St. Andrews General Education

Build a Strong Educational Base with Our SAGE Program

At St. Andrews University, we want to ensure our students get a complete education that gives them useful skills they can apply to their career, regardless of the degree path they choose.

To do so, we had our faculty design what we call the St. Andrews General education program or SAGE. This program constitutes course work that is required for all students, no matter which program they choose. Students must complete the courses included in SAGE in order to meet the requirements for graduation. Our advisors work closely with students to ensure they complete all classes in this program and to present the student with the course options that will satisfy the requirements.

Required Common Experience Courses

As part of SAGE, we require students to take 7 common experience courses that 19 credit hours. Courses include:

• SAGE 125 First-Year Experience: Transition and Transformation 3 credits
• WRT 110 Compositions I: Inquiry through Writing 3 credits
• WRT 120 Composition II: Reasoning through Writing 3 credits
• SAGE 230 Human Thought and Culture I: Ancient to Medieval 3 credits
• SAGE 240 Human Thought and Culture II: Renaissance to Modern 3 credits
• SAGE 381 Transitions 1 credit
• SAGE 450 Global Issues and Ethical Response 3 credits

Additional Courses Required for SAGE

In addition to the 7 common experience courses, the SAGE program also requires students to choose a course in each of the following categories:

Mathematics: Students must take a 3-credit mathematics course that develops an understanding of the appropriate use and limitations of quantitative analysis.

Natural Science: Students must take a 4-credit science class with a laboratory experience. The course must enhance the student’s understanding of the natural world and the scientific method of inquiry.

Arts and Aesthetics: Students can choose from a number of 3-credit courses in the Art, Communication, Theater Arts, Creative Writing, or Music categories. These courses should deepen personal engagement with the creative process and an appreciation of the achievement of one or more categories of fine arts.

Humanities: Students are free to choose a 3-credit course in the disciplines of English literature, Philosophy, or Religious Studies. Any of these courses will allow students to study written expressions of the human spirit in historical and cultural contexts.

Social Science: Students should select a 3-credit course focused on the study of human society and culture in the Politics, History, Business/Economics, Psychology, or Education disciplines.