British Diana Oct 28, 2009:

the asker had it right after all ! It's very useful for an asker to be able to clarify his own ideas by asking for other suggestions.

KenOldfield (asker) Oct 28, 2009:

I decided to use "General Studies" in the end and not "foundation/basic course" for the reasons you gave.

British Diana Oct 21, 2009:

Why not general studies, as the asker suggested? I would say that this is just another name for "Studium Generale" which in some universities in German is a part of the course and is supposed to broaden the student's mind outside his or her subject. "Foundation studies" reeks to my mind of the British system whereby candidates who are not quite good enough to do a degree course have to do a year of foundation studies in their chosen field before they can begin properly, and this is not the impression the client will want to convey.