General Education Requirements for Mass Communications
General education requirements exist to ensure that every VSU graduate, regardless of major, develops a broad foundation of knowledge and the kinds of transferable skills that make for an educated, adaptable professional and citizen. These courses expose you to different ways of thinking, communicating, and understanding the world, preparing you for a career and a life that extends well beyond your specific discipline.
General education coursework typically accounts for 30 to 45 credit hours of your degree program and spans multiple academic areas. The specific requirements and approved courses are detailed in the VSU Course Catalog and should be reviewed alongside your degree audit each semester.
Areas of General Education
VSU's general education curriculum covers several distinct academic areas. Your required courses must be distributed across these areas according to the specifications in your degree program. Not all courses in a given subject automatically satisfy a general education requirement. Only courses that appear on the approved general education list fulfill these requirements.
The main areas of general education study at VSU include:
- Written Communication: Typically fulfilled through English Composition I and II, these courses build the foundation for academic and professional writing. Strong writing is expected in all degree programs, and these courses are usually among the first you will complete.
- Mathematics: Requirements vary by Some programs require college algebra or precalculus, while others require statistics or higher-level mathematics. Your degree program specifies which mathematics courses fulfill this requirement.
- Natural Sciences: Science requirements typically include a laboratory Courses in biology, chemistry, physics, or
environmental science are common options. Confirm which courses your program designates for this category.
- Social Sciences: Courses in psychology, sociology, economics, political science, or history are typically approved to fulfill this requirement. These courses help you understand human behavior, social systems, and historical context.
- Humanities: Literature, philosophy, religious studies, and language courses frequently appear in this category. Humanities courses develop critical thinking, close reading, and the ability to engage with complex cultural and ethical questions.
- Fine Arts: Art history, music appreciation, theater, and similar courses fulfill this requirement, providing exposure to creative disciplines and aesthetic thinking.
Planning Your General Education Courses
Many students try to complete general education requirements during their first two years so that their junior and senior years can focus more intensively on their major. This is a reasonable approach, but it requires planning. Some general education courses also fulfill major requirements, and your advisor can help you identify opportunities to satisfy two requirements with a single course, known as double-counting, where your program allows it.
When selecting general education courses, it helps to consider the following factors:
- Whether the course also satisfies a major requirement, allowing you to use credits efficiently
- Course availability and whether the course is offered each semester or only periodically
- Workload balance, since some general education courses are more demanding than others
- Your academic interests, since general education is also an opportunity for genuine exploration
Transfer Credit and AP/IB/CLEP Credit
Transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions can fulfill general education requirements if the transferred course aligns with an approved VSU general education category. Similarly, qualifying scores on Advanced Placement (AP) exams, International Baccalaureate (IB) coursework, or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests may satisfy general education requirements. The Office of the Registrar evaluates each of these on a case-by-case basis.
If you believe a transferred course should fulfill a general education requirement but it has not been assigned that designation, work with your advisor and the Registrar's Office to explore a re-evaluation.
Substitutions and Waivers
In rare circumstances, a substitution may be approved that allows a non-standard course to fulfill a general education requirement. Substitutions require documentation and approval from the appropriate department and your academic dean. Waivers of general education requirements are even less common and typically require evidence that you have already demonstrated equivalent competency.
Do not assume a substitution or waiver will be approved before receiving written confirmation. Proceed through the formal request process and plan your schedule based on completing the standard requirements unless and until an alternative is officially approved.
Checking Your Progress
Your degree audit in the student portal including on the Mass Communications Advising Website tracks your progress through general education requirements in real time. If you believe a course has not been correctly applied to your general education record, contact your advisor or the Registrar's Office.
Contact Information
Office of the Registrar Phone: (804) 524-5275