Dec 08, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Compass Core Curriculum


Compass Core Curriculum

Compass Core Curriculum

  • ETSU’s general education requirements are as follows:
  1. Strengthening Foundations (15-16 credits, consisting of 6 credits of written composition, 3 credits of oral communication, 3 credits of critical thinking, and 3-4 credits of quantitative reasoning)
  2. Understanding Natural and Social Worlds (10-11 credits, consisting of at lease 3 credits of social and behavioral sciences and at least 4 credits natural sciences)
  3. Exploring Connections (9 credits, consisting of at least 3 credits of history and at least 3 credits of humanities outside of history)
  4. Cultivate Artistic Awareness (3 credits)
  5. Growing as an Individual and Global Citizen (3-4 credits)

East Tennessee State University provides a General Education Curriculum that aligns with Tennessee law, Tennessee Transfer Pathways, and SACSCOC requirements. The General Education Curriculum, as approved, is published in the course catalog. Please visit this link https://www.etsu.edu/policies/academic/general-education-policy.php to view the complete General Education Policy.

Compass Core Curriculum Transfer Review

For general education transfer courses not listed on the equivalency table, a student or an advisor may submit a request for review by the General Education Review Committee using the General Education Course Review Form.

Compass Core Curriculum Course Requirements

Strengthening Foundations (15-16 credits)

15-16 credits, consisting of 6 credits of written composition, 3 credits of oral communication, 3 credits of critical thinking, and 3-4 credits of quantitative reasoning.


Written Composition (6 credits)

For Honors Students Only:

Oral Communication (3 credits) 

Quantitative Reasoning (3-4 credits)

Critical Thinking (3 credits)


Understanding Natural and Social Worlds (10-11 credits)

10-11 credits, consisting of at least 4 credits of natural sciences and at least 3 credits of social and behavioral sciences. The remaining 3-4 credits may come from either category.


Natural Sciences (at least 4 credits)

Open to non-science majors only:

Social and Behavioral Sciences (at least 3 credits)  


Exploring Connections (9 credits)

9 credits, consisting of at least 3 credits of history and at least 3 credits of humanities outside of history. The remaining 3 credits may come from either category.


Humanities (at least 3 credits)

For Honors Students only, complete one of the following: 

History (at least 3 credits)


Cultivate Artistic Awareness (3 credits)



Growing as an Individual and Global Citizen (3-4 credits)


For Honors Students only, complete one of the following:


Learning Support

Students required to complete learning support in writing must enroll in a learning support-designated section (L01-L99) of ENGL 1010  during their first 15 credits at ETSU (not including summer) unless they are also required to complete learning support in reading. Students needing learning support in both reading and writing should enroll in ENGL 1010 -Lxx immediately upon completing learning support in reading. Additional information may be found on the University Advisement Center website www.etsu.edu/uac/learningsupport.

Students will enroll in the appropriate general education math course during their first calendar year of enrollment at ETSU. Students required to complete learning support in mathematics must enroll in a learning support-designated section (L01-L99) of MATH 1530  during their first 15 credits at ETSU (not including summer) unless they are also required to complete learning support in reading or writing. Students needing learning support in reading or writing in addition to learning support in math should enroll in MATH 1530 -Lxx immediately upon completing their other learning support requirements. Additional information may be found on the University Advisement Center website https://www.etsu.edu/uac/learningsupport/.

Students required to complete learning support in reading must enroll in a learning support-designated section (L01-L99) of COMM 2025  during their first 15 credits at ETSU (not including summer). Additional information may be found on the University Advisement Center website https://www.etsu.edu/uac/learningsupport/