California University of Pennsylvania believes that a liberal education is essential for all students, regardless of the profession for which they may be preparing. The purpose of the General Education program is to provide the foundation on which a student's education rests and can continue to expand throughout life. The goals, objectives and courses that comprise the General Education program are designed to provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills they will need to pursue their careers and to lead productive and rewarding lives.
As stated in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors Policy 1993-01, "The most important outcomes [of the General Education Curriculum] consist not so much in the mastery of particular bodies of knowledge as in the acquisition of skills, values, awareness, understanding, perspective and appreciation needed for continuing professional and personal growth in a rapidly changing world."
General Education includes broadly defined essential skills and knowledge needed to live healthy, ethical, fulfilling and productive lives in the modern world. However, General Education goes beyond simply fostering a particular set of skills, but additionally aims to place those skills in a wider context so that students develop the ability and habit of applying them to every aspect of their lives. General Education ensures that our graduates' education is comprehensive, introducing a wide variety of experiences, worldviews and methodologies by sampling diverse academic disciplines.
At Cal U, the General Education curriculum follows naturally from the core values of the University: integrity, civility and responsibility. Students experience these values not only in their chosen area of specialization, but also more broadly in their exposure to the arts, humanities, and social and natural sciences. This liberal education provides the essential basis for building character and careers in an increasingly dynamic world.
Students are required to complete 40-41 credits of General Education coursework. This requirement is achieved by taking courses in a series of different "menus," each of which is designed to address a particular set of educational goals. Each menu has a list of courses that satisfy the menu goals. Students may select any course from the menu, unless their major program of study mandates a particular choice. Students should always consult with an academic adviser or their department chair regarding program-specific requirements.