General Education

General education at Union Institute & University is different with a purpose. Most colleges have an assortment of “Introduction to….” courses for their general education curriculum - not Union. Our general education courses are topic-based, and they have a direct link to our popular majors. These topics make for a seamless transition from the breadth of general education to the depth of your major.

General education provides the building blocks for a life of professional, personal, and community engagement. These courses are the foundation of a bachelor's degree, and aim to introduce students to the world of critical thinking, written expression, broad philosophical topics, scientific method, quantitative reasoning, a grounded knowledge of both worldwide and regional social concerns, problem-solving techniques, and creative inquiry in the written and visual arts.

Explore our general education courses

Union students are encouraged to select general education courses that interest them within each of our focuses outlined below. Undergraduate students must earn at least 36 credits in general education courses/credits within their degree program.

College Writing – Gen Ed code = CW

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GWRI 101

The Writer Within

3 credits

We write to be understood; to be understood, we must write well. To accomplish this goal, students must first discover the writer within themselves. In this introductory college composition course, students will identify subject matter by reflecting on who they are through personal experiences and observations. Students will use the writing process to discover who they are as learners and who they are as a part of a community. Additionally, they will use various genres in order to explore and write about their identity, work on developing a command of the language, and be introduced to the basics of research and documentation (satisfies general education credit in the College Writing domain).
1 cr. hour Co-requisite Reading Option is available
GWRI 102

Designing an Effective Research Paper

3 credits

This course builds on the student’s composition and critical analysis skills to further develop core writing practices while introducing elements of library and internet research. Readings, course activities and assignments focus on writing as a process. Students will engage in topic research and source evaluation, thesis creation, organization and development of ideas, and the editing process. Students will use APA/MLA style and demonstrate academic integrity (satisfies general education credit in the College Writing domain). Prerequisite: GWRI 101. 1 credit hour Co-requisite Reading Option is available.
GWRI 202

Writing in Your Field of Study

3 credits

Students will advance their writing ability by utilizing critical thinking skills to create an academic paper and write persuasive essays that reflect their personal field of study. This course is designed for the student who either wants to re-acquaint with academic writing or to polish writing skills. Designed for the student who has previously completed core writing requirements, this course will continue to study writing as a process, as a means of organizing thoughts, and as a form of communication. The student will review the APA/MLA writing style and be able to cite primary and secondary sources in their own field of study (satisfies general education credit in the College Writing domain). Prerequisite: GWRI 102. 1 credit hour Co-requisite Reading Option is available.

Creation and Criticism of the Arts – Gen Ed code = CA

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GART 120

Ethics of Documentary Film

3 credits

We write to be understood; to be understood, we must write well. To accomplish this goal, students must first discover the writer within themselves. In this introductory college composition course, students will identify subject matter by reflecting on who they are through personal experiences and observations. Students will use the writing process to discover who they are as learners and who they are as a part of a community. Additionally, they will use various genres in order to explore and write about their identity, work on developing a command of the language, and be introduced to the basics of research and documentation (satisfies general education credit in the College Writing domain).
1 cr. hour Co-requisite Reading Option is available
GART 125

Humor in the Visual Arts

3 credits

No description available
GMUS 105

Sound and Meaning in the 20th Century

3 credits

1 cr. hour Co-requisite Reading Option is available

Social Systems and Behavioral Science – Gen Ed code = SS

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GANT 110

Who Are We: An Introduction to Anthropology

3 credits

1 cr. hour Co-requisite Reading Option is available
GANT 220

Folklore of Childbirth

3 credits

No description available
GPSY 120

Essential Topics of Psychology

3 credits

No description available
GSBS 110

Stone Tablets to Twitter: A Social History of Communications

3 credits
GSBS 220

Human Miscommunication: Sources and Solutions

3 credits
GSOC 101

Understanding Our Social World Contemporary World Religions

3 credits

No description available
GSOC 215

Society Through Popular Media

3 credits

No description available
GSBS 225

Leadership and Followership

3 credits

No description available

Observation and Analysis of the Natural World – Gen Ed code = NW

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GBIO 201

Biological Warfare: Weaponizing the Field of Biology

3 credits

This course explores topics in biology, immunology, bacteriology, virology, epidemiology and chemistry. Through the course, students will learn about human immune response, and the life cycle of bacteria and viruses through the exploration of various biological agents that have the potential to be used as weapons against the human race. Additionally, the chemistry of specific agents and the body's biological response to these agents will be examined. The ethics and economics of prevention, intervention, treatment and prevention will be covered. The role of various governmental and medical agencies will also be explored (satisfies general education credit in the Observation and Analysis of the Natural World domain).
GBIO 225

From Healthy to Ill and Vaccines to Epidemics

3 credits

This course presents an introduction to the human body and health and outlines how a microorganism or body imbalance can quickly cause an illness. The course also presents the concepts of vaccinations and how their use has reduced infectious disease in the U.S. and globally. Moreover, the course will address how education around the world relates to relationships between vaccines and epidemics. General topics include cells, human tissues, organs and organ systems, genetics, microbiology, pathology, immunology and epidemiology (satisfies general education credit in the Observation and Analysis of the Natural World domain). 1 credit hour co-requisite reading option is available.
GENV 205

From Garbage to Greenhouse Gases: Understanding the Impact of Today’s Society on the Environment

3 credits

This introductory-level science course covers topics in the fields of biology, ecology, and physical science. The focus of the course is the changing state of the environment with regard to global climate change, natural resource depletion and exploitation, population issues, pollution sources, and waste management practices. The course also explores resource management and conservation efforts to reduce the impact of the negative forces adversely affecting various environments on earth. Using the scientific method, students will complete analytical assignments using multiple data sources (satisfies general education credit in the Observation and Analysis of the Natural World domain). 1 credit hour co-requisite reading option is available – see program advisor.
GGEO 125

From Big Bang Theory to Climate Change: The Science Behind the Theories

3 credits

This introductory-level physical science course combines concepts from geology, oceanography and meteorology to explain the science behind major theories including climate change theories. Topics include earth processes such as tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, global climate change, hurricanes, and coastal processes including erosion (satisfies general education credit in the Observation and Analysis of the Natural World domain).
GGEO 220

Geology of Natural Disasters: Tsunamis, Earthquakes and their Social Implications

3 credits

This course will explore the science of the geologic processes behind a variety of natural disasters, including but not limited to, earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunamis, floods and tornados along with researching their impacts on societies (satisfies general education credit in the Observation and Analysis of the Natural World domain).

General Education Specialization in Data Science

If you enjoy statistics or are interested in computer programming, consider getting a specialization in data science. It's a growing field that utilizes both skills to communicate solutions to problems from various industries.

Data Scientists collect, synthesize, and analyze big data to drive scientific discovery and business opportunities. They are skilled at mining data to improve performance and leveraging advanced knowledge in statistics, machine learning, and data visualization to meet the demands of modern business and science.

This STEM offering prepares you to function within the field of data as it intersects careers and various agencies in life. You will be able to choose a pathway within the broad general education paradigm to create marketable skills in data science. This specialization is available to students in any undergraduate degree program.

Earn this General Education Specialization in Data Science by completing the following three courses from the Quantitative Reasoning domain (9 hrs required):

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GSTA 221

Statistics for the Professional

3 credits

This course covers the basic statistical concepts of probability, data distributions, sampling, testing for differences in sample means, and understanding variation. It is designed for students in professional majors. Emphasis is placed on practical work applications, continuous
improvement of work processes, and the display and interpretation of data used in professional organizations to test for predictability. The ethical use of numbers is stressed. This course satisfies general education credit in the Quantitative Reasoning domain.
1 credit hour corequisite reading option is available – ask your student success coach for more information.
GSTA 401

Introduction to Informatics and Data Science

3 credits

Leaders, whether they manage for-profit, nonprofit, or government organizations, must be business savvy while being socially responsible. Accessing available information, as well as recognizing that data works to drive improvements and demonstrate efficacy to payers are crucial aspects of professional behavior. Central to this examination is the use of organizational research and statistics in forecasting, strategic planning, problem-solving, critical decision-making, and innovation. This course satisfies general education credit in the Quantitative Reasoning domain. Prerequisite: GSTA 221.
GSTA 402

Data Mining for Performance Improvement

3 credits

This course is an introductory course on data mining, the process of analyzing a large batch of information to discern trends and patterns. The course introduces the basic concepts, principles, methods, implementation, techniques, and applications of data mining, with a focus on two major data mining functions: (1) pattern discovery and (2) cluster analysis. This course satisfies
general education credit in the Quantitative Reasoning domain. Prerequisite: GSTA 221.

“General Education at Union Institute & University is different. In order to meet the needs of an adult student population, general education courses are topic-focused. Topics match majors and the life experiences of the student body. Different is good.”

Dr. Thomas Frederick
General Education Chair

Flexible classes from anywhere

Our programs are designed for students from all walks of life. Enjoy the academically rewarding and flexible majors that Union offers with close faculty support and collaboration with other students in-person and online. Most degrees can be completed 100% online.

General Education

Explore our general education courses

General Education Specialization in Data Science

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