The state of Florida requires that all students complete a writing and math requirement, formerly known as the Gordon Rule. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in courses taken to fulfill the writing and math requirement; such courses cannot be taken S-U.

AICE, AP, CLEP and IB examination credit may count toward this requirement.

Writing

To graduate, students must complete courses that involve substantial writing for a total of 24,000 words. Courses that count toward this requirement will be in one of three categories:

• Course work with at least 2000 words,
• Course work with at least 4000 words, or
• Course work with at least 6000 words.

All sections of qualified courses may not offer substantial writing in a particular term. The Schedule of Courses identifies the course sections and amount of writing credit (2, 4 or 6) awarded for a given term in the "WM" column.

The writing in such courses will be evaluated on content, organization and coherence, argument and support, style and mechanics. Evaluations will be on individual work and the evaluated work will be returned prior to the last day of class. PLEASE NOTE: Enrollment in such classes and writing the prescribed number of words are not sufficient for writing credit. There must also be evidence of satisfactory evaluated writing, and in the absence of such evidence the student will not receive credit toward the university's writing requirement. Please review the criteria as provided on the Gordon Rule Writing evaluation page.

Effective Summer A/C 2009, an additional grading component has been added to successfully complete and receive word credit for courses that meet the university writing requirement (Gordon Rule).

Course grades now will have two components. Professors will indicate whether or not students met the writing requirement AND will assign a course grade. Therefore, to receive writing credit students must receive a grade of C or higher AND satisfactory completion of the writing component. It is possible not to meet the writing requirement and still pass the class. Students should review their degree audits after receiving their grades to verify receipt of credit for the writing component.

Questions about the new grading component can be directed to professors, academic advisers or to the Registrar’s Office at 392-1374, extension 7237.

Math

Each student must complete six credits of course work in mathematics, at or above the level of college algebra. Students must take:

• Three credits in mathematics. Acceptable course prefixes always include MAC and MGF, and generally include MAA, MAD, MAP, MAS, MHF and MTG. It is up to the student to verify that the course and section indicate satisfaction of the requirement.
• And an additional three credits in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or the logic courses PHI 2100 or PHI 3130. Acceptable course prefixes may include: CAP, CDA, CEN, CGS, CIS, COP, COT, MAA, MAC, MAD, MAP, MAS, MAT, MGF, MHF, MTG and STA. It is up to the student to verify that the course and section indicate satisfaction of the requirement.
• Catalog course descriptions will identify satisfactory courses with an MR at the end of the description and the Schedule of Courses will provide an M in the WM column.
• Note: CGS 3063 may not be used to satisfy any part of this requirement.