You need at least 18 credit hours in humanities, social sciences, and writing in order to graduate from one of the College's 14 Bachelor of Science degree programs (the Computer Science Bachelor of Arts degree follows a different General Education Curriculum). Some degree programs require more credit hours in this area. You can learn more about the courses below, including course descriptions and prerequisites, in the University Catalog. Pre-Fall 2018 HSS/Writing requirements may be found here.
The following minimum requirements apply:
A. Writing: 3 credit hours. Choose one of the following:
- ENES 1010 (first-year engineering students only)
- ENES 3100, ENLP 3100, WRTG 3030, WRTG 3035, or PHYS 3050
- ONLY this specific topical Global Seminar of WRTG 3020 [Irish Odysseys] may apply as a writing course or as HSS course (but not both); no other topics of WRTG 3020 are approved for the writing requirement
B. Humanities and Social Sciences: 15 credit hours of approved courses, of which 6 must be at the upper-division level (3000 or higher).
Explanation of Categories on the Approved H&SS Course List
Courses approved for the H&SS requirement have the class attribute of Engineering & Applied Science General Education: Humanities & Social Science in the Class Search. Class Search Tips
This includes the following categories.
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The Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society teaches H&SS courses designed especially for engineers, and all Herbst courses are approved for H&SS credit.
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All Engineering Leadership Program courses (with course prefix of ENLP) are approved for H&SS credit.
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All Engineering Honors Program courses (with course prefix of EHON) are approved for H&SS credit.
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Foreign Language. All foreign language courses at the 1000- and 2000- levels and all foreign language courses at the 3000+ levels on the A&S General Education Arts & Humanities list are approved. The college encourages students to pursue the study of a new language. However, students should NOT enroll in courses for which they have already mastered the material.
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First-Year Seminar Courses. Some First-Year Seminars (FYSM) will apply as lower division Humanities & Social Science credit for the College of Engineering. Consult this list to see which FYSM courses are approved.
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College of Arts & Sciences General Education Courses: Any course included in the A&S General Education categories of:
- Arts & Humanities
- Social Sciences
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Any other course specifically approved for all students by the Undergraduate Education Council of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. The following courses are so approved:
Up to six credits of the following ROTC courses also count as H&SS electives:
Up to one credit hour of COEN 1510 is also approved.
Strategies for Fulfilling H&SS Requirements
In choosing your H&SS electives, try to envision a coherent plan that combines both breadth and depth. Avoid accumulating a host of unrelated and/or introductory courses. There are many useful and reasonable ways to combine H&SS courses, but you need to think first about your particular interests and needs. A few organizing strategies:
- Concentrate your courses in a single department, such as History, Philosophy, Political Science, or a Foreign Language. This sort of grouping may enable you to declare a minor field or earn a certificate; requirements vary by department.
- Create an international focus to your degree by declaring the Global Engineering Minor. A number of the globally- and regionally-focused courses within the minor also count towards humanities and social science requirements.
- Consider earning the Engineering, Science and Society Certificate to engage in contemporary issues regarding the promotion, use, and possible risks of engineering and applied science.
- Consider courses in the Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society, which offers seminars that are already designed to fit well with one another in a coherent, interdisciplinary program. The Herbst Program's small classes are an excellent opportunity for you to interact with faculty and with fellow students, and to work on your writing and public speaking skills. Each semester Herbst offers upper-division H&SS courses with no prerequisites.
- In addition to its regular freshman and junior/senior seminars, Herbst offers a variety of special interest classes, including: History of Science and Technology, Tradition and Identity, Engineering, Science, and Society, The Meaning of Information Technology, Leonardo da Vinci's World, X'ian China: Self-awareness and Images of the Other (Summer Course offered in X'ian, China)
- ENES 3100 Advanced Humanities for Engineers: The Human Quest Continues fulfills the college writing requirement (or may be used as an upper-division HSS class). ENES 1010 Humanities for Engineers: The Human Quest fulfills the college writing requirement (or may be used as a lower-division HSS class).