Essential Studies at the University of North Dakota

Essential Studies (ES) is the academic core of the university experience. The courses offered in the ES program provide broad and diverse perspectives and help students acquire essential intellectual skills. All ES courses contribute to breadth of knowledge. The ES program includes courses that introduce students to academic fields within Communication, Social Science, Arts and Humanities, and Math/Science/Technology. At the same time as courses are selected across these subject areas, students will be choosing courses that are designed to help them achieve these goals:

• Thinking and Reasoning: Use critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and creative thinking;
• Communication: Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Information Literacy: Access and evaluate information in a variety of contexts;
• Diversity: Understand and apply knowledge of social-cultural diversity.

Special Emphasis Areas - Courses in the Special Emphasis areas provide students with opportunities for intensive focus on particular Essential Studies goals to help prepare them to meet the challenges of the ever-changing world in which we live.

___  Student has met the Oral Communication requirement (O) 3 credits

___  Student has met the Social-Cultural Diversity requirement: United States (U) 3 credits

___  Student has met the Social-Cultural Diversity requirement: Global (G) 3 credits

___  Student has met the Quantitative Reasoning requirement (Q) 3 credits

___  Student has met the Advanced Communication requirement (A) 3 credits

This worksheet is prepared to help students better understand the University’s Essential Studies program and measure their own progress in meeting its requirements.

I.             Communication                                                    9 Credits (6 credits writing and 3 credits Oral Communication)

II.            Social Sciences                                                       9 Credits (minimum of 2 departments)

III.          Arts and Humanities                            9 Credits (minimum of 2 departments – 3 credits Fine Arts and 3 credits Humanities)

IV.          Math/Science/Technology                                    9 Credits (includes 4 credits Laboratory Science)

V.            Senior Capstone                                                    3 Credits

Special Emphasis Area requirements that may fall outside of
Communication, Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, or Math/Science/Technology

___ Student has met the 3 credits Fine Arts requirement

___ Student has met the 3 credits Humanities requirement

___ Student has met the 4-hour Laboratory Science requirement (Designated with L within Math/Science/Technology)