General Education and Degree Requirements

General Education Mission Statement

To serve within the Mission and aligned with the college’s core values, the core curriculum seeks to educate the whole student through essential learning outcomes (based on AAC&U’s LEAP initiative):

• Knowledge of human cultures and the natural world, including natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, histories, languages, and the fine arts
• Intellectual and practical skills, including inquiry and analysis, critical thinking, written communication, and quantitative literacy
• Personal growth and social responsibility, including civic knowledge, intercultural competence, and ethical reasoning in action

General Education Philosophy

The Piedmont University Core Curriculum promotes the development of student learning outcomes which support the effective use of content found in the courses at the University. These student learning outcomes are

1) Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Natural World, including
Natural Sciences,
Social Sciences,
Humanities,
Histories,
Languages, and the
Fine Arts;

2) Intellectual and Practical Skills, including
Inquiry and Analysis,
Critical Thinking,
Written Communication and Information Literacy,
Oral Communication, and
Quantitative Literacy;

3) Personal Growth and Social Responsibility, including
Civic Knowledge,
Intercultural Competence, and
Ethical Reasoning in Action.

As a result of the focus of the general education (core curriculum) program, Piedmont University graduates are better prepared to pursue their chosen careers and/or graduate and professional study, and to contribute to shaping the evolving cultural, ethical, political, and aesthetic values important to global citizenship.

Each student seeking a baccalaureate degree must complete the appropriate general education requirements, the requirements of a major, and a minimum of 120 credit hours. All students entering the University with fewer than 24 hours of college credit must complete the Introduction to University Life and Liberal Arts Tradition (PDMT 1101) as a part of the 120 credit hours. A student may choose to complete a minor as part of the 120 required hours. Each course in a student's declared major, minor, concentration, certificate, or endorsement must be passed with a grade of "C" or higher.

Students entering Piedmont with substantial language ability (at least of two years of the same foreign language in high school with at least a “B” average) and/or established placement from another institution may complete only the 1102-level course to fulfill the foreign language general education requirement. Additionally, if a student successfully completes a 2000-level or higher course in a foreign language, the foreign language requirement is considered satisfied.