Dec 06, 2025  
2021-2022 Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Studies, AS


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study

Goals of General Education

The general education core is intended to apply to all degrees and certificates recognized by the State Board of Education (SBOE). A central component of SBOE policy is the requirement that a student working toward a degree or certificate must also complete coursework in the general education core.

Within this core, students are required to complete thirty-six (36) credits of general education that pulls from six (6) Ways of Knowing: Communications, English, Humanities, Math, Science, and Social Science. All of these credits are transferable to any public institution in Idaho as part of the core curriculum.

By completing courses in the general education core, students benefit from understanding how knowledge is generated and created. Mastery of a broad range of intellectual and cultural content imparts fundamental perspective to decision-making. The general education core classes cultivate curiosity across a broad spectrum of class content. This helps students going into any field of study to interrogate clearly, argue lucidly, and judge fairly. These classes also bring an awareness to the difficult ethical issues of our day, as well as teach the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Students who graduate from CEI with an Associate of Arts(AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree will be considered as having satisfied the lower division general education core requirements. They shall be granted junior standing upon transfer to a four-year public institution in Idaho and will not be required to complete additional lower division general education core courses.

This policy applies to lower division general education core requirements only. It is not intended to meet specific program or graduation  requirements. Students who plan to transfer should consult with their advisors and make early contact with a representative from the institution to which they intend to transfer. It is also recommended that students consult the catalog of the transfer institution to see which courses will be required to fulfill their graduation requirements.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The General Education Division is committed to supporting and preparing students for College of Eastern Idaho’s professional-technical programs, citizenship, and employment by offering quality instruction. This includes transferable courses leading to the following learning outcomes:

  • Higher-level thinking, which uses qualitative and quantitative reasoning
  • Effective written, oral, visual, electronic, and/or other modes of communication
  • Functional knowledge of connections among themes and patterns in the social and natural world

General Education Academic Certificate

The General Education Academic Certificate formalizes the programmatic completion of the general education framework established in SBOE Policy III.N in April 2014. The General Education program (36 Credits) is required for all Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees. It marks a significant milestone in a student’s pursuit of these degrees. This academic certificate is intended for degree-seeking students who plan to complete their AA or AS degree at College of Eastern Idaho or who intend to transfer into a baccalaureate program after completing the certificate. The program fulfills the requirements of Idaho State Policy on General Education and is wholly transferable to any public postsecondary institution in Idaho.

GEM 1: Written Communication


GEM 2: Oral Communication


GEM 4: Scientific Ways of Knowing


Choose 2 from different disciplines; 1 must have a lab

General Education Credits: 36


Degree Gem Credits: 6


Minimum of 6 credits specific to AA / AS

Elective Credits: 18


Total Credits: 60


- GEM Stamped Course. Any GEM stamped course is transferrable to any public institution in the state of Idaho.

* - Prerequisites or placements are necessary to take this course. Please see the current catalog or speak to an advisor for more information.

Graduation Requirements


To graduate from College of Eastern Idaho with an Associate Degree, you must have:

  • A minimum of 60 completed credits
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • A minimum grade of C- (70) in all required courses
  • A minimum of 25% (15 credits) of your courses must come from CEI

For an Associate of Arts (AA), at least 2 additional courses must be from Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing, or Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing.

For an Associate of Science (AS), at least 2 additional courses must be from Mathematical Ways of Knowing, or Scientific Ways of Knowing.

Elective Courses


A total of approximately 18 credits are required for electives. Credits may also come from other objective areas.

This list of courses is subject to change. Not all courses are provided every semester. Please see a current College of Eastern Idaho catalog or your self-service for the most recently updated list of courses.

Electives


Other Elective Courses


- Prerequisites or placements are necessary to take this course. Please see the current catalog or speak to an advisor for more information.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study