relevant course credits and continue their sequence of courses in English and/or mathematics.
Each institution shall give students prior notice that it will provide reasonable accommodations for test takers in keeping with institutional practices implementing the South Dakota Human Relations Act of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (refer to Board Policy 1.4.4). ^TOP
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts
In addition to fulfilling all General Education System Goals, candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree must take three additional courses as follows:
Notes
*Students may not use this course to satisfy this requirement if it also being used to satisfy Goal 4 of the General Education System Goals.
Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
Two additional courses from those listed in General Education Goal #4. The courses must be from different disciplines than those selected to satisfy General Education Requirements Goal #4.
A total of four courses are required for the BA degree:
- One year sequence of a foreign language.
- Two courses from different disciplines than foreign language.
Bachelor of Science
In addition to fulfilling all General Education System Goals, candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree must take three additional courses as follows:
Notes
*Students may not use this course to satisfy this requirement if it also being used to satisfy Goal 4 of the General Education System Goals.
Quantitative Course (3 credits)
A course in Mathematics (with a pre-requisite of MATH 114 or higher MATH) Additional course (3 credits)
Notes
*MATH 103 , MATH 104 and MATH 115 are considered to be at the level of College Algebra and therefore may not be used to satisfy this requirement. Bachelor of Science in Education and Bachelor of Music Education
Notes
In addition to fulfilling all General Education System Goals, candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Education or Bachelor of Music Education degree must take the professional education course work required for certification in the state of South Dakota. See specific program for requirements for Elementary Education; K-12 Certification requirements for majors including Art, Health/Physical Education, Music, World Languages and Special Education; and secondary education requirements for BSEd majors in Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, and Social Science.
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Writing Intensive Courses
Vision:
Northern State University requires two bookends to every student’s education: first year seminar (IDL 190 ) and a writing intensive course embedded as a major requirement in each bachelor’s degree program.
The Northern Experience prepares graduates to communicate effectively through writing. The first-year seminar requires each student complete at least 12 pages of writing (at least five of these pages will be in the form of a brief research paper with a citations page, which will be critiqued by the instructor and revised by the student).
All students are required to complete ENGL 101 and ENGL 201 within their general education.
Northern students become effective writers in their discipline through the writing intensive course embedded in their major program. In the writing intensive course in their major program, students will learn to use writing as an instrument for learning course content. Courses will discuss writing issues as they pertain to the discipline, and courses will include at least one writing assignment where a student must address a question for which there is more than one acceptable interpretation or explanation.
Requirements for Writing Intensive Courses:
Writing will be integral to a course designated as writing intensive.
A writing intensive course will:
- Be taken from Northern State University.
- Incorporate writing that is frequent and varied.
- Include discussion by the professor of how writing is used by professionals in their discipline.
- Dedicate instructional time to teaching writing in the discipline.
- Reflect writing assignments as a major component of the course grade.
- Not include FYS (IDL 190 ), any general education course, or any course that is at the 100- or 200-level.
Specific requirements include:
- At least 20 pages of formal writing in a format appropriate to the discipline. Formal writing intensive assignments include essays, laboratory reports, translations, creative writing, grant proposals, research papers, and other assignments that support the nature of the discipline.
- Between 4 and 10 formal writing assignments that are distributed across the course term instead of concentrated at the end of term. At least 2 of the assignments will include rough drafts appropriate to the nature of the discipline.
- Informal writing assignments including focused free writes, drafts, peer responses, and metacognition assignments. Informal writing assignments can be ungraded and should deepen students’ understanding of course material and prepare students for formal writing assignments.
College of Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Science
BADM 244 Business Communications - Accounting; Banking and Financial Services; Business Administration; Finance; Management; Management Information Systems; Marketing
Millicent Atkins School of Education
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