General Education Program
General Education Program
The Bethel Core at Bethel University provides an academic base and educational experience for all students in the liberal arts and professional disciplines. As such, it is designed to assist students to develop essential skills in written and verbal communication, in analytical abilities, and in critical thinking. The program gives students a basic knowledge of and appreciation for the humanities, natural sciences, Social Sciences, Christian thought, and physical wellness. An understanding of these broad fields of knowledge assists students to establish a foundation for lifelong intellectual, spiritual, and physical growth. In addition, the Bethel Core seeks to instill ethical, aesthetic, multicultural and evangelical Christian faith values to help students live meaningful, productive, and satisfying lives of service to family, church, and community.
The Bethel Core includes the following courses which are required for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences degrees. Some academic majors may require different courses or specific courses within a broad area requirement. See the academic department sections of this catalog for those requirements.
a) Communication
| ENGL 101 | Written Communication II | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Written Communication III | 3 |
| Choose two of three options for a total of 6 hours: | 6 |
| Foreign Language (two semesters) | 6 |
| OR | |
| Foreign Language (one semester) | 3 |
| AND | |
| COMM 171 | Speech Communication | 3 |
b) Mathematics
MATH
| College Level Mathematics | 3 |
c) Humanities/Fine Arts
| PHIL 452 | Senior Experience | 1 |
| Choose two of three options for a total of 6 hours: | 6 |
FA/THTR/ART/Music
| Elective(s) | 3 |
LIT
| Literature Elective | 3 |
HIST
| History Elective | 3 |
d) Natural Sciences
| BIOL 115 | Human Biology | 3 |
| OR | |
| NS 110 | Environmental Science | 3 |
| OR | |
| NS 291 | Physical World | 3 |
| OR | |
| Any BIOL,CHEM, PHYS | 3-4 |
e) Social Sciences/History
f) Bible/Religion
Total Credits 42
Each student who enrolls at Bethel University must demonstrate proficiencies in the areas of English and mathematics. These proficiencies must be met before a student completes 24 semester hours at Bethel.
English Proficiency can be demonstrated in any of the following ways:
Provide evidence of holding an Associates or Bachelors degree from an accredited college/university.
Provide a college transcript that certifies completion of 62 transferable hours of coursework at C- or better.
Pass the Bethel University prescribed English test.
Provide a college transcript that certifies completion of a college-level course in writing (passed with a C- or better). This course might also be used to satisfy Written Communication II requirements toward a degree.
Receive a satisfactory score on the SAT Verbal or ACT English.
Successfully complete the Bethel University course, ENGL100, College English, 3 hours. Tutoring may be provided when deemed necessary.
Mathematics Proficiency can be demonstrated in any one of the following ways:
Provide a college transcript that certifies completion of a college-level course in mathematics (passed with a C- or better). This course might also be used to satisfy college math requirements toward a degree.
Provide a college transcript that certifies completion of a remedial mathematics pre- college-level course (passed with a C- or better).
Receive a satisfactory score on the SAT-Quantitative or ACT-Mathematics.
Pass the Bethel University mathematics test.
Successfully complete the Bethel University course, MATH 070, Math Lab, 1-3 hours.