General Education Waiver Examinations

Many students enroll with strong academic skills, and it is possible to satisfy general education requirements (Area A1, A2, A3, and B4) through waiver examinations rather than taking courses. If you have good command of one or more of the basic skills, you should consider this option.

You may register for the waiver exams in the appropriate office. Area A2, A3, and B4 exams are available through the Testing Center. The Area A1 exam is given once a quarter through the Office of Undergraduate Studies 654-3420. The exams cost $10.00 each and are payable at the Testing Center. Each waiver exam may only be taken twice.

The Office of Undergraduate Studies informs you by mail of the exam results. Passage of an exam satisfies a goal but does not earn university credit.

Passing the waiver exam does not give you credit for any course; it only satisfies the general education requirement.

Area A1 - Speaking & Listening Competency in the English Language

  • Communications 108 (Strategies in Public Communication) and
  • Theater 232 (Acting I)

are the courses that satisfy this requirement. The exam is offered once each quarter - contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies (654-3420).

Area A2 - Writing & Reading Competency in the English Language

  • English 110 (Expository Writing) is the course that satisfies this requirement.

The exam is offered by appointment; it requires 1 1/2 hours of Library time to locate and gather information and 2 hours to write the paper (4 hours total time). Dictionaries are allowed.

Area A3 - Writing-intensive, Critical Thinking, & Logical Reasoning

  • Humanities 102 (Critical Thinking & Writing),
  • Philosophy 102 (Logical Reasoning),
  • Sociology 120 (Critical Thinking & Contemporary Social Problems),
  • Anthropology 120 (Evolution & Scientific Creationism), and
  • Anthropology 121 (Amazing Archaeology)

are the courses that satisfy this requirement. The exam is offered by appointment (call Testing Center at 654-3373 to sign-up). There is a 50 minute time limit; the test consists of 52 multiple choice questions; and the results are mailed to students by the Office of Undergraduate Studies.

Area B4 - Mathematical Reasoning Competency

  • Mathematics 101 (Finite Mathematics),
  • Mathematics 140 (Elementary Statistics), and
  • Psychology 200 (Introduction to Statistical Methods in Psychological Research)

are the courses that satisfy this requirement. The exam is offered by appointment only; there are 27 multiple choice questions; and there is a 60 minute time limit.