Essential Studies

Breadth of Knowledge Requirements

Courses must be on the approved list during the semester you complete them in order to count toward your Essential Studies requirements.

Some courses count toward both your Breadth of Knowledge and your Special Emphasis.

You must complete at least 9 credit hours in each of the Breadth of Knowledge areas. Fine Arts & Humanities are combined as one area so that you need a total of 9 credits among them with at least 3 in each:

Special Emphasis areas:

If you are a student who began at UND prior to Fall 2020 and are looking for US Diversity or Global Diversity courses, they can be found here: https://und.edu/academics/essential-studies/courses.html 

Special Emphasis Requirements

Courses must be on the approved list during the semester you complete them in order to count toward your Essential Studies requirements. Courses must focus on the goal area for at least 1/3 of the course time and 1/3 of the grade in order to be designated as a special emphasis course. Except for Analyzing Worldviews (W) which must be 1/2 of the course time and grade.

Some courses count toward both your Breadth of Knowledge and your Special Emphasis.

You must complete at least 3 credit hours in each of the Special Emphasis areas:

Breadth of Knowledge areas:

Capstone Requirements

Courses must be on the approved list during the semester you complete them in order to count toward your Essential Studies requirements.

Essential Studies Capstone courses are taken at the end of your undergraduate program (within 3 semesters of graduation).

Some courses count toward both your Capstone and the Special Emphasis of Advanced Communication.

Code Title CreditsGoalsSpecial Emphasis
American Indian Studies
IS 410Indigenous Identities (Open to all majors)3CIA, IKS
Anthropology
ANTH 480Senior Seminar3CIA, IKS, WCA
Art
ART 498Seminar in Art and Design Capstone3CIA, O, WCA
Atmospheric Sciences
ATSC 492Senior Project I1CIAA
ATSC 493Senior Project II2CIAA
Aviation
AVIT 485Aviation Senior Capstone3WC, ILA
Biology
BIOL 480Senior Capstone Seminar3WC, ILA
BIOL 481Fisheries & Wildlife Senior Capstone3WC, ILA
BIOL 489Senior Honors Thesis1-15WC, ILA
Chemical Engineering
CHE 411Plant Design I: Process Design and Economics *4WCA
Chemistry
CHEM 495Chemistry Capstone3CIA, WC, ILA
Civil Engineering
CE 483Civil Engineering Design II *3WCA
Criminal Justice
CJ 401Administration of Criminal Justice Systems *3CIAA
Communication
COMM 410Senior Capstone in Communication *3ILA
Communication Sciences & Disorders
CSD 485Clinical Practicum II: Speech Language Pathology3CIA, WC
Computer Science
CSCI 492Senior Project I *3CIAA
Electrical Engineering
EE 480Senior Design I *3CIA, WCA
English
ENGL 415Seminar in Literature3CIA, WC
Forensic Science
FS 400Forensic Science Applied Experiences3OA
Geography
GEOG 454Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (Open to all majors)3WCA
Geological Engineering
GEOE 484Geological Engineering Design *3CIA, WCA
Geology
GEOL 420Geology Capstone3O, ILA
History
HIST 440Research Capstone3CIA, O, WCA
Honors
HON 489Senior Project: Honors Research *1-8CIAA
Interdisciplinary Studies
IDS 495Service and Citizenship (Open to all majors) *3CIA, WCA
Kinesiology
KIN 491Senior Capstone3WC, ILA
Languages
LANG 480Capstone: Global Connections (Open to all majors) *3WC, IKS
Law
LAW 160Lawyering Skills I3CIA, WCA
Mathematics
MATH 488Senior Capstone3O, WCA, L
Management
MGMT 475Strategic Management *3WC, IL
Mechanical Engineering
ME 480Mechanical Engineering Seminar *3CIA, WCA
Medical Lab Sciences
MLS 449Capstone in Medical Laboratory Science3CIA, WCA
Music
MUSC 441Methods and Materials for Middle and Secondary School Music3OA
MUSC 490Seminar in Music3OA
Nursing
NURS 450Transition to Practice: Seminar2WC, ILA
NURS 453Clinical Practicum V: Transition to Practice3WC, ILA
NURS 474Leadership & Professional Nursing Development3WC, ILA
Nutrition & Dietetics
N&D 441Nutritional Biochemistry *4CIA, WC, OA
Occupational Therapy
OT 403Research Methods in OT4CIA, WC, ILA
Petroleum Engineering
PTRE 485Senior Design *3CIA, WCA
Philosophy
PHIL 480Public Philosophy (Open to all majors)3CIA, WCA
Physics
PHYS 415Undergrad Research Experience3CIA, Q, O, WC
Physical Therapy
PT 514Case Management I2CIA, WCA
PT 602Communication and Professionalism in Practice2WCA
Political Science
POLS 495Senior Colloquium in Political Science and Public Administration3CIA, WCA
Psychology
PSYC 405History and Systems of Psychology *3IL, O, WC
Rehabilitation Services
RHS 493Senior Capstone Seminar3O, WCA
Sociology
SOC 475Sociology Capstone3CIA, WC
Social Work
SWK 483Field Education II5CIA, O, IL
SWK 484Field Education Seminar II1CIA, WC, IL
Sports Medicine
SMED 343Organizational Administration of Athletic Training3WC, ILA
Teaching & Leadership
T&L 489Senior Capstone: Responsive Teaching *3WCA
Theatre Arts
THEA 424History of the Theatre: Seventeenth Century to the Present (Open to all majors)3CIA, WCA
*Course offered online