Program: Knowledge of the Disciplines - Eastern Michigan University

Apr 03, 2025

2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog

Because each discipline offers a different perspective for understanding the world, understanding anything well requires some understanding of all of them. Students employ critical thinking skills to develop questions of inquiry that reflect an understanding of different disciplinary perspectives.

Students are to choose:

Two approved courses for Arts with different prefixes
Two approved courses for Humanities with different prefixes
Two approved courses for Natural Sciences with different prefixes (each course - or course combination - includes a lab portion)
Two approved courses for Social Sciences with different prefixes

Note: Courses applicable to Knowledge of the Disciplines may also be listed as courses within Perspectives on a Diverse World. Students may NOT use the same course to meet both General Education requirements. Courses taken to satisfy General Education requirements may also count towards major or minor requirements.

Arts [GEKA]

Choose two courses with different prefixes (e.g. ARTH and CRTW), from the list of approved courses below

A
AMA 240 - Managing the Creative Process [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTE 220 - Visual Arts for Elementary Teachers [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTH 100 - Art Appreciation [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTH 161 - Survey of Non-Western Art [GEGA or GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTH 162 - Survey of Western Art I [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTH 264 - Modern Art [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTH 267 - History of Asian Art [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTS 101 - Introduction to Art [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTS 103 - Ceramics for Non-Majors [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTS 104 - Graphic Design for Non-Majors [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTS 105 - Photography for Non-Majors [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTS 106L3 - Watercolor for Non-Majors [GEKA and GELB] 3 hrs
ARTS 107 - Oil Painting for Non-Majors [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTS 109 - Fibers for Non-Majors [GEKA] 3 hrs
ARTS 110 - Printmaking for Non-Majors [GEKA] 3 hrs
C
CRTW 201 - Introduction to Creative Writing [GEKA] 3 hrs
CTAR 100 - Theatre Appreciation [GEKA] 3 hrs
CTAR 106 - Introduction to the Performing Arts [GEKA] 3 hrs
CTAR 116 - Musical Theatre Dance I [GEKA] 3 hrs
CTAR 158 - Fundamentals of Acting [GEKA] 3 hrs
CTAR 222 - Drama and Play in Human Experience [GEKA] 3 hrs
CTAT 145 - Introduction to Cinema Studies [GEKA] 3 hrs
D
DANC 100 - Ballet Fundamentals for Non-Majors [GEKA] 3 hrs
DANC 102 - Modern Dance Fundamentals [GEKA] 3 hrs
DANC 106 - Introduction to the Performing Arts [GEKA] 3 hrs
DANC 113L1 - Jazz I [GEKA and GELB] 3 hrs
DANC 116 - Musical Theatre Dance I [GEKA] 3 hrs
M
MUED 220 - Music for the Elementary Teacher [GEKA] 3 hrs
MUSC 100 - Music Theory Fundamentals [GEKA] 3 hrs
MUSC 105 - Appreciating Jazz: America’s Music [GEKA] 3 hrs
MUSC 106 - Introduction to the Performing Arts [GEKA] 3 hrs
MUSC 107 - Music Appreciation [GEKA] 3 hrs
MUSC 108 - World Music [GEGA or GEKA] 3 hrs
S
SAG 175 - Graphics for Simulation I [GEKA] 3 hrs
Approved “Arts” courses, no longer offered: CTAR 150L, CTAR 150L3

Humanities [GEKH]

Choose two courses with different prefixes (e.g. LITR and PHIL), from the list of approved courses below

A
ARTH 151 - Reason and Revolution [GEKH] 3 hrs
C
CHL 137 - Harry Potter: Literary Allusion, Children’s Literature and Popular Culture [GEKH] 3 hrs
CHL 207 - Introduction to Children’s Literature [GEKH] 3 hrs
CHNE 121L5 - Beginning Chinese I [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
or CHNE 122L5 - Beginning Chinese II [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
CHNE 211L5 - Beginning Chinese III [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
or CHNE 212L5 - Beginning Chinese IV [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
CLAS 106 - Rome and America [GEKH] 6 hrs
CTAO 210 - Interpretative Reading [GEKH] 3 hrs
F
FRNH 121L5 - Beginning French [GEKH or GELB] 4 hrs
or FRNH 122L5 - Beginning French [GEKH or GELB] 4 hrs
FRNH 221L5 - Intermediate French (Reading) [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
or FRNH 222L5 - Intermediate French (Reading) [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
FRNH 233L5 - Intermediate French Conversation, Composition and Grammar [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
or FRNH 234L5 - Intermediate French Conversation, Composition and Grammar [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
G
GERN 121L5 - Beginning German [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
or GERN 122L5 - Beginning German [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
GERN 179 - Special Topics 3 hrs
GERN 221L5 - Intermediate German Reading [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
or GERN 222L5 - Intermediate German Reading [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
GERN 233L5 - Intermediate German Conversation, Composition and Grammar [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
or GERN 234L5 - Intermediate German Conversation, Composition and Grammar [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
H
HIST 101 - Western Civilization to 1648 [GEKH] 3 hrs
HIST 102 - Western Civilization, 1648 to World War II [GEKH] 3 hrs
HIST 109 - World History to 1500 [GEKH] 3 hrs
HIST 151 - Reason and Revolution [GEKH] 3 hrs
HIST 160 - Reacting to the Past [GEKH] 3 hrs
HIST 204 - Introduction to the History of Judaism [GEKH] 3 hrs
J
JPNE 121L5 - Beginning Japanese I [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
or JPNE 122L5 - Beginning Japanese II [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
JPNE 211L5 - Intermediate Japanese I [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
or JPNE 212L5 - Intermediate Japanese II [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
K
KORN 121L5 - Beginning Korean I [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
or KORN 122L5 - Beginning Korean II [GEKH or GELB] 5 hrs
L
LITR 100 - Introduction to Literature [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 101 - Introduction to Fiction [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 102 - Introduction to Poetry [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 103 - Introduction to Drama [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 105 - Mythology in Literature: Greek, Roman, and Norse [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 106 - Rome and America [GEKH] 6 hrs
LITR 160 - African American Literature [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 161 - Native American Literature [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 180 - Rebels and Outsiders in Literature [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 200 - Literary Studies for Literature Lovers [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 201 - Introduction to Science Fiction [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 210 - Introduction to Shakespeare [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 222 - LGBT/Queer Literatures [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 240 - Mysteries, Detective Fiction, and Crime Stories [GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 251 - The Bible as Literature [GEKH] 3 hrs
P
PHIL 100 - Introduction to Philosophy [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 110 - Philosophies of Life [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 120 - Introduction to Critical Reasoning [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 212 - Philosophy of Art [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 215 - Philosophy of Religion [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 216 - Philosophy, Technology, and Digital Life [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 220 - Ethics [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 221 - Business Ethics [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 223 - Medical Ethics [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 224 - Ethics and Food [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 225 - Philosophy & Society [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 226 - Feminist Theory [GEGA or GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 228 - Global Ethics [GEGA or GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 229 - Environmental Ethics [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 260 - Existentialism [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 280 - Philosophy and the Fundamentals of Scientific Reasoning [GEKH] 3 hrs
PHIL 292 - Philosophy of Buddhism [GEKH] 3 hrs
PLSC 213 - Introduction to Political Thought [GEKH] 3 hrs
R
RLST 100 - The Comparative Study of Religion [GEKH] 3 hrs
RLST 275 - Gender, Sexuality, and Religion in the U.S. [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
S
SPNH 121L5 - Beginning Spanish I [GEKH or GELB] 4 hrs
or SPNH 122L5 - Beginning Spanish II [GEKH or GELB] 4 hrs
SPNH 233L5 - Intermediate Spanish I [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
or SPNH 234L5 - Intermediate Spanish II [GEKH or GELB] 3 hrs
W
WGST 222 - LGBT/Queer Literatures [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
WGST 226 - Feminist Theory [GEGA or GEKH] 3 hrs
WGST 275 - Gender, Sexuality, and Religion in the U.S. [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
Approved “Humanities” courses, no longer offered: SPNH 221, SPNH 222

Natural Sciences [GEKN]

Choose two courses or course combinations with different prefixes, from the list of approved courses below.

Note - Some options require students to take two courses (e.g., ASTR 105 and ASTR 204) and some are one-course options (e.g., ESSC 110). Each course - or course combination - includes a lab portion

A
ASTR 105 - Exploration of the Universe [GEKN] 3 hrs
and ASTR 204 - Astronomical Investigations [GEKN] 1 hr
ASTR 205 - Principles of Astronomy [GEKN] 4 hrs
and ASTR 204 - Astronomical Investigations [GEKN] 1 hr
B
BIO 105 - Introductory Biology for Non-majors [GEKN] 4 hrs
BIO 106 - Biology from a Human Perspective [GEKN] 4 hrs
BIO 110 - Introductory Biology I [GEKN] 3 hrs
and BIO 111 - Introductory Biology I Laboratory [GEKN] 2 hrs
BIO 110 - Introductory Biology I [GEKN] 3 hrs
and BIO 112 - Introductory Biology I Lab, Small World [GEKN] 2 hrs
BIO 130 - Introduction to Botany [GEKN] 4 hrs
BIO 140 - Introduction to Zoology [GEKN] 4 hrs
C
CHEM 101 - Chemistry for Elementary Teachers [GEKN] 3 hrs
CHEM 107 - Better Living Through Chemistry [GEKN] 3 hrs
and CHEM 108 - How Chemistry Works [GEKN] 1 hr
CHEM 111 - The Chemistry of Us [GEKN] 3 hrs
and CHEM 116 - Chemistry and Society Laboratory [GEKN] 1 hr
CHEM 115 - Our Environment and Its Chemistry [GEKN] 3 hrs
and CHEM 116 - Chemistry and Society Laboratory [GEKN] 1 hr
CHEM 117 - Fundamentals of Chemistry-Lecture [GEKN] 3 hrs
and CHEM 118 - Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory [GEKN] 1 hr
CHEM 120 - Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry [GEKN] 4 hrs
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I [GEKN] 3 hrs
and CHEM 122 - General Chemistry I Laboratory [GEKN] 1 hr
E
ESSC 101 - Introduction to Weather and Forecasting [GEKN] 4 hrs
ESSC 108 - Introduction to Earth Science [GEKN] 3 hrs
and ESSC 109 - Introduction to Earth Science Laboratory [GEKN] 1 hr
ESSC 110 - The Dynamic Earth System [GEKN] 4 hrs
ESSC 114 - Geology of the National Parks [GEKN] 4 hrs
ESSC 120 - Dinosaurs, Mammoths and Trilobites: An Introduction to Paleontology [GEKN] 4 hrs
ESSC 202 - Earth Science for Elementary Teachers [GEKN] 3 hrs
F
FERM 101 - Introduction to Fermentation Science [GEKN] 3 hrs
and FERM 102 - Introduction to Fermentation Science Laboratory [GEKN] 1 hr or CHEM 108
P
PHY 100 - Physics for Elementary Teachers [GEKN] 3 hrs
PHY 101 - Physical Science in the Arts [GEKN] 4 hrs
PHY 221 - Mechanics, Sound and Heat [GEKN] 4 hrs
PHY 223 - Mechanics and Sound [GEKN] 5 hrs
PSCI 110 - The Science of Everyday Life [GEKN] 3 hrs
PSY 101 - General Psychology Lecture [GEKN] 3 hrs
and PSY 103 - General Psychology Laboratory [GEKN] 1 hr

Social Sciences [GEKS]

Choose two courses with different prefixes (e.g. AFC and ECON), from the list of approved courses below

A
AFC 244 - Dimensions of Racism [GEGA or GEKS] 3 hrs
AFC 351 - The Social Context of African American Health [GEKS] 3 hrs
ANTH 135 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology [GEGA or GEKS] 3 hrs
ANTH 150 - Introductory Archaeology [GEKS] 3 hrs
C
COMM 225 - Listening Behavior [GEKS] 3 hrs
COMM 226 - Nonverbal Communication [GEKS] 3 hrs
COMM 227 - Interpersonal Communication [GEKS] 3 hrs
CRM 200 - Introduction to Crime and Justice [GEKS] 3 hrs
D
DTC 258 - American Regional Foods [GEKS] 3 hrs
E
ECON 100 - Introduction to Economic Problems and Policies [GEKS] 3 hrs
ECON 201 - Principles of Macroeconomics [GEKS or GEQR] 3 hrs
ECON 202 - Principles of Microeconomics [GEKS] 3 hrs
G
GEOG 107 - Introduction to Geography [GEKS] 3 hrs
H
HIST 123 - The United States to 1877 [GEKS] 3 hrs
HIST 124 - The United States, 1877 to the Present [GEKS] 3 hrs
J
JRNL 213 - Introduction to Journalism [GEKS] 3 hrs
L
LEAD 201L1 - Introduction to Leadership [GEKS and GELB] 3 hrs
LING 201 - An Introduction to Linguistics [GEKS] 3 hrs
P
PLSC 112 - American Government [GEKS] 3 hrs
PLSC 113 - American Government Honors [GEKS] 3 hrs
PLSC 202 - State and Local Government [GEKS] 3 hrs
PLSC 212 - Introduction to International Politics [GEKS] 3 hrs
PLSC 217 - Introduction to Law and Courts [GEKS] 3 hrs
PURL 201 - Public Relations and Public Responsibility [GEKS] 3 hrs
S
SOCL 105 - Introductory Sociology [GEKS] 3 hrs
U
URP 115 - The American City [GEKS] 3 hrs
See General Education for a complete list of program requirements.