DEFINITIONS:

"Old"    Gen Ed means you are under catalogue requirements from 2003-04 to 2008-09.

"New"  Gen Ed means you are under catalogue requirements from 2009-10 to the present.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

If I have already completed some requirements in the OLD general education, will they apply to the NEW gen ed?
You can plan on the following:

From the OLD program to the NEW

• If you completed CORE 100 it will count for your US Perspectives “USP” requirement.
• If you have completed CORE 200 or 400, that will count for your Global Perspectives “GP” requirement.
• If you have finished an ethics intensive (EI) course, it will count for your Ethical Perspectives "EP” requirement but, beginning in Fall 2011 only courses designated EP fulfill the NEW requirement.

In the NEW program and applying to the OLD requirements

• A USP course "counts" for CORE 100.
• You can take a three credit approved course to fulfill CORE 200 (see just below).
• A GP course fulfills CORE 400.
• An EP course fulfills the Ethics Intensive "thread" requirement.
  

I need CORE 200 for the OLD program.  Do I have to take linked courses? 

There are no more linked courses for CORE 200.  Go to the Gen Ed HOME PAGE and find the link to completing CORE 200 in one 3-credit course.

What other courses fulfill NEW US Perspectives, Global Perspectives, and Ethical Perspectives?
Go to this page and scroll down for the various Perspectives course lists.  You can also see which courses fulfill these areas that are currently being offered in the WebAdvisor class schedule.

What are the NEW requirements related to the Writing Intensive (WI), Oral Communication (OC), and Information Literacy (IL) "threads," and to Experiential Learning (EL), and Academic/Cultural events?
You must complete one each of WI, OC, and IL.  One course may still carry up to two of these threads. The WI requirement was reduced and the OLD Ethics Intensive thread has been revised to be part of the Meredith Signature. The Experiential Learning requirement remains unchanged; one approved occurrence will be required. Go here and scroll down for a full explanation of this requirement. Academic and Cultural events attendance requirements were reduced from 12 to 8.  See this page for all you need to know for both OLD and NEW programs.

How has the Foreign Language requirement changed?
The OLD FL requirement was met by passing a competency test, OR completing 12 hours of foreign language with at least 9 of those hours in one language. The NEW FL requirement is met by completing through the first intermediate level (205 at Meredith) in one language. You can also meet the NEW requirement by passing the competency test or by being placed in the 206 or higher level with placement tests taken at the beginning of your first semester at Meredith.

Spring 2012 Foreign Language Competency Test Information
Friday, March 30 in Joyner room 103
9:00 am -10:30 am & 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Register on WebAdvisor by March 23rd at 5:00 PM

I took the foreign language placement test and placed at the 206 (or higher) level.  Have I completed my foreign language requirement?
Yes, if you are in the NEW program. The Department Head of Foreign Languages and Literatures will inform the Registrar's Office of your placement. Your program evaluation in WebAdvisor will be updated after the Registrar's Office has entered your placement test information. If you DO have a placement at the 206 level or above, consider studying further in the language--fluency in a foreign language is a highly desired skill in MANY professional and academic fields.

What is the NEW math requirement? Which math should I take?
The NEW general education requires you to complete either MAT-245: Statistics I or MAT-211: Calculus I. There are no prerequisites for MAT 245.  If you completed through Algebra II in high school, you should be prepared to take statistics. MAT 211 requires a background in pre-calculus. If you took pre-calculus or higher in high school, then you may be ready for MAT 211. If not, you will need to take one or two pre-requisite courses (depending upon your level of preparation). Your advisor can help you determine which math is right for you and your intended major.  Most students take MAT 245.

In the NEW program, do I still need to take MAT-245, Statistics I, if I have completed a statistics course within my major (e.g. PSY-200 or BUS-250)?
Yes, you must complete a course in mathematics (245 or MAT-211 Calculus I) to fulfill the General Education math requirement.

Are SOME requirements the same in the OLD gen ed and the NEW gen ed?
Yes.  ENG 111 & 200, 100-level HIS, 100-level RES(old REL), and a literature elective are the same. The lab science requirement, the 6 hours required in social and behavioral science, the arts and aesthetics requirement are the same and so is health and physical learning. The NEW cultural elective is fulfilled by the same courses as the OLD cultural perspectives elective. 

What happens if I am confused and make a mistake in selecting requirements?
Be careful; consult with your advisor and with the Academic & Career Planning Office. The Registrar’s Office has now developed a very accurate recording system on graduation requirements--this is your "Program Evaluation" that you get to through WebAdvisor. Many people will work together to advise and assist you, but as our 2009-10 Undergraduate Catalogue states (p. 36), “Ultimate responsibility for fulfilling graduation requirements rests with the student.”

Why did the faculty decide to change the general education requirements in 2009?
The changes to the general education program were the result of more than two years of data collection, reflection, and deliberation. The faculty voted to streamline general education requirements to give you more flexibility in designing your educational program.  At the same time we endeavor to ensure that you and all Meredith students' have an academic experience "grounded in the liberal arts...[and that] educates and inspires [you] to live with integrityand provide leadership for the needs, opportunities, and challenges of society." (Meredith Mission Statement). 

If I am still in the OLD program do I have a choice of which general education program to follow?
You have a choice of the catalogue under which you want to graduate. The policy is as follows:

“The catalogue for the year in which a student enters Meredith College governs the degree requirements during her period of enrollment. She may elect to  follow degree requirements published in that or any subsequent catalogue in force during her period of residence” (page 35 of the 2009-10 Catalogue). This means that if you began at Meredith under a pre-2009-10 Catalogue and you want to switch to the NEW general education requirements, you must change your entire catalogue. This is important, since there may be other "non-gen ed changes" in the catalogue that would affect you, such as changes in requirements within your major. If you are considering changing to the NEW general education program, you should consult with your academic advisor about any other changes that might affect your individual program of study.

Why would someone want to change catalogues?
The primary reason for most students may be that the NEW general education program has fewer hours required than the OLD program.  To be clear, this will not change the number of hours required for graduation (still 124) and a reduction of credits required may not apply in your individual situation. If you think you want to change, talk with your academic advisor about your goals and the possible impact on your academic program.

If I adopt a catalogue subsequent to my original one, will that change my major or minor requirements?
Yes, IF any of these requirements have changed.  If you change catalogues, you must accept ALL of the graduation requirements in your new catalogue. You should consult with your academic advisor about any changes in your major requirements and which catalogue is best for your individual situation. You are responsible for fulfilling all the requirements in the one catalogue you adopt. You cannot have major or minor requirements in one catalogue and general education in another.

May I choose the requirements for my first major from one catalogue year and my second major or a minor from a different year?
No. Your entire program of study must be guided by the curricula as outlined in a single catalogue, including second majors or even minors.

If I want to adopt a new catalogue, what do I do?
Complete a new Declaration of Major form (online at http://www.meredith.edu/registrar/forms.htm). Be sure to fill in the blank that asks for Catalogue Year. Remember to have the form signed by your Department Head and get it to the Registrar's Office.

Can I mix and match requirements from the OLD and NEW general education programs?
Good question, but NO. Whichever catalogue you choose, you are bound by the requirements of that entire catalogue.

When do I need to have all of this figured out?

THE EARLIER the BETTER!  Especially once you have declared a major, it is a very good idea to map out your entire program of study. Use your catalogue--there you can find all of your requirements, then make an appointment with your advisor and get her or his help to finalize your plans.  

What are the current Gen Ed requirements? 
Follow this link to see a check sheet list of the new general education requirements. 

Do you have a Frequently Asked Question that is not answered here? Send it to the Office of General Education at winterhoff@meredith.edu, or at 919-760-8604 and we will try to answer it promptly. If it is of general interest, we may add it to the FAQ list.