General Education Core FAQs
The following information will help answer questions you might have about fulfilling the general education core requirements for the College of Liberal Arts. Please note:
- If you are in the Honors College, you will need to refer to its website with questions regarding the university CORE requirements.
- The same course cannot be used to satisfy two different requirements, with the exception of the multicultural or international requirements.
- There are differences among the university core requirements, college requirements, and department requirements. Please check with your advisor for clarification.
If you have questions regarding the university core requirements listed below, please click on the appropriate link.
Wilson Advising Center
First and Second Year Seminars
- If I am a transfer student with 24 credits, do I need to take the first year seminar?
- Yes. For transfer students without a previously awarded degree, an exemption for 1st year seminar is usually granted for satisfactory completion (passing grades) of 30 or more semester units.
- What are my options for the first year seminar?
- Ideally you want to take a first year seminar that corresponds with your major. Liberal Arts majors will take COLA 100LA. For those who are still unsure of his/her major should take COLA 100E.
- If I attended a college/university for two years, but have below 60 credits completed, do I need to take the second year seminar?
- Yes. For transfer students without a previously awarded degree, 2nd year seminars are usually granted for satisfactory completion of 60 or more semester units.
- What are my options for the second year seminar?
- Currently ENG 231 - World Lit I or 232 - World Lit II are your options for the second year seminar. Next year courses may be added.
English
- If I received a 30 on my ACTs or a 680 on my SATs and tested into ENG 102, do I have to take ENG 101?
- No. If you test into ENG 102 or have already taken ENG 102, you are exempt from ENG 101.
- I received AP credits for my ENG 101; can I just sign up for ENG 102?
- Yes. If you have transferred your credits to UNLV, you are eligible for ENG 102. If they are not in our system, take your copy to the ENG department to be placed into ENG 102.
- If I received a 17 or below on my ACTs or a 490 or below on my SATs and did not test into ENG 101, but I tested into ENG 101E, do I receive credit for the course?
- Yes. You will need to take ENG 101E, which is a pass/fail course, then you will take ENG 101F for a grade the following semester. The ENG 101E and ENG 101F will give you the equivalent of ENG 101. You will then take ENG 102.
- My SAT or ACT scores or lack thereof do not accurately reflect my writing ability. Can I still place into ENG 101?
- Yes. You can either take the ACT Residual Exam or you can complete a placement portfolio through the English Department.
- I completed my ENG 101 and 102 requirements at another college/university; why does it not show on my worksheet?
- You will need to bring in course descriptions to your advisor, who will fill out the necessary paperwork if appropriate.
- If English is not my first language, what English courses do I take?
- ENG 113 and 114, "Composition I & II for International Students." These are taken in place of ENG 101 and 102. Please contact the Office of International Students.
Math
- What is the lowest math I can take for my major?
- Each major may require different math requirements. Please refer to your department section of the university catalog.
- If I did not test into the required math course, which course/courses do I need to take first?
- MATH 95, with a C or higher, is the prerequisite for MATH 120. MATH 96, with a C or higher, is the prerequisite for MATH 124.
- Does the math department have a placement test?
- Yes. The department is located in the CDC #8. Contact them at 895-3567 for test dates and times.
- I am not strong in math; is tutoring available?
- Yes. Please contact 702-895-5154 or visit the Department of Mathematical Sciences website.
- I took a statistics course at another institution; will this satisfy my math requirement?
- No. You are required to take a nonstatistical math course.
*Note: Duplicate credits cannot be earned in any two of:
- MATH 124, 126, 128
- MATH 127, 128
- MATH 176, 181
Constitutions (must have U.S. and Nevada)
- I took a U.S. history or U.S. government course at another college/university; why does it not show up on my worksheet as satisfying the U.S. portion of my constitutions?
- You will need to bring in course descriptions to your advisor, who will fill out the necessary paperwork if appropriate. If approved, you will need to complete the Nevada portion of the constitutions.
- Which courses satisfy the U.S. constitution requirement at UNLV?
- HIST 101, 401, 412; PSC 304, 330, 409C; and URST 241.
- Which courses satisfy the Nevada constitution requirement at UNLV?
- HIST 102, 217, 402, 417A or PSC 100, 401D.
- Which courses satisfy both the U.S. and Nevada constitution requirement at UNLV?
- HIST 100 or PSC 101.
- If I'm a political science major, can I use PSC 101 to satisfy my constitutions requirement?
- No. You cannot use any major prefixed courses in your general education CORE. You must take a U.S. and Nevada history to satisfy the requirement.
- If I'm a history major, can I use HIST 101 and 102 to satisfy my constitutions requirement?
- No. You must take PSC 101. You cannot use any major prefixed courses in your general education CORE.
Sciences (one science with a lab and one without)
- I took science with a lab at another institution; why did it not come in as a science with a lab?
- You will need to bring in a course description to your advisor, who will fill out the necessary paperwork.
- I took preparatory chemistry; will that count as my nonlab science?
- No. Preparatory chemistry is for students who are deficient from high school or who need to get into CHEM 121: general chemistry.
- If I'm a Psychology major do I have to take BIOL 100 or 189?
- Yes. This is a Psychology department requirement. For those who would like to take PSY 303 will want to complete BIOL 189, 196, or higher.
Humanities (must be from two different areas)
- I took a HUM prefixed course, which came in as a history course, which is my major; can I use it as a humanities?
- No. Since the course was accepted to UNLV as a history credit, you cannot use it for any part of your CORE, since you are a history major.
Logic (PHIL 102)
- I took a philosophy course that was titled "Intro to Logic"; will this course satisfy the requirement?
- PHIL 102 is titled "Critical Thinking and Reasoning"; unless it is the same title, it will not come in as our PHIL 102. You will need to get a course description and compare it with our course description in the university catalog. If you still feel it is the same course, drop off a course description with your advisor, who will fill out the necessary paperwork if appropriate.
Fine Arts (one must be introductory or appreciation)
- I took an acting course at another university; will it satisfy the requirement?
- This requirement is satisfied by a textbook course — no hands-on and no performance or studio. If you have questions, please contact your advising center.
- As a liberal arts major; do I have to take six credits of fine arts?
- Yes, three credits satisfy the university core requirement, and the other three credits satisfy the College of Liberal Arts requirement. Please see your advisor if you have further questions.
- I took a HUM course that focused on the fine arts; can I use this course to satisfy the fine arts requirement?
- This will depend on the course description, which you will need to provide to your advisor. Your advisor will fill out the necessary paperwork.
Foreign Languages or Foreign Culture
- I took a language course; can I now take a culture course to satisfy this requirement?
- No. This requirement is satisfied by either taking two semesters of the same foreign language (conversation courses, ASL, and computer courses are excluded) or two foreign culture courses.
Social Science (must be from three different areas)