Center for Academic Advising

General Education Core Requirements

LEVEL II – Competencies

The following provide detailed descriptions of LEVEL II - Competencies (to be completed within 53 credits of matriculation), including exemption procedures.

Students may demonstrate competency in these areas by the methods outlined below. The assessment criteria will be passing grades in required courses or passing grades on required examinations. The Registrar's Office will be responsible for certifying that a student has met all General Education Core requirements.

1. English Composition I, II (6 credits)

   The Composition requirement may be satisfied in any of the following ways:

   1. By achieving a score of 600 or above on the SAT Verbal exam, and having a strong high school record with an "A" average in English; the student will be granted an exemption from ENG 101, Composition I. Exemption carries three credits.
   2. By achieving a score of "3" or better in the CEEB's Advanced Placement Exam. The student will be granted an exemption from ENG 101, Composition I. Exemption carries three credits.
   3. By achieving a score of 500 or above or the 50th percentile or above in the CLEP General Exam the student will be given the opportunity for exemption from ENG 101. Students must also take the Departmental Essay Exam in Composition I.
   4. By successfully completing ENG 101 and ENG 102 (or ENG 103 in lieu of ENG 102).
   5. By successfully completing either ENG 102 or ENG 101 and having the other course waived through applicable English Department policy.
   6. By being admitted to the Honors Program and successfully completing ENG 106H.
2. Public Speaking (3 credits)

   Courses satisfying this requirement must require a significant element of formal public speaking.

   The Public Speaking requirement may be satisfied in either of the following ways:

   1. By successfully completing one of the SPC 101 courses or SPC 102H.
   2. By passing the Speech Exemption Examination. This exemption carries three credits. See the current Master Schedule of Courses for details of the exemption procedure.
3. Health (3 credits)

   All curricula except Nursing and the B.S. Biology programs include a Health Requirement. This requirement may be satisfied in the following ways:

   1. By successfully completing one of the following: SFL 194 Health & Wellness, SFL 361 Health Seminar: Women in Today's World, or SFL 362 Men's Health Seminar (3 credits).
   2. By achieving a score of 70% for SFL 194 on the Health Exemption Exam administered by the SFL Dept. This exemption carries 3 credits. During the academic year the exam is given the first full week of classes and is a multiple choice test. The names of all students who receive a passing grade are forwarded to the Registrar, and each such student receives a grade of P in SFL 194 (3 credits).
4. SFL Physical Education Activities (1 credit)

   Every student enrolled at SSC must complete the one semester (1 credit) physical education activities requirement. Normally, these activities are taken in the Freshman year, but in any case the requirement must be completed by the end of the Sophomore year. (See Course Sequence in this section regarding limitations on courses which can be taken by Juniors and Seniors). Exemptions are granted for any one of the following reasons:

   1. The filing, with the Registrar, of medical certification from the student's physician to the effect that the student is not able to participate in physical activities.
   2. Fulfillment of the physical education requirement at another institution prior to transfer to SSC.
   3. The acceptance by SSC upon initial admission to the College of 30 or more semester hours of credit transferred from another institution.
5. History Distribution Sequence (6 credits)
   History 101
   History 102
6. The First Year Seminar I, II (3 credits)
   Required of all undeclared freshmen. See IDS department [/ids/] listing for full description.
7. Full year Distribution sequence in Laboratory Science (6- 8 credits)