Coherent Rationale

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requires that institutions have a coherent rationale for their general education requirements.

At SMU, the  determines this rationale, which is articulated below by each requirement component. The Office of General Education can answer questions about this rationale.

Foundations

According to current coherent rationale requirements, courses tagged with Foundation components:

1. Cannot carry other Common Curriculum tags (Breadths or P&Es)
2. Must be at the 1000- or 2000-level,  
3. Must be broad and introductory in nature,
4. Must be three semester credit hours or more,
5. May not have any prerequisites other than other Foundation components,
6. One-fourth (25%) of all General Education course seats must be open to all undergraduate students. 

 

Breadths

According to current coherent rationale requirements, courses tagged with Breadth components:

1. Must be at the 3000 level or lower,
2. Must be three semester credit hours or more,
3. May not have more than one prerequisite/corequisite,  and
4. One-fourth (25%) of all General Education course seats must be open to all undergraduate students.

Additionally, courses tagged with Philosophical, Religious, & Ethical Inquiry (PREI) may not be tagged with Civic & Individual Ethics (CIE).

 

Proficiencies and Experiences

According to current coherent rationale requirements, courses tagged with Proficiencies & Experiences components:

1. Must be at the 4000 level or lower,
2. Must be one semester credit hour or more,
3. Courses tagged with Writing must be at the 3000 level or lower, and
4. Additionally, courses may carry, at most, four P&E tags