Bridge General Education Program: Categories & Courses

This course, required of all first time in college students, will develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success at Georgian Court University. Students will gain an understanding of the university’s mission, charism, and heritage. Through a collaborative project, students will execute and reflect on the practices associated with a successful college experience. Enrollment restricted to first time in college students.

A cornerstone general education course that asks students to explore the Mercy core values of respect and integrity within the framework of commonality, diversity, and symbiosis. Students analyze their identity by investigating the oneness of humanity and the rich complexity of diverse cultures. Students consider, from multiple disciplines, how all of humanity is a part of a much larger story of the universe. It examines the origin and the composition of the universe and humanity’s response to its complexity and fragility, beauty and wonder. In this writing intensive course, students develop questions about what it means to be creative, responsible human beings in today’s integrally connected global society and dynamic universe. The course is designed to be taken in the spring of the first time in college year or, in the case of transfer students, in the first semester at GCU.

Pre/corequisite(s): EN111 or equivalent or EN221.

In light of GCU Mercy core values, this writing intensive capstone course invites students to reflect and analyze how their General Education Program has impacted their understanding of themselves in the world, as well as how their world view has developed. Course readings, service learning, and speakers encourage students to consider key questions of the time. Students contribute toward envisioning the future and humankind’s responsibility in helping to shape that future. This involves questions that have emerged from the General Education Program such as how do we contribute to a more compassionate and just world for humankind and the Earth itself? How do we think about just, healthy, and sustainable ways of living and working on this planet?

Prerequisite(s): Senior status or approval from the director of the General Education Program; GEN199.

This course is an option for an undergraduate student interested in pursuing a global education program to satisfy an experiential learning requirement for graduation. The student will either commit to and complete a study abroad program that is a minimum length of one week and has been approved by the Office of Global Education Programs before the student starts the program or will complete an approved virtual exchange program as part of another course. Following the completion of the program, the student will write a reflection blog post and complete a final program self-evaluation showing how (a) the program developed their intercultural competence and global awareness and (b) the global education program enhanced their higher learning and personal growth. The director of global education program or the course instructor will evaluate the reflection and final self-evaluation. This is a noncredit course that will be graded pass/fail and will satisfy an experiential learning requirement if the student earns a passing grade.

Prerequisite(s): Approval of the director of global education programs or course instructor.

This general education course will be offered in conjunction with a faculty-led education abroad experience. The course’s learning goals and objectives and the activities designed to meet them depend on the nature of the specific general education requirement and the education abroad experience. The course will meet before and after the education abroad experience in addition to during the experience. Students will be asked to apply what they learned to the trip and complete academic assignments as aligned with the learning outcomes of the specific general education category designated for the course. Students spend approximately 12.5 hours in formal instruction and have approximately 25 hours of learning activities outside of class per credit. Course will be offered upon approval of the director of the General Education Program.

This course will explore global perspectives of diversity through students’ virtual interactions and direct collaboration with people across cultures and borders. This will be a virtual global experience that results in cognitive and emotional growth in intercultural competence. This course is intended for any students who wish to strengthen their intercultural competence skills and global awareness and understanding while also satisfying an experiential learning requirement.

This course satisfies a 200-level general education requirement and will be offered in conjunction with a faculty-led education abroad experience. The course’s learning goals and objectives and the activities designed to meet them depend on the nature of the specific general education requirement and the education abroad experience. The course will meet before and after the education aboard experience in addition to during the experience. Students will be asked to apply what they learned to the trip and complete academic assignments as aligned with the learning outcomes of the specific general education category designated for the course. Students spend approximately 12.5 hours in formal instruction and have approximately 25 hours of learning activities outside of class per credit. Course will be offered upon approval of the director of the General Education Program.

This course may be offered in conjunction with a faculty-led education abroad experience. The course’s learning goals and objectives and the activities designed to meet them depend on the nature of the education abroad experience. The course may meet before and after the education abroad experience in addition to during the experience. Students spend approximately 12.5 hours in formal instruction and have approximately 25 hours of learning activities outside of class per credit. With the approval of the department chair, the course may be used for credit in the major.

This course satisfies a 300-level general education requirement and will be offered in conjunction with a faculty-led education abroad experience. The course’s learning goals and objectives and the activities designed to meet them depend on the nature of the specific general education requirement and the education abroad experience. The course will meet before and after the education aboard experience in addition to during the experience. Students will be asked to apply what they learned to the trip and complete academic assignments as aligned with the learning outcomes of the specific general education category designated for the course. Students spend approximately 12.5 hours in formal instruction and have approximately 25 hours of learning activities outside of class per credit. Course will be offered upon approval of the director of the General Education Program.

This course is an option for an undergraduate student interested in pursuing learning through service as an experiential learning requirement for graduation. The student will commit to and complete a minimum of 10 hours of service work at a community service organization, which may include GCU, under the guidance of a GCU instructor. Prior to starting the project, the student must get the approval of the instructor (on CareerLink). Following the completion of the project, the student will write a reflection paper showing how (1) the application of their college education helped in the service activity and (2) the service activity enhanced their higher learning and personal growth. The instructor will evaluate the paper in consultation with the supervisor at the community organization. This is a noncredit course that will be graded pass/fail and will satisfy an experiential learning graduation requirement.

This course will be an option for a student interested in pursuing learning through service, working with a community service organization, to earn 1 credit. A student wanting to register for this course must contact a faculty service fellow who will serve as the advisor. The student, in consultation with the advisor, will develop the learning goals and identify an appropriate community service organization for the student. Then, working with the Office of Career Services, the student will contact the organization and make suitable arrangements for participation in the service activity. The student must commit to and complete a minimum of 30 hours of service work. While participating in the service activity, the student should make arrangements with the advisor for regular conferences to report on the progress of the service activity. The student should engage in library research about the community service organization and its mission, and how the student’s contribution contributes to the organization achieving its mission. Following the completion of the project, the student will write a reflection paper showing how (a) the application of their college education helped in the service activity and (b) the service activity enhanced their higher learning and personal growth. The advisor will evaluate the paper in consultation with the supervisor at the community organization. The course may be repeated, and the student may apply a maximum of three credits toward the degree. This course will be graded pass/fail and will satisfy an experiential learning graduation requirement.

This interdisciplinary course considers gender as both a critical field of inquiry and as a social construct that influences experiences, relationships, and outcomes of women in society. The course is organized around three main themes: (1) foundations for understanding women and gender; (2) the six institutions that impact and are impacted by women (e.g., work, education, politics); and (3) leadership and activism. Emphasis on the intersection of gender, race, ethnicity, and social class.

Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior status.