General Education Studies Certificate

The Certificate in General Education Studies is a 2 year, non-degree program for students with intellectual disabilities.  The program offers an inclusive and supportive pathway for students with intellectual disabilities  to access college learning who would be unlikely to enroll in a degree-seeking program. The curriculum includes undergraduate courses in the liberal arts and sciences, followed by study in a self-selected area of concentration.  The program also includes a supported work experience and instructional coursework to enable students' development of skills for self advocacy, intellectual pursuit, employment, and independent living.

Program Requirements Overview

Completion of a minimum of 36 credits is required.  In case a student chooses to take 10 credits in General Education Electives and 3 credits in World Languages and Cultures, and/or higher credit concentration courses, the total required number of credits will add up to more than 36 credits.

General Education Requirements8-11
World Language or World Cultures Requirement0-3
Major Requirements24-27
Free Electives4-0
Total Credits36-41

Major Requirements 

Core/Required Courses
CGST 150College Orientation Seminar3
Complete 2 times for a total of 6 credits:6
Continuing Student Seminar
CGST 275Supervised Work Experience6
Concentration Requirements
Complete 3 courses or at least 9 credits from one University College Discovery Track, selected with an advisor. These courses may not be fulfilled by courses already taken as General Education Electives. See tracks below.9-12
Total Credits24-27

Concentrations

Education, Service, and Society

ANTH 100Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH 105Introduction to Disability Studies, Rights, and Culture3
ANTH 110Anthropology of Multicultural America3
ANTH 120Native North Americans3
ANTH 140Non-Western Contributions to the Western World3
ANTH 160The Anthropology of Race3
BIOL 100Biological Sciences4
BIOL 110The Biology of Human Life4
CHAD 210Child Abuse and Neglect3
CMST 101Fundamentals of Speech: Communication Requirement3
EAES 100Principles of Geography3
EAES 101Planet Earth4
EAES 105Physical Geology4
EAES 107Earth and the Environment4
EAES 150General Oceanography3
EAES 160The Human Environment3
EAES 170World Geography3
EAES 201Understanding Weather and Climate4
EAES 260Energy, Environment and Society3
ECEL 200Perspectives on Early Childhood and Elementary Education in a Democracy3
ECON 100Introduction to Economics3
EDFD 200Psychological Foundations of Education3
EDFD 221Historical Foundations of American Education3
EDFD 264Gender Issues in Education3
EDFD 290Education and the Social Development of Urban Youth4
ENGL 116World Literature: The Coming of Age Theme3
GRIN 226Fairy Tales from Grimm to Disney3
or GERM 226 Fairy Tales from Grimm to Disney
GLQS 100Introduction to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (GLBTQ) Studies3
GSWS 102Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies3
HEIN 201Israeli-Hebrew Culture3
HIST 117Foundations of America3
HIST 118Emergence of the Modern United States3
HLTH 290Human Sexuality3
HSET 208Leisure and Recreation in Society3
HUMN 201General Humanities I (to 1400)3
ITAL 262Italian Americans in Film3
JURI 210Perspectives on Law3
JUST 101Criminology3
JUST 103Introduction to International Justice3
LALS 201Perspectives on Latin America3
LALS 205Image and Identity: Representation of Latin American Women in Film and Fiction3
LAWS 200Introduction to Law3
LAWS 220Conflict and Its Resolution3
MATH 104Fractals and Infinity3
MATH 106Creative Thinking through Mathematics3
MEDH 101Introduction to the Medical Humanities3
MUGN 120Rap and Rock as Cultural Phenomena3
MUGN 160Introduction to Music in World Cultures3
PHYS 180Astronomy for Everyone4
POLS 100Introduction to Politics3
POLS 101American Government and Politics3
POLS 104International Security and Diplomacy3
POLS 201Comparative Politics3
POLS 202International Relations3
POLS 206Government and Politics of China and Japan3
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology3
RELG 100Religions of the World3
RELG 101Understanding Religion3
RELG 102Religious Ethics3
RELG 185The Arab World and Religion3
RELG 221Religion and Culture3
RELG 232Body and Soul3
RELG 240Asian Religions3
RELG 246Islamic Religious Traditions3
RELG 250African Religions3
RELG 252Africana Religions in the Americas3
RELG 254Native American Religion3
RELG 256Religion in Latin America3
RUIN 193Russian Culture and Civilization3
SASE 210Public Purposes of Education: Democracy and Schooling3
SOCI 100Introduction to Sociology3
SOCI 102Racial and Ethnic Relations3
SOCI 104Sociology of the Family3
SOCI 106Individual and Society3
SOCI 113Social Problems3
SOCI 220Sociology of Rich and Poor Nations3
STAT 103The Development of Statistics3
STAT 109Statistics3
THTR 265The Contemporary Theatre of Cultural Diversity3
VIST 106Modern Visions 1400-19453
WRIT 105College Writing I3-4
WRIT 106College Writing II3-4

Arts, Culture, and Design 

ANTH 100Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH 101Physical Anthropology4
ANTH 103Introduction to Archaeology3
ANTH 105Introduction to Disability Studies, Rights, and Culture3
ANTH 110Anthropology of Multicultural America3
ANTH 115Cultures of the Middle East3
ANTH 120Native North Americans3
ANTH 130Cultures of South Asia3
ANTH 135Anthropology of Conflict and Violence3
ANTH 140Non-Western Contributions to the Western World3
ANTH 150Cultures of Latin America3
ANTH 160The Anthropology of Race3
ANTH 165Human Culture in Biodiversity Conservation3
ANTH 180Health and Healing in Cross Cultural Perspective3
ARAB/ARIN 185The Arab World and Religion3
ARAB/ARIN 193Introduction to Arab Culture3
ARAN 190Introduction to the Visual Arts3
ARFD 100Perceptual Drawing3
ARPH 201Digital Photo and Imaging I3
ARST 201Objects in Clay3
ARST 2023D and Extended Media3
ARST 204Painting3
ARST 205Photography3
ARST 206Printmaking3
ARST 207Sculpture3
ARTX 201Culture and Appearance3
CMST 101Fundamentals of Speech: Communication Requirement3
DNCE 100Introduction to Ballet (Non-Major)3
DNCE 105Dance Appreciation3
DNCE 110Introduction to Modern Dance (Non-Major)3
DNCE 145Worlds of Dance3
ENFL 208Introduction to the Film3
ENGL 110Introduction to Literature: The Analytic Essay3
ENGL 111Introduction to Literature: The Short Story3
ENGL 113Introduction to Literature: Bestsellers and Popular Fiction3
ENGL 114Introduction to Literature: Utopian and Dystopian Fiction3
ENGL 116World Literature: The Coming of Age Theme3
ENGL 117World Literature: Voices of Tradition and Challenge3
FREN/FRIN 283Introduction to Women Authors of French-Speaking Africa3
GERM/GRIN 226Fairy Tales from Grimm to Disney3
GLQS 100Introduction to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (GLBTQ) Studies3
GSWS 102Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies3
HEIN 201Israeli-Hebrew Culture3
HIST 103Gods, Empires, Crusades Plague3
HIST 105Emergence of European Civilization, 1500-19143
HIST 106Contemporary Europe3
HIST 108African History3
HIST 110Introduction to American Studies3
HIST 112Introduction to the Modern Middle East3
HIST 114Early Latin American History3
HIST 116Modern Latin America3
HIST 117Foundations of America3
HIST 118Emergence of the Modern United States3
HIST 132Introduction to Chinese Civilization3
HIST 138Introduction to Modern South Asia3
HUMN/RUIN 193Russian Culture and Civilization3
HUMN 194The Great Russian Novel3
ITAL 262Italian Americans in Film3
LALS 201Perspectives on Latin America3
LALS 205Image and Identity: Representation of Latin American Women in Film and Fiction3
MUGN 100Introduction to Music3
MUGN 109Introduction to Jazz3
MUGN 120Rap and Rock as Cultural Phenomena3
MUGN 136The History of Broadway3
MUGN 152Music in Film3
MUGN 160Introduction to Music in World Cultures3
RELG 240Asian Religions3
RELG 246Islamic Religious Traditions3
RELG 250African Religions3
RELG 252Africana Religions in the Americas3
RELG 254Native American Religion3
RELG 256Religion in Latin America3
RUIN 193Russian Culture and Civilization3
RUIN 194The Great Russian Novel3
THTR 100Introduction to the Theatrical Medium3
THTR 105Acting I3
THTR 265The Contemporary Theatre of Cultural Diversity3
VIST 105Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture3
VIST 106Modern Visions 1400-19453
VIST 109Special Topics in Global Art Cultures3
WRIT 105College Writing I3-4
WRIT 106College Writing II3-4

Health, Wellness, and Medicine

ANTH 105Introduction to Disability Studies, Rights, and Culture3
ANTH 110Anthropology of Multicultural America3
ANTH 140Non-Western Contributions to the Western World3
ANTH 180Health and Healing in Cross Cultural Perspective3
BIOL 100Biological Sciences4
BIOL 110The Biology of Human Life4
BIOL 112Principles of Biology: Introduction to the Cell4
CHAD 210Child Abuse and Neglect3
CHEM 100Introductory Chemistry4
CHEM 113Fundamentals of Chemistry4
CMST 101Fundamentals of Speech: Communication Requirement3
CSAM 101Science Matters4
EAES 100Principles of Geography3
EAES 101Planet Earth4
EAES 104Natural Disasters3
EAES 105Physical Geology4
EAES 107Earth and the Environment4
EAES 150General Oceanography3
EAES 160The Human Environment3
EAES 161Human Geography3
EAES 170World Geography3
EAES 201Understanding Weather and Climate4
EAES 250Introduction to Marine Sciences4
EAES 260Energy, Environment and Society3
ENGL 116World Literature: The Coming of Age Theme3
GLQS 100Introduction to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (GLBTQ) Studies3
GSWS 102Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies3
HLTH 290Human Sexuality3
MEDH 101Introduction to the Medical Humanities3
NUFD 150Food Composition and Scientific Preparation3
NUFD 153Dynamics of Food and Society3
NUFD 182Nutrition: A Socioecological Perspective3
NUFD 192Nutrition with Laboratory4
PEGN 200Beginning Swimming1
PEGN 230Personalized Fitness3
PEGN 242Racquetball1
PEGN 251Fitness for Life1
PEGN 257Weight Training and Conditioning1
PEGN 258Beginning Tennis1
PEGN 262Volleyball1
PEGN 264Soccer1
PEGN 265Figure Skating1
PEGN 266Skiing1
PEGN 271Social Dance1
PEGN 272Bowling1
PEGN 275Beginning Karate1
PEGN 278Yoga1
PEMJ 131Fitness Activities3
PHIL 100Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 102Ethics3
PHIL 106Logic3
PHYS 180Astronomy for Everyone4
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology3
RELG 100Religions of the World3
RELG 102Religious Ethics3
RELG 221Religion and Culture3
RELG 232Body and Soul3
SOCI 100Introduction to Sociology3
SOCI 102Racial and Ethnic Relations3
SOCI 104Sociology of the Family3
SOCI 106Individual and Society3
SOCI 113Social Problems3
SOCI 220Sociology of Rich and Poor Nations3
STAT 103The Development of Statistics3
STAT 109Statistics3
STAT 110Statistics for the Biological Sciences4
WRIT 105College Writing I3-4
WRIT 106College Writing II3-4

Management and Industry

ANTH 105Introduction to Disability Studies, Rights, and Culture3
ANTH 110Anthropology of Multicultural America3
ANTH 140Non-Western Contributions to the Western World3
CMST 101Fundamentals of Speech: Communication Requirement3
CSIT 100Introduction to Computer Concepts3
CSIT 104Python Programming I3
ECON 100Introduction to Economics3
ECON 101Applied Macroeconomics3
ECON 102Applied Microeconomics3
HSET 208Leisure and Recreation in Society3
INFO 173Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Decisions3
MATH 104Fractals and Infinity3
MATH 106Creative Thinking through Mathematics3
PHIL 100Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 102Ethics3
PHIL 106Logic3
RELG 100Religions of the World3
RELG 102Religious Ethics3
RELG 221Religion and Culture3
SOCI 102Racial and Ethnic Relations3
SOCI 113Social Problems3
SOCI 220Sociology of Rich and Poor Nations3
STAT 103The Development of Statistics3
STAT 109Statistics3
WRIT 105College Writing I3-4
WRIT 106College Writing II3-4

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

A. New Student Seminar
Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course.1
Complete 3 courses from 3 different categories: 17-10
C. Communication
C1. Writing
C2. Literature
C3. Communication
D. Fine and Performing Arts
F. Humanities
F1. Great Works and Their Influences
F2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives
G. Computer Science
H. Mathematics
I. Natural Science Laboratory
J. Physical Education
K. Social Science
K1. American and European History
K2. Global Cultural Perspectives
K3. Social Science Perspectives
L. Interdisciplinary Studies
Total Credits8-11
1

Credits are variable because courses may vary from 1-4 credits.

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

World Language or World Cultures course 20-3
Total Credits0-3
2

This requirement may be fulfilled by a course that is taken in another program category.

Recommended Roadmap to Program Completion

This two-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their program requirements within two years.  This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.  Students must be registered for more than half-time (more than 6 credits) each semester. 

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
New Student Seminar1CGST 1753
CGST 1503General Education Choice 21-4
General Education Choice 13World Language/Culture or General Education Choice 33
 7 7-10
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CGST 1753Concentration Course1-4
Concentration Course1-4General Education Choice 3 or Free Elective1-4
Concentration Course1-4CGST 2756
Concentration Course (if more concentration credits are needed)1-0Concentration Course (if more concentration credits are needed)1
Concentration Course (if more concentration credits are needed)1-0Concentration Course (if more concentration credits are needed)1
 7-11 10-16
Total Credits 31-44

Completion of a minimum of 36 credits is required. In case a student chooses to take 10 credits in General Education electives and 3 credits in World Languages and Cultures, and/or higher credit concentration courses the total required number of credits may add up to more than 36 credits.