Sample COSC General Education Requirements Roadmap

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This page is a work in progress. If you have questions, please ask on the forum

This is meant to apply to the General Education Requirements for Charter Oak State College. You may need additional planning or modification for specific degrees.

In addition to the general education requirements, you can find sample degree plans for the following degrees:

Business:


Information[edit]

As of 2020, COSC limits students to 90 credits from their approved list of partner institutions. You are allowed to bring in additional credits but they must come from RA sources. TECEPs and UExcel exams are counted as RA credit.

Students are also required to take at least one science class that has a lab component. Additional science classes may be brought in without labs once the lab requirement has been met.

COSC degrees also require 30 UL credits to be complete. Unlike degrees from TESU, this requirement is not restricted solely to the AOS/concentration. The UL credits may be placed anywhere within the degree, including the electives, with a couple of rules to consider. 3 UL credits will come from the capstone. 15 UL credits need to be in the area of study. The remaining 12 UL credits can go anywhere, including into the electives.

In order to make use of this roadmap, students must keep these requirements in mind. In general, it will be less expensive to meet the RA credit requirement in the General Education requirements instead of in the area of study and students should bear that in mind when planning out which courses to take.

Course Suggestions[edit]

For TECEP, UExcel, DSST, and CLEP exams, the information provided below has been taken directly from COSC's website. As a result, except in the case of typos, you can be reasonably sure that these exams will fit into the indicated areas.

For Study.com, Sophia.org, and the various RA credit options, there is less available information and educated guesses may have been made. For instance, any accepted Microeconomics credit should substitute for any other Microeconomics credit. Other substitutions are not as certain. Because of this, please check on the forum or with your advisor before taking your preferred courses.

General Education Requirements[edit]

Including the cornerstone, there are a total of 40 or 41 credits in the General Education requirements. If you do 2 science courses with 2 labs, you need 41 credits. If you do 2 science courses and 1 lab, you need 40 credits.

COSC allows you to complete multiple requirements with a single class/exam. For instance, the DSST exam "Intro (Human) Geography" will fill your requirements for Behavioral/Social Science, Global Understanding, and Non-US History/Culture at the same time. Because of this, a student may be able to fill the basic general education requirements with fewer than 40 credits. The deficit may be made up by what some other schools would call GE electives.

In general, by the time the Liberal Arts credit requirements are met, a student should have more than enough general education credits to graduate. But this is still something to keep in mind, just in case, when planning to obtain a degree at COSC.

Communication[edit]

9 credits total: 6 written and 3 oral.

Alternate Credit Options[edit]

Written Communication

Recommended Course to take Recommended Provider Credits UL? Lib Arts?
English Composition I Sophia.org 3 Y
English 104: College Composition 1 Study.com 3 Y
English Composition II Sophia.org 3 Y
English 105: College Composition 2 Study.com 3 Y
College Composition (6 credits) CLEP 3 Y
Principles of Advanced English Composition
Fulfills 2nd half of requirement
DSST 3 Y

Oral Communication

Recommended Course to take Recommended Provider Credits UL? Lib Arts?
Public Speaking Sophia.org 3 Y
Principles of Public Speaking DSST 3 Y

RA Credit options[edit]

Written Communication

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider/Info
Written Communication ENG 109 College Writing I Olivet Nazarene University
Written Communication English Composition I TECEP
Written Communication College Composition UExcel
Written Communication English Composition (Essay format) UExcel
Written Communication ENG 1303 Language & Composition TEL Learning - Transcripted at Mid-America Christian University
Written Communication ENG 200 College Writing II Olivet Nazarene University
Written Communication English Composition II TECEP
Written Communication ENG 2303 Literature & Composition TEL Learning - Transcripted at Mid-America Christian University

Oral Communication

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider/Info
Oral Communication COM 105 Oral Communications Olivet Nazarene University
Oral Communication Public Speaking TECEP
Oral Communication COM 1103 Introduction to Communications TEL Learning - Transcripted at Mid-America Christian University
This public speaking course is significantly more work than Sophia's Public Speaking. You may want to choose a different course for RA credit.

Information Literacy[edit]

Cornerstone course; must be taken at COSC. 3 credits.

Ethical Decision-Making[edit]

3 credits required.

The options listed here under ethics have not been confirmed to work. Check with your advisor.

Alternate Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Ethics Introduction to Ethics Sophia.org
Ethics Philosophy 102: Ethics in America Study.com
Ethics Philosophy 103: Ethics - Theory and Practice Study.com
Ethics Business 108: Business Ethics Study.com

RA Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Ethics Environmental Ethics
This exam is known to meet this requirement.
TECEP
Ethics Business Ethics
This exam is known to meet this requirement.
UExcel (UL)
Online testing for this exam is available
Ethics PHL-105 Introduction to Ethics Waubonsee Community College This is not a cost-effective option. It is only offered as an example. You may be able to find a cheaper option elsewhere or you may wish to use an ACE/NCCRS course for this slot.
Ethics CS 113D Ethics and Technology NMJC Check with advisor to confirm that this course will work in this slot. This course has a prerequisite and may not be available to all students.

US History/Government[edit]

3 credits

Alternate Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
US History/Government US History I Sophia.org
US History/Government US History II Sophia.org
US History/Government History 103: US History I Study.com
US History/Government History 104: US History II Study.com
US History/Government History 105: US History from Settlement to Present Day Study.com
US History/Government American Government CLEP
US History/Government History of the United States I CLEP
US History/Government History of the United States II CLEP

RA Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
US History/Government United States History I TEL Learning transcripted at Mid-America Christian University
US History/Government United States History II TEL Learning transcripted at Mid-America Christian University
US History/Government American Government TEL Learning Transcripted at Mid-America Christian University

Non-US History or Culture[edit]

3 credits

Alternate Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Non-US History/Culture Western Civilization I Study.com
Non-US History/Culture Western Civilization II Study.com
Non-US History/Culture History 308: Causes and Effects of the Vietnam War Study.com
Non-US History/Culture History 108: History of the Vietnam War Study.com
Non-US History/Culture Geography 101: Human & Cultural Geography Study.com
Non-US History/Culture Religion 101: Intro to World Religions Study.com
Non-US History/Culture Art History I or II
May not work for this requirement. Check with an advisor.
Sophia.org
Non-US History/Culture English Literature CLEP
Non-US History/Culture French/German/Spanish language CLEP
Non-US History/Culture Western Civilization I CLEP
Non-US History/Culture Western Civilization II CLEP
Non-US History/Culture Humanities CLEP
Non-US History/Culture Social Sciences/History CLEP
Non-US History/Culture Art of the Western World DSST
Non-US History/Culture History of the Soviet Union DSST
Non-US History/Culture Introduction to World Religions DSST
Non-US History/Culture Intro (Human) Geography DSST
Non-US History/Culture A History of the Vietnam War DSST

RA Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Non-US History/Culture HIS 210 Western Civilization Olivet Nazarene University
Non-US History/Culture HIS 379 Latin American History and Politics Olivet Nazarene University
Non-US History/Culture World Civilizations I TEL Learning Transcripted at Mid-America Christian University
Non-US History/Culture World History 1600-Present TECEP
Non-US History/Culture World Conflicts since 1900 UExcel
Non-US History/Culture World Population UExcel
Non-US History/Culture HST-102 Europe and the Mediterranean: Ancient and Medieval ASU EA

Global Understanding[edit]

3 credits

Alternate Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Global Understanding Environmental Science Sophia.org
Global Understanding Geography 101: Human & Cultural Geography Study.com
Global Understanding Religion 101: Intro to World Religions Study.com
Global Understanding Intro (Human) Geography DSST
Global Understanding A History of the Vietnam War DSST
Global Understanding History of the Soviet Union DSST
Global Understanding Introduction to World Religions DSST
Global Understanding Environmental Science DSST

RA Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Global Understanding Intro to Comparative Politics TECEP
Global Understanding World Conflicts since 1900 UExcel
Global Understanding World Population UExcel

Literature and Fine Arts[edit]

3 credits

Alternate Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Literature and Fine Art Art History I or II
May not work for this requirement. Check with an advisor.
Sophia.org
Literature and Fine Art English 102: American Literature Study.com
Literature and Fine Art English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature Study.com
Literature and Fine Art Art of the Western World DSST
Literature and Fine Art American Literature CLEP
Literature and Fine Art Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP
Literature and Fine Art English Literature CLEP
Literature and Fine Art Humanities CLEP

RA Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Literature and Fine Art ENG 204 World Literature Olivet Nazarene University
Literature and Fine Art FIN 105 Fine Arts Olivet Nazarene University
Literature and Fine Art Introduction to Music UExcel
Literature and Fine Art Music History II TECEP

Social/Behavioral Sciences[edit]

3 credits

Alternate Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Social/Behavioral Science Macroeconomics Sophia.org
Social/Behavioral Science Microeconomics Sophia.org
Social/Behavioral Science Introduction to Sociology Sophia.org
Social/Behavioral Science Sociology 101: Intro to Sociology Study.com
Social/Behavioral Science Geography 101: Human & Cultural Geography Study.com
Social/Behavioral Science Sociology 103: Foundations of Gerontology Study.com
Social/Behavioral Science Principles of Macroeconomics CLEP
Social/Behavioral Science Principles of Microeconomics CLEP
Social/Behavioral Science Social Sciences/History CLEP
Social/Behavioral Science Introductory Sociology CLEP
Social/Behavioral Science American Government CLEP
Social/Behavioral Science General Anthropology DSST
Social/Behavioral Science Foundations of Education DSST
Social/Behavioral Science Money and Banking DSST
Social/Behavioral Science Intro (Human) Geography DSST
Social/Behavioral Science Organizational Behavior DSST
Social/Behavioral Science Fundamentals of Counseling DSST
Social/Behavioral Science Lifespan Developmental Psychology DSST

RA Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Social/Behavioral Science SOC 120 Introduction to Sociology Olivet Nazarene University
Social/Behavioral Science Microeconomics TEL Learning
Social/Behavioral Science Microeconomics TECEP
Social/Behavioral Science Abnormal Psychology TECEP
Social/Behavioral Science Psychology of Women TECEP
Social/Behavioral Science Introductory Sociology TECEP
Social/Behavioral Science Marriage & Family TECEP
Social/Behavioral Science Introduction to Macroeconomics UExcel
Social/Behavioral Science Introduction to Microeconomics UExcel
Social/Behavioral Science Foundations of Gerontology UExcel
Social/Behavioral Science Organizational Behavior UExcel
Social/Behavioral Science Any Psychology exam except Research Methods UExcel
Social/Behavioral Science Cultural Diversity UExcel
Social/Behavioral Science Introduction to Sociology UExcel
Social/Behavioral Science Juvenile Delinquency UExcel
Social/Behavioral Science World Conflicts since 1900 UExcel
Social/Behavioral Science World Population UExcel

Mathematics[edit]

3 credits

Students in Minnesota must have at least 8 credits of science or math.

Alternate Credit Options[edit]

Charter Oak considers CSM Learn to be a 3-credit Liberal Arts elective, not a math requirement.

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Mathematics College Algebra Sophia.org
Mathematics Introduction to Statistics Sophia.org
Mathematics Math 103: Precalculus Study.com
Mathematics Math 104: Calculus Study.com
Mathematics Math 105: Precalculus Algebra Study.com
Mathematics Statistics 101: Principles of Statistics Study.com
Mathematics Geometry 101: Intro to Geometry
Considered to be a math elective; may not meet this requirement
Study.com
Mathematics College Mathematics CLEP
Mathematics College Algebra CLEP
Mathematics Pre-Calculus CLEP
Mathematics Calculus CLEP
Mathematics Fundamentals of College Algebra DSST
Mathematics Math for Liberal Arts DSST
Mathematics Principles of Statistics DSST

RA Credit Options[edit]

The "Applied Liberal Arts Math" TECEP does NOT count as meeting the math requirement.

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Mathematics MTH 117 Finite Math
Should work for this requirement but may not; check with COSC
Olivet Nazarene University
Mathematics College Algebra TEL Learning
Mathematics Quantitative Analysis I
Ability to meet this requirement may depend upon transcripting institution.
TEL Learning
Mathematics College Algebra TECEP
Mathematics Principles of Statistics TECEP
Mathematics Calculus TECEP
Mathematics Contemporary Mathematics UExcel
Mathematics Pre-Calculus Algebra UExcel
Mathematics Calculus UExcel
Mathematics Quantitative Analysis UExcel
Mathematics Statistics UExcel
Mathematics MAT-117 College Algebra ASU EA
Mathematics MAT-170 Precalculus ASU EA
Mathematics Brief Calculus: Calculus for Business and Economics ASU EA
Mathematics MAT-265 Calculus for Engineers I ASU EA

Natural Sciences[edit]

7 or 8 credits. Students in Minnesota must have at least 8 credits of science or math.

One class must include a lab; the other class can have a lab or not. Most of the options listed below do not have a lab option. Choose accordingly.

Alternate Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Natural Sciences Environmental Science Sophia.org
Natural Sciences Human Biology Sophia.org
Natural Sciences Astronomy 101: Intro to Astronomy Study.com
Natural Sciences Biology 101(L): Intro to Biology (with or without lab) Study.com
Natural Sciences Biology 103: Microbiology Study.com
Natural Sciences Biology 105: Anatomy and Physiology Study.com
Natural Sciences Chemistry 101 (no lab) or Chemistry 111L (with lab) Study.com
Natural Sciences Earth Science 101: Earth Science Study.com
Natural Sciences Earth Science 104: Intro to Meterology Study.com
Natural Sciences Biology (6 credits) CLEP
Natural Sciences Chemistry (6 credits) CLEP
Natural Sciences Natural Sciences (6 credits) CLEP
Natural Sciences Astronomy DSST
Natural Sciences Introduction to Geology DSST
Natural Sciences Environmental Science DSST
Natural Sciences Principles of Physical Science I DSST

Study.com has a number of science courses not mentioned above, including genetics, geology, physics, etc. Their exclusion does not mean that they do not meet this requirement, only that it is a very long list.

RA Credit Options[edit]

Course Expected Recommended Course to Take Recommended Provider
Natural Sciences BIO 201 General Biological Science Olivet Nazarene University
Natural Sciences FAC 126 Nutrition, Health, and Fitness
May meet requirement because Science of Nutrition exams accepted. Check with advisor to confirm.
Olivet Nazarene University
Natural Sciences Chemistry I (with or without lab) TEL Learning
Natural Sciences Introduction to Biology (with or without lab) TEL Learning
Natural Sciences Physical Sciences (with or without lab) TEL Learning
Natural Sciences The Science of Nutrition TECEP
Natural Sciences Anatomy and Physiology (6 credits) UExcel
Natural Sciences Anatomy and Physiology I UExcel
Natural Sciences Anatomy and Physiology II UExcel
Natural Sciences Basic Genetics UExcel
Natural Sciences Microbiology UExcel
Natural Sciences Pathophysiology UExcel
Natural Sciences General Chemistry I UExcel
Natural Sciences Earth Science UExcel
Natural Sciences Physics UExcel
Natural Sciences Science of Nutrition UExcel
Natural Sciences Weather and Climate UExcel
Natural Sciences AST-111 Introduction to Solar Systems Astronomy (4 credits)
Science with lab
ASU EA
Natural Sciences CHM-114 General Chemistry for Engineers (4 credits)
Science with lab
ASU EA

Liberal Arts[edit]

Students are required to have a specific number of liberal arts credits, depending on their degree. In the entire degree, students obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree must have 90 liberal arts credits while Bachelor of Science students need 60 liberal arts credits. These requirements are met concurrently with any other requirements. For instance, students who take the ASU EA Astronomy class for 4 credits and Olivet Nazarene University's General Biological science class for 3 credits to meet the science requirement will also have 7 credits of liberal arts in their degree.

Liberal arts subjects may include: Some capstones, literature & fine arts, music, film, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, organizational behavior (management), politics, geography, economics, anthropology, politics, ethics, English & writing, history, science, communications, computer science, mathematics, philosophy, foreign language, communication.

Liberal arts subjects may exclude: Ethics, business, human resources, marketing, management, education, health care.

Charter Oak has a more complete list available on their site. Charter Oak holds final sway over whether or not a particular course counts as liberal arts or not. Please note that nursing ethics and legal ethics do NOT count as liberal arts while other areas of ethics should count. Most management/business courses do not count as liberal arts except for select organizational behavior courses that count because of the psychology/sociology content.