Rock Integrated Studies Program

The Rock Integrated Studies Program ("Rock Studies 2") at Slippery Rock University is the general education requirement for all undergraduate students in all majors at the University.

The purpose of a general education program is to introduce you to a broad range of knowledge in addition to the material you learn in your major. It includes 42 credits of the required 120 minimum credits required for graduation. There are three parts to the Rock Studies program:

The Rock
Integrated Inquiry
Thematic Threads

Educating students to be life-long learners is part of the mission of Slippery Rock University.

The Rock Studies Program is unique as a general education program because it provides thematic interdisciplinary connections to guide you toward thinking critically and creatively, and to use knowledge from diverse places as they confront and analyze issues and problems.

To access the 2024-25 Advising Guide for Rock Studies, click here.

To access the Fall 2024 Threads Advising Guide, click here.

To access the AAC&U's 2023 Employer Survey, demonstrating the need for general education, click here.

Things to Know about Rock Studies

There is more than one version of Rock Studies. Make sure you’re looking at the right Rock Studies guide based on when you started at SRU.

If you started at SRU during or after Summer 2022 you will follow Rock Studies 2. If you started at SRU prior to Summer 2022 you will follow Rock Studies 1.
Some majors have different Rock Studies requirements. Some majors have been given permission to substitute courses within Rock Studies. Look at your current Rock Audit report (available via MySRU) and your Curriculum Guide as well as your correct Rock Studies Guide when you meet with your advisor.

The Rock

The Rock introduces you to the crucial skills you will need to succeed at university. There are 5 courses in the Rock:

Foundations of Academic Discovery encourages you to be intellectually curious and requires them to think critically and creatively. It will introduce you to questions that do not have ready-made answers and that require a range of knowledge. It will also introduce you to research skills that will help them gain that knowledge.
Critical Writing teaches you the essential elements and tools of excellent writing and how to write for a wide variety of audiences.
Critical Reading develops on lessons learned in Critical Writing and provides ways to gather meaning from texts in many genres and contexts.
Quantitative Reasoning introduces mathematics and numeracy skills which can applied to personal life and careers.
Civil Discourse (can be satisfied by 1 of 3 course options) teaches ways to present ideas, thoughts, and opinions to others in a courteous, respectful, and persuasive manner.

All courses in The Rock are graded A-B-C-NC. You cannot withdraw from these courses after the drop/add period has ended.

INTEGRATED INQUIRY

Integrated Inquiry introduces you to methods you will need to apply the skills you’ve begun to develop both in Rock Studies 2 and in your major. You will be introduced to different ways to ask and answer questions about the world through five categories of courses:

Creative and Aesthetic Inquiry
Social Sciences Inquiry
Humanities Inquiry
Physical Sciences Inquiry
Natural Sciences Inquiry

By completing these courses, you will gain the confidence to approach academic subjects and the world you live in through a range of methods and perspectives.

THEMATIC THREADS

The final part of the program is Thematic Threads. You will have the opportunity to further develop the skills and methods acquired in The Rock and Integrated Inquiry in 4 courses across disciplines focused on a single theme. You must declare one thread but you may declare more. Some part of each course in a thread relates to the overall theme of the thread and the category in which the course resides.

You can find a list of the 32 "old threads"/Thematic Threads 1.0 and their curriculum guides here.

Other Rock Studies Requirements

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Requirement
You must take one Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)-designated course prior to graduation. These courses have a “DEI” designation in the catalog. They can be found in many disciplines across the university.

Computer Competency Requirement
The Computer Competency requirement is required of students who started at SRU during the spring 2024 term and any terms prior. New first-time freshman or transfer students starting in the summer/fall 2024 terms will no longer need to complete a separate computer competency requirement as the content will be covered in Foundations of Academic Discovery.

FAQ

Can some of my transfer credits be used to complete Rock Studies requirements?
Yes. Your admissions advisor will make sure any appropriate transfer credits are applied to Rock Studies.

When and how is a Thread chosen?
You can declare a thread in your Audit after consulting with your advisor. Typically, a student declares a thread after completing most Rock and Inquiry courses, and when they’ve completed around 45 credits.

Where can I find a list of the "old threads"/Thematic Threads 1.0?

You can find a list of the 32 "old threads" and their curriculum guides here.

Can I switch to another Thread?
You can switch to a different thread or add a second thread in your Audit. Make sure you talk to your advisor first.

Why do I have to take Rock Studies courses?
Only one-third of your adult life will be spent at work. Rock Studies will help you make the most of the other two-thirds of your life. Knowing about other information will make you even more creative and effective in your career.