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Curriculum for First-Year Students

With the exception of those who enter SXU under the Adult College, students who enroll with less than 30 credit hours are classified as "first-year students," and first-year students need to complete 13 courses/37 credit hours in general education:

  1. Students begin their journey by taking six courses (16 credit hours) in the first-year, focused on the essential skills of writing (ENGL 120), public speaking (COMM 101), close and careful reading of primary text (PHIL 140), the transition to college-level learning (TS 100 and FYS 175), and a college-level Math course.
  2. First and second-year students then broaden and deepen their understanding of the disciplines that make up a liberal arts education by taking 7 courses (21 credit hours) divided into five key areas: History, Natural Science, Social Science, Philosophy and Religious Studies, and Art, Music and Literature.

The final set of GE requirements does not involve separate courses, but requirements attached to either general education courses or courses in the major. For students who enter in 2019F, level III will involve one course approved for Diversity Studies and one course approved for Global Studies.