Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

General Education Component and Electives

Both Iowa State University and industry want our graduates to be well-rounded professional who can interact with their coworkers, business clients, and society.

General education electives are an important part of your electrical or computer engineering degree program. These courses can help you develop or expand skills necessary to achieve success within both industry and society.

What Classes Should I Pick?

The answer to that question depends upon what you want to do with your education and your life. General education courses are typically social sciences and humanities courses that focus on a wide range of aspects of human society, interactions, and life.

There is no list to select from (except for the U.S. Diversity and International Perspective requirements explained below), which means you have a lot of options available to you, so don't be afraid to try something different!

To learn what skills employers are looking for, and thus help you decide which classes to take, see the career advice column from a computer engineering alumnus.

Requirements

All general education electives must be on an approved General Education Component (see under General Ed Forms), and they must be selected to meet the following requirements:

• 15 total credits
• 3 credits of U.S. Diversity (see below)
• 3 credits of International Perspectives (see below)
• 6 credits at the 300-level or higher
• No courses in engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, or computer science
• No "trade" courses (such as music lessons and groups, applied arts, physical education, etc)
• No remedial courses
• No courses taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis

To help you find which courses are appropriate, here is a list of courses that CANNOT be used for General Education: Courses Not Allowed [PDF]

Software Engineering Only: General Education for SE Majors [PDF]

NOTE: Students who take a 300- or 400-level U.S. Diversity or International Perspective course may use the one course to fulfill both requirements (i.e. a student can take a 300-level U.S. Diversity course and use it to fulfill the U.S. Diversity requirement and three credits of the 300/400-level requirement). If you do this, you must still take a total of 15 credits of general education electives.

U.S. Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements

One of Iowa State University's goals is to prepare its students to meet the challenges of responsible citizenship and effective professional roles in a culturally diverse global community. All students are required to have at least three credits of U.S. Diversity and three credits of International Perspective classes.

Refer to the U.S. Diversity/International Perspectives Requirements page for course lists and detailed guidelines. International students and students with any academic experience involving a stay in a foreign country should check the International Perspectives Requirements or see their academic advisor, because you may be exempt from this requirement.

Transfer Students

If you have transferred general education courses from another institution, you should discuss the general education requirements with your advisor.

The General Education Component represents the contract between you and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering that states what courses you are selecting to meet your General Education Elective requirements and why.

The General Education Component is an assignment in CprE/EE 166 and is linked directly to your Student (Educational) Objective Statement.

You will select courses, write a rationale to explain why you chose those courses, and have an electrical or computer engineering faculty member and your advisor approve the form.

Because this is a contract, you will be required to redo the form if you take courses other than the ones you have had approved. Download the General Education Component Form from the Undergraduate Forms page.

Selecting Courses

As you select courses, start with your Student (Educational) Objective and select courses that will help you to meet your stated goals and develop your non-technical skills. These courses also must fulfill several requirements, including the U.S Diversity/ International Perspectives Requirement. Six credits of your elective courses must be at a 300 or 400 level.