State University Requirements
ADDENDUM - 06/12/2025, 9/4/2025
General Degree Requirements
In addition to the requirements for the major program of study, students must satisfy the following State of Florida requirements:
General Education Requirements
All students (except for students holding an A.A. or certification of the completion of general studies requirements from a Florida public university or college) who enter UWF must complete the requirements specified as General Education. The General Education requirements are the basic studies that provide students with a broad educational foundation and are essential requirements for all A.A. and baccalaureate degree programs, per BOG Reg 8.005. Courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.
General Education Breadth/Elective requirements for students majoring in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering differ from other majors. Students must not register for general education courses without consulting their academic advisor.
The General Education requirements are specified in the distribution as follows:
| ENC 1101 | English Composition I (Core) | 3 |
| ENC 1102 | English Composition II (Breadth) | 3 |
| Communication Elective Options: | ||
| Introduction to Creative Writing | ||
| Principles of Mass Communication | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Choose one course from the Humanities Core and one additional course from either the Humanities Core or the Humanities Breadth. | 6 | |
| Humanities Core Options: | ||
| Art Appreciation | ||
| Introduction to Humanities | ||
| Honors Introduction to Humanities | ||
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Theatre Appreciation | ||
| Humanities Breadth Options: | ||
| American Literature I | ||
| American Literature II | ||
| Civil Discourse and the American Political Order | ||
| Western Survey I: Prehistory to the Medieval Period | ||
| Western Survey II: Renaissance to Contemporary | ||
| History of English Literature I | ||
| History of English Literature II | ||
| Introduction to Poetry | ||
| The Music Experience - Concerts | ||
| Critical Thinking | ||
| Ethics in Contemporary Society | ||
| Introduction to World Religions | ||
| Survey of Dramatic Literature | ||
| Choose one course from the Mathematics Core and one additional course from either the Mathematics Core or the Mathematics Breadth. | 6 | |
| Mathematics Core Options: | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| College Algebra with Lab | ||
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | ||
| Mathematical Thinking | ||
| Elements of Statistics | ||
| Mathematics Breadth Options: | ||
| Trigonometry | ||
| Precalculus Algebra | ||
| Precalculus with Trigonometry | ||
| Calculus with Business Applications | ||
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | ||
| Mathematics in Context | ||
| Introduction to Data Science | ||
| Choose one course from the Natural Sciences Core and one additional course from either the Natural Sciences Core or the Natural Sciences Breadth. | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences Core Options: | ||
| Descriptive Astronomy | ||
| General Biology for Non-Majors * | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology I * | ||
| Biology I | ||
| Concepts in Chemistry * | ||
| General Chemistry I * | ||
| Introduction to Earth Science * | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Science | ||
| Honors Introduction to Environmental Science | ||
| Physical Geology | ||
| Conceptual Physics | ||
| Calculus-Based Physics I *, ** | ||
| Algebra-Based Physics I *, ** | ||
| Natural Sciences Breadth Options: | ||
| Biological Anthropology * | ||
| Life in the Universe | ||
| General Botany | ||
| Fundamentals of Ecology | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology II * | ||
| Biology II | ||
| Introduction to Oceanography and Marine Biology * | ||
| Introduction to Machine Learning | ||
| General Chemistry II * | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology * | ||
| Informatics and Your Health | ||
| Calculus-Based Physics II *, ** | ||
| Algebra-Based Physics II *, ** | ||
- *
May be taken with or without lab.
- **
Algebra-Based Physics is usually recommended for non-science majors, while Calculus-Based Physics is recommended for science majors.
- ***
Although students receive 5 semester hours credit for PHY 2048C, an additional 3 semester science course will be needed to meet General Education requirements.
| Choose one course from the Social Sciences Core and one additional course from either the Social Sciences Core or the Social Sciences Breadth. | 6 | |
| Social Sciences Core Options: | ||
AMH 2010 | United States to 1877 | |
AMH 2020 | United States Since 1877 | |
ANT 2000 | Introduction to Anthropology | |
ECO 2013 | Principles of Economics Macro | |
POS 2041 | American Politics | |
PSY 2012 | General Psychology | |
| Social Sciences Breadth Options: | ||
ANT 2100 | Introduction to Archaeology | |
CCJ 2002 | Survey of Crime and Justice | |
CIS 2530 | Introduction to Cybersecurity | |
COM 2023 | Death and Communication | |
CPO 2002 | Comparative Politics | |
DEP 2004 | Human Development Across the Lifespan | |
EUH 1000 | Western Perspectives I | |
EUH 1001 | Western Perspectives II | |
FIN 2104 | Personal Finance | |
GEA 2000 | Nations and Regions of the World | |
GEB 1011 | Introduction to Business | |
HIS 2050 | Explore History | |
HSC 2100 | Personal, Family and Community Health | |
INR 2002 | International Politics | |
PLA 2013 | Survey of American Law | |
PLA 2013H | Honors Survey of American Law | |
SPM 2010 | Sport in Global Society | |
SYG 2000 | Introduction to Sociology | |
Choose an additional course from two of the five areas of Communication Electives, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Natural Sciences.
General Education Digital Badges
The 2021 Florida Legislature amended s. 1007.25, F.S. to require public postsecondary institutions to award students a nationally recognized digital badge upon completion of general education core courses that demonstrate career readiness, beginning with students who initially enter a postsecondary institution in the 2022-2023 academic year.
The digital badge is earned by completing general education core courses, which are already built into associate in science, associate in arts, and baccalaureate degree programs. Florida’s state universities and state colleges will automatically award the badge upon successful completion of the required coursework. The badge will appear on the student's FASTER* transcript, which will be accepted by all institutions if the student chooses to transfer to another Florida state college or university.
Pursuant to s. 1007.25(4), F.S., all students initially entering a public postsecondary institution in the 2022-23 academic year (Fall 2022) and thereafter and enroll in general education core courses are eligible for the awarding of a digital badge. This is inclusive of dual enrollment students who complete core courses while in high school in the 2022-23 academic year and thereafter. Institutions must award badges to students meeting these criteria.
Additionally, pursuant to s. 1007.27, F.S., Florida public postsecondary institutions must award credit earned through acceleration mechanisms, including credit by examination (e.g., AP, IB, AICE, and CLEP). Therefore, institutions may award digital badges to students who receive transcripted credit for the general education core course(s) required to complete the digital badge.
Fundamentals of Written Communication Digital Badge
Florida public postsecondary institutions now offer students a Fundamentals of Written Communication digital badge. With this badge, students will be able to enhance their personal communication skills and convey to future employers that they have acquired vital skills needed for professional success.
To earn the Fundamentals of Communication Digital Badge students will need to:
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Enroll in ENC 1101 English Composition I or ENC 1102 English Composition II.
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Successfully complete the course with a grade of "C" or better.
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Upon completion of the course with the required minimum grade, the digital badge will automatically be awarded at the institution where the student completed the course and will be added to their FASTER transcript.
*FASTER is the Florida Automated System for Transferring Educational Records
What is effective written communication?
Effective written communication is the ability to communicate ideas, information, and perspectives clearly, adapt a message to different audiences and situations, and use the appropriate style to convey meaning in various written contexts.
What are students learning by earning this badge?
By completing the college course associated with this badge, you will demonstrate information literacy, comprehension of written material, and conveying information in writing for a variety of rhetorical purposes and audiences.
Some of the learning outcomes associated with the college course that results in this badge include:
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Examining and analyzing written material.
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Synthesizing information and ideas.
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Developing content relevant to the purpose.
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Demonstrating the ability to write to a specific audience.
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Presenting a perspective informed by research and critical thinking.
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Revising written communication based on feedback.
Why is written communication important in the workplace?
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Enhances an employee's ability to interpret and evaluate a wide variety of written material.
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Promotes research, critical thinking, and problem solving.
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Advances the development of clearly written material relevant to the intent. Enhances the use of appropriate language for an intended audience.
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Increases the competent, effective, and responsible use of information.
For more information about the General Education Digital Badges please contact generaleducation@uwf.edu.
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy by passing an assessment or taking AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 or POS 2041 American Politics.
The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. In 2024, the Board of Governors made an additional revision, recognizing two new courses meeting the Civic Literacy requirement, AMH 2010 United States to 1877 and AMS 2010 Civil Discourse and the American Political Order. As a result, there are four cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions that are subject to varying requirements.
As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS before fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2018 through Academic Year 2020 | Complete a course or Assessment. |
| Cohort 3: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2021 through Academic Year 2023 | Course and Assessment. |
| Cohort 4: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2024 and thereafter | Course and Assessment. |
Additionally, for Cohorts 3 and 4, approved accelerated mechanisms may meet the course and/or assessment requirement, and students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) in high school are exempt from the postsecondary exam requirement.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website, SUS regulation BOG 8.006, and Florida Statute s.1007.25(4,a-b).
Common Program Prerequisites
Students entering most bachelor’s degree programs at any Florida public institution must successfully complete a set of lower division courses specified as “common prerequisites” for the selected program. The common prerequisites for a given program are listed with other course requirements for that program. The Common Prerequisite Manual at FLVC.org (Florida Virtual Campus) lists the common prerequisite courses and substitutions for each university program. Students are urged to consult their advisor(s) early about choices of majors and to plan for General Education and common prerequisite coursework.
Foreign Language Requirement
Florida Statutes require that students admitted to a Florida public university meet the foreign language requirement for demonstrating competency in a foreign language. Students who have earned an A.A. from a Florida public community college may be admitted to the University, but must demonstrate competency prior to graduation with a baccalaureate degree. Students completing American Sign Language with passing grades will have satisfied the foreign language admission requirement. The foreign language requirement must be satisfied prior to progression to upper-division status. In addition, each academic department may determine specific language requirements for students and will recommend or require languages and proficiency according to individual needs, career objectives, and academic programs.
Competency may be demonstrated in the following ways:
- Earning two credits of a single foreign language in high school or one credit in high school and the second semester (four semester hours) of the same foreign language at an accredited post-secondary institution demonstrating proficiency through the second level, OR
- Satisfactory completion of a second level (i.e. SPN 1121, FRE 1121, etc...) foreign language at a post-secondary institution prior to admission to UWF demonstrating proficiency. Grades of "P" are acceptable for this requirement.
- Language courses at the second level may require a course prerequisite in order to register. Pre-requisites and/or the second-level course (i.e. SPN 1120, FRE 1120, etc...) may be successfully completed by taking the appropriate UWF course or via credit by examination with appropriate test scores: CLEP subject matter examinations, MAPS-Latin examination published by the College Entrance Examination Board, or credit by proficiency (challenge examination) at UWF.
- The University of West Florida accepts language exams taken through the Brigham Young University’s Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services (FLATS). This service will allow students to fulfill the foreign language competency requirement by passing a computerized foreign language exam. UWF will not grant credit for the BYU test, but instead, the foreign language requirement will be waived if the score meets the required passing requirement.
Undergraduate transfer students are exempt if one of the following applies: (1) they received an A.A. from a Florida public college prior to September 1, 1989; or (2) they enrolled in a program of study leading to an associate's degree from a Florida public college prior to August 1, 1989, and completed at least one academic course each twelve-month period beginning with the student's first enrollment in a Florida public college and continuing until the student enrolled at UWF.
*BOG 6.002; **Passed by UWF Faculty Senate on 12/09/2016
Mathematics Pathways
Per Rule 6A-10.024 and BOG Reg. 6.017, students entering the Florida College System or State University System in the 2024-2025 academic year and thereafter shall be advised of the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in the corresponding academic programs aligned to their career goals. The Mathematics Pathways List contains the three mathematics pathways and associated gateway (also known as common core) courses.
The Mathematics Pathways are:
- Algebra through Calculus*
- Statistical Reasoning*
- Gateway Course: STA 2023 Elements of Statistics
- Mathematical Thinking in Context*
- Gateway Course: MGF 1130 Mathematical Thinking
- *
In all pathways a mathematics course for which one of the above general education core course options in mathematics is a direct prerequisite can be substituted for the gateway course.
Each academic program will have specific recommendations about the appropriate Math Pathway. Students should consult their academic advisor to determine the one best suited for their course of study.
College-Level Communication and Computation Skills Requirements
To fulfill the writing and mathematics requirement for earning the first baccalaureate degree, students are required to satisfy the College-Level Communication and Computation Skills (formerly "Gordon Rule") (BOG 6.017, Rule 6A-10.030) through successful completion of coursework in English and Mathematics.
- Six (6) semester hours of English Composition coursework and six (6) semester hours of additional coursework in which students are required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments.
- Six (6) semester hours of mathematics at the level of college algebra or higher are required, which can include applied logic, statistics, and other such computation coursework. For the purposes of this rule, mathematics courses included in the Mathematical Thinking in Context pathway established pursuant to Section 1007.23(3), F.S., and identified in the Mathematics Pathways List as incorporated in subsection 6A-10.024(16), F.A.C., may be used to fulfill the six (6) hours required by this section.
For the purposes of this rule, a grade of "C" or higher shall be considered successful completion.
Courses may not be taken on the pass/fail basis. Students must complete these requirements before advancing to upper-division status. Transfer students should refer to the Transfer Credit section of this catalog. Students should consult the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for evaluation of transfer mathematics courses for General Education requirements, Gordon Rule, and credit for graduation.
The following UWF courses are approved for College-Level Communication and Computation Skills Requirements (some courses may be more or less than 3 semester hours):
| AMH 4380 | Disaster in North American History | 3 |
| AML 4640 | Topics in Native American Literature | 3 |
| AMS 2010 | Civil Discourse and the American Political Order | 3 |
| APK 4901 | Research Methods in Exercise Science | 3 |
| ARH 2050 | Western Survey I: Prehistory to the Medieval Period | 3 |
| ARH 2051 | Western Survey II: Renaissance to Contemporary | 3 |
| ARH 3150 | Ancient Roman Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARH 3201 | Art and Culture in The Global Middle Ages | 3 |
| ARH 3301 | Early European Renaissance | 3 |
| ARH 3303 | Late European Renaissance | 3 |
| ARH 3350 | Baroque Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARH 3590 | Non-Western Art | 3 |
| ARH 3607 | Native American Art | 3 |
| ARH 3621 | American Art | 3 |
| ARH 3871 | Women in Art | 3 |
| ARH 4412 | The Age of Revolution to Romanticism in Europe: 1750-1850 | 3 |
| ARH 4417 | Art and Science in the Nineteenth Century | 3 |
| ARH 4450 | Modern Art: 1850-1980 | 3 |
| ARH 4470 | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ARH 4563 | Art of Japan | 3 |
| ARH 4889 | Inscribed Bodies: Concepts of Tattoo and Body Art in World History | 3 |
| ARH 4911 | Research in Art History | 3 |
| ARH 4930 | Theory and Methods in Art History | 3 |
| CCJ 3024 | Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CCJ 4700 | Research Design in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| COM 2713 | Introduction to the Communication Professions | 3 |
| COM 4250 | Strategic Communication for the Sciences | 3 |
| COM 4301 | Applied Communication Research | 3 |
| CRW 2001 | Introduction to Creative Writing | 3 |
| ECO 3303 | History of Economic Thought | 3 |
| ENC 1101 | English Composition I * | 3 |
| ENC 1102 | English Composition II * | 3 |
| ENC 3213 | Professional and Technical Writing * | 3 |
| ENC 3377 | Studies in Rhetorical Theories * | 3 |
| ENC 3403 | Grant Writing | 3 |
| ENC 3455 | Writing for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Majors * | 3 |
| ENC 3416 | Digital Writing * | 3 |
| ENG 3010 | Critical Methods for Literary Study | 3 |
| ENL 2010 | History of English Literature I | 3 |
| EUH 1000 | Western Perspectives I | 3 |
| EVR 3894 | Environmental Writing | 3 |
| FIL 4102 | Screenwriting for Film, TV, and Digital Media | 3 |
| FOL 3501 | Global Cinema | 3 |
| GEB 3213 | Writing for Business: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| HIS 4491 | History of Medicine and Society | 3 |
| HSA 3111 | Understanding U.S. Healthcare | 3 |
| HUM 2020 | Introduction to Humanities | 3 |
| HUM 2020H | Honors Introduction to Humanities | 3 |
| IDH 1040 | Honors Core: Humanities | 3 |
| IDH 1043 | Honors Core: Natural Sciences | 3 |
| IDH 3042 | Honors Core: Systems Thinking and Interdisciplinary Research | 3 |
| JOU 3101 | Digital and Multimedia Journalism | 3 |
| JOU 4306 | Writing Critical Reviews | 3 |
| LIT 2000 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| LIT 2030 | Introduction to Poetry | 3 |
| LIT 4036 | Topics in Poetry and Poetics | 3 |
| LIT 4074 | Topics in Auto/Biography | 3 |
| MLS 4704 | Clinical Management Portfolio Professional Track | 3 |
| MUH 3211 | History of Western Music I: End of Ancient World Through 17th Century | 3 |
| MUH 3212 | History of Western Music II: 18th through 20th Centuries | 3 |
| NUR 4165 | Essentials of Evidence-Based Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR 4827 | Leadership in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 4828 | Systems Innovation and Change Agents in Healthcare | 3 |
| PHH 3100 | Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| PHH 3400 | Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| PHH 4200 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 2603 | Ethics in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| PHI 3320 | Philosophy of Mind | 3 |
| PHI 3400 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHI 3452 | Philosophy of Biology | 3 |
| PHI 3500 | Metaphysics | 3 |
| PHI 3640 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 3670 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 3700 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| PHI 3790 | African Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 3800 | Philosophy of Art | 3 |
| PHI 3880 | Philosophy of Film | 3 |
| PHI 4300 | Skepticism, Knowledge, and Truth | 3 |
| PHI 4633 | Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
| PLA 4155 | Legal Advocacy | 3 |
| PSY 2023 | Professional Development in Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 3213 | Research Methods in Psychological Science I | 3 |
| PSY 3860 | Positive Psychology | 3 |
| PUR 3100 | Writing for Public Relations | 3 |
| REL 3241 | Studies in the New Testament | 3 |
| SOW 3350 | Principles of Interviewing & Documentation | 3 |
| THE 2300 | Survey of Dramatic Literature | 3 |
- *
NOTE: Courses with an asterisk meet English Composition and/or College-Level Communication
| MAA 4211 | Advanced Calculus I | 3 |
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MAC 1105C | College Algebra with Lab | 4 |
| MAC 1114 | Trigonometry | 3 |
| MAC 1140 | Precalculus Algebra | 3 |
| MAC 1147 | Precalculus with Trigonometry | 4 |
| MAC 2233 | Calculus with Business Applications | 3 |
| MAC 2311 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 4 |
| MAC 2312 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | 4 |
| MAD 4401 | Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| MAP 2302 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MAP 4341 | Partial Differential Equations | 3 |
| MAS 3105 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MAS 4203 | Number Theory | 3 |
| MAS 4301 | Abstract Algebra | 3 |
| MHF 3202 | Set Theory and Mathematical Logic | 3 |
| MGF 1130 | Mathematical Thinking | 3 |
| MGF 1131 | Mathematics in Context | 3 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| STA 2360 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| STA 3162C | Applied Statistics | 4 |
| STA 4173 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| STA 4321 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I | 3 |
| NOTE: Courses with the MAE prefix do not satisfy the College-Level Computation math requirement. | ||
Summer Hour Requirement
All students entering a university in the State University System with fewer than sixty (60) semester hours credit shall be required to earn at least nine (9) semester hours prior to graduation by attendance at one or more summer sessions at one of the state universities.
Students may satisfy this requirement through online courses at UWF as well as any other UWF courses. Courses taken within the community college, state college system, or outside of the State University System of Florida cannot be used to satisfy summer hours.