General Education
What exactly is General Education?
Undergraduate students at Manhattanville are required to fulfill General Education requirements that are separate from major and minor requirements.
General Education refers to courses from multiple disciplines that provide a well-rounded, comprehensive education for students in every major.
GenEd 23, Manhattanville’s current General Education Program, is shaped by the university’s commitment to educate students to be socially responsible and engaged global citizens.
GenEd 23 empowers students to take the helm of their own academic journey. The curriculum is flexible but rigorous, and offers students the chance to explore fields of study that enhance written and oral communication skills, strengthen critical thinking skills, foster intercultural awareness, and cultivate a love for lifelong learning.
A distinguishing feature of GenEd 23 is the experiential learning requirement, including internships, clinical placements, independent research, student teaching, and service learning. Each of these opportunities ensure that every student is well-prepared for the 21st century workplace.
Academics at Mville Academic Support Services First Year Experience Experiential Learning
General Education Requirements
Students who matriculated prior to 2023 should consult their academic catalog for their specific Gen Ed requirements.
General Education 2016 Capability Information and Worksheet:
- Gen Ed 2016 Worksheet for Students Entering Fall 2016 or Later (Excel)
- Gen Ed 2016 Requirements Quick Reference Guide (PDF)
- Gen Ed 2016 Learning Outcomes Reference Guide (PDF)
For students who have matriculated at the university in Fall 2016 or later, the following General Education 2016 requirements are:
I. Take: One-semester First Year Seminar and Two semesters of First Year Writing.
Transfer Students: This requirement may also be fulfilled by:
- Submitting proof of award of an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree. AAS degrees are not eligible
- Receiving 30 or more approved transfer credits at Manhattanville. Check with your advisor and the Transfer Summary section of Student Planning for details.
II. Select and declare a major by the end of the Sophomore year and complete the course requirements for the major
by graduation.
III. Complete:
- A minimum of 90 credits in liberal arts for a B.A. degree
- A minimum of 60 credits in liberal arts for a B.S. degree
- A minimum of 30 liberal arts credits for a B.F.A. or B.Mus. degree
IV. Earn: At least 120 course credits overall with a cumulative GPA of 2.000 (C) or better.
All undergraduates following General Education 2016 must also successfully fulfill the FOUR PILLARS of the Manhattanville General Education 2016 Program named INQUIRY:
INQUIRY (noun | in*qui*ry): "A seeking or request for truth, information or knowledge"
INQUIRY consists of four pillars: INVESTIGATOR, INVENTOR, INTERNATIONAL CITIZEN, and INTERPRETER. These pillars enable students to obtain the tools necessary for navigating the complexities of life in today’s global society. This unique blend of liberal arts and sciences, founded upon the university’s historic core values of critical inquiry, social action and engagement, prepares students for success in the modern workplace.
INVESTIGATOR:
Students learn to apply the skills of scientific, mathematical, humanistic, and social science reasoning to articulate clear, precise, and well-organized ideas. This pillar enables students to use the knowledge they have attained to interpret arguments, reason persuasively, and draw conclusions. Requirements:
- Scientific Reasoning — 6 credits
- Mathematical Reasoning — 6 credits
- Humanistic Reasoning — 6 credits
- Social Scientific Reasoning — 6 credits
INVENTOR:
Students are encouraged to produce creative works that are personal in nature, while drawing upon historical and contemporary references. Manhattanville INVENTORS are able to articulate the relationship between works produced in a particular culture or time, and the religious, political or socio-economic circumstances of their production. Requirements:
- Creative and Aesthetic — 6 credits (Min. 3 credits of Applied coursework, but can include 3 credits of Analysis coursework for total of 6)
INTERNATIONAL CITIZEN:
Each student takes the opportunity to reflect on his or her own background, values, goals and achievements in the context of the diverse community of Manhattanville, taking special advantage of the wide range of applied liberal learning experiences the university has to offer. The INTERNATIONAL CITIZEN is able to establish connections with others and recognize his or her responsibilities to the broader community. Requirements:
- Global Systems and Civilizations:
- U.S. Diversities — 3 credits
- West (outside the U.S.) — 3 credits
- Africa, Asia, and Middle East — 3 credits
- Second Language - Minimum of 6 introductory-level credits in one language or demonstration of equivalent competency by transfer, AP, TOEFL (score 80 or higher), IELTS (score 6.5 or higher), CLEP or placement exam
- Applied Liberal Learning — 1 credit
INTERPRETER:
Students perfect their competencies in written and oral communication, as well as proficiency in digital literacy - the skills essential for success in every profession. Above all, as INTERPRETER, students learn to recognize the importance of interpretation in the ongoing quest to understand their place in the world. Requirements:
- Written Communication — 9 credits. This includes 6 credits that may be fulfilled by meeting the freshman writing requirement
- Oral Communication — 3 credits
- Digital Literacy — 3 credits
IMPORTANT ITEMS:
- A minimum C- letter grade must be earned in any general education 2016 capability to fulfill a requirement.
- Check your progress toward completion of your general education requirements now using your WebAdvisor Degree Audit! Visit the Degree Audit information page for instructions to access Degree Audit in WebAdvisor.
