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General

General Studies Department

Gain the broad knowledge, communication, and critical thinking skills needed to succeed in your major and beyond.

General Studies

Academic Program

Program Philosophy

The General Studies Department at Edward Waters University (EWU) serves as the academic foundation for all undergraduate programs, providing students with a broad and balanced liberal arts education. The program is uniquely designed to support intellectual growth during the first two years of study while helping students discover their academic strengths and interests. Emphasizing critical thinking, effective communication, quantitative reasoning, and civic responsibility, the department prepares students to engage thoughtfully with complex social, cultural, and global issues while building the essential skills needed for success across all disciplines.

Program Details

General Studies is the core of the undergraduate curriculum for all students, regardless of their major. It attributes to the distinctiveness of a college-educated person and guarantees that all University graduates have a broad, balanced education. The General Studies Department is designed to promote a learning environment that will support students for the first two years of the college experience while providing a foundation of knowledge that will supplement what students attain from majors and minors. The General Studies Department at EWU provides a program of study that assures students the capabilities to obtain a liberal arts education, as well as develop and cultivate the necessary skills for effective social, intellectual, cultural, and civic engagement.
EWU provides an opportunity for students to discover their academic strengths, interests, and capabilities while acquiring knowledge and understanding of educational principles and practices in the traditional liberal arts: humanities, fine arts, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. A liberal arts foundation is required of all students matriculating at EWU, which includes developing in each student:
  1. A breadth of knowledge about human cultures and the physical and natural world.
  2. Intellectual and practical skills including inquiry and analysis, critical and creative thinking, written and oral communication, quantitative reasoning, information literacy, teamwork, and problem-solving.
  3. A commitment to personal and social responsibility through civic engagement, ethical reasoning, and lifelong learning.
  4. The ability to integrate learning across general and specialized studies.

Faculty

Dr. Alvenia Derban

Department Chair/Assistant Professor Office: (904) 470-8180 Email: a.derban@ew.edu

Department Chair/Professor

General Studies Department

Program Faculty

Dr. Peter Craft

Assistant Professor
Email: p.craft@ew.edu

Dr. Todd Derose

Assistant Professor
Email: t.derose@ew.edu

Ms. Clara Di Gennaro

Instructor
Phone: (904) 470-8129
Email: c.digennaro@ew.edu

Mr. Ray Fowler

Instructor
Phone: (904) 470-8088
Email: ray.fowler@ew.edu

Mr. David Gonsalves

Instructor Phone: (904) 470-8125 Email: d.gonsalves@ew.edu

Dr. Nicolas Michaud

Assistant Professor/Director QEP/Writing Center Email: d.gonsalves@ew.edu

Ms. Jacqueline Slater

Instructor/Coordinator
Phone: (904) 470-8129
Email: j.slater@ew.edu

Admission Requirements

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

  • Total General Education. Hours: 36-38 hours.
  • Total General Education Hours for students who must take Foreign Language: 42-44 hours.
Note: Students must take SPN 1120-Spanish I and SPN 1121 Spanish II as Foreign Language if not taken in high school)

TRANSFER STUDENTS AND GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS

Transcripts of applicants who have earned college credits but have not earned an A.A. degree will be reviewed individually to determine the level to which academic credits have been completed in the above General Education requirements. Students who have earned college credits before admission to EWU must satisfy the same General Education requirements as a first time-in- college student. The State of Florida, Foreign Language requirement, must be met before graduation for all students.

EWU College Algebra Exemption Statement

An exemption from College Algebra is given to students who have demonstrated a minimum proficiency in mathematics through ACT/SAT and/or AP Exam scores, or through transfer credit of a Calculus-level course. Any student who meets the College Algebra Exemption has satisfied the Edward Waters University General Education requirement for College Algebra.
No credit is provided to a student who receives a College Algebra exemption, but the exemption allows a student (non-math major) to take any other Math class that has College Algebra as a prerequisite. Math majors must seek approval from the Math Department to qualify for the exemption. A high school course does not count towards college credit unless it was taken as part of a dual enrollment program through a regionally accredited college or university. If you took a college-level or dual enrollment course while in high school, you must provide appropriate documentation to the Edward Waters University Admissions Department.
Students are exempt from the EWU College Algebra requirements if they have satisfied one of the following:
  • ACT Math Score: 28 or higher
  • SAT Math Score: 640 or higher
  • Passed AP Calculus with a C or better, and earned a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus exam
  • Transfer credit for College Algebra having earned a grade of C or above

GENERAL EDUCATION COMPETENCIES

COLLEGE PREPARATION (3 HOURS)

Note*: Orientation to Collegiate Studies (3) Hours required for students with fewer than 30 transfer credits only
Course Title Code Credits
Introduction to College SLS 1103 3
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 3

WRITING & COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY (10 HOURS REQUIRED)

Note*: Courses marked with an asterisk may have prerequisites. Ask your Advisor.
Writing Effectively (7 Hours)
Course Title Code Credits
English Composition I (Prerequisite ENC 1101) EWC 200 3
English Composition II* (Prerequisite ENC 1102) ENC 1102 3
Applied Writing* (Prerequisite EWC 200) ENC 1101 1
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 7
Oral Communication (3 Hours) - Choose one of the following
Course Title Code Credits
Introduction to Communication COM 2000 3
Fundamentals of Speech SPC 2017 3
Public Speaking SPC 2608 3
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 3

THINKING CRITICALLY (12 HOURS)

Humanities (6 Hours) - Choose two of the following
Course Title Code Credits
Introduction to Biblical Studies REL 2200 3
United States History I AMH 2010 3
United States History II AMH 2020 3
Introduction to Humanities HUM 2020 3
Introduction to Literature LIT 2000 3
Great Ideas in World Literature LIT 2100 3
Introduction to Ethics PHI 1600 3
Introduction to Philosophy PHI 2010 3
Survey of World History I WOH 1012 3
Survey of World History II WOH 2022 3
African American History* AMH 2091 3
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 6

SOCIAL SCIENCE

Course Title Code Credit Hours
Social Sciences (6 Hours) — Choose two of the following
Introduction to Political Science POS 2002 3
American Political Structure POS 2041 3
State and Local Government POS 3122 3
General Psychology PSY 2012 3
Introduction to Sociology SYG 2000 3
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 6

MATHEMATICS

Course Title Code Credit Hours
Mathematics (6–7 Hours) — Choose two courses from the following
One must include College Algebra unless student qualifies for Algebra exemption.
College Algebra MAC 1105 3
Trigonometry MAC 1114 3
Precalculus MAC 1140 3
Calculus I w/ Analytic Geometry MAC 2311 4
Finite Math MGF 2106 3
Modern Geometry MGT 3208 3
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 6–7

NATURAL SCIENCE

Course Title Code Credit Hours
Natural Sciences (7–8 Hours)
Life Sciences with Lab BSC 1005C 4
Biology I (Cell Processes) BSC 2010 3
Biology I (Cell Processes) with Lab BSC 2010L 1
African American Health HSC 2620 3
Earth Science ESC 1000 3
Physical Science PSC 1121C 3
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 7–8