SNHU !General Education Requirements Roadmap v2
General Education Requirement
Here is a General Education Requirements that will work for all degree plans for the Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) as of approximately August of 2023. Please make sure that the suggestions are still valid before beginning to follow this plan.
Alt Courses
The alternative credit courses were handpicked using experience from previous students regarding which courses will be the easiest and quickest to take.
Tips on Order in Which to Complete Courses
Start with Sophia.org. Unfortunately, Sophia only allows two courses to be open at one time, so only complete one course at a time that has touchstones (written assignments). Once done with Sophia, move on to Study.com.
How Long Will It Take To Complete This Degree Once I Finish All the Alterative Credits?
Full time is 2 courses per 2 month term at SNHU and max of 3 courses per term once you done a couple of terms. At that rate, it would take 8 to 10 months to do 30 credits worth of courses.
Source of Credit
This degree plan was made using this source to map out all the alternative credits.
CLEP, DSST, AP Exams Equivalents and other Alt credit equivalents
NEW GENERAL ED REQUIREMENTS
There is some confusion on what is accepted for the new general education requirements.
- Some students reported that their advisors have said Sophia is no longer accepted or that certain degrees might not take Sophia courses.
- A SNHU employee said there that certain prefixes are required with SNHU GE sections and there doesn't have to be a 1:1 match with SNHU courses.
- A different SNHU employee said there needs to be a 1:1 match with SNHU courses in GE
So two different GE plans were created based on who may be right. Follow the plans at your own risk.
General Education Requirements Version 1 (42cr total)
How the General Education Curriculum Works
Go through and find a course that will meet each learning requirement.
You should be able to get 33cr to 39cr via alt credit for the GE requirements.
Foundation Courses
18 credits are in the Foundation Courses section.
Cornerstone Social Justice (CSOJ)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOTE: SNHU 107 used to have an exception if you transfer in 12 or more credits where you could substitute the requirement with a free elective. Not sure if this is the case under the new catalog. |
Cornerstone Humanities (CHUM)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| No equivalent |
Cornerstone English (CENG)
6 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 130 & ENG 190; most English comp 1 & 2’s will fill this, including on Sophia | Sophia | ENG130 | English Composition I |
| ENG 130 & ENG 190; most English comp 1 & 2’s will fill this, including on Sophia | Sophia | ENG190 | English Composition II |
Cornerstone Math (CMAT)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes.
It makes the degree plans easier to figure out if statistics was placed here since a lot of degrees require stats.
Some degrees requires MAT243 which means you need both MAT240 & IT140 to satisfy the MAT243 requirement.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100-200 level MAT course. | Sophia | MAT240
or MAT243 |
Introduction to Statistics
** This will work for MAT243 if you also bring in IT140. (Sophia: Intro to Python Programming) |
Cornerstone Sustainability (CSST)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOTE: IDS-100 used to have an exception if you transfer in 12 or more credits where you could substitute the requirement with a free elective. Not sure if this is the case under the new catalog. |
Exploration Courses 21 Credits
21 credits are in the Exploration Courses section.
Ethical Though and Equity (EETH) 3cr
Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETH/PHL course | Sophia | PHL212 | Introduction to Ethics |
Creative and Critical Expression (ECCE)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG, COM, FAS, HUM, LIT, MUS, LAR, LAS, LFR, LSP, LAN | Sophia | COM213 | Public Speaking
Note: Requirement is COM212 Public Speaking so may or may not work. |
Historical Perspectives (EHPS)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIV, HIS | Study.com | HIS254 | History 307: American Civil Rights Movement |
Scientific and Mathematical Fluencies (ESMF)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
Applied Statistics for Science MAT243 requirement means you must take Introduction to Python Programming (IT140)
Computer Science major requires Precalculus with limits (MAT142) and Calculus (MAT225).
Data Analytics (BS) major requires College Algebra (MAT136) and Precalculus (MAT140).
Information Technologies (BA) major requires any 2 courses from ESMF.
Mathematics major requires Calculus (MAT225), Discrete Mathematics (MAT230), and Applied Statistics for Science MAT243.
Note: If you take extra courses here due to degree requirements, then you would end up taking less electives since those courses would fill electives.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | BIO210 | Human Biology |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | IT140 | Introduction to Python Programming
Note: Take if MAT243 required |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | MAT142 | Precalculus |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | MAT225 | Calculus I |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Study.com | MAT230 | Discrete Mathematics
Note: This isn't a 1:1 match for this section. |
Roles of Social, Political, Psychological, and Economic Contexts (ESPE)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
Business Administration or any degree with a business core requires Macroeconomics and Microeconomics.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATH, CJ, ECO, HSE, JUS, POL, PSY, SCS, SOC | Sophia | ECO201, ECO202, PSY108, SOC112 | Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology |
Electives
6 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
If you had to take extra courses due to degree requirements for other sections, then you need less total electives since technically those courses can go here.
For example business degrees require both microeconomics and macroeconomics. So 3cr of microeconomics goes in ESPE section and 3cr of microeconomics can go in electives. Leaving you with one course to take for electives.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pick from any of the five Exploration categories EETH, ECCE, EHPS, ESMF, ESPE | |||
| Pick from any of the five Exploration categories EETH, ECCE, EHPS, ESMF, ESPE |
Culmination
3 credits are in the Culmination section.
Culmination Experience (CLME) 3cr
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300-400 course in HIS, LIT, IDS, PHL, POL, PSY, SCS, SOC, ENG | Study.com | HIS330 | Civil War and Reconstruction |
General Education Requirements Version 2 (42cr total)
How the General Education Curriculum Works
Go through and find a course that will meet each learning requirement.
You should be able to get 42cr via alt credit for the GE requirements in this version.
Foundation Courses
18 credits are in the Foundation Courses section.
Cornerstone Social Justice (CSOJ)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| SST, ENV, 100-400 level - this must be a direct equate, not an elective (example: ENV-101 can satisfy this but not ENV-ELE) | Sophia | ENV101 | Environmental Science |
Cornerstone Humanities (CHUM)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| SST, ENV, ENG, FAS, HIS, HUM, LIT, MUS, PHL | Sophia | FAS201 | Art History I |
Cornerstone English (CENG)
6 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 130 & ENG 190; most English comp 1 & 2’s will fill this, including on Sophia | Sophia | ENG130 | English Composition I |
| ENG 130 & ENG 190; most English comp 1 & 2’s will fill this, including on Sophia | Sophia | ENG190 | English Composition II |
Cornerstone Math (CMAT)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes.
It makes the degree plans easier to figure out if statistics was placed here since a lot of degrees require stats.
Some degrees requires MAT243 which means you need both MAT240 & IT140 to satisfy the MAT243 requirement.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| any 100-200 level MAT course. | Sophia | MAT240
or MAT243 |
Introduction to Statistics
** This will work for MAT243 if you also bring in IT140. (Sophia: Intro to Python Programming) |
Cornerstone Sustainability (CSST)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| SST, ENV, ENG, FAS, HIS, HUM, LIT, MUS, PHL | Sophia | HIS113, PHL111, PHL230 | United States History I, Critical Thinking, Approaches to Studying Religions |
Exploration Courses 21 Credits
21 credits are in the Exploration Courses section.
Ethical Though and Equity and Their Importance in Decision Making (EETH) 3cr
Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any ETH/PHL course | Sophia | PHL212 | Introduction to Ethics |
Creative and Critical Expression Across Diverse Social, Cultural, and Historical Contexts (ECCE)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG, COM, FAS, HUM, LIT, MUS, LAR, LAS, LFR, LSP, LAN | Sophia | FAS202 | Art History II |
Historical Perspectives as Expressed and Lived by Various Past and/or Present Societies (EHPS)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIV, HIS | Sophia | HIS114 | United States History II |
Scientific and Mathematical Fluencies and Their Importance in Evaluating Problems and Creating Solutions (ESMF)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
Applied Statistics for Science MAT243 requirement means you must take Introduction to Python Programming (IT140)
Computer Science major requires Precalculus with limits (MAT142) and Calculus (MAT225).
Data Analytics (BS) major requires College Algebra (MAT136) and Precalculus (MAT140).
Information Technologies (BA) major requires any 2 courses from ESMF.
Mathematics major requires Calculus (MAT225), Discrete Mathematics (MAT230), and Applied Statistics for Science MAT243.
Note: If you take extra courses here due to degree requirements, then you would end up taking less electives since those courses would fill electives.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | GRA205 | Visual Communications |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | IT200 | Introduction to Information Technology |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | IT270 | Introduction to Web Development |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | BIO210 | Human Biology |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | IT140 | Introduction to Python Programming
Note: Take if MAT243 required |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | MAT136 | College Algebra |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | MAT142 | Precalculus |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Sophia | MAT225 | Calculus I |
| BIO, CHM, CIS, CS, EG, ENV, GAM, GEO, GRA, IT, MAT, PHY, SCI | Study.com | MAT230 | Discrete Mathematics |
Roles of Social, Political, Psychological, and Economic Contexts in Shaping the Self in Society (ESPE)
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
Business Administration or any degree with a business core requires Macroeconomics and Microeconomics.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATH, CJ, ECO, HSE, JUS, POL, PSY, SCS, SOC | Sophia | ECO201, ECO202, PSY108, SOC112 | Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology |
Electives
6 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
If you had to take extra courses due to degree requirements for other sections, then you need less total electives since technically those courses can go here.
For example business degrees require both microeconomics and macroeconomics. So 3cr of microeconomics goes in ESPE section and 3cr of microeconomics can go in electives. Leaving you with one course to take for electives.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pick from any of the five Exploration categories EETH, ECCE, EHPS, ESMF, ESPE | Art History I/II, Ethics, Intro IT, Intro Web, Visual Communications, Environmental Science, Human Biology
Note: These courses are the easiest with no touchstones. Pick these if you didn't already use them for another section. Or pick whatever you want. | ||
| Pick from any of the five Exploration categories EETH, ECCE, EHPS, ESMF, ESPE | Art History I/II, Ethics, Intro IT, Intro Web, Visual Communications, Environmental Science, Human Biology
Note: These courses are the easiest with no touchstones. Pick these if you didn't already use them for another section. Or pick whatever you want. |
Culmination
3 credits are in the Culmination section.
Culmination Experience (CLME) 3cr
3 credits required. Take any course from the required prefixes. The suggested courses are quick and easy.
| Course
Required |
Course
Provider |
Course
ID |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any 300-400 course in HIS, LIT, IDS, PHL, POL, PSY, SCS, SOC, ENG | Study.com | HIS330 | Civil War and Reconstruction
Note: Or find another course |
*To copy this degree plan, hold down left mouse button, drag to select tables, then copy/paste (CTR+C/CTR+P) to Sheets or Excel.