Institutional Options (Area B)
Institutional Options of the Undergraduate Core Curriculum (Area B)
Area B of the undergraduate core curriculum, Institutional Options, is composed of courses that address institution-wide general education outcomes at Georgia State University. Courses in this area are designed to strengthen basic skills that are promoted throughout the core curriculum and to broaden the curriculum by fostering interdisciplinary and international perspectives. The inclusion of Perspectives courses in the core is an expression of Georgia State’s mission as an urban institution with an international and multi-cultural focus.
Students select courses from two of the following categories:
Perspectives on Comparative Culture
This category is composed of group of interdisciplinary courses that provide a better understanding of the contemporary world through the study of different cultures. Topics are selected annually by a coordinating committee composed of faculty from throughout the university. Only one course from this category may be used to fulfill requirements in Area B.
Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems
This category is composed of a group of interdisciplinary courses that deal with scientific approaches to important issues on the environment, public health, or technology. Topics are selected annually by a coordinating committee composed of faculty from throughout the university. Only one course from this category may be used to fulfill requirements in Area B.
Critical Thinking
The sole course in this category, Phil 2410, provides the unique opportunity to focus specifically on the principles and underlying structure of rigorous reasoning.
Fundamentals of Human Communication
The sole course in this category, Spch 1000, focuses on basic types of human communication and teaches techniques for effective communication in a variety of settings.
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Freshmen Learning Communities
Several Perspectives sections are offered as parts of Freshmen Learning Communities. Freshmen Learning Communities (FLC) are designed around clusters of freshmen-level courses tailored to a particular topic. Students selecting an FLC take a semester of core courses loosely related to a common theme during their first year at Georgia State. For information about FLC offerings, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies (see below).
Contact Information
Additional questions may be directed to Elizabeth Firestone, Faculty Associate for Freshman Studies, at (404) 413-2058 or efirestone@gsu.edu, or Karin Carlton at (404) 413-2084 or kcarlton@gsu.edu in the Office of Undergraduate Studies, 224 Sparks Hall.