General Education

Overview

General Education courses at Ensign College focus on empowering learners personally, spiritually, civically, professionally, and into the eternities.  Learning experiences and environments are designed around principles from Doctrine & Covenants 88.  Students are asked to seek wisdom and embrace truth “that they may be prepared in all things” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:80).

General Education courses support the College’s mission, to develop capable and trusted disciples of Jesus Christ.  Learning happens not only in classrooms, but in the mind, heart, hands, and whole soul of learners as they seek the presence, guidance, and influence of the Holy Ghost.  Learning by study and faith is the bedrock for learning and teaching endeavors.  Seeking truth, light, knowledge, and understanding is a common pattern in these courses, along with principles and themes from Doctrine & Covenants 88.

Using the Ensign College Learning Signature, the GE courses offer real and relevant immersive learning experiences and environments, helping students to achieve Deep Learning—to know, do, and become.  Students are tasked with responsibility for their learning, just as Nephi on the shores of Bountiful when he was asked to build a ship.  Common patterns of learning include seeking, discovering, inquiry-based thinking, and problem-solving while critically reflecting throughout the learning process.

Learners act as agents of their learning in ambiguous situations, thus becoming more agile as they demonstrate mastery of program and course outcomes through practice, demonstration, and purposeful application.  The College-Wide Capabilities are integrated and interwoven throughout the GE experience with immediate application of lifelong skills.
General Education courses are designed to offer transformational learning experiences as students are magnified in mind and heart, discovering their purpose and personal mission of becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.

General Education Outcomes

Students graduating from Ensign College with an Associate of Science degree will

  • Reinforce the acquisition of College-Wide Capabilities for the development of spiritual and temporal self-reliance

  • Demonstrate the integration of knowledge and skills through “thinking and doing” to solve real and relevant problems

  • Increase in self-awareness while demonstrating empathy and examining perspectives of self, others, and place in the global world

  • Discern truth from error through discovery, analysis, synthesis, and engage in big questions, both contemporary and enduring

  • Critically reflect by articulating ways of learning and thinking

General education courses are part of the requirements for the Associate of Science degree.  This degree is designed for students who want to transfer to four-year institutions and continue their education.  To maximize transferability, students should complete all the general education requirements for the AS degree and graduate from Ensign College.  Students desiring to transfer should meet with an Ensign College academic advisor to learn more about transferability of courses and degrees.

Ensign College works to establish articulation agreements with other colleges and universities for students in their continued pursuits of lifelong learning and academics.  Students interested in transferring credits to another college or university should review that institution’s transfer guidelines and policies.  Students are encouraged to contact the four-year institutions to which they plan to transfer and check degree requirements and departmental prerequisites.  Ensign College makes no guarantee of credit transfer and cannot negotiate or change the graduation requirements of another higher education institution.

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Composition Courses

Complete two courses (6 credit hours)
Course NumberTitleCredits
ENG 101Introduction to College Writing

3 credits

ENG 201Intermediate College Writing

3 credits

ENG 301Technical Writing

3 credits

BUS 340Professional Business Communications

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:6

 

Quantitative Literacy

Complete one course (3-4 credit hours)
Course NumberTitleCredits
MAT 107Quantitative Analysis and Personal Finance

3 credits

MAT 110College Algebra

4 credits

MAT 111Trigonometry

3 credits

MAT 112Calculus I

4 credits

MAT 113Calculus II

4 credits

MAT 119Business Calculus

3 credits

MAT 237Discrete Mathematics

3 credits

MAT 252Statistics

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:3-4

Distribution Areas

American Institutions

Students must complete one of the following courses:
Course NumberTitleCredits
HIST 170American Civilizations

3 credits

HIST 175History of Technology in the United States

3 credits

POLS 110American Government

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:3
 

Fine Arts

Students must complete one of the following courses: 
Course NumberTitleCredits
ART 101History of the Fine Arts

3 credits

ART 110Survey of Visual & Performing Arts

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:3
 

Humanities

Students must complete one of the following courses
Course NumberTitleCredits
COMM 122Interpersonal Communications

3 credits

HUM 110Discovering the Humanities

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:3

Life Sciences

Students must complete one of the following courses:
Course NumberTitleCredits
LS 103Nutrition and Health

3 credits

LS 265Anatomy & Physiology

4 credits

Total Credit Hours:3-4

LS 265 is for Medical Assisting student only

 

Physical Sciences

Students must complete one of the following courses:
Course NumberTitleCredits
PS 120Earth Science

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:3

Social Sciences

Students must complete one of the following courses:
Course NumberTitleCredits
BUS 301Principles of Management

3 credits

ECON 161Microeconomics

3 credits

ECON 162Economic Principles and Problems-Macro, Online

3 credits

GEOG 130World Political Geography

3 credits

PSYCH 101Introduction to Psychology

3 credits

SS 160Leadership & Human Behavior

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:3

General Education Student Choice

Students must complete one additional course from one of the following areas: (3-4 credits)

Course NumberTitleCredits
Total Credit Hours:3-4
  • American Institutions Distribution courses (3 credit hours)
  • Fine Arts Distribution courses (3 credit hours)
  • Humanities Distribution courses (3 credit hours)
  • Life Sciences Distribution courses (3 credit hours)
  • Physical Sciences Distribution courses (3 credit hours)
  • Social Sciences Distribution courses (3 credit hours)
  • Math courses: Math 110 or higher (3-4 credit hours)

Total Credit Hours: 30-33

In many cases, courses taken to fulfill General Education Requirements may also fulfill specific Program Requirements. Please make note of your declared program’s catalog page and work with your Student Success Advisor for more information.