Breadth of Knowledge requirements
The Breadth of Knowledge requirements ensure that as part of your general education experience, you have an introduction to and understanding of three distinct areas:
- Humanities and fine arts
- Natural sciences
- Social behavior sciences
These subject areas are in line with VCU's accrediting body's (The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) requirements for general education programs.
How do I fulfill this requirement?
To fulfill the Breadth of Knowledge requirement, you'll need to complete at least three credits in each of the areas listed below (for a total of nine credits overall). These credits will also count toward your Areas of Inquiry requirement; in other words, selecting one of the courses below will fulfill BOTH the Breadth of Knowledge AND Areas of Inquiry requirement. So, be strategic in your selection, and ask your advisor for help if you aren’t sure how to proceed.
- AFAM 111 - Introduction to Africana Studies
- ARTE 222 - Rethinking Popular, Visual and Media Culture
- ARTH 201 - Banned! Art and Controversy
- CREA 201 - The Creative Economy
- DANC 230 - Dance in Hollywood
- ENGL 215 - Reading Literature
- ENGL 217 - Reading New Literature
- ENGL 250 - Reading Film
- HIST 201 - The Art of Historical Detection
- HIST 202 - History Without Borders
- IDES 261 - What is Good Design? A Survey of 20th- and 21st-century Design
- MHIS 251 - American Popular Music
- MHIS 252 - Soundscapes
- NEXT 240 - Reading Technology, Media and Culture
- PHIL 201- Introduction to Ethics
- PHIL 221 - Critical Thinking
- RELS 108- Human Spirituality
- THEA 215 - Live Theatre Now
- UNIV 299 - What's the Big Idea?
- WRLD 203 - Cultural Texts and Contexts
- WRLD 230 - Introduction to World Cinema
- BIOL 101 - Biological Concepts
- BIOL 103 - Global Environmental Biology
- BIOL 151 - Introduction to Biological Sciences I
- BNFO 125 - Disease and Human Ancestry
- CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I
- CHEM 110 - Chemistry and Society
- CHEZ 101 - General Chemistry Laboratory I
- ENVS 201 - Earth System Science
- FRSC 202 - Crime and Science
- INSC 201 - Energy!
- PHYS 101 - Foundations of Physics
- PHYS 103 - Elementary Astronomy
- PHYS 201 - General Physics I
- PHYS 207 - University Physics I
- ANTH 103 - Introduction to Anthropology
- CLED 200 - The Science of Resilience and Holistic Health
- ECON 202 - Inequality in America
- ECON 203 - Introduction to Economics
- ECON 205 - The Economics of Product Development and Markets
- ECON 210 - Principles of Microeconomics
- EDUS 203 - Pop-cultural Foundations of Education: Film/TV, Music, Literature and Schooling in the U.S.
- GSWS 201 - Introduction to Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies
- HADM 215 - Introduction to Health Care Through a Policy Lens
- INTL 101 - Human Societies and Globalization
- INTL 295 - Media Diplomacy and Globalization
- MASC 101 - Mass Communications
- MASC/INTL 151 - Global Communications
- MASC 274 - Diversity in the Media
- MKTG 222 - Marketing and Society
- POLI 103 - U.S. Government
- POLI/INTL 105 - International Relations
- PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology
- SCTS 200 - Science in Society: Values, Ethics and Politics
- SEDP 202 - Preparing Diverse Learners From Multicultural and Global Perspectives
- SLWK 200 - Building a Just Society
- SOCS 340 - Human Sexuality
- SOCY 101 - Introduction to Sociology
- SOCY/INTL 250 - Confronting Climate Crisis
- TEDU 207 - Urban Awareness and Urban Education
- TEDU 210 - Debunking Classroom Myths: How and Why Do We Learn Ideas Incorrectly?
Additional information
For more details about these courses and fulfilling ConnectED's Breadth of Knowledge requirement, see the VCU Bulletin. And, as always, talk to your advisor!