General Education Core (GEC)
The primary objective of any institution of higher education is to produce a knowledgeable and informed graduate; thus, requires a core of essential studies in order to expose its graduates to a body of knowledge which is common to all educated people. The core also prepares students for a major college course of study. The GEC is the foundation of the curriculum of this institution and reflects the commitment of Cumberland University to the liberal arts and sciences. The student will complete a minimum of 43-47 semester hours in the GEC. All graduates must complete the General Education Core (GEC) requirements of this institution. A student holding a University parallel associate or baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution is considered to have completed the General Education Core (GEC) requirement of this institution. Some programs of study require particular GEC courses or additional GEC courses for completion of the degree. NOTE: Some degrees require additional general electives be taken from the General Education Core beyond the minimum mandated by Cumberland University for those students seeking licensure. The specific configuration of necessary classes is outlined in each program of study.
All full-time Cumberland University students must be continually enrolled in English Composition classes until the General Education Core (GEC) requirements for English Composition are satisfied. All students must register for a mathematics course no later than the second semester of enrollment at Cumberland unless prior credit has been earned, and students must be continually enrolled in mathematics until the GEC requirement for Mathematics is satisfied. Students may withdraw from Mathematics one time, but must register in the following semester and complete the course.
As a requirement for graduation, all senior students will take a mandatory Exit Exam to measure the extent to which they have attained the GEC competencies. The Exit Exam will be administered each Fall and Spring Semester. This Exit Exam will assist the faculty and administration in assessment of the quality of the GEC program, and the GEC competencies of Graduates.