General Education Program

General Education Program Description:

Bryant University’s General Education Program is the cornerstone of a Bryant education. The Program welcomes our newest members into our scholarly community; sets the foundation for success inside and outside the classroom; and cultivates the qualities of character, resilience, teamwork, and leadership vital to career growth and membership in a healthy, democratic society. Using the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) to engage with the problem of Social Impact, the General Education Program provides students with a range of coherent, interdisciplinary, and experiential opportunities to develop the cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills essential to making sense of the world and their ability to contribute to improving it. Students explore the challenges facing their communities and world through engagement with one or more of the 17 SDGs in different ways in each of the courses in the Program.

The General Education Program Requirements Overview and approved course listings:

The backbone of coursework in the first year at Bryant is a series of one-credit courses that prepare students to master college and beyond:

• Student Success at Bryant (GEN 100) : A course designed to help new students make the transition from high school to college with topics that track the student experience over their first semester.

• The Bryant IDEA (IDEA 101) : An immersive program that emphasizes experiential learning and an understanding of the innovation process.

• Career Launch (GEN 103) : A course that provides students the opportunity to learn and practice lifelong career development and Career management skills.

In the first two years at Bryant, students also take twelve courses drawn from across the university, giving every student a foundation in critical methodologies and approaches to inquiry of disciplines across the university. Throughout the curriculum students hone their communication skills through writing assignments, oral presentations, and digital projects. In some cases, there is a dedicated, single course and in some cases, students choose from a list of eligible courses.

• Writing (GEN 106) : This writing intensive course strengthens student mastery of written communication. This course counts only toward the General Education requirement.

• Mathematics (MATH 110 and MATH 201) : Students must complete two courses to strengthen their Mathematical skills MATH 110 & MATH 201. These courses count only toward the General Education requirement but may be prerequisites for courses required for majors, concentrations, and minors.

• Economics (ECO 113 and ECO 114*) : All students complete Microeconomic Principles (ECO 113).   All College of Business students complete Macroeconomic Principles (ECO 114), while *College of Arts and Sciences and School of Health and Behavioral Sciences students have a choice between taking Macroeconomic Principles (ECO 114) or a second 200-level Social Science course as detailed below. These courses can count for the General Education requirement, as well as for requirements for majors, concentrations, and minors.

• Social Science (One 200-level from approved listing*): All students complete one course at the 200-level in: Anthropology, Language Studies, Legal Studies, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology from the approved listing. These courses can count for the General Education requirement, as well as for requirements for majors, concentrations, and minors. *College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences students have a choice between taking Macroeconomic Principles (ECO 114) or taking a second 200-level Social Science course in Anthropology, Language Studies, Legal Studies, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology. College of Business students are not required to take a second Social Science course.

Approved Social Science Courses:

Course List

ANTH 242	Principles of Anthropology	3
ANTH 243	Honors: The Anthropology of Globalization	3
LGLS 230	Introduction to the U.S. Legal System	3
LS 275	How Language Works	3
POLS 240	Contemporary Problems and Policy Responses	3
POLS 241	Introduction to International Politics	3
POLS 256	Introduction to U.S. Politics	3
POLS 290	Honors Politics of the International System	3
POLS 291	Honors Contemporary U.S. Politics	3
PSY 260	Introduction to Psychology	3
PSY 263	Honors: Core Concepts in Psychology	3
SOC 251	Principles of Sociology	3
SOC 253	Honors Sociology	3

• Introduction to Arts and Creative Industries (ACI 220) : Students choose from one of three types of creative production (visual art, creative writing, performing arts) for this course (ACI 220). This course can count for the General Education requirement, as well as toward requirements for majors, concentrations, and minors.

• Introduction to Business (BUS 100):  Students must complete BUS 100. This course counts only toward the General Education requirement.

• Science (One Science Course and Lab from approved listing): Students complete a science lecture course and a lab, both from a list of available courses that count toward General Education. These courses can count toward the General Education requirement, as well as for requirements for majors, concentrations, and minors.

Approved Science Course and Lab Listing:

Course List

SCI 251 & SCI L251	Biology I Principles of Biology and Biology I Laboratory	4
SCI 262 & SCI L262	Physical Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory	4
SCI 264 & SCI L264	Physics I Introductory Physics and Physics I Laboratory	4
SCI 265 & SCI L265	Introductory Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory	4
SCI 269 & SCI L269	Climate Change and Climate Change Laboratory	4
SCI 351 & SCI L351	Ecology and Ecology Laboratory	4
SCI 352 & SCI L352	Exercise Physiology and Exercise Physiology Laboratory	4
SCI 355 & SCI L355	Energy Strategies for a Sustainable World and Energy Strategies for a Sustainable World Lab	4
SCI 356 & SCI L356	Introduction to Biotechnology and Biotechnology Laboratory	4
SCI 371 & SCI L371	Human Impact on the Global Environment and Human Impact on the Global Environment Lab	4

• History (One 200-level course from approved listing): Students complete one 200-level course from a list of available courses that count toward General Education. These courses can count toward the General Education requirement, as well as for requirements for majors, concentrations, and minors.

Approved History Courses

Course List

HIS 250	Emergence of Europe (1000-1600)	3
HIS 252	Europe: 1500 to 1815	3
HIS 261	History of the United States to 1877	3
HIS 262	History of the United States Since 1865	3
HIS 263	American Women's History	3
HIS 270	World History to 1500	3
HIS 271	World History Since 1500	3
HIS 272	Introduction to Latin American History	3
HIS 273	History in the World Today	3
HIS ST200	Special Topics in History Modern American Civil Rights Movement	3
HIS ST201	Special Topics in Native American History	3
LS 271	Understanding Contemporary Asia	3

•  Literary and Cultural Studies (One 200-level course from approved listing): Students complete one 200-level course from a list of available courses that count toward General Education. These courses can count toward the General Education requirement, as well as for requirements for majors, concentrations, and minor.

Approved Literary and Cultural Studies Course Listing:

Course List

LCS 221	Studies in Fiction	3
LCS 222	Studies in Nonfiction	3
LCS 223	Studies in Poetry	3
LCS 224	Introduction to Hip-Hop Culture	3
LCS 230	Introduction to Film Studies	3
LCS 240	Introduction to the Environmental Humanities	3
LCS 250	Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies	3
or WGS 250	Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
LCS 251	Studies in Drama	3
LCS 260	Introduction to Philosophy	3
LCS 270	Introduction to Cultural Studies	3

• Intercultural Communication (GEN 201) : Students must complete GEN 201. This course counts only toward the General Education requirement.

Finally, after all the courses above have been completed, students take one final General Education course:

• Capstone (GEN 390) : An experiential course (GEN 390) that integrates skills honed across the curriculum, understanding of the SDGs, and grasp of the innovation process to tackle a real-world problem in cooperation with a partner from the community or beyond. This course counts only toward the General Education requirement.

University General Education Degree Requirements

Course List

Required Courses:
GEN 100	Student Success at Bryant University	1
IDEA 101	Bryant IDEA: Innovation and Design Experience For All	1
GEN 103	Career Launch	1
GEN 106	Writing Workshop	3
GEN 201	Intercultural Communication	3
ACI 220	Introduction to Arts and Creative Industries	3
BUS 100	Introduction to Business	3
ECO 113	Microeconomic Principles	3
ECO 114	Macroeconomic Principles (Required for COB students. CAS and SHBS students will take ECO 114 or an additional Social Science Course)	3
MATH 110	Mathematical Analysis	3
MATH 201	Statistics I 1	3
or MATH 202	Biostatistics
or MATH 203	Sports Statistics I
Social Science Course: One 200-level Social Science Course from approved listing.		3
Science Course: One 200- or 300-level Science Course and associated Lab from approved listing.		4
History Course: One 200- level History Course from approved listing.		3
Literary and Cultural Studies: One 200- level LCS course from approved listing.		3
GEN 390	General Education Capstone	3

 

¹

Biology Majors: Pre-Health and Environmental Track and Health Science Majors can take MATH 201, but MATH 202 is strongly recommended.  MATH 203 is not an option for these majors.

A total of 43 credit hours is required for the General Education Requirements.

APPROVED SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSES LISTING:

Course List

Students must take 1 Social Science Course. CAS and SHBS students will take two, if they chose not to take ECO 114, but they must be in different disciplines.
ANTH 242	Principles of Anthropology	3
ANTH 243	Honors: The Anthropology of Globalization	3
LGLS 230	Introduction to the U.S. Legal System	3
LS 275	How Language Works	3
POLS 240	Contemporary Problems and Policy Responses	3
POLS 241	Introduction to International Politics	3
POLS 256	Introduction to U.S. Politics	3
POLS 290	Honors Politics of the International System	3
POLS 291	Honors Contemporary U.S. Politics	3
PSY 260	Introduction to Psychology	3
PSY 263	Honors: Core Concepts in Psychology	3
SOC 251	Principles of Sociology	3
SOC 253	Honors Sociology	3

APPROVED SCIENCE COURSE AND LAB LISTING:

Course List

SCI 251 & SCI L251	Biology I Principles of Biology and Biology I Laboratory	4
SCI 262 & SCI L262	Physical Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory	4
SCI 264 & SCI L264	Physics I Introductory Physics and Physics I Laboratory	4
SCI 265 & SCI L265	Introductory Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory	4
SCI 269 & SCI L269	Climate Change and Climate Change Laboratory	4
SCI 351 & SCI L351	Ecology and Ecology Laboratory	4
SCI 352 & SCI L352	Exercise Physiology and Exercise Physiology Laboratory	4
SCI 355 & SCI L355	Energy Strategies for a Sustainable World and Energy Strategies for a Sustainable World Lab	4
SCI 356 & SCI L356	Introduction to Biotechnology and Biotechnology Laboratory	4
SCI 371 & SCI L371	Human Impact on the Global Environment and Human Impact on the Global Environment Lab	4

 APPROVED HISTORY COURSES LISTING:

Course List

HIS 250	Emergence of Europe (1000-1600)	3
HIS 252	Europe: 1500 to 1815	3
HIS 261	History of the United States to 1877	3
HIS 262	History of the United States Since 1865	3
HIS 263	American Women's History	3
HIS 270	World History to 1500	3
HIS 271	World History Since 1500	3
HIS 272	Introduction to Latin American History	3
HIS 273	History in the World Today	3
HIS ST200	Special Topics in History Modern American Civil Rights Movement	3
HIS ST201	Special Topics in Native American History	3
LS 271	Understanding Contemporary Asia	3

Approved Literary and Cultural Studies Course Listing:

Course List

LCS 221	Studies in Fiction	3
LCS 222	Studies in Nonfiction	3
LCS 223	Studies in Poetry	3
LCS 224	Introduction to Hip-Hop Culture	3
LCS 230	Introduction to Film Studies	3
LCS 240	Introduction to the Environmental Humanities	3
LCS 250	Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies	3
or WGS 250	Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
LCS 251	Studies in Drama	3
LCS 260	Introduction to Philosophy	3
LCS 270	Introduction to Cultural Studies	3

General Education Program Sequence:

The sequence of courses will usually take the following pattern, though students in some majors may find that a different sequence is more appropriate, and students will work with their advisors to find the solution best for them. 

First Year
First Semester		Credit Hours
GEN 100	Student Success at Bryant University	1
GEN 106	Writing Workshop	3
BUS 100	Introduction to Business	3
MATH 201, 202, or 2031	Statistics I	3
History Course: One 200-level History Course		3
	Term Credit Hours	13
Second Semester
IDEA 101	Bryant IDEA: Innovation and Design Experience For All	1
(January)
GEN 103	Career Launch	1
ACI 220	Introduction to Arts and Creative Industries	3
ECO 113	Microeconomic Principles	3
Social Science Course - 200- level course		3
	Term Credit Hours	11
Second Year
First Semester
ECO 114 (or Second Social Science Course depending on degree program.)	Macroeconomic Principles	3
(or Second Social Science Course depending on degree program)
MATH 110	Mathematical Analysis	3
Literary and Cultural Studies Course: One 200 -Level LCS Course		3
	Term Credit Hours	9
Second Semester
GEN 201	Intercultural Communication	3
Science Course: One 200- or 300- level Science Course and Lab		4
	Term Credit Hours	7
Third Year
First Semester
GEN 390 (Can be taken in Second Semester as well.)	General Education Capstone	3
	Term Credit Hours	3
	Total Credit Hours:	43

¹

Biology Majors: Pre-Health and Environmental Track and Health Science Majors can take MATH 201, but MATH 202 is strongly recommended.  MATH 203 is not an option for these majors.