Appendix V - General Foundation Requirements (GFR) Worksheet

For Students Who Entered Higher Education Prior to Summer 2007

Students who began or resumed higher education (following high school graduation) in summer 2007 or later must satisfy the General Education Program (GEP) requirements.

Students who began or resumed higher education (following high school graduation) prior to summer 2007 and have maintained continuous enrollment (without a two-year break) may complete General Foundation Requirements (GFR) or General Education Program (GEP) requirements.

1. Graduation Requirements:

   1. Completion of a minimum of 120 academic credits-not including institutional credits.
      The final 30 credits toward the degree must be completed at UMBC.
   2. A minimum cumulative UMBC grade point average of 2.00.
   3. Two activity courses in physical education:
      __________________    __________________
      (unless 30 or older before your first day of classes at UMBC, exempted based on a qualified physical disability, or a military veteran). This PE credit does not count toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
   4. Completion of UMBC’s General Foundation Requirements (GFR) outlined below.
   5. 45 credits of upper-level courses numbered at the 300 or 400 level.
   6. Completion of an academic major offered by UMBC.
2. General Foundation Requirements:
   All areas listed below must be completed as specified.
   1. English Composition: Completion of ENGL 100  or an equivalent course
      1. ____________________
   2. Arts/Humanities: Three courses with “AH” designation; two courses from one academic discipline and one from another discipline. Ancient studies and archaeology are considered the same discipline.
      
      1. (1). _____________
         (2). _____________
      2. _______________
   3. Social Sciences: Three courses with “SS” designation; two courses from one academic discipline and one from another discipline. Sociology and anthropology are considered the same discipline.
      
      1. (1).______________
         (2).______________
      2. ______________
   4. Mathematics: One course in mathematics or statistics with the “MS” designation. (Computer science courses do not apply.)
      
      1. ________________
   5. Biological/Physical Sciences: Two courses with the “MS” designation other than mathematics, statistics, or computer science. At least one biological/physical science course must include a laboratory component, either as an integral part. of the course or as a separate course with an “L” after the course number.
      
      1. _______________
      2. ______________
         lab ___________
   6. Language/Culture:
      
      B.A., B.F.A. students: The language-culture component consists of (1) completion of a foreign language through the 201 level or demonstrated proficiency at that level; and (2) one or two additional courses in language (“L”) or culture (“C”) or a combination of the two (a student can take one “L” and one “C” course). Proficiency, the number of courses needed to complete the requirement and course placement are determined by previous experience as follows:
      
      Students who meet the 201-proficiency requirement, either because they completed level 4 or higher of a language in high school (or have the corresponding AP, IB or CLEP credit) or because they completed a language through the 201 level at college, can fulfill the second part of the requirement by taking courses in the same or in another language at the appropriate placement level, by starting a new language, by taking culture courses or by any combination of these choices.

B.S. students: The requirements are identical to those of the B.A. students with one exception. B.S. students may substitute one course beyond the 201-level requirement with an “MS” course in the mathematics category.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS should submit an application form available from the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication or on the Web at www.umbc.edu/mll/gfr.html to determine whether they have the 201 equivalency.

Exceptions: Students who enroll in language courses below their appropriate placement level do not receive GFR credit for these courses. Instead, the courses count as electives. In some instances, students may receive authorization from the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication (MLLI) to enroll in a course below the appropriate placement level for GFR credit. Students with a weak language background and those with five or more years since their last language class should consult with the MLLI department about their placement. For students who have completed level 3 of a language in high school, but who feel unprepared for the 201 course, a 103 review course is available in French and Spanish. Students in this situation can fulfill the requirement by completing 103, 201, and one “L” or “C” course. Please note: Students may not receive credit for both 102 and 103 in the same language.

201 _____________________

1. ________________________
2. ________________________

3. Additional Policies Concerning The General Foundation Requirements:

   1. All courses used to satisfy the general foundation requirements must be completed with a “C” or better. Courses taken on a pass/fail basis may not be used toward general foundation requirements.
   2. Within the general foundation requirements, no one course may be used to satisfy more than one area. Therefore if a course has been approved as “AH” or “C” it may be used to satisfy either one, but not both, of these areas.
   3. A cross-listed course may be considered as any one of its assigned disciplines, no matter under which departmental designation the course is taken.
   4. No more than two courses from the same discipline may be used to satisfy either the arts/humanities or social science areas. No more than three courses from the same discipline may be used throughout the general foundation requirements, except that three English courses may be used in addition to English composition.
   5. Credit earned through AP, IB and CLEP may be used toward general foundation program requirements when equivalent to a UMBC general foundation requirement course. Departmental credit by exam does not apply toward general foundation requirements.
   6. Only one studio or performance course (designated by “ST”) may count toward general foundation requirements.
   7. Only one First-Year Seminar (FYS) course can be used throughout the general foundation requirements. The course must have an approved general foundation requirement designation and it can only be utilized in the designated category.
      
      If used in AH or SS areas the two remaining courses must come from two different academic disciplines.