General Education Transfer Policy FAQ
Wayne State University General Education Transfer Policy—Frequently Asked Questions
Effective Fall 2005
- How is the term “lower division courses”defined?
Lower division General Education courses are typically all courses required within the student's first 30 to 75 credits, as identified in the University Undergraduate Bulletin. Students will need to meet Wayne State University's Writing intensive Requirement in the Major and Computer Proficiency Level II. See below for other exceptions. - What if I have satisfied the General Education requirements but there are still additional General Education courses required by my major?
Prospective students must consult with advisors, both at their community college and at Wayne State University, to determine the courses needed to gain admission to the major and to make satisfactory progress to degree completion. In programs where specific course work may be required of WSU students through General Education courses, the student will be at a disadvantage for admission to, progress in, or graduation from the program if the specific requirement is not met. For example, the Basic Social Science requirement is considered met through the transfer policy, but the School of Business Administration will require students to take both Microeconomics (ECO 2010) and Macroeconomics (ECO 2020). Similarly, the Pharmacy program will specifically require that students have taken an economics course, whether or not they have met Basic Social Science as the result of the transfer policy. These examples are in no way exhaustive. The student is responsible for being aware of the specific requirements of the intended major. - What if the degree I want to pursue at Wayne State requires a foreign language? Will the language requirement be waived?
No. Any undergraduate degree that requires demonstration of foreign language competence will still require that demonstration. For example, in Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as in Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree are required to demonstrate competence in a foreign language. Students entering under the transfer policy will be considered to have met the Foreign Culture requirement, but will still need to demonstrate foreign language competence. Students in Liberal Arts and Sciences also must complete a Chemistry or Physics course. These examples are in no way exhaustive. The student is responsible for being aware of the specific requirements of the intended degree. - What if there are certification requirements that need to be met that are satisfied by courses taken by students at Wayne State University? Does my Associate Degree fulfill these requirements?
No. Certification requirements are above and beyond the General Education requirements and must be met by all students pursuing certification. The student is responsible for being aware of the specific requirements for certification. - Are all the competencies satisfied by this new policy? No.
The following competencies are satisfied: a) Written Communication (BC and IC), except for the Writing Intensive Course in Major, b) Oral Communication (OC), c) Computer Literacy (CL), Level 1 only, and d) Critical Thinking (CT). **The Math Competency (MC) must be fulfilled. (See Transfer Plans for specific math courses that will fulfill MC.) - What if I do not have my Associate Degree or General Education courses completed at the time I apply for admission?
You must have earned the Associate of Arts, an Associate of Science, an Associate of Liberal Arts, or an Associate of Baccalaureate Studies degree or certification of General Education (MACRAO-stamped transcript) by the time you enroll for courses at Wayne State University. - What if I enrolled at another college after receiving my Associate degree?
The Associate degree is valid for the transfer policy regardless of attendance at another college after you received it. - Will the new "Exposure" areas in General Education be considered fulfilled under the policy?
No. Students beginning at the community college Fall 2005 or later and attending WSU Fall 2006 or later must fulfill the new Exposure Area requirements. All other transfer students will need to fulfill the new Exposure area requirements if they begin at WSU in Fall 2007 or later. See the Transfer Plans for courses that will fulfill these Exposure Area requirements.