Academic Catalog

General Education Course List

Courses listed below fulfill the indicated general education requirements for all B.A., B.S., and B.S.Ed. degree-seeking students. Instances where requirements for BLS students are different are noted.

Foundations

First-Year Seminar

(Not required of BLS students.)

Select one of the following:3
First-Year Seminar
First-Year Seminar in European History
First-Year Seminar in American History

Written Communication 

Three courses designated as writing intensive (WI).

WI courses are indicated in the online schedule of courses. The course must be designated as WI in the semester in which it is taken in order to satisfy the requirement. Some sections of a particular course may be designated as WI while others are not; students should be aware of this fact when selecting courses for their schedule.

Oral Communication

One course designated as speaking intensive (SI).

SI courses are indicated in the online schedule of courses. The course must be designated as SI in the semester in which it is taken in order to satisfy the requirement. Some sections of a particular course may be designated as SI while others are not; students should be aware of this fact when selecting courses for their schedule.

Language

Intermediate competency in a second language (not required of BLS students). Demonstrated by:

  1. completion of 201 or higher in a language including ASL;
  2. a score of 620 or higher on any language SAT II subject test;
  3. a score of 3 or higher on any modern language or language and literature AP Exam or a score of 4 or higher on a Latin AP Exam;
  4. a score of 4 or higher on any group 2 (second language) higher-level IB Exam;
  5. a score of 6 of higher on specified group 2 (second language) standard-level IB Exams (check equivalency chart carefully):
  6. a passing score on the University of Mary Washington language competency exam;
  7. a rating of “Intermediate” on the Sign Communication Proficiency Interview (SCPI);
  8. a rating equivalent to “Intermediate-Low Competency” on the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale on an approved third-party exam;
  9. a score of 60 or higher on the CLEP exam;
  10. completion of Level IV in a language in high school; or
  11. the submission of pertinent documents which verify that a student has had a high school education conducted in a language other than English or has lived extensively in and become fluent in the language of a non-English-speaking country.

Methods of Investigation

Arts and Literature

One course focusing on visual art, performing art, and/or literature from the following list:

ARTH 114AHistory of Western Art I3
ARTH 115AHistory of Western Art II 3
ARTH 118History of Asian Art3
ARTS 105Design Principles3
CLAS 202CAncient Tragedy 3
CLAS 204Epic Traditions 3
DANC 111Introduction to Dance3
ENGL 205The Art of Literature3
ENGL 206AGlobal Issues in Literature3
ENGL 207Literature in Performance3
ENGL 245 Introduction to Cinema Studies3
ENGL 251Issues in Literature3
FREN 250French and Francophone Literature in Translation3
HISP 105The American Built Environment3
MUHL 151AGreat Musical Masterworks3
MUHL 152Music and Society 3
MUHL 154Musics of the World3
MUHL 156American Music3
MUPR 250Fredericksburg Singers1
MUPR 252UMW Chorus1
MUPR 254Chamber Choir1
THEA 111Introduction to Theatre3
THEA 112Introduction to Acting3
THEA 113Introduction to Theatre Design3
THEA 131Technical Production4
THEA 132Technical Production4
THEA 211ADramatic Literature 3
THEA 212ADramatic Literature 3
THEA 218Voice and Body Movement4
THEA 240Stage Makeup 3
THEA 290Scene Painting 3

Humanities

One course focusing the humanities (including history) from the following list:

ANTH 101Introduction to Cultural and Social Anthropology3
ARTH 114AHistory of Western Art I3
ARTH 115AHistory of Western Art II 3
ARTH 118History of Asian Art3
CLAS 103 Ideas and Culture: Greek Civilization3
CLAS 105Ideas and Culture: Roman Civilization3
CLAS 110Greek and Roman Mythology in Art and Literature3
ENGL 202Writing Seminar3
HISP 100Introduction to Historic Preservation3
HIST 121Western Civilization I3
HIST 122Western Civilization II3
HIST 131American History to 18653
HIST 132American History Since 18653
HIST 141Asian Civilization I3
HIST 142Asian Civilization II3
JOUR 200News Journalism3
LING 101BIntroduction to Linguistics3
MATH 207History of Mathematics3
MUHL 153Women in Opera 3
PHIL 101Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 160Introduction to Ethics3
PHIL 201Ancient Greek Philosophy3
PHIL 202Early Modern Philosophy 3
PHIL 225Practical Ethics3
PHIL 226Medical Ethics3
RELG 103The Abrahamic Religions3
RELG 205Ancient Jewish Literature3
RELG 206AChristian Beginnings 3
RELG 208Christianity After the New Testament3
RELG 278Religion in America After the Civil War3
THEA 211ADramatic Literature 3
THEA 212ADramatic Literature 3
THEA 250Fashion History3
THEA 251Fashion History3

Natural Science

One course focusing on natural sciences that includes a laboratory from the following list:

The non-laboratory courses on this list are for students electing to take a second course in the Natural Sciences as one of their Additional Methods of Investigation requirements. 1
Laboratory Courses (all are 4 credits)
BIOL 121Biological Concepts4
BIOL 125Phage Hunters I4
BIOL 126Phage Hunters II4
BIOL 132Organism Function and Diversity4
CHEM 105AChemistry and Society with Laboratory I4
CHEM 111General Chemistry I4
CHEM 112General Chemistry II4
EESC 111Our Dynamic Earth4
EESC 112Evolution of Earth4
EESC 120Principles of Environmental Sustainability4
EESC 121Oceanography4
GEOG 110Introduction to Weather and Climate4
GEOG 111Landform Processes4
PHYS 101General Physics w/Lab4
PHYS 102General Physics w/Lab4
PHYS 103AElementary Astronomy w/Lab 4
PHYS 105University Physics, w/Lab4
PHYS 106University Physics w/Lab4
Non-Laboratory Courses (all are 3 credits)
BIOL 127Human Biology3
BIOL 128Current Topics in Biology3
CHEM 107Societal Chemistry3
EESC 110Environmental and Ecological Systems3
GEOG 240Hazards and Resilience3
GEOG 241Biogeography3
GEOG 325Dynamic Climatology3
PHYS 104Elementary Astronomy3
1

If a student takes a non-laboratory science before taking a laboratory science, the Natural Science requirement will not be considered to have been met until the laboratory course has been completed.

Quantitative Reasoning

One course focusing on quantitative information and abstract reasoning from the following list:

BIOL 260Biostatistics and Research Design4
CPSC 284Applied Discrete Mathematics4
DATA 101Introduction to Data Science3
MATH 110Finite Mathematics with Applications3
MATH 115AIntroduction to Mathematical Modeling3
MATH 120Quantitative Reasoning for Decision-Making3
MATH 121Calculus I4
PHIL 151BIntroductory Logic 3
STAT 180Introduction to Statistics3

Social Science

One course focusing on the social sciences from the following list:

ANTH 101Introduction to Cultural and Social Anthropology3
ECON 100Economics of Social Issues3
ECON 201BPrinciples of Macroeconomics3
ECON 202BPrinciples of Microeconomics3
GEOG 101World Regional Geography3
GEOG 102Introduction to Human Geography3
GEOG 221AGeography of Eastern North America3
GEOG 222AGeography of Western North America3
GEOG 237Cities3
LING 101BIntroduction to Linguistics3
PSCI 101AIntroduction to Political Science3
PSCI 102AIntroduction to International Relations3
PSCI 201American Government3
PSYC 100General Psychology 3
SOCG 105The Social World3
SOCG 155Social Issues3

Additional Methods of Investigation

Two additional courses from two different Methods of Investigation. (BLS students must take three additional courses from two different Methods of Investigation.)

Students electing to take a second course in the Natural Sciences as one of their Methods of Investigation requirements will choose from a list of approved courses that may include non-laboratory courses. If a student takes a non-laboratory science before taking a laboratory science, the Natural Science requirement will not be considered to have been met until the laboratory course has been completed.

Connections

Digital Intensive 

One course designated as digital intensive (DI).

DI courses are indicated in the online schedule of courses. The course must be designated as DI in the semester in which it is taken in order to satisfy the requirement. Some sections of a particular course may be designated as DI while others are not; students should be aware of this fact when selecting courses for their schedule.

Diverse and Global Perspectives

One course designated as diverse and global perspective (DGP).

DGP courses are indicated in the online schedule of courses. The course must be designated as DGP in the semester in which it is taken in order to satisfy the requirement. Some sections of a particular course may be designated as DGP while others are not; students should be aware of this fact when selecting courses for their schedule.

Beyond the Classroom

One faculty supervised experience involving a significant experiential learning component designed to challenge students to go outside of the bounds of the typical classroom. (Not required of BLS students.) Selected from the following:

  • All courses numbered 491 and 492 (individual studies) and all Undergraduate Research 197 courses meet this requirement. 
  • Some sections of additional courses approved as Community Engaged (CE) courses and taught by specified approved instructors may be designated as Beyond the Classroom (BTC) courses in a particular semester. Students can view which sections are designated as BTC in the online schedule of courses.
  • The following courses also satisfy this requirement:
    AMST 485Senior Thesis3
    ANTH 480Senior Research3
    BIOL 424Tropical Ecology4
    CHEM 493Chemical Outreach1-2
    CLAS 351Special Studies in Classical Civilization3
    CLAS 485Guided Research 3
    COMM 481Policy Debate Practicum1
    CPSC 391Special Projects in Computer Science1-4
    CPSC 430Software Engineering4
    ECON 490Experiential Learning3
    EDUC 303Scientific Inquiry and Instructional Technology3
    EDUC 351AInstructional Design and Assessment4
    ENGL 314The Literary Journal: Professional Practice in Publishing and Editing3
    ENGL 399Community Service Learning1
    EESC 360Environmental Exploration2-4
    EESC 481Readings1-2
    GEOG 361Grassroots Development in Guatemala3
    GEOG 485Readings in Geography1-3
    HISP 305AHistoric Building Technologies3
    HISP 461Laboratory in Building Forensics3
    HISP 467Field Methods in Archaeology3
    HISP 469Laboratory in Preservation Planning3
    HIST 485Historical Research3
    HONR 201Honors Service Learning1
    IDIS 483Peer Mentorship1
    JOUR 380Practicum in Journalism1
    MUSC 000Music Forum0
    MUSC 490Music Seminar3
    PHIL 485Research in Philosophy3
    PSYC 350Psychology of Women and Gender3
    RELG 401Guided Research 3
    SOCG 332Introduction to Social Welfare3
    SOCG 475Public Sociology3
    SPAN 301Study Abroad Reflection1
    SPAN 321Culture of Service and Social Action in the Hispanic World3
    ARTS 475Senior Thesis Seminar3
    THEA 390Theatre Practicum 1
    THEA 482Senior Project3
    WGST 485Senior Project3
  • Internships (499) that have a final project/paper that is to be evaluated by the sponsoring faculty member will also meet this requirement.
  • The “community service option” offered by a number of departments also fulfills this requirement (see the following sections of this Catalog for details: Biology, Psychology, and Spanish). 
  • The Chemistry Program’s summer research experience also fulfills this requirement (see the Chemistry section of this Catalog).
  • A qualifying and approved education abroad experience may also be used to satisfy this requirement. Contact the Center for International Education in Lee Hall for details about how to secure the required pre-approval to meet this requirement via an education abroad experience/project. Note: the same education abroad experience may not be used to satisfy both the Beyond the Classroom and Diverse and Global Perspectives requirements.

After Mary Washington

One experience focused on translating the liberal arts experience for life after Mary Washington. (Not required of BLS students.) All sections in the following list of courses meet this requirement.

In addition, some sections of additional courses taught by specified approved instructors may be designated as After Mary Washington (AMW) courses in a particular semester. Students can view which sections are designated as AMW in the online schedule of courses

ANTH 480Senior Research3
ARTS 474Professional Practices in Studio Art3
COMM 460Seminar in Digital Rhetoric3
CPSC 430Software Engineering4
CPSC 435Advanced Cybersecurity3
EDUC 460Internship Seminar: Secondary, Pre-K-123
EDUC 461Internship Seminar: Elementary3
EESC 465Senior Portfolio and Career Preparation1
HISP 480Professional Practice1
IDIS 191Designing Your Life Through the Liberal Arts1
IDIS 192Preparation for Healthcare Careers1
IDIS 193Personal Development for Life and Career1
IDIS 195Life and Career after UMW1
MATH 305Mathematics as a Profession1
MUSC 490Music Seminar3
PSYC 499Internship1-6
SOCG 481The Road Ahead: Career Planning and Changemaking With a Sociology Degree1
THEA 400Professional Identity and Practice1