General Education at Eastern Illinois University offers students an intellectual foundation for their academic, professional, and personal lives. The General Education program is aligned with the University's mission to help students "refine their abilities to reason and to communicate clearly so as to become responsible citizens and leaders." General Education refers to the part of the university's education common to all students. By facilitating students' exploration of questions across multiple fields of study, general education courses foster knowledge, while also engaging students in issues encountered by citizens in a democracy.
Core intellectual skills embodied in our university learning goals—critical thinking, writing & critical reading, speaking & listening, quantitative reasoning, and various aspects of responsible citizenship (ethical reasoning, considering diverse perspectives, and civic implications)—are practiced and integrated continuously across general education.
Courses in the other segments of general education focus on a particular learning goal in addition to their topic content (e.g., quantitative reasoning in the natural sciences, communication in the arts and humanities, responsible citizenship in the social and behavioral sciences) and also give focused attention to critical thinking and at least one other learning goal. Courses that target a specific university learning goal have learning objectives and graded assignments tied to the learning goal; they also provide explicit instruction, practice, and feedback related to the development of that skill.
Semester Hour Requirements in the General Education Program
Language (2 composition + 1 speech)
9 semester hours
Humanities and Fine Arts
9 semester hours
Mathematics
3 semester hours
Scientific Awareness
7 semester hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences
9 semester hours
Senior Seminar/Study Abroad/Capstone
3 hours
One Cultural Diversity course included above
(*indicated by an asterisk below)
TOTAL
40 hours
Students following catalogs prior to Fall 2006 must satisfy the constitution requirement.
Please refer to the catalog section titled "Academic Regulations" for the complete list of requirements for graduation.
General Education Courses Required of ALL Teacher Licensure Candidates Either as Part of the Above Required 40 semester hours or in addition to the IAI Core or Transfer General Education:
A 3 semester hour Diversity Course or Third World/Non-Western Course
"C" or better in ENG 1001G, ENG 1002G, CMN 1310G or their equivalents (a minimum of 9 semester hours is required.)
"C" or better in 3 semester hours of college level math
PLS 1153G or HIS 3600G or an equivalent U.S. Constitution course
Note: Post-baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Candidates must meet all general education requirements with the exception of Senior Seminar.
General Education Courses Listed by Category
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
(9 semester hours with a "C" or higher in each course)
Courses transferred in fulfillment of these requirements will be accepted only if they were completed with grades of "C" or higher.
College Composition I (3 credits)
ENG 1001G
College Composition I: Critical Reading & Source-Based Writing. (3 credits)
African American and Africana Literatures. (3 credits)
*
ENG 2706G
Latin American and Latinx Literatures. (3 credits)
*
ENG 3009G
Myth and Culture. (3 credits)
*
ENG 3010G
Literary Masterworks. (3 credits)
ENG 3090G
Literary Masterworks, Honors. (3 credits)
ENG 3099G
Myth and Culture, Honors. (3 credits)
*
ENG 3100G
Cultural Foundations I. (3 credits)
*
(cross listed with PHI 3100G)
ENG 3110G
Cultural Foundations II. (3 credits)
*
(cross listed with PHI 3110G)
World Languages and Cultures
WLE 2061G
German Literature in Translation. (3 credits)
*
WLE 2062G
Hispanic Literature in Translation. (3 credits)
*
WLE 2063G
Francophone Literature in Translation. (3 credits)
*
WLF 2201G
Intermediate French I. (4 credits)
*
WLF 2202G
Intermediate French II. (4 credits)
*
WLG 2201G
Intermediate German I. (4 credits)
*
WLG 2202G
Intermediate German II. (4 credits)
*
WLS 2201G
Intermediate Spanish I. (4 credits)
*
WLS 2202G
Intermediate Spanish II. (4 credits)
*
WLS 2291G
Intermediate Spanish I Honors. (4 credits)
*
WLS 2292G
Intermediate Spanish II, Honors. (4 credits)
*
History
HIS 1500G
Roots of the Modern World: Society and Religion. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1521G
World History: Human Rights in History. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1522G
World History: Slavery and Freedom. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1525G
World History: Empires in Global History. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1526G
World History: The Twentieth-Century World. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1527G
World History: Gaming the Past. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1590G
Roots of the Modern World: Society and Religion, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1595G
World History: Empires in Global History, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1596G
World History: The Twentieth-Century World, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1597G
World History: Human Rights in History, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1598G
World History: Slavery and Freedom, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 1599G
World History: Gaming the Past, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2010G
History of the United States to 1877. (3 credits)
HIS 2020G
History of the United States Since 1877. (3 credits)
HIS 2030G
US History: The Black Experience. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2040G
US History: Gender and Sexuality. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2050G
US History: Building Latino/a/e Communities. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2060G
US History: The History of Your Life. (3 credits)
HIS 2090G
History of the United States to 1877, Honors. (3 credits)
HIS 2091G
History of the United States Since 1877, Honors. (3 credits)
HIS 2094G
US History: Gender and Sexuality, Honors. (3 credits)
*
HIS 2096G
US History: The History of Your Life, Honors. (3 credits)
Humanities Interdisciplinary Courses
HIC 2000G
Introduction to the Humanities: Interdisciplinary Problem-Solving. (3 credits)
HIC 2100G
Introduction to the Health & Medical Humanities. (3 credits)
*
HIC 2190G
Introduction to the Health & Medical Humanities, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Medieval Studies
MDVL 2000G
Introduction to Medieval Studies. (3 credits)
Philosophy
PHI 1000G
God, Freedom, Knowledge and Values: An Introduction to Philosophical Questions. (3 credits)
PHI 1090G
God, Freedom, Knowledge and Values: An Introduction to Philosophical Questions, Honors. (3 credits)
PHI 1900G
Logical and Critical Reasoning. (3 credits)
PHI 1990G
Logical and Critical Reasoning, Honors. (3 credits)
PHI 3100G
Cultural Foundations I. (3 credits)
*
(cross listed with ENG 3100G)
PHI 3110G
Cultural Foundations II. (3 credits)
*
(cross listed with ENG 3110G)
Religious Studies
RLS 1200G
Introduction to Religious Studies. (3 credits)
*
RLS 1290G
Introduction to Religious Studies, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Fine Arts
Art
ART 2012G
Asian Art. (3 credits)
*
ART 2310G
Introduction to Art. (3 credits)
ART 2330G
Art Appreciation. (3 credits)
ART 2601G
Art in the Pre-Modern Era. (3 credits)
ART 2602G
Art in the Modern Era. (3 credits)
ART 2691G
Art in the Pre-Modern Era, Honors. (3 credits)
ART 2692G
Art in the Modern Era, Honors. (3 credits)
ART 3340G
Multicultural Aesthetics. (3 credits)
*
ART 3610G
African Art. (3 credits)
*
ART 3611G
Art in India and Southeast Asia. (3 credits)
*
ART 3612G
Art in China and Japan. (3 credits)
*
Film Studies
FILM 2759G
History of Cinema. (3 credits)
*
Music
MUS 2555G
The Enjoyment of Music. (3 credits)
MUS 2557G
The Evolution of Jazz and Rock. (3 credits)
MUS 2558G
Film Music: Exploring the Evolution of Music in Film. (3 credits)
MUS 3550G
Survey of American Music. (3 credits)
MUS 3553G
Survey of Western Musical Masterworks. (3 credits)
MUS 3562G
Non-Western Music. (3 credits)
*
MUS 3592G
Non-Western Music, Honors. (3 credits)
*
MUS 3593G
Survey of Western Musical Masterworks, Honors. (3 credits)
Theatre
THA 2010G
Experiencing the Arts: An Exploration of the Visual and Performing Arts. (3 credits)
THA 2140G
Introduction to the Theatre. (3 credits)
*
THA 2190G
Introduction to the Theatre, Honors. (3 credits)
*
THA 2801G
Musical Theatre on Film. (3 credits)
*
THA 3751G
Origins of Theatre. (3 credits)
*
THA 3752G
Theatre from the 17th Century to the Present Day. (3 credits)
*
THA 3754G
Theatre and Film. (3 credits)
*
THA 3755G
African-American Theatre: Historical and Contemporary. (3 credits)
*
THA 3757G
Contemporary World Theatre. (3 credits)
*
THA 3758G
Topics in World Theatre History. (1 to 3 credits)
MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENT
(3 semester hours)
MAT 1160G
Mathematics: A Human Endeavor. (3 credits)
MAT 1170G
Problem Solving. (3 credits)
MAT 1300G
Quantitative Literacy. (3 credits)
MAT 1320G
Mathematical Modeling. (3 credits)
MAT 1441G
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I. (5 credits)
MAT 2110G
Brief Calculus with Applications. (3 credits)
MAT 2120G
Finite Mathematics. (3 credits)
MAT 2190G
Finite Mathematics, Honors. (3 credits)
MAT 2250G
Elementary Statistics. (4 credits)
MAT 2290G
Elementary Statistics, Honors. (4 credits)
MAT 2420G
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II. (3 credits)
SCIENTIFIC AWARENESS REQUIREMENT
(7 semester hours)
Complete at least one course in the biological sciences and one in the physical sciences. At least one of the courses must be a laboratory course:
Biological Sciences
3 or 4 hours
Physical Sciences
3 or 4 hours
Biological Sciences
BIO 1001G
Biological Principles and Issues. (3 credits)
BIO 1002G
Practical Botany. (3 credits)
BIO 1003G
Life of Animals. (3 credits)
BIO 1004G
Practical Microbiology. (3 credits)
BIO 1091G
Biological Principles and Issues, Honors. (3 credits)
BIO 1092G
Practical Botany, Honors. (3 credits)
BIO 1093G
Life of Animals, Honors. (3 credits)
BIO 1094G
Practical Microbiology, Honors. (3 credits)
BIO 1550G
General Biology II. (4 credits)
BIO 2002G
Environmental Life Sciences. (3 credits)
BIO 2003G
Heredity and Society. (3 credits)
BIO 2005G
Human Biology. (4 credits)
BIO 2091G
Human Physiology, Honors. (4 credits)
BIO 2092G
Environmental Life Sciences, Honors. (4 credits)
BIO 2093G
Heredity and Society, Honors. (4 credits)
BIO 3003G
An Introduction to Evolution. (3 credits)
BIO 3080G
Behavior of Domestic Animals and their Wild Kin. (3 credits)
BIO 3155G
Introduction to Evolutionary Medicine. (3 credits)
BIO 3333G
Sustainable Energy and the Environment. (3 credits)
BIO 3888G
Tropical and Marine Ecology. (4 credits)
Physical Sciences
Technology
TEC 2004G
Materials Science and Evaluation. (4 credits)
TEC 2300G
Science and Technology: A Promise or a Threat? (3 credits)
(cross listed with GEO 2300G)
Chemistry
CHM 1040G
The World of Chemistry. (4 credits)
CHM 1310G
General Chemistry I. (3 credits)
CHM 1315G
General Chemistry Laboratory I. (1 credits)
CHM 1390G
General Chemistry I, Honors. (3 credits)
CHM 1395G
General Chemistry Laboratory I, Honors. (1 credits)
CHM 3025G
The Chemistry in Your Life. (3 credits)
Earth Science/Geography/Geology
GEO 1120G
The Natural Environment. (4 credits)
GEO 1300G
Introduction to Earth Sciences. (4 credits)
GEO 1390G
Introduction to Earth Sciences, Honors. (4 credits)
GEO 1400G
Weather and Climate. (4 credits)
GEO 1490G
Weather and Climate, Honors. (4 credits)
GEO 2450G
Oceanography. (3 credits)
Physics
PHY 1010G
Sustainable Energy. (3 credits)
PHY 1051G
Physics of the Modern World. (3 credits)
PHY 1052G
Adventures in Physics. (3 credits)
PHY 1053G
Adventures in Physics Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1055G
Principles of Astronomy. (3 credits)
PHY 1056G
Principles of Astronomy Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1071G
Physics of Sound and Music. (3 credits)
PHY 1072G
Physics of Sound and Music Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1095G
Principles of Astronomy, Honors. (3 credits)
PHY 1096G
Principles of Astronomy Laboratory, Honors. (1 credits)
PHY 1151G
Principles of Physics I. (3 credits)
PHY 1152G
Principles of Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1351G
General Physics I. (3 credits)
PHY 1352G
General Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1391G
General Physics I, Honors. (3 credits)
PHY 1392G
General Physics I Laboratory, Honors. (1 credits)
PHY 3045G
Wonders of Astronomy. (3 credits)
PHY 3050G
Excursions in Physics. (3 credits)
SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES REQUIREMENT
(9 semester hours)
Choose courses from at least two different disciplines.
Anthropology
ANT 2200G
Introduction to Anthropology. (3 credits)
*
ANT 2290G
Introduction to Anthropology, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Technology
TEC 2225G
Technology, History and Human Societies. (3 credits)
*
(cross listed with HIS 2225G)
Economics
ECN 2800G
Economics of Social Issues. (3 credits)
*
ECN 2801G
Principles of Macroeconomics. (3 credits)
ECN 2802G
Principles of Microeconomics. (3 credits)
ECN 2891G
Principles of Macroeconomics, Honors. (3 credits)
ECN 2892G
Principles of Microeconomics, Honors. (3 credits)
Education Foundations
EDF 2555G
Education in a Diverse Society: The Multilingual/Multicultural Classroom. (3 credits)
*
EDF 2595G
Education in a Diverse Society: The Multilingual/Multicultural Classroom, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Geography
GEO 1100G
Cultural Geography. (3 credits)
*
GEO 1190G
Cultural Geography, Honors. (3 credits)
*
GEO 1200G
World Regional Geography. (3 credits)
*
GEO 1290G
World Regional Geography, Honors. (3 credits)
*
GEO 2000G
Food and Agriculture. (3 credits)
History
HIS 2225G
Technology, History and Human Societies. (3 credits)
*
(cross listed with TEC 2225G)
HIS 3600G
The U.S. Constitution and the Nation. (3 credits)
HIS 3690G
The U. S. Constitution and the Nation, Honors. (3 credits)
HIS 3700G
Turning Points in the History of Religion and Science. (3 credits)
HIS 3790G
Turning Points in the History of Religion and Science, Honors. (3 credits)
Hospitality Tourism and Management
HTM 2600G
Sustainable Communities. (3 credits)
Human Services
HSL 2300G
Personal and Family Financial Literacy. (3 credits)
Journalism
JOU 1000G
News, Information & Media Literacy. (3 credits)
*
JOU 2001G
Journalism and Democracy. (3 credits)
JOU 2091G
Journalism and Democracy, Honors. (3 credits)
Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
KSR 3402G
World Leisure: A Cultural Perspective. (3 credits)
*
Philosophy
PHI 2500G
The Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics. (3 credits)
*
PHI 2590G
The Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics, Honors. (3 credits)
*
PHI 3050G
Social and Political Philosophy. (3 credits)
PHI 3700G
Language and Human Nature. (3 credits)
Political Science
PLS 1153G
American Government and Constitution. (3 credits)
PLS 1193G
American Government and Constitution, Honors. (3 credits)
PLS 2000G
Introduction to Public Affairs. (3 credits)
PLS 2253G
Introduction to International Relations. (3 credits)
*
PLS 2293G
Introduction to International Relations, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Psychology
PSY 1879G
Introductory Psychology. (3 credits)
PSY 1890G
Introductory Psychology, Honors. (3 credits)
Public Health
PUBH 2200G
Health Citizenship. (3 credits)
*
PUBH 3560G
Women's Health. (3 credits)
*
Sociology
SOC 1838G
Introductory Sociology. (3 credits)
*
SOC 2750G
Social Problems in Contemporary Society. (3 credits)
*
SOC 2890G
Social Problems in Contemporary Society, Honors. (3 credits)
*
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
WGS 2309G
Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies. (3 credits)
*
WGS 2310G
Introduction to Studies of Sexuality and Gender Diversity. (3 credits)
*
SENIOR SEMINAR/STUDY ABROAD/CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT
(3 semester hours)
EIU 4100G
Folklore, Culture, and Society. (3 credits)
EIU 4101G
Spaceship Earth: The Present State. (3 credits)
EIU 4102G
Technology and Society. (3 credits)
EIU 4104G
World Film: Language and Culture in Film. (3 credits)
EIU 4105G
Controversial Issues in Education. (3 credits)
EIU 4106G
War Stories. (3 credits)
EIU 4107G
The Idea of a University: Yesterday and Today. (3 credits)
EIU 4108G
Special Topics in Women's, Gender and/or Sexuality Studies. (3 credits)
EIU 4109G
The Politics of Human Rights. (3 credits)
EIU 4110G
Frontiers of Communication. (3 credits)
EIU 4111G
Plants and Civilizations. (3 credits)
EIU 4112G
Women and Technology. (3 credits)
EIU 4113G
The European Union: A Multi-cultural Approach. (3 credits)
EIU 4114G
Senior Seminar: Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies in Matters of Culture. (3 credits)
EIU 4115G
Pop Culture Economics. (3 credits)
EIU 4116G
Conspiracy Theories in the U.S. (3 credits)
EIU 4118G
Sociobiology: The Biological Origins of Social Practices. (3 credits)
EIU 4121G
Leisure Time: The American Perspective. (3 credits)
EIU 4123G
Social Movements, Crowds, and Violence. (3 credits)
EIU 4125G
Cultural Diversity in the United States. (3 credits)
EIU 4126G
Body, Health, and Society. (3 credits)
EIU 4128G
Politics and Popular Culture. (3 credits)
EIU 4129G
Law and Technology. (3 credits)
EIU 4131G
Modern Biomedical Science: Promise and Problems. (3 credits)
EIU 4142G
Telecommunication Issues in the Third Millennium. (3 credits)
EIU 4150G
International Culinary Tourism. (3 credits)
EIU 4151G
Nutritional Dilemmas and Decisions. (3 credits)
EIU 4155G
The European Witchhunts. (3 credits)
EIU 4158G
Freedom of Expression. (3 credits)
EIU 4160G
Personal Financial Investments. (3 credits)
EIU 4161G
Social Justice and the Stage. (3 credits)
EIU 4162G
Voices of Change: Theatre as a Catalyst. (3 credits)
EIU 4165G
Journalistic Media in Society. (3 credits)
EIU 4167G
The Meaning of Life. (3 credits)
EIU 4168G
The Internet as a Social Phenomenon. (3 credits)
EIU 4169G
Women in Science. (3 credits)
EIU 4170G
History on Film. (3 credits)
EIU 4171G
Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels: A History of Graphic Narratives. (3 credits)
EIU 4172G
Communication, Organizations and their Environments. (3 credits)
EIU 4173G
Environmental Communication. (3 credits)
EIU 4174G
Documentary Film and Society. (3 credits)
*
EIU 4190G
Spaceship Earth: The Present State, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4191G
Leisure Time: The American Perspective, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4192G
Film and Contemporary Society, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4193G
The Holocaust, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4194G
Leadership: Theory and Practice, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4195G
The European Witchhunts, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4197G
Freedom of Expression: Dissent, Hate, and Heresy, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4198G
Mischievous Molds, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4199G
The Politics of Human Rights, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4290G
Plants and Civilization, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4291G
Pop Culture Economics, Honors. (4 credits)
EIU 4296G
Body, Health, and Society, Honors. (4 credits)
Study Abroad Capstone
Study Abroad Program (2+ semester hours) and STA 4000G (1 semester hour) – Study Abroad is a high quality international academic opportunity that enables students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for leadership in an interdependent world. The University offers study abroad programs in more than 30 countries around the world. Competitive scholarships are available. Students should plan and apply early. After successful completion of an approved EIU study abroad program, and 75 semester hours, students are eligible to take STA 4000G. As a capstone, STA 4000G will require students to exercise their abilities to think critically about their global education experiences. STA 4000G incorporates university assessment activities, which may include tests, surveys and other instruments. To allow ample time for writing and discussion, STA 4000G, will be limited to a maximum of 25 students.
Departmental Capstone
CDS 4600
Seminar in Communication Disorders and Sciences. (3 credits)
CDS 4690
Honors Seminar in Communication Disorders and Sciences. (3 credits)
CMN 4680
Capstone in Communication Studies. (3 credits)
CIT 4749
Capstone Project in Computer Information Technology. (3 credits)
CRM 4700
Contemporary Topics in Criminology and Criminal Justice. (3 credits)
ECN 4689
Economics Research Capstone. (3 credits)
ENG 4300
English Studies Capstone. (3 credits)
ENG 4390
English Studies Capstone, Honors. (3 credits)
EGT 4704
Engineering Technology Capstone. (4 credits)
HIS 4375
History Capstone Seminar. (3 credits)
HIS 46441
Honors Thesis Departmental Capstone I. (3 credits)
HIS 46442
Honors Thesis Departmental Capstone II. (3 credits)
HSL 4859
Administration of Human Services Programming. (3 credits)
JOU 4730
Journalism Capstone Seminar. (3 credits)
MUS 4400
Seminar in Methods of Teaching Instrumental Music. (4 credits)
MUS 4401
Seminar in Methods of Teaching Vocal/General Music. (4 credits)
NUR 4355
Teaching and Learning in Nursing: A Capstone Course. (3 credits)
NUR 4604
Issues and Practicum in Professional Nursing. (4 credits)
NUR 4644
Teaching and Learning in Nursing: A Capstone Course Honors. (3 credits)
NTR 4751
Nutrition Therapy. (4 credits)
PLS 4600
Political Science Capstone. (3 credits)
PUBH 4250
Planning Health Programs. (3 credits)
SOC 4700
Current Issues in Sociology. (3 credits)
STA 4000G
Study Abroad Capstone. (1 credits)
Information sourced from the 2025-2026 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.
