The following information relates to the Blue GER Plan. Students who began their studies at Oxford College in, or after, Fall 2023 will follow these requirements.
Note: Only courses with the GER tags (noted below) satisfy the Blue GER Plan. If you have any questions about which courses satisfy your requirements, please contact the Advising Support Center.
Exploration Courses
Exploration courses ensure that students take courses in a variety of fields, across the liberal arts curriculum. These courses are the foundation of the general education experience, giving students experience in a variety of academic areas at the outset of their studies at Emory, and introducing them to different intellectual approaches, tools, and evidence. Students must complete:
- Humanities and Arts [HA] (1 course)
- Natural Science [NS] (1 course)
- Quantitative Reasoning [QR] (1 course)
- Social Science [SS] (1 course)
Timeframe: All courses in the exploration area must be completed by Oxford graduation.
Expression & Communication
Communication-intensive courses are designed to improve communication skills through frequent writing, speaking, listening, and designing across academic and non-academic situations. Teachers across discourse communities encourage, guide, and communicate high standards to students through instruction and example. Communication-intensive classes focus on both the product and the process of developing appropriate and effective communication skills. Learning to be an ethical communicator is a focus of the courses, and instruction (materials, assignments, feedback) is designed to foster this growth in students. Students must complete:
- Discovery Seminar [DSC] (1 course)
- First Year Writing [FW] (1 course) - may be fulfilled with AP, IB or other appropriate test credit
- Continuing Communication [CC] (2 courses*)
Timeframe: The Discovery Seminar and First Year Writing courses must be completed by the end of the first-year. One Continuing Communication course must be completed by Oxford graduation. The second required Continuing Communication course can be taken at Oxford or Atlanta campus.
Belonging & Community
Building Community courses foster connections, relationships, and understanding within and between diverse communities by encouraging students to reflect upon those to which they belong and those with whom they interact on many levels, from local to international settings. During their first three years at Emory, students are required to take one course in these two categories: Race and Ethnicity and Intercultural Communications. Students must complete:
- Intercultural Communication [IC] (2 courses in a single language other than English, beginning at a student’s level of fluency) - 1 course may be fulfilled with AP, IB or other appropriate test credit
- Race and Ethnicity [ETHN] (1 course)
Timeframe: This area must be completed before a student gains senior standing at Emory’s Atlanta Campus.
Experience & Application
One Experience & Application, also referred to as “Experiential Learning”, course is required for all students during their Oxford career. Experience & Application courses are designated with an “E,” Experiential learning, or “learning through reflection on doing.” Examples of Experiential Learning opportunities may include Academic Internships, Advanced Student Research, Applied Arts, Global Learning, and Theory- Practice Service Learning. Students must complete:
- Experience and Application [XA] - (1 course)
Timeframe: This area must be completed by Oxford graduation.
PE at Emory
All students at Oxford College are required to complete one Physical Education course during their first year. This timed requirement supports the transition to Emory by helping students to develop skills for academic and personal success. Students must complete:
- PE [PED] - (1 course)
Timeframe: PE must be taken in first year. This area must be completed by graduation.
