General Education Requirements

Bachelor's degrees

The General Education program at Ferris State University for bachelor degrees is composed of eight demonstrable student competencies organized into three tiers.

Tier 1: Foundation Competencies

Communication Competency

To meet the Communication competency, the bachelor degree student must prove proficiency through a 300-level Written communication and 1 Oral communication course. A student must meet all of the following:

• 3 courses, or the equivalent, with the Written communication attribute
• 1 of the 3 Written communication courses must be an upper division competency and can be met in one of the following ways:
  • 1 course at the 300-level or higher with the Written communication attribute
  • 2 courses with the Writing Intensive attribute and 1 course with the Oral communication attribute
  • 3 courses with the Writing Intensive attribute
• 1 course with the Oral communication attribute

Quantitative Literacy Competency

To meet the Quantitative Literacy competency, a student must meet one of the following:

• Complete or received credit for 1 course, MATH 114 or higher, with the Quantitative Literacy attribute
• Submission of an official Accuplacer score of 50 or higher in college level math
• Submission of an official SAT math score of 580 or higher
• Submission of an official ACT math subtest score of 24 or higher

Tier 2: Distribution Competencies

Natural Sciences Competency

To meet the Natural Sciences competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 2 courses, with a minimum of 6 credits, with the Natural Sciences attribute
• 1 of the 2 courses must have the Natural Sciences w/lab attribute

Culture Competency

To meet the Culture competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 3 courses, with a minimum of 9 credits, with the Culture attribute
• The 3 courses must be from at least two different disciplines
• At least 1 of the 3 courses must be 200-level or higher
• A maximum of 5 of the 9 credits can have the Activities attribute

Self and Society Competency

To meet the Self and Society competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 3 courses, with a minimum of 9 credits, with the Self and Society attribute
• The 3 courses must be from at least two different disciplines
• At least 1 of the 3 courses must be 200-level or higher
• At least 1 of the 3 courses must have the Self and Society Foundation attribute (the foundations course can be the 200+ level course)

Diversity Competency

If not met by courses taken for Culture, Self and Society, or MTA, a student must meet the following:

• 1 course with the Global Diversity attribute
• 1 course with the U.S. Diversity attribute

Note: Some courses include both Global Diversity and U.S. Diversity attributes. Courses with both attributes satisfies the entire Diversity competency.

Tier 3: Application Competencies

Collaboration Competency

If not met by courses taken in the bachelor degree program a student must meet the following:

• 2 courses with the Collaboration attribute

Note: Some courses include both Collaboration and Problem Solving attributes

Problem Solving Competency

If not met by courses taken in the bachelor degree program a student must meet the following:

• 2 courses with the Problem Solving attribute

Note: Some courses include both Collaboration and Problem Solving attributes

** Note: This competency may be partially met with Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA). Check the MTA policy.

Associates of Arts and Associates of Science degrees
(AA and AS)

 The General Education program at Ferris State University for associate degrees is composed of five demonstrable student competencies organized into two tiers.

Tier1: Foundation Competencies

Communication Competency

 To meet the Communication competency, the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree student must prove proficiency through a 200-level Written communication and 1 Oral communication course. A student must meet all of the following: 

• The associate degree student must prove proficiency through a 200-level with Written communication attribute.
• 2 courses, or the equivalent, must have the Written communication attribute
• 1 course must have Oral communication attribute

Quantitative Literacy Competency

To meet the Quantitative Literacy competency, a student must meet one of the following:

• Complete or received credit for 1 course, MATH 109 or higher, with the Quantitative Literacy attribute
• Submission of an official Accuplacer score of 75 or higher in Elementary Algebra
• Submission of an official SAT math score of 500 or higher
• Submission of an official ACT math subtest score of 19 or higher

Tier 2: Distribution Competencies

Natural Sciences Competency 

To meet the Natural Sciences competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 2 courses, with a minimum of 6 credits, with the Natural Sciences attribute
• 1 of the 2 courses must have the Natural Sciences w/lab attribute

Culture Competency

To meet the Culture competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 3 courses, with a minimum of 9 credits, with the Culture attribute
• The 3 courses must be from at least two different disciplines
• At least 1 of the 3 courses must be 200-level or higher
• A maximum of 3 of the 9 credits can have the Activities attribute

Self and Society Competency

To meet the Self and Society competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 3 courses, with a minimum of 9 credits, with the Culture attribute
• The 3 courses must be from at least two different disciplines
• At least 1 of the 3 courses must be 200-level or higher
• At least 1 of the 3 courses must have the Self and Society Foundation attribute (the foundations course can be the 200+ level course)
  
  

Associate of Applied Science Degrees (AAS) 

Tier1: Foundation Competencies

Communication Competency 

To meet the Communication competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 2 courses with a minimum of 6 credits, with the Written communication attribute

Quantitative Literacy Competency

To meet the Quantitative Literacy competency, a student must meet one of the following:

• Complete or received credit for 1 course, MATH 109 or higher, with the Quantitative Literacy attribute
• Submission of an official Accuplacer score of 75 or higher in Elementary Algebra
• Submission of an official SAT math score of 500 or higher
• Submission of an official ACT math subtest score of 19 or higher

Tier 2: Distribution Competencies

Natural Sciences Competency

To meet the Natural Sciences competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 1 course and a minimum of 3 credits, that has the Natural Sciences w/lab attribute

Culture Competency

To meet the Culture competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 1 course and a minimum of 3 credits, that has the Culture attribute

Self and Society Competency

To meet the Self and Society competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 1 course and a minimum of 3 credits, that has the Self and Society attribute

  

NOTE: All Bachelor Degrees at Ferris also require 1 course with the Global Diversity and 1 course with the U.S. Diversity attribute. For students wishing to continue to a Bachelor Degree, completion of these requirements within the Associate Degree is recommended. These requirements can be met without additional coursework because many Culture and Self and Society courses also meet the needed Diversity requirements.