Frequently Asked Questions

While some students approach the General Education program as a list of courses to “get through as quickly as possible,” best practices suggest that students approach Gen Ed as an opportunity to discover new ideas, disciplines, and topics that you may not have encountered in your earlier education. See it a chance to learn more about what you don’t know.  Gen Ed classes can be transformative; you may find a new passion or new way of looking at the world.

There is not special order; many programs suggest students concentrate on completing your Gen Ed courses in your first two years of study, but only Written & Oral Communication courses and Mathematics & Statistics requirements need to be completed within your first 45 semester credit hours. 

The Gen Ed requirements checklist is a handy list which graphically shows which courses count for which categories and when there are limits such as not taking two courses in the same discipline within one category.  (Link for Bachelors list here)

In addition to the GenEd Checklist, students can consult the Catalog here: Click on this link. There is also a place to check on the top banner of the Degree Audit where it says General Education.   

You cannot use the same course for two categories within the Gen Ed program; however, it is possible to use a Gen Ed course for Gen Ed AND a major, minor or area of focus.

Many Gen Ed courses are offered every semester, but one can only be sure once the schedule is released.  You can use the Course Registration filter in MyNKU to look for courses in particular categories.  Use the advance search by selecting the Filter button in the far right of the screen and then select with Gen Ed category you wish to search for under Type.

Here’s a link to a guide to using Course Registration in MyNKU: Registration Guide: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region (nku.edu)

It is a good idea to look at your program’s 4 Year plan to get a sense of when you are advised to take your Gen Ed courses.  Your advisor will also be a good source of information, but generally students tend to try to get most of your Gen Ed requirements completed within the first two years.  Only Math and Written/Oral Communication need to be completed within the first 45 hours.

Some majors do require certain Gen Eds.  The best way to find those are to look at the degree requirements in the catalog for your degree.  Some programs require certain
grades (for example, C or better) for certain courses. Again, the best way to find out these requirements are to read carefully your program’s requirements. Here is a list of all degree programs: Click on this link

In general, Gen Ed courses do not require prerequisites with the exception of math and science courses. Prerequisites, in general, are courses that include content/skills that are needed to be successful in the course.  We don’t want to permit a student to enroll in a course unless they are prepared to pass, so we identify courses that need to come before. The catalog is the best course to determine what are the prerequisites for a course. Here’s a link to quickly look up a course: Click on the link

No, we count all the foreign languages as one kind of course. However, it is good to know that if you enter into a higher-level foreign language course and earn a C- or better, you will receive credit for the 101-level foreign language course as well.

Yes, students can request for a course be re-evaluated for possible Gen Ed credit. You will be asked to supply a copy of your syllabus for the course you took at the other institution.   The decision of the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Academic Affairs is final and any change will automatically be reflected in the degree audit if approved.  Here’s a link to find out more about the process: https://inside.nku.edu/registrar/graduation/degree-audit.html.

We have a list of course equivalencies: https://www.nku.edu/admissions/transfer/equivalencies.html.
It is recommended that you confirm with the registrar that the course will count for the Gen Ed before you enroll in the course.

 

Our Gen Ed program has specific learning outcomes and so it is unlikely that a non-Gen Ed course would be given credit; however, if you and your advisor believe there is a case for substituting an unapproved course for Gen Ed credit, your advisor must submit the form.

Different courses have different placement test. Since ACT/SAT scores are optional, you may or may not have those scores to assist with placing you in a course that

you are most likely to succeed. If you do have those scores, your advisor will help you select the right course in Math or English.  Here are other placement tests to know about:

• Math: (from the web site) Students must complete the ALEKS Assessment for math placement testing (in which there is a fee). ALEKS PPL is an online placement tool that also includes learning modules to improve placement. After completing an unproctored baseline assessment, you can select the appropriate learning module to help improve your score. Then, the placement exam is completed again in a proctored online environment. The proctored exam can be completed from any computer with a webcam. Those who spend 7-8 hours working in the module tend to improve their placement by one course. You will need your NKU user ID and password to access ALEKS. Only proctored attempts may be used for placement. Here’s the link to take the ALEKS Assessment: https://inside.nku.edu/testing/placement/ALEKS       
• English: For English and Reading placement, students will complete the NKUWrite. The NKUWrite placement is a Directed Self-Placement assessment. It will take you through a series of questions to determine the appropriate English and Reading courses for you. There is no cost for this assessment. For registration purposes, you will need your student ID number. Here’s the link to take the ALEKS Assessment:  https://inside.nku.edu/testing/placement/nkuwrite
• Foreign Language: The WebCAPE placement test is required, but non-binding, for all students who begin language study in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, or Spanish in a course higher than 101. There is no cost for the test. NKU offers retroactive credit for students who begin their study of a language at a level beyond the beginning course through the World Language Incentive Program (WLIP). If you plan to apply for WLIP, you must normally take the WebCAPE exam before the end of your first week of language study at Northern. Here’s the link to the additional information about the WebCAPE placement test, including the link to the test itself: https://inside.nku.edu/artsci/departments/worldlanglit/placement.html

Yes, credit by exam is an available option even after you leave high school.  The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST and NKU’s own Credit for Prior Learning Examination (CPLE) at Northern Kentucky University gives students the opportunity to receive college credit  for all sorts of courses including Gen Ed by earning qualifying scores on any of the CLEP, DSST or CPLE examinations. Students can earn credit for knowledge they have acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job- training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships. See the Testing Office website for more information: Testing Services: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region (nku.edu).

 

NKU’s general education program is named the Foundation of Knowledge.  In this FAQ, we have used Gen Ed for clarity, but whenever you see Foundation of Knowledge, it is referring to the general education program at NKU.

Colleges and Universities across the country all agree that a college education should have a certain breath of knowledge.  We see a college education as not simply vocational training, but an educational endeavor that should broaden an individual’s knowledge about a range of content.  Different institutions have different approaches; some have a common core of courses that all students must complete, and others require students to select from a variety of courses that all share some common learning goals.  Our program’s mission is as follows:

MISSION: The General Education Program at Northern Kentucky University guides students to become independent learners, innovative thinkers, and responsible citizens. The program gives students a foundation of values, knowledge, and skills that will empower them to discover their personal potential, communicate effectively, work in diverse communities, and solve problems in a global society. Courses in the program will invite students to expand the life-long practice of asking questions, seeking new points of view, applying principles of reason, adjusting ideas in relation to new situations, and taking reflective action. Northern Kentucky University’s general education program is designed to ensure breadth in a student's foundational intellectual experience, while at the same time complement all the university’s majors and degree programs.

Here are the Gen Ed Goals: PROGRAM GOALS (nku.edu) which are

• Critical Thinking
• Perspectives
• Communication 
• Science and Technology
• Personal Responsibility and Community