2022-2023 General University Requirements

General University Requirements

The General University Requirements (GURs) embody Western's belief that a liberal arts and sciences education enables people to lead fuller and more interesting lives, to perceive and to understand more of the world around and within themselves, and to participate more intelligently and deliberately in shaping that world. This belief reflects a long tradition in American higher education. In this tradition, the bachelor's degree is comprised of an academic major and a foundational general education. This general education provides opportunities to study across many fields and to acquire the skills, experiences, and knowledge you need to thrive, to succeed in your chosen careers, and to develop a strong sense of personal and social responsibility.

The General University Requirements apply to all students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Science and Engineering, the College of Fine and Performing Arts, Woodring College of Education, and the College of the Environment. Students enrolled in Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies should go to the University Catalog for more information about requirements.

Exceptions

• Students transferring to Western with a Washington community college DTA (Direct Transfer Agreement) Associate Degree
• Students transferring to Western from another Washington state public baccalaureate institution whose General University Requirements were complete at the sending institution, provided the sending institution so certifies

Four-course maximum

A maximum of four courses from any one department may be applied to the combination of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Comparative, Gender and Multicultural Studies sections of the General University Requirements. The following subjects are considered to be one department: Art and Art History; Humanities and Religion; and all foreign languages.

Grades in GUR courses

Courses which are to apply to General University Requirements must be taken on an A through F grading scale, except for courses designated as S/U grading. They may not be taken with Pass/No Pass grading. Except for ENG 101, which requires a C- or better, the minimum passing grade for GUR courses is D- (Math courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher if used as a prerequisite to another course).

Attributes

Please note the use of GUR attributes in the online Classfinder or Timetable. Courses which qualify as General University Requirements are designated by the appropriate attribute (ACOM, BCOM, CCOM, QSR, HUM, SSC, ACGM, BCGM, LSCI, or SCI).