Liberal Education Program

The liberal education program (LEP) is the overall framework around which all UMD baccalaureate degree programs are designed. While depth is achieved through requirements for majors and minors, breadth is achieved by exposure to disciplined inquiry in the liberal education program’s 10 categories of knowledge.

In addition to providing breadth of knowledge, the liberal education program encourages critical and creative thinking, develops speaking and writing skills, provides practice in analytical study methods, examines basic values, encourages active citizenship and social responsibility, and provides awareness of historical traditions, intellectual and artistic endeavors, contemporary global issues, and diverse cultural values in the United States. Objectives for each of the 10 categories are indicated in the brief statement at the beginning of each category in the following list.
Candidates for any UMD baccalaureate degree must complete the lower division liberal education program. Some baccalaureate degree programs have requirements that exceed those specified here. Students should check their degree program requirements as well as those listed in the following pages.

Students are encouraged to complete a majority of the liberal education program in their first two years of study. It is the student’s responsibility to select—in consultation with an adviser—specific liberal education courses that are prerequisites for upper division courses in their major, minor, or degree programs. Students enrolled in pre-professional programs who do not intend to complete their degree at UMD are not required to complete the lower division liberal education program. However, these students should carefully select liberal education courses in consultation with their advisers to meet requirements of the institution at which they intend to complete their degree, especially if that institution requires the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum.

Advanced standing transfer students who are candidates for a UMD baccalaureate degree may have completed the 40 credits required in the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum at another institution as part of an associate of arts or baccalaureate degree program.

Advanced standing students who have completed an associate of arts or baccalaureate degree at another accredited Minnesota college or university are exempt from UMD’s liberal education requirements.

Liberal Education Writing Requirement
WRIT 1120—College Writing (3 cr) or its equivalent must be completed during the first two semesters of attendance at UMD as part of the UMD liberal education program or Minnesota Transfer Curriculum.

Entering freshmen who score a 4 or above on either of the Educational Testing Service Advanced Placement examinations in English—Literature and Composition or Language and Composition—are granted 3 credits for WRIT 1120. Students scoring a 32 or above on the ACT English exam are exempt from WRIT 1120. UMD Honors students are exempt from WRIT 1120 when they have taken WRIT 1017—Freshman Seminar: Honors, The Rhetoric of Popular Culture. Students must contact their student affairs office for this exemption to be processed.

For more information, contact the Department of Writing Studies at 218-726-8131 or writ@d.umn.edu.

Liberal Education Program (LEP) Requirements
Students intending to graduate from UMD must complete at least 35 semester credits from the LEP by

• completing at least one course within each of the 10 LEP categories except where an option is provided. One course is defined as a minimum of 2 credits from a single course designator (e.g., ECON, SOC, MU).
• completing one course that emphasizes cultural diversity within the United States. These courses are designated with one asterisk (*).


• completing one course that emphasizes international perspective. These courses are designated with two asterisks (**).

1. Students may take two courses from Category 4 and none from Category 5 if the Category 4 courses have two different course designators.


2. Students may take two courses from Category 9 and none from Category 10 if the Category 9 courses have two different course designators. Art and Art History are considered the same course designator.


3. A maximum of 2 credits from approved PE and REC courses may be included in the total LEP credits but will not be applied to any category.

Category 1—Composition
Courses in this category should develop skills in composition and written communication.
WRIT 1120—College Writing (3 cr) or its equivalent

Category 2—Math, Logic, and Critical Thinking
Courses in this category should develop the ability to use and analyze formal symbolic systems. Emphasis should be on the theory and/or development of skills in specific symbolic systems, logic, linguistics and linguistic analysis, mathematics, statistics, and critical thinking.

Geog 2552—Introduction to Maps and Cartographic Methods (3 cr)
Ling 1811—Introduction to Language (3 cr)
Math 1024—Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics (3 cr)
Math 1160—Finite Mathematics and Introduction to Calculus (5 cr)
Math 1234—Freshman Seminar: Topics (3 cr)
Math 1250—Precalculus Analysis (4 cr)
Math 1290—Calculus for the Natural Sciences (5 cr)
Math 1296—Calculus I (5 cr)
Math 1596—Honors Calculus I (5 cr)
PHIL 1008—Critical Thinking (4 cr)
PHIL 1018—Logic (4 cr)
PHIL 1118—Freshman Seminar Honors: Logic (4 cr)
Stat 1411—Introduction to Statistics (3 cr)
Stat 2411—Statistical Methods (3 cr)

Category 3—Communication, Computer Science, and Foreign Languages
Courses in this category should develop the ability to use and analyze human and computer languages. Emphasis should be on the theory and/or development of skills in the methods of human and computer languages, and rhetoric.

AmIn 1103*—Beginning Ojibwe I (3 cr)
AmIn 1104*—Beginning Ojibwe II (3 cr)
AmIn 2203*—Intermediate Ojibwe I (3 cr)
AmIn 2204*—Intermediate Ojibwe II (3 cr)
ASL 2001*—American Sign Language Studies I (3 cr)
ASL 2002*—American Sign Language Studies II (3 cr)
Chin 1101**—Chinese I: A Practical Introduction to Everyday Mandarin Chinese (3 cr)
Chin 1102**—Chinese II: A Practical Introduction to Everyday Mandarin Chinese (3 cr)
CHIN 1103—Beginning Mandarin Chinese III (3 cr)
CHIN 1104—Beginning Mandarin Chinese IV (3 cr)
Chin 1201**—Intermediate Chinese I: Mandarin Chinese (3 cr)
Chin 1202**—Intermediate Chinese II: Mandarin Chinese (3 cr)
Chin 1399**—Chinese: Mandarin Chinese in China (6 cr)
COMM 1000—Human Communication Theory (3 cr)
COMM 1112—Public Speaking (3 cr)
COMM 1222*—Interpersonal Communication (3 cr)
COMM 1511—Honors: Public Speaking (3 cr)
CS 1011—Introduction to Computers and Software (3 cr)
CS 1121—Introduction to Programming in Visual BASIC (3 cr)
CS 1131—Introduction to Programming in FORTRAN (3 cr)
CS 1135—Introduction to Programming in FORTRAN 90 (2 cr)
CS 1301—Introduction to 3D Game Development (4 cr)
CS 1511—Computer Science I (5 cr)
CS 1581—Honors: Computer Science I (5 cr)
CS 2121—Introduction to Programming in Java (3 cr)
CSD 1100—Phonetics (2 cr)
FR 1101—Beginning French I (4 cr)
FR 1102—Beginning French II (4 cr)
FR 1201—Intermediate French I (4 cr)
FR 1202**—Intermediate French II (4 cr)
FR 2301**—Advanced French (4 cr)
GER 1101—Beginning German I (4 cr)
GER 1102—Beginning German II (4 cr)
GER 1201—Intermediate German I (4 cr)
GER 1202**—Intermediate German II (4 cr)
GER 2301**—Advanced German (4 cr)
ITAL 1101**—Beginning Italian (3 cr)
ITAL 1102**—Beginning Italian II (3 cr)
LANG 1101—Beginning Foreign Language I (4 cr)
LANG 1102—Beginning Foreign Language II (4 cr)
LANG 1201—Intermediate Foreign Language I (4 cr)
LANG 1202**—Intermediate Foreign Language II (4 cr)
PHIL 2011—Philosophy of Language (3 cr)
RUSS 1101—Beginning Russian I (4 cr)
RUSS 1102—Beginning Russian II (4 cr)
SPAN 1101—Beginning Spanish I (4 cr)
SPAN 1102—Beginning Spanish II (4 cr)
SPAN 1201—Intermediate Spanish I (4 cr)
SPAN 1202**—Intermediate Spanish II (4 cr)
SPAN 2301**—Advanced Spanish (4 cr)

Category 4—Physical and Biological Sciences With Lab
Courses in this category should focus on the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theory of natural phenomena.

AST 1061—Freshman Seminar: Observing the Universe (4 cr)
BIOL 1001—Biology and Society (4 cr)
BIOL 1011—General Biology I (5 cr)
CHEM 1102—Aspects of Chemistry (4 cr)
CHEM 1113—Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry I (5 cr)
CHEM 1151—General Chemistry I (5 cr)
CHEM 1161—Honors: General Chemistry I (5 cr)
Geog 1414—Physical Geography (4 cr)
GEOL 1045—Freshman Seminar: Minnesota’s Geologic History (3 cr)
GEOL 1110—Geology and Earth Systems (4 cr)
GEOL 1130**—Introduction to Environmental Science (4 cr)
PHYS 1001—Introduction to Physics I (5 cr)
PHYS 2011—General Physics I (4 cr)

Category 5—Physical and Biological Sciences Without Lab
Courses in this category should focus on the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theory of natural phenomena.

AST 1040—Introductory Astronomy (3 cr)
BIOL 1010—Home Horticulture (3 cr)
BIOL 1087—Freshman Seminar: Darwinian Medicine (3 cr)
BIOL 1093—Freshman Seminar: Biological Illustrations (3 cr)
BIOL 1094—Freshman Seminar: Northern Stream Ecosystems and the Angler (3 cr)
BIOL 2763*—Biology of Women (2 cr)
CHE 1011—Introduction to Chemical Engineering (3 cr)
CHEM 1102—Aspects of Chemistry (3 cr)
CHEM 1105—From the Industrial Revolution to Green Chemistry (3 cr)
ECE 1501**—Freshman Seminar Honors: Renewable Energy (3 cr)
ES 2803**—Issues in Global Ecology (3 cr)
GEOL 1040—Freshman Seminar: Topics (3 cr)
GEOL 1041—Freshman Seminar: Minerals and Life (3 cr)
GEOL 1042—Freshman Seminar: Natural Disasters and Civilizations (3 cr)
GEOL 1043—Freshman Seminar: Science and Societal Issues (3 cr)
GEOL 1047—Freshman Seminar: People and Volcanoes (3 cr)
GEOL 1048**—Freshman Seminar: Human Dimension of Global Environmental Change (3 cr)
GEOL 1120—Life and Death of the Dinosaurs (3 cr)
GEOL 1140**—Climate Change, Human History (3 cr)
GEOL 1610—Oceanography (3 cr)
GEOL 2350**—Earth’s Resources (3 cr)
HLTH 1470—Human Nutrition (3 cr)
PHYS 1011—Ideas in Physics (3 cr)

Category 6—The Social Sciences
Courses in this category should deal with the empirical/descriptive study of individual behavior and social institutions affecting individuals as members of society, including psychological, social, cultural, economic, and political phenomena.

AMIN 2110—American Indian Politics: Law, Sovereignty, and Treaty Rights (3 cr)
ANTH 1604**—Cultural Anthropology (4 cr)
ANTH 1612—Introduction to Archaeology (4 cr)
COMM 1010—Persuasion (3 cr)
COMM 2929**—Intercultural Communication (4 cr)
Econ 1022—Principles of Economics: Macro (3 cr)
Econ 1023—Principles of Economics: Micro (3 cr)
Geog 1304*—Human Geography (3 cr)
Geog 2313—Economic Geography (3 cr)
POL 1011—American Government and Politics (3 cr)
POL 1500**—Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr)
PSY 1003—General Psychology (4 cr)
PSY 2021*—Developmental Psychology (4 cr)
Soc 1101*—Introduction to Sociology (4 cr)

Category 7—Historical and Philosophical Foundations
Courses in this category should focus on the study of societies and/or cultures and the analysis of basic philosophical issues and traditions.

AMIN 1120*—American Indian Experiences: 1900–present (3 cr)
ANTH 1601**—Freshman Seminar: Prehistoric Cultures (4 cr)
ANTH 1602**—Prehistoric Cultures (4 cr)
CST 1004—From Classical Antiquity to Medieval Culture (4 cr)
CST 1020—Landscapes, Environments, and U.S. Culture (3 cr)
ECON 3031—History of Economic Thought (3 cr)
EDUC 1101—Education in Modern Society (3 cr)
ENGL 1802—Freshman Seminar: Asian Culture (4 cr)
HIST 1027**—Introduction to Islam (3 cr)
HIST 1095—Freshman Seminar: Topics (3–4 cr)
HIST 1207—Dawn of Modern Europe (3 cr)
HIST 1208—Europe in the Modern Age (3 cr)
HIST 1304—U.S. History Part I: 1607–1877 (3 cr)
HIST 1305—U.S. History Part II: 1865–Present (3 cr)
HIST 2245—Science and Society: 1500–Present (3 cr)
HIST 2265**—Russia in the 20th Century (3 cr)
HIST 2355—U.S. Military History (3 cr)
HIST 2357*—Women in American History (3 cr)
HIST 2515*—Precolonial Africa (3 cr)
HIST 2525**—Islamic Societies (3 cr)
PE 2001—Sport Ethics and Society (3 cr)
PHIL 1001—Introduction to Philosophy (3 cr)
PHIL 1007**—Philosophy and World Religions (3 cr)
PHIL 1101—Honors: Introduction to Philosophy (3 cr)
POL 1610—Introduction to Political Theory (3 cr)
WRIT 1506—Literacy, Technology, and Society (3 cr)
WS 1000*—Introduction to Women’s Studies (3 cr)

Category 8—Contemporary Social Issues and Analysis
Courses in this category should analyze contemporary issues and their relationship to individuals and/or social institutions in economic, political, educational, or religious systems.

ACCT 2005—Survey of Accounting (3 cr)
AMIN 2405—American Indian Families and Society: Culture and Tradition in History and Current Issues (3 cr)
AMIN 2707*—Boarding Schools and Beyond: A History of
American Indian Education 1880–Present (3 cr)
AMIN 3106*—Indian-White Relations (3 cr)
ANTH 1080**—Freshman Seminar: Understanding Global
Cultures (3 cr)
ANTH 1095**—Freshman Seminar: Topics (3–4 cr)
BLAW 2001—The Legal Environment (3 cr)
COMM 1500—Media and Society (3 cr)
COMM 2101—Foundations of Mass Communication (3 cr)
COMM 2102—Media Effects (3 cr)
CS 1094—Freshman Seminar: Computers and Society (3 cr)
CSD 2230*—Human Communication Disorders (3 cr)
CST 1050—Freshman Seminar: Bodies and Culture (4 cr)
CST 1101—Introduction to Cultural Studies (4 cr)
CST 2001*—Introduction to Gay Lesbian Bisexual and
Transgender Studies (4 cr)
ECON 1003—Economics and Society (3 cr)
EDUC 1100*—Human Diversity (3 cr)
EDUC 1201—Managing Planet Earth (3 cr)
GEOG 1202**—World Regional Geography (3 cr)
GEOG 2306—Environmental Conservation (3 cr)
GER 2040**—Berlin, Myth, Legend, and Reality (3 cr)
GER 2402**—Germany Today (3 cr)
HLTH 1100—Health and Wellness Strategies for Life (3 cr)
INTS 1070**—An Introduction to Scandinavia (3 cr)
PHIL 1003**—Ethics and Society (3 cr)
PHIL 2021—Science and Pseudo-Science: Thinking About Weird Things (3 cr)
PHIL 3242—Values and Technology (3 cr)
POL 1050**—International Relations (3 cr)
PSY 2023**—Marriages and Families Worldwide (4 cr)
PSY 2223*—Gender in Society (4 cr)
SOC 1080—Freshman Seminar: Development of Social Selves (3 cr)
SOC 1095—Freshman Seminar: Topics (3–4 cr)
SOC 1201*—Sociology of the Family (3 cr)
SOC 1301—Introduction to Criminology (4 cr)
SPAN 2540*—Latino Literatures and Cultures (3 cr)
SPED 1357*—Individuals With Disabilities in Society (3 cr)SW 1210**—Global Issues (3 cr)
SW 1211**—Freshman Seminar: Global Issues (3 cr)
SW 1212**—Global Issues Honors Seminar (3 cr)
SW 1619*—Race, Class, and Gender in the United States (3 cr)
URS 1001—Introduction to Urban and Regional Studies (3 cr)
WRIT 1017—Freshman Seminar: Honors, The Rhetoric of Popular Culture (3 cr)
WS 2101*—Women, Race, and Class (3 cr)

Category 9—Literary and Artistic Expression: Analysis and Criticism
Courses in this category should familiarize students with the basic aims, elements, and principles of interpretation and criticism of literature, folklore, myth, the visual arts, dance, film, music, and theatre. Emphasis should be on principles and techniques of analysis, interpretation, and criticism.

AMIN 1106—American Indian Prose, Poetry, and Oratory (3 cr)
AMIN 2105—Survey of American Indian Arts (3 cr)
ART 1001**—Art Today (3 cr)
ART 1003—Introduction to Design (3 cr)
ART 1814*—Creating Across Cultures (3 cr)
ART 1900—Visual Literacy (3 cr)
ARTH 1303—History of World Art I (3 cr)
ARTH 1304**—History of World Art II (3 cr)
ARTH 1400—Freshman Seminar Honors: Paris in the Age of Impressionism (3 cr)
ARTH 2300**—The City as a Work of Art (3 cr)
ARTH 2390*—American Art of the 20th Century (3 cr)
ARTH 2815*—Women Artists in History (3 cr)
CST 1010—Romanticism and Revolution (4 cr)
DN 1001**—Introduction to the World of Dance (3 cr)
ENGL 1001—Great American Authors (3 cr)
ENGL 1101—Literature Appreciation (3 cr)
ENGL 1507—Time and Place (4 cr)
ENGL 1535—King Arthur in History, Literature, and Art (4 cr)
ENGL 1575—20th-Century Literature (4 cr)
ENGL 1582**—Introduction to World Literatures (3 cr)
ENGL 1585**—Australian and New Zealand Literature and
Culture (4 cr)
ENGL 1666—Tales of Terror (4 cr)
ENGL 1801—Freshman Seminar: American Gothic (4 cr)
ENGL 1803—Freshman Seminar: Unseen Reality (4 cr)
ENGL 1805—Freshman Seminar: Satire and Humor (4 cr)
ENGL 1907—Introduction to Literature (3 cr)
ENGL 2571—Contemporary Literature (4 cr)
ENGL 2581*—Women Writers (4 cr)
ENGL 3223—Shakespeare (4 cr)
FA 1102—Creating Art (3 cr)
FR 2315**—French Cinema (4 cr)
GER 2315**—German Film: History and Analysis also for 3 credits
MU 1001**—Introduction to Music (3 cr)
MU 1003—Beethoven to the Beatles (3 cr)
MU 1005*—Jazz Studies (3 cr)
MU 2001**—Ethnic and Folk Music of the World (3 cr)
MU 2003—Survey of American Music (3 cr)
MU 2005*—African Roots of American Music (3 cr)
PHIL 1021—Classical Mythology (3 cr)
RUSS 2595**—Special Topics (Various Titles to be Assigned) (4 cr)
TH 1001—Introduction to Theatre Arts (3 cr)
TH 1051—Introduction to Film (3 cr)
TH 1053—Film and Society (3 cr)
TH 1071—Musical Theatre History (3 cr)
TH 3871—Playwriting (3 cr)

Category 10—Literary and Artistic Expression: Performance
Courses in this category should provide opportunities for creative expression through participation, production, or performance of literary or artistic expression and should pay significant attention to larger theoretical issues.

ART 1002—Introduction to Art (3 cr)
ART 1005—Freshman Seminar: Introduction to Art (3 cr)
ART 1006—Freshman Seminar: Fundamentals of Drawing (3 cr)
ART 1009—Fundamentals of Drawing (3 cr)
ART 1015—Freshman Seminar: 3-D Design (3 cr)
ART 1405—Fundamentals of Ceramics I (3 cr)
ART 1605—Fundamentals of Photography (3 cr)
ART 1607—Freshman Seminar: Fundamentals of Photography (3 cr)
DN 1011—Tap Dance Fundamentals (2 cr)
DN 1101—Modern Dance Technique I (2 cr)
DN 1111—Jazz Dance Technique I (2 cr)
DN 1131—Ballet Technique I (2 cr)
MU 1501—Concert Band (1 cr)
MU 1502**—Symphonic Wind Ensemble (1 cr)
MU 1503**—Symphony Orchestra (1 cr)
MU 1504—Chamber Orchestra (1 cr)
MU 1505*—Jazz Ensemble (1 cr)
MU 1510—Concert Chorale (1 cr)
MU 1511**—University Singers (1 cr)
MU 1512—Chamber Singers (1 cr)
MU 1513*—Vocal Jazz Ensemble (1 cr)
TH 1099—Theatre Practicum I (1 cr)
TH 1111—Acting Fundamentals I (3 cr)

PE and REC Courses
A maximum of 2 credits of 1xxx physical education and recreation courses may be included in the total liberal education credit requirement, but these courses are not applied to any category.

PE 1220—Intermediate Swimming (1 cr)
PE 1300—Ballroom Dance (1 cr)
PE 1304—Square Dance (1 cr)
PE 1402—Tennis (1 cr)
PE 1410—Golf (1 cr)
PE 1414—Bowling (1 cr)
PE 1500—Cross-Country Skiing (1 cr)
PE 1502—Alpine Skiing (1 cr)
PE 1507—Introduction to River Kayaking (1 cr)
PE 1508—Flatwater Canoeing (1 cr)
PE 1510—Whitewater Kayaking (2 cr)
PE 1512—Fishing Skills (1 cr)
PE 1530—Rock Climbing (1 cr)
PE 1600—Physical Fitness (1 cr)
PE 1601—Aerobics (1 cr)
PE 1612—Karate (1 cr)
PE 1614—Self Defense (1 cr)
PE 1616—Weight Training (1 cr)
PE 1620—Aikido (1 cr)
PE 1706—Volleyball (1 cr)
PE 1708—Basketball (1 cr)
REC 1201—Outdoor Skills I (2 cr)
REC 1202—Outdoor Skills II (2 cr)

International Perspective (IP)
The following course meets IP requirement but receives no liberal education course credits.

FST 4949**—Foreign Studies Synthesis (2 cr)