Baccalaureate General Education Requirements

Black Hills State University is a regional comprehensive institution.  As such, it’s General Education Program provides students with the opportunity to pursue a broad liberal arts education in addition to a specialized major and / or minor in an academic field.  The general education program is designed to help students attain the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to produce new insights into humanity’s intellectual development and a deepened comprehension of our cultural roots.

Because BHSU is one of six Regental institutions, general education follows SD Board of Regents policy. Incoming freshmen must complete 30 credit hours of System General Education Requirements in their first 64 credit hours. The following 18 (21 recommended) of the System General Education Requirements must be completed in the first 48 hours.

Transfer students with more than 18 credit hours entering from outside the Regental system must complete the above specified 18 credit hours of general education within the first 30 hours taken at a Regental institution

General Education Requirements

GOAL #1: English

SDBOR & BHSU requirements: Students will write effectively and responsibly and will understand and interpret the written expression of others

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Write using standard American English, including correct punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure;
2. Write logically;
3. Write persuasively, with a variety of rhetorical strategies (e.g., expository, argumentative, descriptive);
4. Incorporate formal research and documentation into their writing, including research obtained through modern, technology-based research tools.

Each course meeting this goal includes the above student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2, #3, and #4 - Credit Hours: 6 hours

• ENGL 101 - Composition I
    
• ENGL 201 - Composition II
   

NOTE: Student enrollment in the initial English course is determined by the Board of Regents placement policy (2:7.6).

GOAL #2: Speech

SDBOR & BHSU requirements: Students will communicate effectively and responsibly through listening and speaking.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Prepare and deliver speeches for a variety of audiences and settings;
2. Demonstrate speaking competencies including choice and use of topic, supporting materials, organizational pattern, language usage, presentational aids, and delivery;
3. Demonstrate listening competencies by summarizing, analyzing, and paraphrasing ideas, perspectives and emotional content.

Each course meeting this goal includes the above student learning outcomes
Required: #1, #2, and #3 - Credit Hours: 3 hours

• SPCM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech
   
• SPCM 215 - Public Speaking
   
• SPCM 222 - Argumentation and Debate
   

GOAL #3: Social Science

SDBOR requirement: Students will understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the human community through study of the social sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Identify and explain basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected social science disciplines from different spatial, temporal, cultural and/or institutional contexts.
2. Apply selected social science concepts and theories to contemporary issues;
3. Identify and explain the social or aesthetic values of different cultures.
   
   In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of at least one of the following:
    
4. The origin and evolution of human institutions;
5. The allocation of human or natural resources within societies;
6. The impact of diverse philosophical, ethical or religious views;

Each course meeting this goal includes the above student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2 and #3 - At least one of the following: #4, #5, or #6 - Credit Hours: 6 hours (in 2 disciplines)

• AIS 257 - Early American Indian History and Culture
   
• ANTH 210 - Cultural Anthropology
   
• ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics
   
• ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics
   
• GEOG 101 - Introduction to Geography
   
• GEOG 210 - World Regional Geography
   
• HIST 151 - United States History I
   
• HIST 152 - United States History II
   
• POLS 100 - American Government
   
• POLS 141 - Governments of the World
   
• POLS 210 - State & Local Government
   
• POLS 250 - World Politics
   
• PSYC 101 - General Psychology
   
• SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology
   
• SOC 150 - Social Problems
   

Additional BHSU requirement: Students will more fully understand the processes and perspectives of the human community through a broader study of the behavioral and social sciences

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, the student will:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the responsibilities of citizenship and how to implement those responsibilities;
2. Examine human behavior and mental processes in different multicultural, historical, biological, social, or environmental contexts;
3. Demonstrate a more global perspective when viewing social issues;
4. Explain how a value system of a person, or group, impacts decision-making.

Credit Hours: 3 hours

In addition to the System General Education Requirement courses for Social Science, student may also choose one of the following. If students use a course to meet the System General Education Requirement , students must select a different course to meet the Institutional General Education Requirement .

• HIST 313 - History of the Middle East
   
• POLS 349 - Politics of Nonwestern Nations
   
• SOC 350 - Race and Ethnic Relations
   

GOAL #4: Arts & Humanities

SDBOR requirement: Students will understand the diversity and complexity of the human experience through study of the arts and humanities

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of values, beliefs, and ideas embodied in the human experience;
2. Identify and explain basic concepts of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities.
   
   In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to do at least one of the following:
    
3. Identify and explain the contributions of other cultures from the perspective of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities;
4. Demonstrate creative and aesthetic understanding;
5. Explain and interpret formal and stylistic elements of the literary or fine arts;
6. Demonstrate foundational competency in reading, writing, and speaking a non-English language.

Each course meeting this goal includes the above student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2 - At least one of the following: #3, #4, #5, or #6 - Credit Hours: 6 hours (in 2 disciplines or a sequence of foreign language courses)

• ART 111 - Drawing I
   
• ART 112 - Drawing II
   
• ART 121 - Design I 2D
   
• ART 123 - Three Dimensional Design
   
• ARTH 100 - Art Appreciation
   
• ARTH 121 - Introduction to the Visual Arts
   
• ARTH 211 - History of World Art I
   
• ARTH 212 - History of World Art II
   
• ARTH 251 - American Indian Art History
   
• ENGL 115 - American Indian Oral Literature
   
• ENGL 210 - Introduction to Literature
   
• ENGL 211 - World Lit I
   
• ENGL 212 - World Lit II
   
• ENGL 214 - Introduction to American Indian Literature
   
• ENGL 221 - British Literature I
   
• ENGL 222 - British Literature II
   
• ENGL 241 - American Lit I
   
• ENGL 242 - American Lit II
   
• ENGL 248 - Women in Literature
   
• ENGL 256 - Literature of American West
   
• FREN 101 - Introductory French I
   
• FREN 102 - Introductory French II
   
• FREN 201 - Intermediate French I
   
• FREN 202 - Intermediate French II
   
• GER 101 - Introductory German I
   
• GER 102 - Introductory German II
   
• GER 201 - Intermediate German I
   
• GER 202 - Intermediate German II
   
• HIST 121 - Western Civilization I
   
• HIST 122 - Western Civilization II
   
• HUM 100 - Introduction to Humanities
   
• LAKL 101 - Introductory Lakota I
   
• LAKL 102 - Introductory Lakota II
   
• MCOM 151 - Introduction to Mass Communication
   
• MUS 100 - Music Appreciation
   
• MUS 200 - American Music
   
• PHIL 100 - Introduction to Philosophy
   
• PHIL 200 - Introduction to Logic
   
• PHIL 220 - Introduction to Ethics
   
• RUSS 101 - Introductory Russian I
   
• RUSS 102 - Introductory Russian II
   
• SPAN 101 - Introductory Spanish I
   
• SPAN 102 - Introductory Spanish II
   
• SPAN 201 - Intermediate Spanish I
   
• SPAN 202 - Intermediate Spanish II
   
  SPAN 201 - Intermediate Spanish I
   
• THEA 100 - Introduction to Theatre
   
• THEA 131 - Introduction to Acting
   
• THEA 270 - History of World Cinema
   

Additional BHSU requirement: Students will more fully understand and appreciate the varieties of human experience and creativity through a broader study of the fine arts and humanities.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses in Art, Foreign Languages, History, Humanities, Music, Philosophy and Theater, students will:

1. Demonstrate the ability to understand and interpret the formal and stylistic elements of the humanities and/or the arts;
2. Demonstrate knowledge of various forms of arts and the societal contexts in which they arise;
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the range of values, beliefs, and ideas that shape cultures and how they change over time.

Each course meeting this goal must include at least one of the above outcomes: #1, #2, or #3. - Credit Hours: 6 hours

In addition to the System General Education Requirement courses for Arts & Humanities, student may also choose one of the following. If students use a course to meet the System General Education Requirement, students must select a different course to meet the Institutional General Education Requirement.

• ENGL 320 - The Non-Western Novel
   
• ENGL 411 - Bible As Literature
   
• HUM 387 - Western Religions
   
• HUM 388 - Readings in Nonwestern Religions
   

GOAL #5: Mathematics

SDBOR & BHSU requirements: Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Use mathematical symbols and mathematical structure to model and solve real world problems;
2. Demonstrate appropriate communication skills related to mathematical terms and concepts;
3. Demonstrate the correct use of quantifiable measurements of real world situations.

Each course meeting this goal includes the above student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2 and #3 - Credit Hours: 3 hours

• MATH 102 - College Algebra
   
• MATH 103 - Quantitative Literacy
   
• MATH 104 - Finite Mathematics
   
• MATH 115 - Precalculus
   
• MATH 120 - Trigonometry
   
• MATH 121 - Survey of Calculus
   
• MATH 123 - Calculus I
   
• MATH 125 - Calculus II
   
• MATH 225 - Calculus III
   
• MATH 281 - Introduction to Statistics
   

NOTE: Student enrollment in the initial Mathematics course is determined by the Board of Regents placement policy (2:7.6).

GOAL #6: Natural Science

SDBOR & BHSU requirements: Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Demonstrate the scientific method in a laboratory experience;
2. Gather and critically evaluate data using the scientific method;
3. Identify and explain the basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected natural sciences;
4. Apply selected natural science concepts and theories to contemporary issues.

Each course meeting this goal includes the above student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2, #3 and #4 - Credit Hours: 6 hours

• BIOL 101 - Biology Survey I
   
• BIOL 101L - Biology Survey I Lab
   
• BIOL 103 - Biology Survey II
   
• BIOL 103L - Biology Survey II Lab
   
• BIOL 151 - General Biology I
   
• BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab
   
• BIOL 153 - General Biology II
   
• BIOL 153L - General Biology II Lab
   
• CHEM 106 - Chemistry Survey
   
• CHEM 106L - Chemistry Survey Lab
   
• CHEM 107 - Organic and Biochemistry Survey
   
• CHEM 107L - Organic and Biochemistry Survey Lab
    
• CHEM 112 - General Chemistry I
   
• CHEM 112L - General Chemistry I Lab
   
• CHEM 114 - General Chemistry II
   
• CHEM 114L - General Chemistry II Lab
   
• GEOL 201 - Physical Geology
   
• GEOL 201L - Physical Geology Laboratory
   
• GEOL 203 - Historical Geology
   
• GEOL 203L - Historical Geology Lab
   
• PHYS 101 - Survey of Physics
   
• PHYS 101L - Survey of Physics Laboratory
   
• PHYS 111 - Introduction to Physics I
   
• PHYS 111L - Introduction to Physics I Laboratory
   
• PHYS 113 - Introduction to Physics II
   
• PHYS 113L - Introduction to Physics II Laboratory
   
• PHYS 185 - Introduction to Astronomy I
   
• PHYS 185L - Introduction to Astronomy I Lab
   
• PHYS 211 - University Physics I
   
• PHYS 211L - University Physics I Laboratory
   
• PHYS 213 - University Physics II
   
• PHYS 213L - University Physics II Laboratory
   

GOAL #7

SDBOR & BHSU requirements: Students will recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, organize, critically evaluate, and effectively use information from a variety of sources with intellectual integrity.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students will:

1. Determine the extent of information needed;
2. Access the needed information effectively and efficiently;
3. Evaluate information and its sources critically;
4. Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose;
5. Use information in an ethical and legal manner.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

     Required:  #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 - Credit Hours:  0 hours

• ENGL 101 - Composition I
   
• SPCM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech
   
• ENGL 201 - Composition II
   

Wellness

GOAL: Students will attain the knowledge, assessment, and application skills necessary to develop and maintain physical and mental wellness.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will learn and understand facets of physical and mental wellness specifically addressing the following:

1. knowledge of wellness content;
2. assessment of wellness practices;
3. application of knowledge and assessment.

Students will meet this requirement by taking a course in Wellness. This course meets this goal by including the above student learning outcomes:
Required: #1, #2, & #3 - Credit Hours: 2 hours

• WEL 100 - Wellness for Life
   
• WEL 100L - Wellness Lab
   

The Wellness requirement can be satisfied with the submission of a “DD214” for prior military personnel to the Registrar’s Office, Woodburn 104.

Globalization/Global Issues

GOAL: Students will understand the interconnectedness of the human experience by investigating diverse international and cultural issues.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting the global issues requirement, students will:

1. Demonstrate their awareness of international connections in issues such as ecology, business, aesthetics, politics, immigration, literature, technology, economics, etc.
2. Relate non-western perspectives and experiences to those of the west so that both the awareness of their interrelatedness and the breaking down of barriers between them is evident.
3. Identify and compare western knowledge with non-western paradigms to clarify the cultural constructs inherent in intellectual and aesthetic expressions.

Courses meeting this requirement must meet two of the three student learning outcomes listed above. Students will meet this requirement by taking an existing System General Education Course or a course that is already required in their major.

For the following majors:

The following majors utilize a course currently required in the major

Writing Intensive Requirement

GOAL: Students will learn and utilize the language of the discipline, use writing-to-learn techniques to develop ideas and learn content, and understand the audience for, and parameters of, writing done within the student’s specific major; departments which decide their students need a writing intensive course specific to the major should be allowed to develop such a course.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses identified as writing intensive, students will:

1. Use writing to learn course content, understand the ideas and the language of a discipline, and discover their own ideas relative to the content of the course.
2. Compose texts within the discipline/area of study of the course, through drafting, revising, and completing a finished product (applying appropriate style manuals), in order to comprehend more fully the unique nature of the knowledge within that discipline as well as potentially contribute to it.
3. Develop critical thinking skills unique to the discipline and the subject matter of the course.

Students will meet this requirement by taking a course in their respective major which meets the criteria for a writing intensive course. Each writing intensive course must have in place a methodology by which students can draft and revise papers with the help and advice of both the professor and classmates.

Each course meeting this goal includes the above student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2, #3 - Credit Hours: 0 hours

Experiential learning is an understanding and a disposition that a student builds across the curriculum and co-curriculum, from making simple connections among ideas and experiences to synthesizing and transferring learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus that occurs as a result of integrative learning opportunities across the disciplines.  Such integrative learning experiences include: undergraduate research, creative expression, academic service learning, internships, practica, study abroad, and student employment as undergraduate research assistantship or undergraduate learning assistantship.

GOAL: Students will make connections among ideas and experiences to synthesize and transfer learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the academic classroom that occur as a result of experiential learning opportunities across the curriculum.

Student learning Outcomes:

As a result of completing an experiential learning activity, the student will:

1. synthesize connections among experiences outside of formal instruction to deepen understanding of fields of study and to broaden one’s own point of view.
2. adapt and apply skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies gained in one situation to new situations to solve difficult problems, engage in creative expression, or explore complex issues in original ways.
3. demonstrate a developing sense of self as a reflective learner, building on prior knowledge to respond to new and challenging contexts; evaluating changes in one’s own learning over time recognizing complex contextual factors; and, articulating professional strengths and challenges to increase effectiveness in different contexts for professional development.
4. choose a format and produce a poster presentation, a video, a multi-media presentation, a piece of art, a creative performance, a portfolio artifact, a faculty-mentored research project, or a culminating class project that clearly illustrates evidence of how experiential learning positively impacted degree achievement.

Credit Hours: 0-12 Hours

The following courses are applicable to all majors:

• EXCH 487 - Study Abroad
   
• HON 498 - Undergraduate Research/Scholarship
   
• RESR 498 - Undergraduate Research/Scholarship
   
  

Associate of Arts Degree & Associate of Science Degree General Education Requirements

GOAL #1: Students will write effectively and responsibly and will understand and interpret the written expression of others. Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Write using standard American English, including correct punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure;
2. Write logically;
3. Write persuasively, with a variety of rhetorical strategies (e.g., expository, argumentative, descriptive);
4. Incorporate formal research and documentation into their writing, including research obtained through modern, technology-based research tools.

6 credit hours

NOTE: Student enrollment in the initial English course is determined by the Board of Regents placement policy (2:7.6).

GOAL #2: Students will communicate effectively and responsibly through listening and speaking. Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Prepare and deliver speeches for a variety of audiences and settings;
2. Demonstrate speaking competencies including choice and use of topic, supporting materials, organizational pattern, language usage, presentational aids, and delivery;
3. Demonstrate listening competencies by summarizing, analyzing, and paraphrasing ideas, perspectives and emotional content.

Credit Hours: 3 hours

GOAL #3: Students will understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the human community through study of the social sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Identify and explain basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected social science disciplines from different spatial, temporal, cultural and/or institutional contexts.
2. Apply selected social science concepts and theories to contemporary issues;
3. Identify and explain the social or aesthetic values of different cultures.
   
   In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of at least one of the following:
    
4. The origin and evolution of human institutions;
5. The allocation of human or natural resources within societies;
6. The impact of diverse philosophical, ethical or religious views;

Credit Hours: 9 hours (minimum 2 disciplines)

GOAL #4: Students will understand the diversity and complexity of the human experience through study of the arts and humanities.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of values, beliefs, and ideas embodied in the human experience;
2. Identify and explain basic concepts of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities.
   
   In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to do at least one of the following:
    
3. Identify and explain the contributions of other cultures from the perspective of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities;
4. Demonstrate creative and aesthetic understanding;
5. Explain and interpret formal and stylistic elements of the literary or fine arts;
6. Demonstrate foundational competency in reading, writing, and speaking a non-English language.

Credit Hours: 12 hours (minimum 2 disciplines)

GOAL #5: Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Use mathematical symbols and mathematical structure to model and solve real world problems;
2. Demonstrate appropriate communication skills related to mathematical terms and concepts;
3. Demonstrate the correct use of quantifiable measurements of real world situations.

Credit Hours: 3 hours

NOTE: Student enrollment in the initial Mathematics course is determined by the Board of Regents placement policy (2:7.6).

GOAL #6: Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

1. Demonstrate the scientific method in a laboratory experience;
2. Gather and critically evaluate data using the scientific method;
3. Identify and explain the basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected natural sciences;
4. Apply selected natural science concepts and theories to contemporary issues.

Credit Hours: 6 hours

GOAL #7: Students will recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, organize, critically evaluate, and effectively use information from a variety of sources with intellectual integrity.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students will:

1. Determine the extent of information needed;
2. Access the needed information effectively and efficiently;
3. Evaluate information and its sources critically;
4. Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose;
5. Use information in an ethical and legal manner.

Assessment: Students fulfill this requirement by demonstrating competency through an assessment designated by the university.

Associate of Science Degree

The general education component of all associate of science programs shall consist of a minimum of 18 credit hours from the following: