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All bachelor's degrees granted by the University of Dayton require a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit (124 hours for the new Liberal Studies Program) with a cumulative grade-point-average of at least 2.0. The specific requirements for the Pre-1997 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), the Liberal Studies Program (B.A.), and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees offered by the Department of Psychology may be found in the section entitled Advising Report/Degree Audit .

All students entering the University of Dayton beginning with the 1993-94 academic year are required to complete successfully the University requirements in Basic Skills and General Education as described below:

Reading and Writing Skills:

The University requirement in reading and writing skills is satisfied by the completion of ENG 101 and ENG 102. Students whose verbal scores on the SAT or ACT are sufficiently high to warrant placement in ENG 114 upon admission to the University, or whose acceptance into the University Honors Program places them in ENG 198, satisfy the University requirement with those one-semester courses.

Oral Communication:

The University requirement in oral communication skills is satisfied by successful completion of CMM 101 for students entering the University prior to 2001.  Beginning in 2001, oral communication skills are satisfied by completion of CMM 110, CMM 111 or CMM 112, and CMM 113.  Each of these one hour modules must be completed with a C- or higher grade. Prior to 2001, some entering students could demonstrate sufficient evidence of these skills by passing a waiver exam administered by the Department of Communication. This exam is given during the orientation program for incoming students but may also be given at other times. See the Department of Communication for details (St. Joseph Hall-121). Students entering the University in the Honors Program are waived from the CMM 101 requirement. For students entering in 2001, no waiver exams are available for the three modules.

Mathematical Skills:

All students at the University are required to demonstrate a knowledge of basic algebraic manipulations. For the Psychology degrees, this requirement is satisfied with completion of MTH 114 or above for the B.A. and with MTH 116 and above for the B.S. Students whose mathematical skills are weak may need some special assistance which can be provided by the Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (LEAD) office..

Within the context of the University's Catholic and Marianist educational philosophy, the General Education requirements are central to the full intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual development of every student. The purpose of these requirements is to make students aware of the diversity of intellectual thought and theory represented by the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences. Further, the General Education component of the undergraduate curriculum offers the student an opportunity to integrate and evaluate information from the various disciplines and thus enhance the study of a specific profession, field, or major. These requirements are integral to the University's goals of preparing students for a life of learning, leadership, and service, and of helping students to grow not only in knowledge, skills, and professional competence, but also as morally responsible decision makers who are aware of the needs of the global community.

Domains of Knowledge:

To achieve the above goals, the University requires the completion of a specified number of courses in each of five domains of knowledge. These courses must be approved by the University General Education Committee and are listed in the University of Dayton Bulletin and in a  pamphlet called the Guide to the University General Education Program found in the Portfolio.

Arts Study: one approved course in the arts or language as a means of aesthetic and/or cultural expression besides ENG 102 or 114 or 198.

Historical Study: two approved courses in historical study with one of these courses (HST 103 or 198) being taken as part of the Humanities Base.

Philosophy and Religious Studies: a total of four approved courses in these disciplines with two of them (PHL 103 and REL 103) forming part of the Humanities Base. 

Students in the CORE program take ASI 111 and 112 instead of HST 101, REL 103,  HST 102 and PHL 103.

Physical and Life Sciences: two approved courses in the physical and life sciences and technological applications.

Social Sciences: one approved course in the social sciences.

To achieve the goals of raising fundamental questions about human existence, encountering these questions in a meaningful context, and encouraging significant integration, students must complete the Humanities Base and a Thematic Cluster as part of their General Education Requirements.

Humanities Base:

General Education raises a set of questions that challenges students to develop and formulate their own conception of what it means to be human. These questions may be considered in any number of disciplines, but they are essential to the humanities. Consequently, all undergraduates must complete, preferably during their first year, a Humanities Base of one course in each of the following disciplines:

These discipline-based courses all focus on four common issues central to understanding what it means to be human: 1) Autonomy and Responsibility, 2) Individual and Society, 3) Faith and Reason, and 4) Human Beings and Nature. Each department has selected a common text or set of readings used in all sections of its Humanities Base course or courses and these courses are expected to include opportunities for students to discuss and formulate their understanding of what it means to be human in the context of the given discipline. Each course should also have a significant writing component.

Each thematic cluster is a series of courses from the different Domains of Knowledge that focus on an issue central to contemporary society. Currently there are ten clusters that students select from, with those offered by the CORE Program and the University Honors Program only open to participants of those programs. The goals of the clusters are to: 1) enhance familiarity with the Domains of Knowledge, 2) facilitate an integrated view of knowledge, 3) link the Humanities Base with students' interests and majors, and 4) explore a universal issue in a multidisciplinary way. Each thematic cluster is comprised of courses that the faculty have grouped together and integrated to address a fundamental human concern in ways that are richer and broader than can be achieved in separate courses.

To satisfy the Thematic Cluster requirement, a student must complete a minimum of three approved courses selected from three different Domains of Knowledge in that cluster. For the purpose of thematic clusters, philosophy and religious studies are considered separate domains of knowledge. The most recent listing of courses approved for the thematic clusters are found here.

Students should choose a thematic cluster only after careful thought and consultation with their advisors. This selection should be based on the interest that the student has for the theme of the cluster and its relation to the student's course of study. Ideally, students should select a cluster before completing their first year, as the courses appropriate for completing a cluster also count toward other General Education and University requirements. When the student decides on which cluster will be followed, he or she must register this choice through the advisor. If the student decides to change clusters after completing this form, he or she must submit a revised form through the advisor. It is the responsibility of the student and the advisor to keep track of courses appropriately satisfying cluster requirements. The choice of a cluster and courses satisfying that cluster are now listed on a student's advising report.

Having fulfilled the Humanities Base and minimum Thematic Cluster requirements, students can satisfy remaining General Education requirements by selecting additional courses in their chosen cluster, by selecting courses in other clusters, and /or by selecting other General Education courses that are not included in a cluster. It should be noted that some courses are only acceptable by some departments to satisfy requirements. For example, only Psychology accepts PSY 471, History of Psychology, as an appropriate Historical Study Domain of Knowledge course for its majors. All courses that satisfy General Education requirements are presented in the yellow Guide to the University General Education Program in the online Portfolio, as well as in the Academic Regulations section of the University of Dayton Bulletin. The courses are listed by the Domain of Knowledge that they satisfy. Courses approved for General Education are indicated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule registration booklet with an asterisk to the left of the course. Additionally, there is a section of the Undergraduate Class Schedule devoted to all General Education courses offered that semester. Students should be very familiar with the above three resources and should consult their advisor if they have any questions regarding the General Education program.

COMPETENCY PROGRAM

The Competency Program commits all academic programs at the University of Dayton to the common purpose of developing distinctive graduates who possess the critical communication, reasoning, and information competencies they need to function effectively in their academic, community, and professional lives. The four competency areas are part of both general and graduation competencies. General competencies form a base for effective written and oral expression, critical and quantitative reasoning, and processing and presenting print and electronic information. The general competencies are required for graduation in all four-year programs and are strongly emphasized in first-year courses and continue to be developed through a student's work in General Education, initial courses in the major, and lower-level electives. Academic departments and programs define the graduation competencies. Graduation competencies emphasize further development and maturation of the competency areas through courses in the major discipline and upper-level electives.

Reading and Writing General Competencies The University's general reading and writing competency requirements are satisfied by completing ENG 101 and ENG 102, ENG 114, or ENG 198 with a grade of C- or higher. Students whose verbal scores on the SAT and ACT are sufficiently high to warrant placement in ENG 114 upon admission to the University or whose acceptance in the University Honors Program places them in ENG 198 satisfy the University requirement with those one-semester courses. Students who are placed in ENG 114 or ENG 198 do not receive credit for ENG 101 but are free to take elective course work in place of the waived first semester of composition. All incoming first-year students are placed in ENG 101 unless: they are designated as Honors - placed in ENG 114 they are in the Berry Scholars Program - placed in ENG 198 they are placed in ENG 114 (receive EM credit for ENG 101). For a score of 5 they receive EM credit for ENG 101 and 102. they have an SAT (VB) score of 750 or above, or ACT (EN) of 35 or above - exempt from taking English composition Oral Communication General Competencies The University's general oral communication competency requirements are satisfied by completing CMM 110, CMM 111 or CMM 112, and CMM 113 for a total of three semester hours. Each of these one-hour communication modules must be completed with a C- or higher in order to satisfy the general competency requirement. No waiver exams are available for these modules.  Students in the Berry's Scholars Program are exempted from this requirement. Each of the modules covers a specific and limited context of communication - Group Decision Making (CMM 110), Informative public speaking (CMM 111), Persuasive public speaking (CMM 112), and Interviewing (CMM 113). Each module is focused on a series of communication competencies. The modules are taught in five week sessions or "mini-terms." Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor, school or the College about when to register for each of the modules. Typically students, not majoring in Communication, will take CMM 110 during the first year, CMM 111 OR CMM 112 during the second year, and CMM 113 second semester junior year or during the senior year. Communication majors are required to take all three modules during the first year. Quantitative Reasoning General Competencies In order to graduate, students are required to satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning Competencies.  There are three modules, and students must satisfy each of the three modules.  Students should satisfy each of these three modules by the end of the sophomore year.  The modules are not described here; only how they are satisfied. Module 1:  Algebra  To satisfy Module 1, a student must pass an online examination with minimum score of 80%. All first-year students have already taken this online examination as part of the online placement exam in Virtual Orientation.  Students then receive an e-mail message through their Lotus Notes accounts in which they are informed if they have passed this exam as part of the online placement exam.  If that e-mail is positive, the student has satisfied Module 1.  If that e-mail is not positive, the student must retake the exam.  For more information, please contact Dr. Paul Eloe, Chairperson of the Department of Mathematics, at Paul.Eloe@notes.udayton.edu. Module 2:  Descriptive Statistics Students can satisfy Module 2 in one of two ways. Complete one of the following courses with a grade of C- or better or, earn EM credit for MTH 207 based upon AP examinations, or earn appropriate transfer credit.  To determine if the transfer credit is appropriate, contact Dr. Paul Eloe, Chairperson of the Department of Mathematics.   MTH 114 MTH 149  MTH 205 MTH 207 DSC 210 PSY 216 POL 207  SOC 308 CEE 320 CME 281 ECE 211   OR   Pass an online examination with a minimum score of 80%. Many students will naturally take one of the courses listed above to satisfy a major.  Students who major in mathematics, computer science, chemistry or physics, for example, do not naturally take one of those courses listed above.  They are expected to pass an examination.  For more information, please contact Dr. Paul Eloe, Chairperson of the Department of Mathematics, at Paul.Eloe@notes.udayton.edu. Module 3:  Mathematical Modeling Students will satisfy Module 3 with successful completion of one of the courses listed below.  Students are expected to take the mathematics course that fits their plan of study. Complete one of the following courses with a grade of C- or better or EM credit based upon AP examinations or transfer credit. MTH 114 MTH 128 MTH 129 MTH 137 MTH 138 MTH 148 MTH 149 MTH 168 MTH 169 MTH 204 MTH 205 MTH 207 A grade of "D" does not constitute successful completion for the purposes of satisfying Module III.  Students in this situation may retake the course, take a different course, or may satisfactorily complete a mathematical modeling project developed and administered by the Department of Mathematics.  If you have questions, please contact Dr. Paul Eloe, Chairperson of the Department of Mathematics, at Paul.Eloe@notes.udayton.edu. Information Literacy General Competencies The University's general information literacy competencies cover five areas and are integrated into the curriculum. Students develop effective strategies for using information technologies when seeking knowledge; understand the structure, form, and access methods of recorded information;  demonstrate the ability to evaluate and analyze the information gathered from a variety of sources; use information and information technology responsibly and ethically; and demonstrate an interest in and ability for life-long learning about information technology. Although responsibility for initial Information Literacy training rests within each academic unit, the Introduction to the University, Humanities Base, and General Education courses provide the opportunity to establish a solid foundation to develop the competencies.

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