Academics
General Education
For Transfer Students
This page is meant to help you understand the General Education Curriculum at Seaver College. Information on this page is still subject to revision.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What courses do I need to complete for my General Education units?
- Must I complete the GEs in a specific order?
- I am a transfer, how do I figure out what I have to take? Am I going to have to do a First Year Seminar?
- What classes does the Great Books Colloquium replace?
- What classes does the Social Action and Justice Colloquium replace?
- Can I get AP credit for some of the requirements?
- Can I take any placement tests or test out of any classes?
- Will I be able to take classes overseas or at another school in the summer and have them count toward my GE requirements?
- I took PE at another school, do I still have to take it here?
- Why are there classes that are zero units?
- The Writing Intensive Requirement and Research Methods/Presentation Skills class are classes from major, do my grades in them count toward my major GPA or just toward my cumulative?
- How does the Junior Writing Portfolio work?
- I'm a double major. Do I have to take the Writing Intensive and Research Methods/Presentation Skills courses for both my majors?
- How do Convocation credits work?
What courses do I need to complete for my General Education units?
Please consult the current course catalog
^ Top
Must I complete the GEs in a specific order?
There are certain sections that must be completed in sequence but there is not one set path through all of the GEs. There are also some requirements that are upper division courses, meaning they cannot be taken until the student has acquired 40 units of completed course work. In addition, there are some courses that must be taken in a given year of study as well as courses that are recommended to be taken at certain points in the academic career.
GE Courses that must be taken in sequence:
- Western Heritage: HUM 111, HUM 212, and HUM 313 must be taken in order
- Religion: REL 101, REL 102, and REL 301 must be taken in order
- The Literature requirement: ENG 101 is a prerequisite for the Literature requirement
- American Experience: POSC 104 is a prerequisite for HIST 304
GE Courses that must be taken at a certain point in the academic career:
- First-Year Seminar- The First-Year Seminar must be taken during the first semester of college work. Exceptions: Transfer students who enter with 30 or more units. GSHU 121 and SAAJ 121 count as First Year Seminar.
- Health and Lifestyles: The Health and Lifestyles requirement must be completed in the student's first year at Pepperdine.
- Junior Writing Portfolio: The Junior Writing portfolio must be completed during the junior year.
^ Top
I am a transfer, how do I figure out what I have to take? Am I going to have to do a First-Year Seminar?
After you have been accepted to Pepperdine, a summary of academic credit for work completed at other schools will be prepared and mailed to you by the Admission Records Office. You will then be able to see what GEs you will still have to take.
If you enter with 30 or more accepted transfer units, you are not required to take a First-Year Seminar. If you have fewer than 30 units, you must complete the First-Year Seminar (or you can also take the Great Books Colloquium or the Social Action and Justice Colloquium).
^ Top
What classes does the Great Books Colloquium replace?
The four Great Books courses (only when all four are completed) replace the following five GE courses:
- ENG 101
- REL 301
- the LITERATURE requirement
- FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR
- And one of the following courses:
- POSC 104
- MATH 102
- HUM 111
- HUM 212
- HUM 313
- SPE 180
- SOC 200
^ Top
What classes does the Social Action and Justice Colloquium replace?
The four Social Action and Justice Colloquium (only when all four are completed) replace the following four GE courses:
- ENG 101
- REL 301
- the LITERATURE requirement
- FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR
^ Top
Can I get AP credit for some of the requirements?
Yes, AP credit will be awarded for certain courses. Contact OneStop for details.
^ Top
Can I take any placement tests or test out of any classes?
Yes, there are some placement tests. During New Student Orientation, you can take an optional language placement test that will allow you to pass some or all of the Foreign Language requirement. Also, AP scores will allow you to pass certain courses or place into higher ones.
^ Top
Will I be able to take classes overseas or at another school in the summer and have them count toward my GE requirements?
Yes. In Pepperdine's International Programs, classes are tailored to meet your needs for GE requirements (as well as courses for certain majors). When applying for an overseas program, you should make sure that the courses offered on the desired program will fit in with your four-year plan.
There are several options for summer courses in Malibu. Pepperdine offers three, one month-long summer sessions; during each a selection of GE courses is available.
There is also the possibility of taking summer courses elsewhere. In order to make sure that the courses will transfer for GE credit, you will need to fill out a "Substitution of Units" form with a course description from the transfer school attached. The form is then submitted to the Seaver division chairperson in whose division the course under question may be found.
Keep in mind that at least sixty-four units must be completed in residence at Seaver College, and the final twenty-eight units required for a bachelor's degree must be earned at Seaver College. A minimum of twenty-four upper-division units in the student's major must be earned at Seaver College.
^ Top
I took PE at another school, do I still have to take it here?
Yes, all first-year and transfer students are required to complete PE 199: Health and Lifestyles during their first year at Seaver College. Athletes are an exception and should check with the Athletic Department.
^ Top
Why are there classes that are zero units?
Although they are listed in the GEs as zero unit courses, the WRITING INTENSIVE requirement and the RESEARCH METHODS/PRESENTATION SKILLS requirement do earn you credit. These are courses from your major that satisfy a GE requirement as well. You receive credit for them as major classes rather than as GEs. These courses guarantee that you have training in writing and research skills in your major and that those skills are transferable to other disciplines and situations outside of academic work.
The JUNIOR WRITING PORTFOLIO must be completed during your junior year, but it is comprised of papers already completed from the classes that you have taken so far during your college career.
^ Top
The Writing Intensive Requirement and Research Methods/Presentation Skills class are classes from my major, do my grades in them count toward my major GPA or just toward my cumulative?
Since the units for these classes apply to your major, so do your grades. Your grade in these classes affects both your major GPA as well as your cumulative GPA.
^ Top
How does the Junior Writing Portfolio work?
If you are entering Pepperdine as a transfer student in the fall of 2003 and you will have junior standing, please contact Theresa Flynn, who will be coordinating the Junior Writing Portfolio. If you will be a junior in the fall of 2003 and you entered under an earlier catalog year, this requirement will not apply to you.
^ Top
I'm a double major. Do I have to take the Writing Intensive and Research Methods/Presentation Skills courses for both my majors?
Because these requirements are embedded in the core coursework of the majors, you will complete them in the normal course of completing requirements for both majors.
^ Top
How do convocation credits work?
You are automatically enrolled in .5 units of Convocation during each semester you are enrolled full-time. You must attend 14 sessions of Convocation each semester to receive a grade of "A". For a calendar of events and more information, visit the Convocation web-site.
^ Top
THIS PAGE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
