General Education Overview

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General Education: University Core Curriculum*

As the foundation of General Education, the University Core Curriculum engages students in the liberal arts tradition of transcending department and major by exploring new ways to understand their place in a complex world. All freshmen are required to take the University Core Curriculum at Samford (22 credits). It is recommended that students be registered for University Core Texts I (UCT 101) in their first semester. They should also register for University Core: Rhetoric (UCR 101) or University Core: Seminar (UCS 102) , depending on their placement. Students should consult their academic advisors for recommended scheduling.

Total Core Curriculum Credits: 22

Gen Ed Overview/Core Curriculum Notes:

General Education Overview and Core Curriculum Notes:

* Core curriculum requirements cannot be met through transient enrollment.

** Placement into UCS 102 , bypassing the requirement to complete UCR 101 , will reduce the Core Curriculum hours to 18, but does not exempt students from the minimum number of hours required for their chosen degree program (usually 128). These students may need to complete an additional four hours of General Electives to meet that minimum 128-credit requirement.

*** Four (4) credits of language are required (202 or higher for most programs; 102 or higher for selected programs). However, many students will complete up to 16 language credits. These additional credits will be applied to the General Electives block of the student’s program, if applicable.

† See below for a list of approved courses in each distribution area.

General Education: Distribution Areas †

The standard general education curriculum for Samford students is detailed below and, as such, is part of most degree programs offered. However, some schools, departments, degrees, majors, or minors may require variations to the standard. Please consult those department sections to see how general education variations may apply. See footnotes for additional information.

Natural & Computational Sciences
Social Sciences
Mathematics

Languages
Fine Arts
Humanities

Natural & Computational Sciences: 8 Credits

(choose two courses)

Social Sciences: 3-4 Credits

(choose one course outside your major)

Mathematics: 4 Credits

(choose one course)

MATH 110 - Contemporary Mathematics (4)
MATH 150 - Precalculus (4)
MATH 210 - Elementary Statistics (4)
MATH 240 - Calculus I (4)
Any other math course above 240 for students who demonstrate competency at the Calculus I level

Languages: 4-6 Credits**

For students without language proficiency, the normal sequence is as follows:

FREN 101 and FREN 102 - Elementary French I & II (4 each) OR
FREN 107 - Accelerated Elementary French (6) AND
FREN 201 and FREN 202 - Intermediate French I & II (4 each) OR
FREN 207 - Accelerated Intermediate French (6) or higher

GER 101 and GER 102 - Elementary German I & II (4 each) OR
GER 107 - Accelerated Elementary German (6) AND
GER 201 and GER 202 - Intermediate German I & II (4 each) OR
GER 207 - Accelerated Intermediate German (6) or higher

SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 - Elementary Spanish I & II (4 each) OR
SPAN 103 - Accelerated Elementary Spanish (4) AND
SPAN 201 and SPAN 202 - Intermediate Spanish I & II (4 each) OR
SPAN 203 - Accelerated Intermediate Spanish (4) or higher

HEBR 101 , HEBR 102 , HEBR 201 , and HEBR 202 OR

LATN 101 , LATN 102 , LATN 201 , and LATN 202 or higher

Any language offered by Samford (if offered up through the 202 or higher level). For a complete list of languages, see the Classics , Biblical & Religious Studies , and World Languages & Cultures (Undergraduate) sections.

Fine Arts: 3 Credits

(choose one course)

SOA 200 - Arts in Society (3)
or SOA 210 - Voices of Freedom (3) (both for non-SOA majors)
SOA 250 - Arts Perspective (3) (SOA majors)

Humanities: 4 Credits

(choose one course outside your major)

Total Gen Ed Distribution Area Credits: 27

Gen Ed Distribution Requirement Notes:

*INTL 360 is applicable to either the social science or humanities general education requirement, but cannot be used to satisfy both.

** Languages

Language Requirement: A placement exam alone cannot satisfy this requirement for most majors (see Exceptions). For more info, see the World Languages & Cultures (Undergraduate) section.

Language Credits: Four (4) credits of language are required (202 or higher for most programs; 102 or higher for selected programs). However, many students will complete up to 16 language credits. These additional credits will be applied to the General Electives block of the student’s program, if applicable.

Languages Accepted: All languages offered by Samford (if offered up through the 202 or higher level) are applicable to this requirement, not just those noted above. For a complete list of languages, see the Classics , Biblical & Religious Studies , and World Languages & Cultures (Undergraduate) sections.

Exceptions: Students in the School of Business are exempt from completion of a 4-credit language course if placement scores are sufficient.

Double-Dipping Note: Students may not “double-dip” by counting a course for credit in both their major and as a general education distribution requirement, unless otherwise noted in the department section. They may, however, count a general education course towards a minor or a second major.

University Fellows Note: University Fellows students follow a unique core curriculum, but adhere to the general education distribution requirements of the various degree programs, as necessary. See the University Fellows Program section for more information.

Study Abroad Note: Courses in London and other international settings may meet general education distribution requirements for humanities, social science, and natural and computational science, subject to approval by the department chair of the course equivalent.