Florida Statute 1007.25 specifies that General Education courses come from five core areas: communications, humanities, mathematics, natural science and social science. In accordance with the state articulation agreement (Florida Administrative Code 6A- 10.024), each college and/or university shall honor the completion of the General Education program if such completion is noted on the student’s transcript. The State of Florida requires all public colleges and universities to include a specified amount of writing and computation in their curriculum to ensure students have achieved substantial competency in these areas as specified in Florida Administrative Rule, Gordon Rule, 6A-10.30. Courses that satisfy Gordon Rule are indicated in each general education area.
General Education courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher to apply to any B.A.S., B.S.N., A.A., or A.S. degree program. Each degree offered by the College has its own General Education requirements. Presented below are the General Education course requirements for the B.A.S., B.S.N. and the A.A. degree. Please consult with the FloridaShines.org website or a Palm Beach State academic advisor to determine which general education courses will fulfill the common prerequisite courses needed for your major in the state university system.
A.S. students should refer to their specific program of study to determine which general education courses from the list below are required for their program.
General Education Courses by Area
Florida Statute 1007.25 specifies that General Education courses come from five core areas: communications, humanities, mathematics, natural science and social science. In accordance with the state articulation agreement (Florida Administrative Code 6A- 10.024), each college and/or university shall honor the completion of the General Education program if such completion is noted on the student’s transcript. The State of Florida requires all public colleges and universities to include a specified amount of writing and computation in their curriculum to ensure students have achieved substantial competency in these areas as specified in Florida Administrative Rule, Gordon Rule, 6A-10.30. Courses that satisfy Gordon Rule are indicated in each general education area.
General Education courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher to apply to any B.A.S., B.S.N., A.A., or A.S. degree program. Each degree offered by the College has its own General Education requirements. Presented below are the General Education course requirements for the B.A.S., B.S.N. and the A.A. degree. Please consult with the FloridaShines.org website or a Palm Beach State academic advisor to determine which general education courses will fulfill the common prerequisite courses needed for your major in the state university system.
A.S. students should refer to their specific program of study to determine which general education courses from the list below are required for their program.
Area I - Communications (9 Credits)
TIER 1 - Select one of the following courses:
| ENC1101 | College Composition 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: The course listed in TIER 1 meets the Gordon Rule requirement.
TIER 2 - Select one of the following courses:
| ENC1102 | College Composition 2 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ENC1141 | Writing About Literature (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: All courses listed in TIER 2 meet the Gordon Rule requirement.
TIER 3 - Students must take the following course:
| SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: The course listed in TIER 3 meets the Gordon Rule requirement.
Approved Transfer Composition or Speech: Verify course credit with an advisor
Area II - Humanities (6 Credits)
TIER 1 – Select one of the following courses:
| ARH1000 | Art Appreciation (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MUL1010 | Music Appreciation (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PHI1010 | Introduction to Philosophy (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| THE1000 | Theatre Appreciation (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| LIT1000 | Introduction to Literature (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: All courses listed in TIER 1 meet the Gordon Rule requirement.
TIER 2
If LIT 1000 is not selected in Tier 1, either an AML, ENL or LIT course must be selected in Tier 2
If LIT 1000 is selected in Tier 1, then any other course other than AML, ENL or LIT must be selected from either Tier 1 or Tier 2
| AML2010 | American Literature to 1865 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| AML2020 | American Literature after 1865 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| AML2600 | African American Literature (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| AML2631 | Hispanic American Literature (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| AML2660 | Jewish American Literature (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ARH2050 | Art History: Ancient to Renaissance (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ARH2051 | Art History: Renaissance to Contemporary (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ENL2012 | English Literature Before 1800 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ENL2022 | English Literature After 1800 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| FIL2000 | Film Appreciation (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| LIT2050 | Survey of Literary Humor (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| LIT2370 | The Bible as Literature (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| LIT2090 | Contemporary Literature (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| LIT2110 | World Literature Before the Renaissance (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| LIT2120 | World Literature After the Renaissance (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| LIT2190 | Introduction to Afro-Caribbean Literature (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| LIT2380 | Women In Literature (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MUH2018 | History and Appreciation of Jazz (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MUT1001 | Fundamentals of Music (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: All courses listed in TIER 2 meet the Gordon Rule requirement.
Approved Transfer Humanities or Literature: Verify course credit with an advisor
Area III - Mathematics (6 Credits)
TIER 1 - Select one of the following courses:
| MAC1105 | College Algebra (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MAC2311 | Calculus With Analytic Geometry 1 (AA) | 4 credits (4 lecture hours) |
| MGF1106 | Liberal Arts Mathematics (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MGF1107 | Finite Mathematics (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| STA2023 | Statistics (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: All courses listed in TIER 1 meet the Gordon Rule requirement.
TIER 2 - Select one of the following courses OR select another course from Tier 1:
| MAC1114 | Trigonometry (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MAC1140 | Precalculus (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MAC1147 | Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (AA) | 5 credits (5 lecture hours) |
| MAC2233 | Survey of Calculus (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MAC2312 | Calculus With Analytic Geometry 2 (AA) | 4 credits (4 lecture hours) |
| MAC2313 | Calculus With Analytic Geometry 3 (AA) | 4 credits (4 lecture hours) |
| MAP2302 | Differential Equations (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MAS2103 | Linear Algebra (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: All courses listed in TIER 2 meet the Gordon Rule requirement.
MAC2233 (for Business Majors)
Approved Transfer Mathematics: Verify course credit with an advisor
Area IV - Natural Sciences (9 Credits)
TIER 1 - Select one of the following courses:
| AST1002 | Descriptive Astronomy (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| AST1002L | Descriptive Astronomy Lab (AA) | 1 credits (2 lab hours) |
| BSC1005 | Concepts in Biology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| BSC1005L | Concepts in Biology Lab (AA) | 1 credits (2 lab hours) |
| BSC1010 | Principles of Biology 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| BSC1010L | Principles of Biology 1 Lab (AA) | 1 credits (3 lab hours) |
| BSC2085 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| BSC2085L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab (AA) | 1 credits (3 lab hours) |
| CHM1045 | General Chemistry 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| CHM1045L | General Chemistry 1 Lab (AA) | 1 credits (3 lab hours) |
| ESC1000 | Earth Science (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| EVR1001 | Introduction to Environmental Science (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PHY2048 | General Physics with Calculus 1 (AA) | 4 credits (4 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| PHY2048L | General Physics 1 and General Physics with Calculus 1 Laboratory (AA) | 1 credits (2 lab hours) |
| PHY2053 | General Physics 1 (AA) | 4 credits (4 lecture hours) |
TIER 2 - Select one of the following courses OR select another course from Tier 1:
| BOT1010 | General Botany (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| BOT1010L | General Botany Lab (AA) | 1 credits (2 lab hours) |
| BSC1011 | Principles of Biology 2 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| BSC1011L | Principles of Biology 2 Lab (AA) | 1 credits (3 lab hours) |
| BSC1311 | Marine Biology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| BSC2086 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| BSC2086L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab (AA) | 1 credits (3 lab hours) |
| BSC2421 | Introduction to Biotechnology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| BSC2421L | Introduction to Biotechnology Lab (AA) | 2 credits (6 lab hours) |
| CHM1025 | Introductory Chemistry (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| CHM1032 | Principles of Chemistry (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| CHM1032L | Principles of Chemistry Lab (AA) | 1 credits (2 lab hours) |
| CHM1046 | General Chemistry 2 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| CHM1046L | General Chemistry 2 Lab (AA) | 1 credits (3 lab hours) |
| GLY1000 | Descriptive Geology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| HUN1201 | Elements of Nutrition (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| MCB2010 | Microbiology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| MCB2010L | Microbiology Lab (AA) | 1 credits (2 lab hours) |
| OCE1001 | Introduction to Oceanography (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PHY1001 | Applied Physics (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PHY2049 | General Physics with Calculus 2 (AA) | 4 credits (4 lecture hours) |
| And | |
| PHY2049L | General Physics 2 and General Physics with Calculus 2 Laboratory (AA) | 1 credits (2 lab hours) |
| PHY2054 | General Physics 2 (AA) | 4 credits (4 lecture hours) |
| PSC1341 | Physical Science for Today's World (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
TIER 3 - Select one of the following courses:
| HSC1101 | Contemporary Issues in Health (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| HSC2100 | Health Concepts and Strategies (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Or
| Select ANY OTHER 3-5 credit general education course from among the five categories of general education | |
Note: HSC1101 and HSC2100 meet the Gordon Rule requirement.
Approved Transfer Science: Verify course credit with an advisor
Area V - Social Science (6 Credits)
Select courses from Group 1 or Group 2 based on your enrollment status as defined below.
Group 1
You are seeking an AA or baccalaureate degree, are enrolled for the first time (including by dual enrollment) in a Florida public college or university in Fall 2018 or later, and you have no prior college credits. You must complete the requirements of both tiers shown below.
TIER 1 - Select one of the following courses:
| AMH2020 | United States History from 1865 to Present (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| POS1041 | Introduction to American Government (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: All course listed in TIER 1 meet the Gordon Rule and Civic Literacy requirements.
TIER 2 - Select one of the following courses:
| ANT2000 | Anthropology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ECO2013 | Principles of Macroeconomics (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| GEA1000 | Principles of Geography and Conservation (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PSY2012 | Introduction to Psychology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| SYG1230 | American Minorities Today (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| SYG2000 | Introduction to Sociology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| SYG2010 | American SocialProblems (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: All courses listed in TIER 2 meet the Gordon Rule Requirement.
Group 2
You are seeking an AA or baccalaureate degree and have earned college credits prior to Fall 2018 (including those earned by dual enrollment); you earned credit at PBSC or transferred in from another institution. You must complete the requirements of both tiers shown below.
TIER 1 - Select one of the following courses:
| AMH2020 | United States History from 1865 to Present (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ANT2000 | Anthropology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ECO2013 | Principles of Macroeconomics (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| POS1041 | Introduction to American Government (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PSY2012 | Introduction to Psychology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| SYG2000 | Introduction to Sociology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: All courses listed in TIER 1 meet the Gordon Rule requirement.
TIER 2
If you selected AMH or POS in Tier 1, select ANT, ECO, GEA, PSY, or SYG from Tier 1 or Tier 2. If you selected ANT, ECO, PSY, or SYG in Tier 1, select AMH or POS from Tier 1 or Tier 2.
| AMH2010 | United States History to 1865 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| GEA1000 | Principles of Geography and Conservation (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| SYG1230 | American Minorities Today (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| SYG2010 | American SocialProblems (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| POS1001 | Introduction to Political Science (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| POS2112 | American State and Local Government (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Note: All courses listed in TIER 2 meet the Gordon Rule requirement.
Approved Transfer Social Science: Verify course credit with an advisor