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All Tennessee public universities and community colleges in the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system share a common lower-division general education core curriculum of forty-one (41) semester hours for Associate of Arts* (A.A.), Associate of Fine Arts* (A.F.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), Associate of Science in Teaching (A.S.T.) and all baccalaureate degrees. The courses comprising the general education curriculum are contained within the following subject categories:
| Communication |
9 Hours (Six hours of English composition and three hours in oral presentations communication are required) |
| Humanities/Fine Arts |
9 Hours (At least one course must be in Literature) |
| Social/Behavorial Sciences |
6 Hours |
| History |
6 Hours |
| Natural Sciences |
8 Hours |
| Mathematics |
3 Hours |
| TOTAL |
41 |
* Foreign language courses are an additional requirement for the Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees. Six hours of foreign language are required for the A.A. degree and twelve hours are required for the B.A. degree.
Although the courses designated by TBR institutions to fulfill the requirements of the general education subject categories vary, transfer of the courses is assured through the following means:
- Upon completion of an A.A., A.F.A, A.S., or A.S.T. degree, the requirements of the lower-division general education core will be complete and accepted by a Tennessee public university in the transfer process.
- If an A.A., A.F.A, A.S., or A.S.T. degree is not obtained, transfer of general education courses will be based upon fulfillment of complete subject categories. (Example: If all eight hours in the category of Natural Sciences are complete, then this "block" of the general education core is complete and will transfer.) When a subject category is incomplete, course-by-course evaluation will be necessary. The provision of block fulfillment pertains also to students who transfer within Tennessee public universities.
- A.A.S. degrees have a reduced number of general education courses that comprise the General Education Core (15-17 hours). See the A.A.S. program for specific courses meeting the requirement in Programs of Study section of this Catalog.
- Effective Summer 2015, transfer credit will be given for all courses in which passing grades are achieved, including the grade of "D". For students enrolled prior to Summer 2015, only grades of "C" or higher are accepted. All grades of transfer courses are entered on the student's Columbia State permanent academic record. Grades of transfer courses do not count in the calculation of the student's grade point average at Columbia State.
It is important that students and advisors be aware of specific major requirements that must be fulfilled using courses from the lower-division general education core. The student is responsible for enrolling in the correct courses. Failure to fulfill specific major requirements in lower-division general education may result in the need to complete additional courses at the university level.
Courses designated to fulfill general education by Columbia State are included in this catalog A complete listing of the courses fulfilling general education requirements for all system institutions is available on the TBR Web site.
General Education Core-Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the TBR General Education Core is to prepare every student to navigate a world of evolving opportunities. It is unbounded by academic discipline and challenges students to discover the inherent interconnectedness of knowledge and the intersection of self and society. Visit the TBR 2025 General Education Core Framework to learn more.
Graduates of all Columbia State degree programs are expected to demonstrate competence in seven core competencies needed for success in employment and in pursuit of additional education.
 Global & Cultural Awareness
Develop awareness of how diverse cultures relate to self, society and the global environment.
 Communication
Create, evaluate and share ideas using appropriate oral or written techniques designed for various audiences.
 Critical Thinking
Analyze and evaluate ideas, issues and evidence to form rational conclusions.
 Creative & Artistic Expression
Engage with the creative process through reflection and analysis of artistic works and the direct creation or performance of creative or artistic works.
 Scientific Inquiry & Mathematical Reasoning
Understand and explore the work through observation and experimentation, mathematical principles and formal reasoning.
 Ethical Reasoning
Identify, develop and assess ethical arguments from a variety of social and moral perspectives.
 Information Literacy
Locate relevant information, evaluate its usefulness and quality and apply it ethically and effectively.
Columbia State Courses Fulfilling General Education Core Curriculum Requirements
Choose elective hours from the following list of courses. A course will not be counted toward an elective credit when the course is required in the chosen program of study.
Communication Requirement:
English Composition: 6 credit hours
Communication: 3 credit hours
History Requirement: 6 credit Hours
Humanities and Fine Arts Requirement: 9 credit hours (must include one course in literature)
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- (course will satisfy literature requirement)
- (course will satisfy literature requirement)
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- (course will satisfy literature requirement)
- (course will satisfy literature requirement)
- (course will satisfy literature requirement)
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Mathematics Requirement: 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences Requirement: 8 credit hours
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- (must pair with non-biology course except for or to fulfill the natural science general education requirements)
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Social/Behavioral Science Requirement: 6 credit hours
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