The General Education curriculum at Salem University offers students the opportunity to create a well-rounded, cultured, and fundamentally skilled background with foundation, international focus, and recommended electives in the liberal arts for all students. Foundation and International Focus courses form the critical basis for all students with certain variations for each program. Elective courses are designed for students to further enhance their program or to explore other interesting subjects while still receiving a robust education.

The General Education curriculum helps to prepare all undergraduate students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in their major as well as navigate the complexities of society and the workplace. The General Education curriculum imparts knowledge to students to be able to navigate successfully in their chosen major and in their field after graduation.

The General Education curriculum at Salem is designed to help students:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of written and oral communications to include information gathering and evaluation; including effective listening to understand and evaluate oral communications.
  • Explain and apply critical examination and evaluation of discourse; in order to synthesize information and evaluate information and arguments.
  • Explain and represent mathematical information; develop and apply mathematics to real-world situations while also using technology appropriately.
  • Identify and describe ethical issues while developing interpersonal strategies for understanding, applying, and assessing.
  • Recognize individual and cultural differences from a global perspective and describe the importance and influence of global diversity, including the student’s role in promoting and embracing diversity in the classroom and beyond.
  • Identify their individual rights and responsibilities within society; describe how they can exercise those rights and responsibilities; and explain relevant connections between academic fields and civic and political participation as it relates to the student’s personal, academic and professional growth and development.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate Programs

The minimum cumulative GPA to graduate is 2.0. However, specific programs may require a higher GPA either overall or for courses in the major. These requirements will be shown in the program handbook or listed elsewhere in the catalog. In some cases, higher GPA requirements reflect licensure rules and regulations imposed by external agencies.

Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) Program

The ADN Program requires the successful completion of a minimum of 66 semester credit hours. Nursing majors must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to progress to the ADN Program nursing core courses. Nursing students must earn a “C” or higher in all ADN Program nursing core courses and a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.5 overall to graduate. In addition, nursing students must meet or exceed the designated passing score on the comprehensive capstone achievement exam to graduate.

RN-BSN Program

Consistent with all baccalaureate programs at Salem, the program requires the successful completion of 120 semester credit hours, including a maximum of 90 transfer credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. The RN-BSN Program Nursing Core comprises 30 credits (10 courses) that all students must complete with a grade of “C” or higher and a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Each course is four weeks’ duration; therefore, depending on transfer credits, students may be able to complete their BSN within ten (10) months of continuous, successful enrollment.

Graduate Degree Programs

Master’s degrees require completion of at least 30 semester credits, including up to 50% transfer credits. The MBA requires 36 credits. The M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction requires 30 credits. The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership requires 30 credits. The Ed.S. in educational leadership requires 30 post-master’s degree credits. The CAS in educational leadership prepares the students to pursue principal licensure at the completion of 18 credits and general supervisor and superintendent licensure at the completion of 24 credits. The minimum cumulative GPA to graduate is 3.0.