Summary of General Education Requirements

Area 1. Communication 6-9 credit hours
Area 2. Fine Arts 3-6 credit hours
Area 3. Health and Wellness 3 credit hours
Area 4. Humanities 6-9 credit hours
Area 5. International and Intercultural Studies 3-6 credit hours
Area 6. Mathematical Sciences 6 credit hours
Area 7. Physical and Natural Sciences 8 credit hours
Area 8. Social and Behavioral Sciences 12-15 credit hours
Total Credit Hours Required 50 credit hours



Alternative Means of Fulfilling General Education Requirements

Recognizing the diverse backgrounds and educational experiences of its students, Radford University provides a number of alternatives for fulfilling the 50-hour General Education requirement.

Students achieving appropriate scores on College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject exams or on College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Tests may receive credit toward completion of General Education requirements in specific Knowledge Areas.

Students entering Radford University with an International Baccalaureate Certificate may receive credit toward completion of General Education requirements in specific Knowledge Areas. Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma may receive up to 30 semester hours of credit.

Students who can demonstrate that their previous learning experiences are relevant to a particular course approved for General Education credit may choose to earn credit for that course by challenge examination. Individual departments are responsible for determining which courses may be challenged for credit by exam.

Students admitted to Radford University with an Associate's Degree from a Virginia Community College based on a baccalaureate-oriented sequence of courses will be considered to have satisfied the General Education requirement. Community college students completing the Transfer Module will receive credit toward completion of the requirement.

For further information on the various options for fulfilling the General Education requirement, students should refer to the appropriate sections of the Undergraduate Catalog and should consult with their academic advisers.