General Studies (GEN)
Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.
500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.
Course Fees
Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.
GEN 100. Student Success Center First Year Experience1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: An introduction to the University of Louisville that assist new students who are unsure of their intended major or who are seeking admission to another academic unit in enhancing their personal academic integration to campus. The course focuses on individual student success, as well as students' personal and academic development as they navigate their first year of college, and helps students clarify purpose and meaning through exploration of their individual skills, and interests. The course is only for students in the College of Arts and Sciences.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 101. Arts & Sciences First Year Experience1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: An introduction to the University of Louisville and the College of Arts & Sciences for students who are pursuing a major in the college. The course is designed to assist new students in enhancing their personal and academic integration to campus. The course focuses on individual student success, as well as students' personal and academic development as they navigate their first year of college. The course helps students clarify purpose and meaning through exploration of their individual skills, values, and interests.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 103. Special Topics in College Mathematics for Non-STEM Majors3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): ACT Math subscore 0-18, SAT Math subscore of 260-500, Next Generation Accuplacer score of ARTH: 200-262, or no math placement scores.
Description: GEN 103 for non-STEM majors serves as a required intervention course for students who do not achieve the college-readiness standard for a basic Quantitative Reasoning course (e.g. MATH 105), or GEN 104. This course allows for direct instruction and individualized instruction via computer assisted learning. Course topics are determined by an individual assessment of algebra skills and may include operations with real numbers and fractions, polynomials, linear equations, inequalities, and systems of equations.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 104. Special Topics in College Mathematics for STEM Majors3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): ACT Math subscore 19-36, SAT Math subscore of 510-800, Next Generation Accuplacer score of ARTH: 263-300, or a P (Pass) grade in GEN 103.
Description: GEN 104 for STEM majors serves as a required intervention course for students who do not achieve the college-readiness standard for the entry-level MATH course required for their major. Intended for students who need MATH 111 and other higher numbered MATH courses. This course allows for direct instruction and individualized instruction via computer-assisted learning. Course topics are determined by an individual assessment of algebra skills and may include factoring, rational expressions, and equations, radical expressions, and quadratic equations.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 105. Special Topics in Supplemented College Reading2 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): A score of less than 20 on the ACT Reading or a score of less than 490 on the SAT Reading or a score of less than 250 on the Accuplacer.
Description: Supplemented College Reading is designed to provide instruction in college level reading strategies using disciplinary content materials. This course serves as a required intervention mandated by state law for college reading readiness, providing college study strategies and academic tutoring specific to a content course.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 110. Collegiate Success for A&S1-3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Collegiate Success For A&S teaches students basic competences to navigate higher education. Some of the competencies students will learn are time management, study skills, networking, policies related to academic standing; financing; staying on track to graduation, selecting courses, majors, and electives, planning; and how to overcome obstacles.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 201. Major Exploration and Career Decision-Making1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: Assists students in learning about their interests, personality, strengths, values, and more as they research and evaluate potential academic and career paths. The goal of the course is to develop an understanding of the major and career exploration process through learning about oneself, identifying options, conducting research, evaluating fit, and developing a plan to move forward.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 202. Occupational Exploration: Your Career Choice1 Unit
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This seminar will examine specific fields of study to support the career and major exploration process for students who want to further explore the suitability of a major/career track.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 204. Leadership and Strategic Career Development1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This seminar will require students to engage in critical reflection, chart a path toward personal and professional growth, and craft a specified course of action to enhance leadership competence and career progression.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 205. GENERAL STUDIES ORIENTATION1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment as a student in the General Studies Program.
Description: Introduces students to the General Studies Program and challenges them to formulate a degree plan and assess their career trajectory.This course shares content with GEN 305 (i.e., the orientation to the UofL and the program) but does not include prior learning assessment.
Note: This is a half-semester course for one credit.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 295. General Studies Occupational Courses2-27 Units
Grading Basis: Credit/No Credit
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment as a student in the General Studies program Corequisite: N/A The student does not register for this course.
Description: It is a receptacle course to award PLA credit upon completion of GEN 305 - General Studies Orientation and Prior Learning Assessment .
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 296. Occupational Experiential Learning2-27 Units
Grading Basis: Credit/No Credit
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: The student does not register for this course. It is a receptacle course to award PLA credit upon completion of our PLA course GEN 305-Orientation and Prior Learning Assessment.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 300. Internship0 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Registration is limited to students in the Center for Engaged Learning's unpaid internship program.
Description: Students must apply to the program and be admitted in order to be registered for the course through the Center for Engaged Learning. This course is to register students who are participating in the Center for Engaged Learning's program to support students in unpaid internships. Students must apply through the Center for Engaged Learning's application process and be selected to participate. Note: Requires approval from the Center for Engaged Learning
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 301. Topics in Experiential Learning1-12 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): Approval of chair of the department of the student's major and approval of the dean.
Description: Internship or other experiential learning opportunities, nationally or internationally. Student must be admitted to the program providing the experiential activity prior to enrollment in this course.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 305. General Studies Orientation and Prior Learning Assessment3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Current enrollment in the General Studies Program.
Description: Introduces returning adult students to the General Studies Program and the process/product of documenting workplace learning for specialization credit (prior learning assessment).There is a 1/2 semester, 1-cr version of this course for students in Gen Studies who do not want to pursue Prior Learning Credit through PLA. The handbook associated with requesting and determining PLA is attached but it is not actually part of the course. Students in this course will complete the portfolio that is required for requesting PL credit but, PL credit will be determined by a committee outside of this course. Completing the course nor submission of a PLC request does not guarantee PL credit will be granted.
Note: This course is specifically and solely for returning adult learners in the General Studies program who want to develop a portfolio for potential specialization credit (prior learning assessment).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 397. General Studies Advanced Occupational Courses2-18 Units
Grading Basis: Credit/No Credit
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: The student does not register for this course. It is a receptacle course to award PLA credit upon completion of our PLA course GEN 305-Orientation and Prior Learning Assessment.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 398. Advanced Occupational Experiential Learning2-18 Units
Grading Basis: Credit/No Credit
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment as a student in the General Studies program The student for this course.
Description: It is a receptacle course to award PLA credit upon completion of GEN 305-General Studies Orientation and Prior Leaning Assessment.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 400. Postbac Premed Science Enrichment for Record Enhancing Students3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Students enrolled in to the Post-Bac Pre Med Program.
Description: Chemistry section: The chemistry section of this course covers basic concepts and techniques of chemistry, tailored to the needs of students based on an initial ungraded assessment. The treatment will be primarily qualitative rather than quantitative, but facility with math through college algebra is required. Physics section: The physics section of this course covers basic concepts and methods of physics as applied in the study of mechanics, heat, sounds, electrostatics, and magnetism. This section is at the introductory physics level without calculus and is equivalent to PHYS 221 and PHYS 222 in the Physics Department course catalog. Biology section: The biology section of this course covers basic biological principles, including but not limited to macromolecules, biology of cells, metabolism, genetics, and major body systems. We will heavily draw upon concepts covered in the chemistry portion of this course. The topics selected are from the introductory majors biology sequence (
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
GEN 401. General Studies Capstone - WR, CUE1 Unit
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Completed at least 90 credit hours of college This course is designed to be the "capstone course" for the General Studies Program fulfilling the University's "Culminating Undergraduate Experience" requirement for graduation.
Description: Students will be given the opportunity to complete a written assignment that captures their unique and comprehensive journey through their adult learning experience.
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
