2.4.4 Details Regarding Courses in Core IMPACTS Domains

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All courses in Core IMPACTS domains must be taught at the collegiate level and be broadly focused. They must clearly address the system wide Learning Outcomes for the Core IMPACTS domains. They must be consistent with the institution’s and the University System of Georgia’s missions and strategic plans.

Institutions may not require students in particular majors to take specific courses to meet Core IMPACTS requirements. Successful completion of any course listed for a Core IMPACTS domain should be credited toward meeting that Core IMPACTS requirement, even if it is not the most appropriate course for the major.

However, students must be made aware that choosing courses that are not appropriate for their majors in Core IMPACTS domains may leave them with unmet prerequisites in their majors, despite having met Core IMPACTS requirements. This is particularly important for students majoring in the Health Professions and STEM disciplines.

Institutional Priority (Institution)

Courses in this domain must include analytical, historical, critical and/or appreciative material.
Courses with a primary emphasis on studio, performance, field study, or internship may be placed in this domain if there is a clear academic focus connected to the activity goals of these courses.

Mathematics & Quantitative Skills (Mathematics)

If offered, MATH 1001, MATH 1101, MATH 1111 and MATH 1113 must be placed in this domain. MATH 1113 may also be placed in the STEM domain. Institutions may also place MATH/STAT 1401 in the Mathematics domain. Other approved courses (e.g., Calculus I) may be placed in this domain. See Section 2.4.9 for course approval rules.

Courses in symbolic logic and math for liberal arts may not be used to meet the Mathematics domain requirement.

Most courses that meet the Mathematics requirement are three credit hours. Four credit hour courses taken in this domain will yield an extra credit hour that cannot be counted in the Mathematics domain. This extra credit hour may be applied to the Field of Study domain or general degree requirements outside of the Core IMPACTS framework.

Students who have earned 30 collegiate credit hours but have not completed the Mathematics requirement must enroll in the course necessary to complete the Mathematics domain requirement in every semester in which they take classes.

Math Pathways

The choice of an appropriate mathematics course in the Mathematics domain can have important consequences for student progression. This is particularly important for students planning to major in STEM disciplines.

Specific mathematics recommendations for students in various disciplines are listed at https://www.usg.edu/curriculum/mathematics_pathways. Students who take a course in the Mathematics domain other than the recommended math course for their majors may later have to take an additional mathematics course outside of the Core IMPACTS requirement to meet mathematics requirements for their majors.

STEM majors (other than Engineering)

Most STEM majors should take Precalculus (MATH 1113) or College Trigonometry (MATH 1112) in the Mathematics domain. (At institutions where College Trigonometry (MATH 1112) serves as the prerequisite to Calculus I, College Trigonometry should be considered equivalent to Precalculus.)

Engineering Majors

All Engineering majors and students in all programs at the Georgia Institute of Technology should fulfill the Mathematics domain requirement with a calculus course.

Business Majors

Institutions differ widely in their recommendations for the Mathematics domain requirement for Business Majors. Students should consult the table on First Math Courses for Business Majors at https://www.usg.edu/curriculum/mathematics_pathways.

Other majors

Students in majors not listed above should consult the Math Pathway recommendations for their majors at: https://www.usg.edu/curriculum/mathematics_pathways

Political Science and U.S. History (Citizenship)

Courses designed to satisfy the U.S./Georgia history and/or constitutions requirements Georgia Legislative Requirements must be placed in this domain. These courses must include analytical, historical, critical and/or appreciative material. Additionally, the array of courses an institution includes in this domain must be such that all undergraduate degree-seeking students have knowledge of the primary sources noted in BoR policy 3.3.4

Arts, Humanities, and Ethics

Courses in this domain may focus on humanities, fine arts, or ethics. These courses must include analytical, historical, critical, and/or appreciative material.

Communicating in Writing (Writing)

If offered, ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102 must be placed in this domain. Other approved courses may be placed in this domain. See Section 2.4.9 for course approval rules.

Students who have earned 30 collegiate credit hours but have not completed the Writing requirement must enroll in the next course necessary to make progress toward completing the Writing domain requirements in every semester in which they take classes.

Technology, Mathematics & Sciences (STEM)

Courses in this domain may include science, technology, engineering, and advanced mathematics courses. These courses must be introductory and broadly focused. They must be analytic in nature and have a problem-solving component.

All USG institutions require three courses in the STEM domain. Typically, the requirement is for two science courses and one course in technology or higher-level mathematics. The choice of an appropriate courses in the STEM domain can have important consequences for student progression. This is particularly important for students planning to major in STEM disciplines or Health Professions. Students who take a course in the STEM domain other than the recommended course(s) for their major may later have to take additional courses outside of the Core IMPACTS requirements to meet requirements for their majors.

Students who take 11 or 12 credit hours in this domain may earn extra credit(s) that cannot be counted in the STEM domain. This extra credit(s) may be applied to the Field of Study domain or general degree requirements outside of the Core IMPACTS framework.

Creative writing and technical communication courses may not be included in the STEM domain.

STEM Domain Course Recommendations by Major

Non-STEM	Health Professions, including Nursing	STEM
Students may take any of the science courses offered in this domain. Courses with titles beginning with “General” or “Introductory” are usually intended for non-STEM majors.	Students should take a two-semester laboratory sequence in physics, chemistry, or biology.	Students should take two four-hour laboratory science courses in the STEM domain.
Students may take any of the courses approved for the STEM domain at their institutions as their third STEM course.	The appropriate biology courses are Introductory Biology or Principles of Biology	Science courses titled “Principles of …” are designed for STEM majors.
	The appropriate Chemistry courses are the Survey of Chemistry sequence (CHEM 1151-1152), which is designed for health professions majors, or Principles of Chemistry, which is designed for STEM majors.	STEM students may need a higher-level mathematics (above what was taken for the Mathematics requirement) in this domain.

Social Sciences (Social Sciences)

These courses must include analytical, historical, critical and/or appreciative material.

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