Georgia Legislative Requirements for Completing an Undergraduate Degree 

Candidates for undergraduate degrees in Georgia are required to satisfy the provisions of the section §20-3-68 of the Official Code of Georgia, as amended by The General Assembly. The law requires all candidates for an undergraduate degree to have significant instruction at the university level in the United States and Georgia Constitutions, as well as United States and Georgia History. Most students who begin and complete their degrees at GSW will complete this requirement by taking the American Government and US History courses in their curriculum. Students who transfer into GSW or who are admitted to complete a second baccalaureate degree may need to fulfill these requirements in alternative ways. The scenarios below are designed to show transfer and second degree students the most common ways of completing the Georgia Legislative Requirements.

Scenario 1
I transferred to GSW but have not yet taken either American Government or US History. This student can simply take POLS 1101 American Government and HIST 2111 US History I or HIST 2112 US History II to fulfill the requirements.

Scenario 2
I transferred to GSW from either a University System of Georgia (USG) or a Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) institution where I took POLS 1101 American Government, HIST 2111 US History I, or HIST 2112 US History II. If this student passed POLS 1101 from either a USG or a TCSG institution, he or she has completed the US and Georgia Constitution requirements.  If this student passed HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 from either a USG or a TCSG institution, he or she has completed the US and Georgia History requirements.

Scenario 3
I transferred to GSW from an institution outside the state of Georgia where I passed a course in American Government. Since this student passed an American Government course from an institution outside Georgia, he or she has fulfilled the US Constitution Requirement but not the Georgia Constitution Requirement. To complete the Georgia Constitution Requirement the student can either take POLS 2201 State and Local Government or contact the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs to find out about preparing for and taking the Georgia Constitution challenge exam.

Scenario 4
I transferred to GSW from an institution outside the state of Georgia where I passed a course in US History. Since this student passed a US History course from an institution outside Georgia, he or she has fulfilled the US History Requirement but not the Georgia History requirement. To complete the Georgia History Requirement the student can either take HIST 3810 or contact the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs to find out about preparing for and taking the Georgia History challenge exam.

Scenario 1
I received my first bachelor degree from GSW or another USG institution. This student has already fulfilled the Georgia Legislative Requirements.

Scenario 2 
I received my first bachelor degree from an institution outside Georgia where I was required to pass both an American Government course and a US History Course. This student has already fulfilled the US Constitution and the US History Requirements, but not the Georgia Constitution and Georgia History Requirements. This student can complete the Georgia Constitution and Georgia History Requirements in one of two ways. He or she can pass POLS 2201 State and Local Government and HIST 3810 Georgia History at GSW, or contact the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs to find out about preparing for and taking the Georgia Constitution and the Georgia History challenge exams.

Scenario 3
I received my first bachelor degree from an institution that did not require me to complete an American Government course or a US History course. This student can complete the Georgia Legislative Requirements in one of two ways at GSW. One way is to pass POLS 1101 American Government, HIST 2111 US History I, or HIST 2112 US History. Another way is to take the College Level Examination Program exams in American Government or US History and achieve of score of 50 or better, which will fulfill the US Constitution or US History requirements. Then the student would have to contact the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs to find out about preparing for and taking the Georgia Constitution or the Georgia History challenge exam.

If you are a transfer or second degree student whose situation is not covered under one of the scenarios above, contact the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs to find out what you can do to fulfill the Georgia Legislative Requirements.