General Studies

General Studies

General education at Charles R. Drew University

General education at Charles R. Drew University is designed and structured to foster an educational climate that provides positive and lifelong educational opportunities for all students entering the University. The General Studies curriculum is designed to provide skills, information, inquiry methods, and intellectual values, and aims to:

  •  Introduce students to the richness and diversity of the various academic disciplines;
  • Broaden students’ intellectual perspectives as educated members of society; and
  • Encourage students to develop commitments to and mutual respect for diverse groups.

GENERAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

General Studies courses are approved by the College’s Education and Academic Policy Committee (EAPC) and must satisfy the University’s criteria for general education courses. Consistent with this criteria and the mission of the University, coursework in the general education program is designed to equip students with the fundamental tools for active lifelong learning and full participation in and engagement with their contemporary world. To this end, the intent of the Division of General Studies is to ensure that every student will develop and demonstrate understanding of and/or proficiency in the following areas:

  • written and oral communication skills
  • critical thinking 
  • quantitative analysis skills 
  • computer/information literacy  
  • science, and the process by which science concepts are developed, tested, and modified; and the reliability and limitations of scientific knowledge itself  
  • human and world cultures, philosophies, and issues, including the importance and capacity of the creative arts and humanities in addressing and expanding the concepts and principles of human compassion, communication, and understanding necessary for intercultural competence in a variety of contexts
  • contributions of diverse groups of people to world development, in both the contemporary world and historically, as well as the importance and contribution inherent in the concept of cultural diversity 
  • political, ethical, and legal foundations and frameworks in both contemporary American culture and historically  
  • social responsibility and cultural understanding, especially in the context of service and service learning


In realizing the above goals for graduates of the Charles R. Drew University College of Science and Health, the Division of General Studies and College of Science and Health faculty have established program outcomes for the University’s general education curriculum.

GE Program Outcomes

GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS

Those students who have tentatively decided on a major or who have declared their major should read the respective program statement to determine any particular general education courses that are required or suggested. Depending on the program of study, students may either take general education courses concurrently with major coursework or complete general education requirements prior to entering the major.  Some programs allow a limited number of general education units to also be counted towards a major. Although this does not lessen the total units required for the degree, it allows for those units to be used as electives.  Electives are units needed beyond those taken to fulfill general education and major requirements. Students may take any elective courses for which they have the necessary prerequisites. No course may be repeated for elective credit unless stated in the course description.

DEGREE REQUIREMENT

Each undergraduate program of study leading to a degree must include the College’s general education and core curriculum requirements as outlined below.  Not all courses may be credited toward fulfillment of the general education and core curriculum requirements.  Students must observe the following restrictions that apply to such units:

1.  Basic skills courses (developmental and remedial level courses, such as pre-algebra and English fundamentals) cannot be applied toward the A.S. or B.S.

2.  No professional course in the student’s major program of study may be used to satisfy general education requirements.

3.  Courses in which previous credit has been received may not be applied a second time.

4.  In some cases, students may satisfy core requirements and general education elective requirements simultaneously, although doubling of credit value is not permitted.

UNRESTRICTED ELECTIVE REQUIREMENT

B.S. Degree

Completion of one lower and two upper-division three unit elective courses.  An unrestricted elective is any course a student wishes to complete for credit toward a degree other than those courses taken that fulfill specific general education, core curriculum, and program curriculum requirements.  This is a residency requirement and cannot be transferred from other institutions, without prior written consent of the department chair or program director.

A.S. Degree

Completion of one lower or upper-division three unit elective course.  An unrestricted elective is any course a student wishes to complete for credit toward a degree other than those courses taken that fulfill specific general education, core curriculum, and program curriculum requirements.  This is a residency requirement and cannot be transferred from other institutions, without prior written consent of the department chair or program director.

GENERAL STUDIES ADMINISTRATION AND CONTACT             
Department telephone: 323-357-3635


Candice Goldstein, Ph.D., CADC-II
Chair, Department of General Studies
College of Science and Health
201 Keck Building
1731 E. 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Phone:323-357-3635
Fax:323-357-3493
Email: candicegoldstein@cdrewu.edu
 
Harold Abramowitz, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor
College of Science and Health
114 Keck Building
1731 E. 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Phone: 323-357-3446
Email: haroldabramowitz@cdrewu.edu

Enrico Rodrigo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
College of Science and Health
219 Keck Building
1731 East 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Phone: 323-563-5883
Fax: 323-563-9363
Email: enricorodrigo@cdrewu.edu

Taynay Cameron
Program Coordinator
College of Science and Health
221 Keck Building
1731 E. 120th Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Phone: 323-563-4820
Fax: 323-357-3636
Email: taynayCameron@cdrewu.edu