Felician University’s General Education Program Overview 2025-2026 Implementation
General Education Mission:
Felician University’s General Education program empowers students for lifelong success in an ever-changing academic, social, and global landscape through its focus on curricular innovation, connected learning, and personal and professional growth.
General Education Description:
Felician University’s General Education program is completed by all baccalaureate students and is designed to address contemporary and future challenges, providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate a rapidly changing world. The program provides students with a comprehensive educational experience that cultivates critical thinking, interdisciplinary understanding, and global awareness. General Education at Felician University reflects the unique mission of the University and is centered around four foundational pillars that emphasize critical thinking, cultural competency, ethical reasoning and the development of essential skills. Experiential learning is a feature of the program to engage students in applied experiences through service-learning, research and international exposure. This innovative curriculum is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education that draws students into new areas of intellectual experience, expand their cultural and global awareness and cultural sensitivity, and to prepare them to make well-reasoned judgments within and outside of their chosen academic fields. The program integrates the development of critical skills such as oral and written communication, scientific and quantitative reasoning, critical analysis and reasoning, technological competency, and information literacy. Consistent with Felician University’s mission, the general education program includes the study of values and ethics and cultivates interdisciplinary knowledge to build global perspectives and practical experiences.
General Education Vision:
Felician University provides a transformative general education experience, engaging our students in connected learning and personal and professional growth to:
- Develop the ability to solve problems through creative and critical strategies
- Foster correlations between new learning and old learning
- Understand the histories, systems, and processes that underlie cultures – both global and American
- Develop a purposeful self, grounded in spiritual values, focused on one’s own wellness, and engaged in academic and professional advancement
- Strengthen communication skills and functional ability in technological & information literacies
Pillar 1: Critical Mind (9 credits):
The Critical Mind Pillar prepares students to reason, integrate, and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in innovative and imaginative ways. Through transformative coursework, students will evaluate and synthesize new content creatively and independently to navigate the evolving landscape of the 21st century.
The goals of Pillar 1 are to integrate reasoning and problem-solving strategies to connect content to new ideas, to evaluate new material through an innovative lens and to synthesize new content with existing ideas in innovative and imaginative ways.
- English 102 is a required course under Pillar 1 and students may select an additional 6 credits from a list of courses to satisfy this requirement.
Pillar 2: Global and Intercultural Competence (6 credits):
The Global and Intercultural Competence pillar provides a framework to prepare students to live and work effectively in many different environments. Through a breadth of coursework, students become self-aware and knowledgeable about global challenges and develop an appreciation for the perspectives of others.
The goals of Pillar 2 are to demonstrate knowledge of one’s own and other cultures, histories, and events, and to identify domestic and global viewpoints about society through political, cultural, social, and economic structures and to exhibit competency and leadership potential in a global world.
- Students may select from a list of courses to satisfy the requirements for Pillar 2. Students who wish to study abroad may seek approval to use study abroad courses to satisfy this requirement as well.
Pillar 3: Ethics, Faith, Spirituality & Well-Being (9 Credits)
Ethics, Faith, Spirituality & Well-Being pillar provides a faith and spiritual framework to prepare students to care for themselves and others with an emphasis on physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Through introspective coursework, students are supported in developing resiliency, empathy, and spiritual awareness to foster a sense of higher purpose that embodies leadership, citizenship, service, and Franciscan values.
The goals of Pillar 3 are to exhibit a healthy regard for oneself and an ability to foster mutually beneficial relationships with others, to demonstrate professional habits and leadership traits expected in the workplace and for advanced study and to demonstrate the ability to make choices rooted in values that are inspired by faith, spirituality, and a call to a higher purpose.
- Students are required to take 2 Religious Studies courses: one at the upper level and one at the lower level
- Students may select an additional course from a list of approved courses to satisfy this requirement; approved service-learning courses may also satisfy this requirement.
Pillar 4: The Critical Literacies – Communication, Information, and Technology (14-15 credits)
The Critical Literacies Pillar immerses students in knowledge, skills, and experiences to thrive professionally. Through diverse coursework, students will achieve competencies in data analysis; scientific reasoning; technological and digital skills; written and oral communication, and the professional and ethical applications of this knowledge.
The goals of Pillar 4 are to understand the steps in the process of developing effective communication across different media (brainstorm, organize, draft, revise, edit, publish), to demonstrate technological acumen, flexibility, extraction capabilities, and situational awareness for ethical use across multiple settings, to demonstrate effective communication skills to display comprehension of outside sources (data, readings, labs, etc.) and present claims, findings, or positions and to utilize skills or knowledge developed through critical literacy (data, technological, quantitative, scientific) to advance, deepen, or further analyze a position or topic.
- Students are required to take Math (1 Required), Natural Science (1 Required), Computer Science (1 Required), an approved public speaking course (1 Required), and English 101 (Required).
Felician University Signature Courses
- UNIV I, II, II: (3 credits)
- UNIV IV (Capstone) (2 credits) or an approved upper-level service-learning course in the student’s major.
Writing Intensive Courses
All Felician University students complete 3 Writing Intensive Courses
- ENG 101 & ENG 102 are writing intensive courses and satisfy this requirement.
- 1 Writing Intensive Course is required in the major; all degree programs have one required course in the major to satisfy this requirement.
Explore all courses below.
| BIO 202 Microbiology | |
| CHEM 101 EL, Our Chemical World | |
| COMM 150: Media Analysis | |
| CRIM 202 Criminal Law | |
| CRIM 210 EL, Criminal Investigation | |
| CRIM/PHIL380 Law, Theory and Practice | |
| EDU 290: Transition into Teaching | For Education Majors Only |
| EDU 308: Reading Diagnosis and Remediation for Diverse Learners | For Education Majors Only |
| ENG 102- College Research and Writing II | Required for all students |
| ENG 150 – Critical Thinking for Pursuasion | |
| ENV 101, Intro to Environmental Science | |
| LS 100: Information Literacy | |
| MATH 160 College Algebra | |
| MATH231 Geometry I | |
| PHIL 100-Art/Practice of Critical Thinking | |
| PHIL 101, Introduction to Philosophy | |
| PSCI 102 American Government | |
| PSCI 291 Judicial System and Constitutional Law | |
| PYSC 101: Introduction to Psychology |
| Art 101: Drawing and Composition |
| Art 102: Design and Color |
| Art 103: Form, Space and Time |
| ART-151 Art Hist Paleolithic to Gothic |
| ART-152 Art History II: Renaissance |
| ART-153 Art History III: Modernism |
| Art 236: Ceramics |
| Art 237: Stained Glass |
| Art 245: Introduction to Web Design |
| Art 272: Painting |
| Art 273: Photography |
| Art 274: Color & Digital Photography |
| Art 275: International Visual Studies in Photography |
| CRIM 110 Criminal Justice I |
| CRIM 230 HC Victimology |
| CRIM 312 Criminology |
| FREN 101: French Language and Culture |
| FREN 102: French Language and Culture II |
| HIST 101: Anciet Societies Through Middle Ages |
| HIST 104: World War I to Present |
| LS 110: Introduction to Global Social Justice |
| MUS 101 Music Foundations |
| MUS 103: Basic Piano |
| MUS 105: World Music |
| MUS 109 Guitar |
| MUS 115: Basic Singing |
| NURS 235: Global Issues in Healthcare |
| NURS 486: Practicum: Population and Community Health |
| PHIL 204 Digital Ethics |
| PHIL 380 Criminal Law Theory & Practice |
| PSYC 290 Social Psychology |
| PSYC 307 Psychology of Sex and Gender |
| PSYC 317 Intercultural Communication |
| PSYCH 330 Multicultural Psychology |
| PYSC 101: Introduction to Psychology |
| RELS 408: Genocide Past, Present and Future |
| SOC 104: Sociology of Race and Ethnicity |
| SOC 200: Cultural Diversity |
| SOC 215 Sociology of Sex and Gender |
| SOC 220 Social Stratification |
| SOC 251 Family and Gender Violence |
| SOC 305: Global Problems and Capitalism |
| SOC 315 Terrorism and Political Violence |
| SPAN 101: Spanish Lanugage and Culture I |
| SPAN 102: Spanish Lanugage and Culture II |
| EXSC 140 Health and Fitness |
| EXSC 202 Principles of Health Nutrition and Weight |
| LS 175 Introduction to Environmental Ethics |
| NURS 380: Ethical/Legal Issues in Healthcare |
| PHIL 250 Making Moral Decisions |
| PHIL 309 Morality and the Pursuit of Happiness |
| PSYC 105 Lifespan Development |
| PSYC 311 Biopsychology |
| PSYC 377 Psychology of Health and Illness |
| PSYC 414 Positive Psychology |
| RELS 104 Christianity and the Big Questions |
| RELS 105 Contemporary Moral Issues |
| RELS 205 Varieties of Religious Experience |
| RELS 210 Religion, Spirituality, and the OT |
| RELS 301 Religions of the World |
| RELS 306 Opression, Liberatio, and Theology |
| RELS 310 Moral and Spiritual Dimensions of Health Care |
| RELS 396 Religion in the United States |
| RELS 405 God, Suffering, and Evil |
| RELS 408 Genocide: Past, Present, and Future |
| English 101: College Writing and Research (Required) | Required for all students |
| MATH 110 Mathematics for Financial Decision-Making |
| MATH 112 Quantitative Reasoning |
| MATH 114 Mathematical Explorations |
| MATH 122 Statistics I |
| MATH 160 College Algebra |
| MATH 161 Precalculus |
| MATH 210 Applied Calculus |
| MAT 212 Topics in Contemporary Math |
| MATH 231 Geometry I |
| MATH 241 Discrete Mathematics |
| MATH 262 Calculus I |
| MATH 263 Calculus II |
| MATH 364 |
| MATH 365 |
| BIO 111 Medical Terminology |
| BIO 209 Evolution |
| BIO 306 Ecology |
| BIO 102 Human Biology |
| BIO 103 General Biology I |
| BIO 104 General Biology II |
| BIO 200 Toxicology |
| BIO 202 Microbiology |
| BIO 206 Anatomy and Physiology II |
| BIO 205 Anatomy and Physiology I |
| BIO 307: Pathophysiology |
| CHEM 101 Our Chemical World |
| CHEM 103 General Chemistry I |
| CHEM 104 General Chemistry II |
| CHEM 105 Principles of Chemistry |
| CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry |
| CHEM 202 Organic Chemistry II |
| ENV 101 Intro to Environmental Science |
| GSCI 101 Forensic Science |
| GSCI 105 Earth Science |
| PHYS 103 General Physics 1 |
| CS 102 Computer Application for Educators | |
| CS 103 Intro to Adv. Computer Applications | |
| CS 120 Intro to Computer Science | |
| CS 140 Management Info Systems | |
| NURS 225: Health Literacy & Informatics | |
| PSYC 249 Fundamentals of Data Management for Psychologists | May satisfy the computer science requirement for psychology majors only |
| COM 103: Public Speaking | |
| EDU 102: Communication in Educational Settings | For Education Majors Only |
| Pillar 1: The Critical Mind (9 Credits) | ||
| ENG 102 (Required) | 3 | |
| Option 1 | 3 | |
| Option 2 | 3 | |
| 9 | ||
| Pillar 2: Global Cultural Competence for Social Justice (6 credits) | ||
| Option 1 | 3 | |
| Option 2 | 3 | |
| 6 | ||
| Pillar 3: The Metaphysical Self – Faith, Spirituality & Well-Being (9 credits) | ||
| RELS Lower-Level Option | 3 | |
| RELS Upper-Level Option | 3 | |
| Option 3 | 3 | |
| 9 | ||
| Pillar 4: The Critical Literacies – Communication, Information and Technology (15-17 credits) | ||
| Math (1 Required) | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science (1 required) | 3-4 | |
| Computer Science (1 required) | 3 | |
| English 101 (Required) | 3 | |
| A Public Speaking Course (Req) | 3 | |
| 15-17 | ||
| Felician University Signature Courses | ||
| UNIV I, II, II | 3 | |
| UNIV IV (Capstone) or an approved service-learning course | 2 | |
| 5 | ||
| All students take a writing intensive course in the major | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 44-46 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In keeping with the University’s commitment to continuous improvement, Felician University conducted a review and assessment of its General Education program. Results indicated that revisions to the program would benefit current and prospective students.
- A reduction in required credit hours from 50 to 44-46 in all bachelor’s degree programs.
- An increase in free elective options for most degree programs and majors, creating more opportunities for students to add minors, areas of concentration and certificates.
- A revised credit distribution for bachelor’s programs including:
- Students now complete 9 credits in Pillar 1: The Critical Mind
- Students now complete 6 credits in Pillar 2: Global Cultural Competence
- Students now complete 9 credits in Pillar 3: The Metaphysical Self-Faith, Spirituality, and Well-Being
- Students now complete 15-17 credits in Pillar 4: Critical Literacies including math, science, computer science, English, and oral communication.
- Students now complete 5 credits of 4 UNIV courses, including a new UNIV capstone course featuring service-learning.
- Greater transparency in Felician publications surrounding General Education requirements, credit distribution requirements, and definitions of each General Education category
- Improved experiential learning opportunities
- Ongoing assessment methods to realize continuous improvement of the general education program
The new General Education requirements take effect on July 1, 2025 (for the 2025-2026 catalog year). All students entering Felician University in Fall 2025 will be required to follow the new General Education program. All current students may choose to move to the 2025-2026 catalog year; if students choose to move into the 2025-2026 catalog year, they will have to follow the new general education program.
This change does not impact current Felician students unless they choose to make a change. Current Felician students may choose to continue in their current degree program and catalog year, which will have no impact on the student’s current General Education program. Otherwise, students may choose to move into the 2025-2026 catalog year and follow the new General Education program.
The new General Education Program is 44-46 credits for all bachelor’s programs. Students satisfy requirements for specific general education categories by taking courses in a variety of liberal arts disciplines.
Students must follow all degree requirements under the catalog year for their program. Students may only have one catalog year requirement. So you cannot select one catalog year requirement for general education and another for your major.
Enrolled students may choose to move into the new catalog year to take advantage of these changes. To do so, and to learn more about how such a change may impact your degree completion, you can email your advisor and the office of the registrar (registrar@felician.edu).
Features of the Felician University General Education Program
- Interdisciplinary Learning: Society’s challenges are often complex and interconnected. The Gen-Ed program embraces interdisciplinary approaches, allowing students to see connections between different fields of study and fostering a more holistic understanding of issues through collaborative projects.
- Global Perspectives: Students benefit from exposure to and careful considerations of global issues.
- Technology Integration: Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and students need to be digitally literate. The Gen-Ed program integrates technology education, ensuring that students are equipped with the digital and technological skills necessary for the 21st century.
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Employers consistently highlight the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The Gen-Ed program emphasizes these skills, providing students with the ability to analyze information, make informed decisions, and solve complex problems.
- Cultural Competency: The Gen-Ed program includes coursework that fosters understanding and respect for others.
- Experiential Learning: Hands-on, experiential learning opportunities enhance the educational experience. The Gen-Ed program incorporates service learning and other hands-on components to give students practical, real-world experiences in their chosen fields and beyond.
- Flexibility and Personalization: The Gen-Ed program offers flexibility in course selection, allowing students to tailor their education to their interests and careers can achieved through a combination of core requirements and a variety of elective options.
- Lifelong Learning Skills: Felician’s Gen-Ed program cultivates skills that promote lifelong learning, enabling students to adapt to new challenges.
General Education Guidelines:
- Students are required to take one social science course in the general education program (students take humanities courses (RELS) in pillar 3 and a natural science course in pillar 4)
- Social Science courses include psychology, criminal justice, sociology, history, and political science.
- Students who transfer into Felician with the AA or AS degree are required to complete either the UNIV 401 capstone or an approved service-learning course; all other general education requirements are considered complete.
- ENG 101 is a prerequisite for ENG 102.
- All students are urged to complete at least one (1) eLearning (fully online or hybrid) three-credit course before completion of bachelor’s degree.
- Up to but no more than three (3) courses within a Major may be used to fulfill General Education requirements; for co-majors up to three (3) courses are allowed for each major (total of six courses).