Breadth of Inquiry Requirements (9 courses)

The Breadth of Inquiry requirement consists of three areas of study:

  • Arts and Humanities (A&H)
  • Social and Historical Studies (S&H)
  • Natural and Mathematical Sciences (N&M)

Approved courses that will fulfill the Breadth of Inquiry requirement (as well as the Culture Studies requirement) can be found by using the College of Arts and Sciences Course Designations search tool.  Courses from the campus-wide General Education Breadth of Inquiry course lists may also fulfill the requirement.

Note: The College of Arts and Sciences Course Designations search tool was designed for College of Arts and Sciences students rather than Journalism students so it may include search functions for requirements exclusive to the College of Arts and Sciences degrees in addition to the requirements for which Journalism students have been directed to the site.  Journalism students only need to fulfill the requirements listed here in the IU Journalism bulletin.

Students should note the examples below before using the College search tool:

Example 1: Course level approval

  • AAAD-A 112 Black Music of Two Worlds A&H GCC

All versions of AAAD-A 112 are approved for A&H and GCC*.

Example 2: Topic level approval

  • ANTH-E 300  Culture Areas and Ethnic Groups Islam in and out of Africa S&H GCC (for this topic only)

Only the topic "Islam in and out of Africa" is approved for S&H and GCC*.  Other topics of ANTH-E 300 are not approved for these designations. 

(*GCC is the abbreviation for Global Civilizations and Cultures, which is one of the designations within the World Languages and Cultures Culture Studies requirement.)

Students are advised to read carefully course descriptions in the College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin or other appropriate bulletins for prerequisites and conditions concerning awarding of credit. Breadth of Inquiry courses may be cross-listed to Culture Studies and Second Concentrations when they are included on these requirements' approved lists.

To ensure a rich and varied general education, IU Journalism requires students to complete the Breadth of Inquiry requirements as follows:

Arts and Humanities (A&H) (three courses)

Courses in this area examine the complexity of human experience, interrogate the range of human thought and emotion, interpret varieties of aesthetic expression, and grapple with moral issues. Such courses analyze written texts and works in literature, the visual arts, music, and the other performing arts, as well as philosophical and religious thought, and intellectual and cultural traditions from both contemporary and historical perspectives. They also develop the abilities to think rationally and to construct and assess opinions, ideas, and arguments. The approach may be comparative, historical, or analytical, but the emphasis is on developing students' interpretive and critical skills.

Courses approved for Arts and Humanities Breadth of Inquiry credit explore and analyze the artifacts of human expression and/or put their knowledge into practice through producing work in (a) literary form, (b) the visual arts (painting, sculpture, textiles, etc.), (c) musical composition and performance, or (d) dramatic performance (live theater, video and film, dance, etc.). These courses should include some written component, whether an analytical paper, a research paper, or a response to an aesthetic experience.

(Please note that by taking two of the three A&H courses from the campus-wide GenEd list, students will fulfill the GenEd A&H requirement, as well as part of the B.A.J. A&H requirement.)

Social and Historical Studies (S&H) (three courses)

Courses in this area analyze social institutions, the behavior of individuals in social contexts and historical settings, and changes in social conditions over time. Such courses study the political, economic, and cultural institutions of society, from individuals in social interactions to the international system of nation-states and transnational organizations and actors as well as changes in the human condition over time, including the inception, development, and transformation of institutions and civilizations, ideas, genres, or forms of representation.

Courses approved for the Social and Historical Breadth of Inquiry credit help students gain knowledge of human cultures and the impact of historical events by (a) understanding and using appropriate theoretical underpinnings and methodologies, (b) developing their critical analytical skills, (c) increasing social awareness and the ability to reason ethically, and (d) developing an appreciation for diversity and inclusiveness. These courses should include some written component, whether an essay, an analytical paper or a research paper that address social, historical and/or cultural aspects of human cultures and events.

(Please note that by taking two of the three S&H courses from the campus-wide GenEd list, students will fulfill the GenEd S&H requirement, as well as part of the B.A.J. S&H requirement.)

Natural and Mathematical Sciences (N&M) (three courses)

Courses in this area provide an understanding of physical and biological phenomena, introduce students to systematic investigation of those phenomena, show the value of scientific inquiry and hypothesis testing, review the state of the science related to scientific theories and natural laws and the evidence for them, and establish the role and approaches of mathematics. Courses cover the natural sciences, introducing and emphasizing basic principles of the chemical, physical, and life sciences, and expand students' understanding of the physical world and scientific inquiry about it, as well as analytical reasoning and mathematics. Courses may focus on forms of reasoning or the nature and processes of cognition and computation.

(Please note that by taking two of the three N&M courses from the campus-wide GenEd list, students will fulfill the GenEd N&M requirement, as well as part of the B.A.J. N&M requirement.)

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