These requirements have been recently updated and apply to students entering Wilkes in Fall 2026 or later. They will be published in the 2026 - 2027 bulletin, which is scheduled to be released in June 2026. For prior requirements, see the undergraduate bulletin for previous years external website.
- Additional details will be available in the General Education Curriculum section of the undergraduate bulletin external website.
- For reference, see the General Education Requirements Check Sheet external website. If you have any questions, please contact the General Education Committee at GEC@wilkes.edu email link.
Overview
The Wilkes University General Education Curriculum is divided into four parts:
I. Core Skills
- First-year Foundations: FYF 101 (0/3 credits)
- English Composition: ENG 101 (4 credits)
- Quantitative Reasoning: MTH 100 or higher MTH course (3-4 credits)
II. Disciplinary Perspectives
- One course from list in Literature (3 credits)
Literature classes
Literature classes
- ENG 120: Reading Classical Traditions
- ENG 120: Reading Great Works
- ENG 120: Reading the American Experience
- ENG 120: Reading Cultural Crossroads
- One course from list in History (3 credits)
History classes
History classes
- HST 101: Historical Foundations of the Modern World
- HST 102: Europe before 1600
- HST 125: American History I
- HST 126: American History II
- Two courses with two different prefixes from list in the Natural Sciences, 1 with
a lab (6 credits)
Natural Sciences classes
Natural Sciences classes
- BIO 105 - The Biological World
- BIO 115 - Anatomy & Physiology I
- BIO 116 - Anatomy & Physiology II
- BIO 121 - Principles of Modern Biology I
- BIO 122 - Principles of Modern Biology II
- CHM 105 - Chemistry and Modern Society
- CHM 111 - Fundamentals of Chemistry
- CHM 115 - Elements and Compounds (plus CHM 113)
- CHM 118 - Chemistry for Engineers (plus CHM 117)
- EES 105 - Planet Earth
- EES 230 - Ocean Science
- EES 251 - Synoptic Meteorology
- EES 101 - Introduction to Environmental Science (with or without EES 103)
- EES 103 - Introduction to Environmental Science Lab
- EGY 105 - Energy in Our World
- GEO 101 - Introduction to Geology (with or without GEO 103)
- GEO 103 - Introduction to Geology Lab
- GIS 271 - Introduction to GPS & GIS
- PHY 105 - Concepts in Physics (includes lab)
- PHY 201 - General Physics I (plus PHY 204)
- Two courses with two different prefixes from list in the Social Sciences (6 credits)
Social Sciences classes
Social Sciences classes
- ANT 101 Intro to Anthropology
- EC 102 Principles of Economics
- PS 111 Intro to American Government
- PS 141 Intro to International Relations
- PS 151 Intro to Comparative Politics
- PSY 101 Intro to Psychology
- SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
- At least 3 credits constituted by course(s) from list in the Visual and Performing
Arts (3 credits)
Visual and Performing Arts classes
Visual and Performing Arts classes
- ART 101 Experiencing Art
- ART 111 Fundamentals of Color and Design
- ART 113 Drawing and Composition
- ART 120 Painting
- ART 121 Printmaking
- ART 122 Sculpture
- ART 123 Ceramics
- ART 140 History of Art
- ART 141 History of Art II
- ART 241 Women in Art
- DAN 100 Dance Appreciation
- IM 101 Integrative Media Foundations
- THE 100 Approach to Theatre
- THE 193 Theatre Practicum
- MUS 101 Intro to Music I
- MUS 121 Civic Band
- MUS 125 University Chorus
- MUS 126 Chamber Singers
- MUS 127 Jazz Ensemble
- MUS 132 Chamber Orchestra
III. Integrative Skills
Integrative skills (IS) requirements can be satisfied by any course (1 credit or more; excluding sections of FYF 101) bearing the appropriate designation, including Disciplinary Perspectives courses, Major and minor requirements and electives.
A list of Integrative Skills designated courses is available, please see individual tabs for each IS Designation:
IS Designated Course List external website
Requirements
- Writing Skills (WR)
- One Writing Intensive (WR) course
- Public Speaking (OPO)
- COM 101, OR
- Two Oral Presentation Option (OPO) courses, OR
- One Interdisciplinary Public Speaking Course
- Ethical Reasoning (ER)
- One 100-level PHL course, OR
- One ER designated course
- Information Literacy (IL)
- CS 115, OR
- Two IL designated courses, OR
- One Interdisciplinary Applied Information Literacy course
- Diversity Awareness (DPP, GA)
Three courses:
- One course with Global Awareness (GA) or Difference, Power, and Privilege (DPP) designation, AND
- One course designated DPP, AND
- One course in a foreign language (GA)
IV. Capstone
Each student is required to complete a Senior Capstone course or experience in his or her major field of study as specified in the requirements for each degree program. For details about the capstone course or experience, see the degree requirements for the selected academic program.