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Articles & Advice > Majors and Academics > Blog

Gen Eds 101: What to Know and How to Pick Them

General education requirements are important to your college career. Here are the basics of what gen eds are and how to choose the right ones for you.

by Ginger Abbot Writer & Editor-in-Chief, Classrooms.com

Last Updated: Mar 16, 2023

Originally Posted: Feb 2, 2022

You're probably wondering what general education requirements in college are all about. At first glance, it may seem like these required courses don’t have much to do with your major. You may be hoping to jump right into your field of study and learn everything you can about it right away. After all, what do English courses have to do with Health Administration or Psychology or Engineering? The truth is that general education courses are significant and important to your studies. Here's why you need to take gen eds in college, what options you can expect, and some tips on how to choose the right ones as you work toward your degree.

The importance of gen eds

General education courses are a requirement for all degrees at most colleges. But they’re required for a reason—they can broaden your knowledge and help you gain valuable skill sets that apply to everyday life, including your major and future career.

They prepare you for a career

General education classes help you adequately prepare for your chosen career. While you need to have a rigorous education, you'll also find that the curriculum can help you focus on developing soft skills . Soft skills are the core skills that give you the ability to succeed in any profession. Employers want to see candidates with certain attributes that keep their company running smoothly. Gen eds can also help you develop skills that are similar to ones you’d gain during internships, which are a great way to show future employers you have experience. Gen eds can do just that by assisting you in certain areas, such as delivering presentations and enhancing critical thinking.

They help you become well versed

You’ll also find that gen eds expose you to a wide range of subjects and ideas, which is important to helping you find a major if you’re undecided or for helping you branch out beyond your field of study—which also looks impressive to future employers. Being well versed in a broad range of perspectives gives you the ability to look at problems from different angles. You'll notice you can navigate through information more effectively and make sound decisions quickly in your more concentrated field of study.

Related: How to Make the Most of Your Education in College

Types of general education courses to consider

What type of classes can you take to fulfill your general education requirements? The sky is the limit at most colleges. Generally, you should choose courses that pique your interest and/or give you an idea of what you'd like to further study in your college career. Gen ed courses include areas such as:

• Arts & Humanities: Classes that satisfy this requirement could include visual arts, theater, writing, dance, and music.
• English Language & Literature: Most colleges require students to take English. This ensures you learn how to write, analyze writing to form educated opinions, and appreciate world literature at a higher level.
• History: History classes offer you the opportunity to learn about worldwide cultures. Specific courses may include Western Civilization or US History.
• Mathematics & Science: Mathematics and science courses are especially helpful if you're interested in a career in the STEM fields. Even if you're majoring in something other than Math or Science, you should still gain basic knowledge of these subjects.
• Social Sciences: These courses teach you how people interact in a society. It can also help you develop meaningful relationships. You might take classes such as public speaking or sociology.

How to choose your gen eds

When choosing which gen eds to take, it helps to think about how they will set the foundation for your future career. Don’t think of them as something you need to “get out of the way.” The purpose is to help you gain transferrable skills that lead to better opportunities later. You should judge them on whether they truly add value to your education. 

You should also avoid choosing classes just because they’re easy . It's vital to find a proper balance between easy and difficult courses. For instance, if you're taking mostly challenging courses, you'll find it harder to succeed in college. On the other hand, easy subjects won't challenge you, and they certainly won't help you learn anything new. Find subjects that speak to you and encourage you to be more engaged so you learn something valuable to take with you. 

Lastly, avoid putting it off ’til the last minute when choosing courses. Gen ed classes are typically taken early on in your college career because students at this stage haven’t yet decided upon a major. But they can fill up fast, and you don’t want to miss out on the ones you really want to take. 

Related: 4 Expert Tips for Choosing Your Best–Fit College Major

If you've completed your search and found a school match already, you're most likely dreaming about your time in college. Figuring out which major you should go for can be overwhelming. However, general education courses will help you with that once you enroll. Remember that gen eds will provide you with wonderful opportunities—and it will be exciting to see where they take you.

Learn more about your educational options in college—and maybe even discover your field of study!—in our Majors and Academics section.

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About Ginger Abbot

Ginger Abbot is an education, learning and student life writer, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of Classrooms.com. Read more of her work for college students on her Classrooms author page .

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What Is General Education (Gen Ed)?

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If you’ve looked at your own college transcript, friends, or even siblings, you’ve likely seen something listed on it that says general education. In fact, you likely saw a lot of spots that said that, but what does that actually mean? And why do you need to take so many of those classes? Let’s discuss it together! 

General education definition

General education credits, also known as “Gen eds”, are a requirement that you will find when you begin to receive your undergraduate degree. A gen ed is just what it sounds like, it’s a generalized course of study in a certain subject, think classes like:

• English I and II
• Basic college math courses 
• Science (including social sciences)
• Arts and humanities

These are all some subject areas of general education classes that you might take throughout the course of your degree.

The purpose of gen eds

The gen ed classes you take in college won’t be all that different from the courses you took in high school. In high school, you likely had a certain number of classes you had to take in basic subjects such as math, English, history, science, and maybe even foreign language. Well, college is no different. No matter what subject you are majoring in, your school will want to make sure that you have a strong and balanced foundation in all areas of academics. 

It may feel like they’re just keeping you from major specific courses as many gen eds need to be completed before you enter higher level major specific classes. However, general education classes are expanding your foundation and exposing you to subjects that you may have never otherwise been exposed to!

Gen ed classes

Let’s take a look at more specific classes that you may come across at your college. Unfortunately, each college will have their own general education classes and requirements, which means there is no universal list of courses you’ll have to take. However, the range of courses you can take is what makes gen eds so great! Below are just a few examples of some classes that were recently offered that thanks to gen eds, you may have the chance to take! 

Conflict resolution in a divided world

Conflict Resolution in a Divided World is a class offered at Harvard . The goal of this course is to help prepare students in a practical way for something that they will face in all areas of their life!

Introduction to Scandinavian Folklore

Yes, you read the title of this class correctly. Introduction to Scandinavian Folklore is a course offered by UCLA . In this course you can expect to learn about all things fairy tales, but also explore a deeper side that asks why people tell the stories that they tell.

Mafia Movies 

Just like the previous class, this course is exactly what it sounds like, watching mafia movies . In this Ohio State University class you’ll get a chance to learn about all things mafia! Alongside watching movies you’ll get to learn about the real history behind the Italian and Italian American mafias!

There are literally hundreds of other courses available that are just as interesting and surprising as the ones listed above. Our point is that these classes don’t need to feel like they are just wasting your time. Take your time to look for classes that really interest you. We promise you will find some! 

When do you take gen eds

Most of your gen eds will be taken during your freshman and sophomore year of college. However, if you find that you still have a few leftovers during junior and senior year , that’s completely fine as well. Some of your last semesters in undergraduate can get quite heavy with major specific courses. When you have the option, adding in a gen ed that is about another topic can be a nice way to break up your mix of classes. 

Shouldn’t you just take easy gen eds?

If you’re at all familiar with gen eds, then you may have had people give you advice in the past that you should just take the easiest ones you can. While it’s true that taking hard, high level gen ed classes isn’t always the best option, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t challenge yourself or take your time finding classes that really interest you. Each semester you can assess what sort of classes you need to take for your major. If you have a particularly heavy or light semester in terms of credit hours and degree of difficulty in classes, you can use that to measure the amount of time you’d be able to put into gen eds.  

Key Takeaways

• General education courses are classes that every college will require students to take throughout the course of their undergraduate degree
• The purpose of general education classes is to provide you a strong foundation and expose you to classes outside of your major
• General education classes are a part of your college journey that you can use to broaden your horizons and expand your portfolio 
• Take risks and explore some subjects that are out of your comfort zone, you never know what classes may lead you to something great

Frequently asked questions about general education 

What if my college doesn’t have general education courses, do gen eds matter in college, does yale have gen eds, scholarships360 recommended.

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What is General Education? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Highlights:

• General education courses cover a broad range of subjects to ensure a well-rounded education.
• These courses are one-third to one-half of an undergraduate degree.
• They’re designed to enhance critical thinking , communication skills, and appreciation for diversity.
• You may be able to save money by taking these courses at a community college .

Congratulations! You have been accepted to the university of your choice, and you are signing up for your first semester’s classes. You can hardly wait to get into your major and well on your way to your future career.

But, wait. Your academic advisor tells you that you need to first take gen ed courses.

What are these gen ed classes?

Why are they required?

What can be gained from them?

Most colleges and universities require their students to take general education courses, such as psychology, social sciences, and foreign language. You may be thinking gen ed courses are a waste of time, and honestly, some of them may feel like that. But, there are important reasons why college students are required to take gen ed courses.

Let’s explore this topic in depth.

Here is everything you need to know about general education courses .

See Also: What is a Bachelor’s Degree?

What are General Education Courses?

First, let’s look at the general education requirements’ definition:

General education courses are a broad range of classes in specific categories that meet specific criteria. These categories are your school’s general education requirements.

General education requirements are categories of knowledge your school requires you to gain a working knowledge of before you graduate.

These categories are usually include subjects like:

• Natural Science
• Social Science
• World studies
• Communication

Most of the time, gen ed requirements cover one-third to one-half of an undergraduate degree and are completed before you start working on the core curriculum of your major.

Related Resource: What is an Associate’s Degree?

Why Is General Education Required?

Colleges and universities want “well rounded” graduates. Higher education institutions require these general education courses to help students gain a comprehensive education which they hope will serve you throughout your life after graduation.

Gen ed classes are also a great opportunity for you to try out different topics to see if you like them. Some students don’t decide on their major until after they have taken a fabulous gen ed course. Some students may prepare to study one major, but then take some gen ed courses and decide to change their whole course of study.

Also, gen ed classes teach you valuable skills such as critical thinking and communication. Let’s face it: gen ed courses are ones you may not choose to take if they were not required. However, think of them as a comprehensive set of classes that each add something unique to your skill set. For example, diversity courses teach students how to appreciate and embrace differences and lead to working well in a diverse workplace. 

Many general education courses also afford students the opportunity of expanding their chosen field of study to gain an emphasis in a related aspect of their chosen majors. For example an English major can take some great in-depth general education classes on poetry. Or an engineering major could take general education courses on bio-mechanics.

See Also: Most Popular College Majors

What Can I Gain From Gen Ed Courses?

So much can be gained from taking gen ed classes. General education can give you the foundation you need to become highly intelligent in your field of study and in life after college. 

Gen ed courses can pave the way for you:

• To be better at your chosen field
• To provide you with new hobbies
• To develop meaningful relationships
• To perhaps even change your mind about your chosen field of study

Try to lose the mindset that taking gen ed courses is wasting time. First of all, all university programs require gen ed courses, so you are working your way toward your final goal. Secondly, you will learn new subjects, and you may develop a new passion.

You may also like: Picking a Major

What Is a Good Way to Take General Education Courses?

College is expensive, and some universities have quite lengthy general education requirements. However, there are smarter ways to complete your gen eds.

If you’re going to an expensive university, you might just want to hold off attending until you’ve completed your gen ed courses at an in-state community college . Just make sure you can transfer general education credits before you take them and pay for them.

You can make sure the credits transfer by working with an advisor at both your university and your in-state community college.

Your school may require you to fulfill general education requirements that you know will not interest you or advance your career in any way. When you encounter these types of situations, take the easiest class you possibly can.

For example, if you know you will not ever become a fine arts major, but your school requires a fine arts general course, then pick the fine arts course that will be the simplest to complete for you. There is no reason to bog down your already busy schedule with a class that is more difficult than necessary.

Check out: 10 Best Careers for the Future

What Gen Ed Courses Should I Take?

Choosing gen ed courses can be a fun part of attending college. If you have chosen a field of study, look to see if there are any requirements that overlap with your gen ed courses (it happens sometimes), and then fill in the gaps with classes that interest you.

If you have not chosen a major, then it would be wise to take general education classes that cover subjects that interest you and could be potential majors.

Common gen ed courses include:

• English composition
• Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Social sciences
• Foreign languages
• Diversity and Inclusion

However, take a wide variety of courses so that you can experience as many possible fields of study as you can.

Remember, your college or university requires a certain number of general education credits. There’s no way of getting out of them, so you might as well have fun with them.

How Can I Know If A Gen Ed Class Will Work For Me?

When signing up for a gen course , you will see a description of the class. Additionally, there are many websites you can find that rate your professor, the course, and the course load. Do your research before committing to a class to make sure that you will be able to complete your gen eds, work well with your professor, and handle the course load.

Also, most colleges and universities make professor and course evaluation results available for you to see if the class would work well for you.

Do I Have to Complete Gen Eds Before Declaring My Major?

You do not have to complete all of your gen eds before declaring your major. In fact, if you know your major it would be good to check to see if any of the required courses in our major double as courses for your general education requirements.

If you do not have a chosen major, don’t worry. Most students don’t choose their majors right away. It is good to explore your options to be sure of your path.

Where Can I Get Advice On Which Gen Ed Courses Would Be Good For Me?

Your school will provide you with an academic advisor. These professionals can help you discuss your general education requirements, and if you would like they can suggest some great general education courses that will help you explore your options. Your advisors are also great resources on gaining information on specific classes.

When Should I Complete My General Education Classes?

For most majors, there is no specific time frame for completing your general education credits. Some students don’t complete them until their last semester, while others have them completed by their junior year.

Talk to your advisor to see if your major has any time frame requirements for completing your general education requirements.

Keep in mind that college majors with time frames for completing your general education are highly specified. For example, Med school, law school, and some teaching programs require you to have completed all generals before your senior year, or before a completion of an internship, or practicum.

How Do I Know If A General Education Course Is Worth the Effort?

Some general education courses are more difficult than others, but often they are all worth the effort. If a gen ed course interests you, advances your career, or makes you feel passionate about the work you are doing, then the extra effort is definitely worth it.

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What is General Education? Its Purpose and Impact Explained

While looking over a course list in the past, you may have wondered why certain courses are required when they’re unrelated to the direction of the degree program you were considering. These general education requirements serve an important purpose. They can reshape your outlook on learning, teach you soft skills, introduce you to a variety of disciplines and more.

So, What Are General Education Courses?

The general education curriculum focuses on the interdisciplinary lens, including courses in history, natural and social sciences, technology and humanities. Dr. Priscilla Hobbs , a senior associate dean of general education, first-year experience and special programs at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), described general education as a well-rounded learning experience to help develop a well-rounded student.

Thinking about general education courses as "extra" is a common misnomer, according to Hobbs. Their connection to your career goals may not be as obvious as the courses within your field of study, but they're still relevant. "They are the courses that are actually addressing many of the skills that employers value, especially in regards to interpersonal connections and diversity," Hobbs said.

Anthony Siciliano , the associate vice president of general education, first-year experience, education and special programs at SNHU, said that general education credits make up “the largest allocation of credits” across undergraduate degree programs .

“The general education curriculum is a standard, required part of every bachelor degree program  in the country and is meant to foster greater accessibility, a clear and relevant academic pathway for students to attain their degree credential and to provide students with the necessary core skills in order to be successful in their lives and chosen career paths ,” he said.

What Are the Main Components of General Education?

Although specific general education requirements can differ depending on your college and your program, you'll need to demonstrate competency in several fields of study to earn a bachelor's degree.

You'll likely be required to take general education courses in some of these areas:

• English composition
• Humanities and social sciences
• Mathematics
• Natural sciences

You might need to take multiple courses in these broader categories to fulfill your program's requirements. Certain schools also have requirements that other schools don't. For example, some schools require foreign language coursework.

To learn more about your options and program requirements, Healow recommended speaking with an academic advisor.

What is Another Name for General Education Courses?

Widely, you may hear general education courses abbreviated to "gen eds." But just as colleges differ in their gen ed requirements, they may also have different names for their general education curriculum.

At SNHU, for instance, general education courses are known as " The Commons ." This is because the courses involved are applicable to all undergraduate students, regardless of major. They are an opportunity to grow skills, knowledge and perspectives that are relevant to all members of society.

Meanwhile, each individual navigating their general education courses can get something different from the experience. "They have the opportunity to choose their own topics and lean into content in a way that they find beneficial to their own growth," Hobbs said.

What is the Purpose of General Education?

You might be wondering what the true purpose of general education is in the academic setting as you prepare to join the workforce, advance in your job or change careers .

While they can help you gain important professional skills, the answer goes beyond work. It connects to a foundation of education: "Our general education follows the model of a traditional liberal education, which assumes that education is fundamentally about helping students to prosper in their lives, both professionally and personally," Healow said.

Together, the courses form a holistic approach to learning and developing. "General education is there so you can enjoy different perspectives on your life as a human being, not solely as a participant in our economy," Healow said.

What is the Benefit of Taking General Education Courses?

Here are four ways general education courses can help you succeed.

1. Reshape Your Outlook on Learning

“For students to be adequately prepared to do well in their chosen career, they need to have not only the rigor of an academic education but also an applied, relevant and practical curriculum that focuses on the development of these core skills,” Siciliano said.

General education can also offer a deeper understanding and appreciation of humankind, according to Healow. "Students will be better served if they have an opportunity to learn about history, about philosophy, about art and literature, about science and mathematics, regardless of their chosen majors," he said. "Because these disciplines invite you to use your mind in different ways and constitute a legacy of human achievements that belongs to all of us."

2. Learn Soft Skills Desired by Employers

To impress employers and prove yourself as a member of a team, it’s important you learn interpersonal skills. These include things such as empathy, conflict resolution  and being able to communicate effectively .

Siciliano said the general education courses “encourage an aptitude for empathy  infused with objectivity and curiosity” and “develop a strong sense of self in one’s capabilities and the ability to reflect and learn from one’s experiences” — skills employers seek in the people they hire.

“These soft skills , or core skills, are the knowledge, dispositions and abilities needed by students to be successful in their chosen professions and for becoming an immediate contributor to a rapidly changing global workforce,” Siciliano said.

Hiring employees with these attributes is essential to keep a company running smoothly. “Numerous self-help books and professional development opportunities are designed to help employees develop their soft skills,” Hobbs said. “Each day, our paths cross with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and we need to be able to manage those interactions in a positive way rather than in a way that promotes conflict."

3. Be Well-Versed in a Wide Variety of Disciplines

“We may look at an issue historically, or we may put on the hat of social scientists,” Hobbs said. “Being able to see through these lenses helps us critically navigate through all the information that surrounds us at any given second. It helps us make decisions about what to filter, what we find interesting and what we need to do about anything. Without that, the world and all the information passing through it can quickly seem overwhelming.”

Siciliano said the interdisciplinary general education courses provide students with different perspectives from which to view the world, giving them the ability to:

• Analyze information for accuracy
• Communicate effectively with different audiences
• Display literacy in digital technology
• Tackle a variety of real-world problems

Some schools use their general education curriculum to consider the impact of cultural events on students, according to Hobbs. "These courses help students understand and process through their experiences," she said.

4. Learn with People From Diverse Disciplines

Because general education courses are shared across undergraduate programs, it's likely you'll find yourself taking classes with and learning from people outside of your main discipline.

"These courses tend to be filled by a very diverse set of students, who have very different backgrounds, perspectives and aspirations," Healow said. "Providing such students with an occasion to come together and share educational experiences with those outside their programs tends to be enriching and rewarding for everyone involved."

These interactions and interchange of ideas can lead to an exciting and perhaps transformative college experience, according to Hobbs.

It's possible you'll also develop personal and professional relationships with people that you otherwise may not have met. Healow met his wife in a choir class, which he took to meet a general education requirement.

What is a General Education Degree Called?

While general education typically refers to the common curriculum that undergraduate students complete, it's also a type of degree. A general education degree is usually called a bachelor’s in general studies. This Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree  can provide you with a strong educational background across many fields.

Siciliano said a general studies degree “provides greater flexibility (for students) to complete their degree according to their work, career and family life.” Whether you’re transferring universities or looking to earn a degree that reflects your broad range of skills, a bachelor’s in general studies can prepare you for the next step in your career.

You can often choose an area of focus within your general studies degree . For instance, SNHU's general studies degree offers dozens of potential concentrations, including:

• Business administration
• Communication
• Information technology
• Sport management

Whether or not you choose a concentration, this bachelor's degree can well prepare you for a wide range of careers. It can also ready you for further education if you are pursuing a career that typically requires a master's degree .

If you're interested, you can learn more about what a general studies degree is .

Transferring to a General Studies Program

The BA in General Studies program can help students who are continuing their education apply prior coursework or work experiences  toward a degree. “This can include placement tests, previous classes and military credit,” Hobbs said. “Essentially, the general studies degree is designed to help students achieve their goal of a degree without having to start over because they transferred universities.”

Some schools offer free transfer credit evaluations so prospective students can find out how many of their existing credits will be accepted. If you want to know how many courses you have left to finish your degree in general studies, it's as simple as this at SNHU:

• Complete the free 5-minute online application . There’s no obligation after filling it out.
• Get your transcripts requested — for free. Chat with an admission counselor, and we'll request your transcripts on your behalf.
• Receive your free evaluation. Soon after all your transcripts are in, you'll get your official evaluation. It will show you what was transferred in – and what classes you need to complete.

You might be surprised to learn how close you are to graduation. Hobbs said most general studies students are within 15 classes of completing their degree.

Online. On campus. Choose your program  from 200+ SNHU degrees that can take you where you want to go.

Ashley Wallis is an Army veteran and writer with a BA in English Language and Literature from SNHU. She is currently living in the Denver area. Find her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AshDWallis .

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About southern new hampshire university.

SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs . Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU  page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.

Quick Guide to College Course Types

Find the right college for you..

You’re going to have a lot of new experiences in college with different types and styles of courses. You may take a gen-ed in a large lecture hall, or find yourself doing research for a major-specific class in a lab. Here’s an overview of the different college course types and delivery styles.

Orientation Classes

An orientation course is a short educational program that formally introduces first-year college students to the school. Orientation helps new students learn about their college campus and its rules and familiarizes them with the services and resources that the school offers. Orientation classes are designed to get new students excited and prepared for the start of their academic journey. For most colleges, attending orientation is required.

First-Year Seminars

Many colleges now offer first-year seminars designed to help new students make the college transition. These courses will prepare you for future classes by providing the tools and study habits necessary for success. First-year seminars can be one-to-three credit electives, a full semester course, or part of a longer orientation program. However, these seminars differ from standard orientations, which are more about introducing the school, campus, and staff.

General Education Classes/Core Courses

As the first part of any degree, general education classes or “gen-eds” are the courses a student must take before getting into major-specific studies. General education classes are required by a college’s core curriculum and may include basic math, science, and humanities classes. For example, a student majoring in biology may still need two semesters of English courses as part of their general education. Some general education classes/core courses can be satisfied prior to first-semester enrollment if the student meets certain AP® and IB test scores.

Major-Specific Classes

Major-specific classes are the classes required by your specific field of study. Your academic adviser can help you understand which courses are necessary for your major. It's important that you meet with your adviser at least once a semester to ensure that you remain on the path to satisfying these requirements.

Elective Classes

Unlike the process for general education and major-specific classes, students usually have a degree of freedom in choosing their elective classes. Even though elective credits may be a requirement for your major, your electives don’t necessarily have to be related to your field of study. Many students use elective classes as a way to explore educational interests outside of their major, such as an engineering student taking a dance class.

Lecture-Style Classes

Many gen-eds, electives, and lower-level major courses will be lecture-style classes. These are large classes held in a lecture hall, a theater-like room that may seat hundreds of students. The professor talks for the entire class while students take notes. Lecture classes are common in first-year courses. Students in these classes may also attend a related discussion class.

College Discussion Classes

Discussion classes (sometimes called sections) are often a required part of lecture classes. Discussions usually involve smaller groups of students led by a graduate student. You’ll do additional work, talk about the lecture, and have a chance to ask questions.

Laboratory Classes

Labs are usually part of a science lecture class. Students use what they’ve learned from the lectures to complete a laboratory assignment, such as creating a computer program or doing a physics experiment.

Studio-Style College Courses

Students who take hands-on classes such as art, theater, music, design, or photography will find themselves in a class environment that corresponds to what they are studying. A drawing class, for example, may be divided into two parts: a lesson class and a drawing studio.

Independent Study

For an independent-study class, a student and a professor design a study program for the student that is separate from regular courses . Independent study often requires a research project or a research review of readings on a central theme, as well as a series of papers or one major paper.

Online College Classes

Many traditional and online colleges offer classes to enrolled students over the internet. These online classes are usually conducted via a learning management system, a software or web application that students can use to submit assignments, see their syllabi, and even communicate with teachers and other students. Some courses may combine in-person class meetings with online course elements that are more self-paced and time-flexible.

What is a core subject in college?

Core academic subjects in college are the general education/core course requirements for each major, and they must be taken before starting major-specific studies. They can include basic classes in the humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences, and they may not all be directly related to your actual major.

How long are college classes?

College courses can vary in length depending on the number of credits and how many days a week the class is held. Usually, some classes will run an hour and 15 minutes and meet twice a week. Some classes might be three hours long and meet once a week, while some may be as short as 50 minutes and meet three times a week. Lab classes and discussion classes will vary in length depending on the subject and number of credits they provide; they are usually between 2 and 4 hours long.

What are the basic classes in college called?

The basic classes in college are called general education or core course requirements.

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General education & IGETC

General education (G.E.) requirements are designed to give UC undergraduates a broad background in all major academic disciplines — natural sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, humanities and fine arts.

G.E. requirements vary by campus

The G.E. requirement — sometimes called the breadth requirement — lists the specific courses students must take or number of credit hours they must earn in each discipline.

Each school and college at every UC campus has its own general education requirement. With careful planning, students can meet many of the lower-division requirements before they transfer. Students at a California community college also have the option of completing the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) to satisfy the lower-division general education requirements at any UC campus.

What is IGETC?

IGETC is a series of courses that prospective transfer students attending California community colleges may complete to satisfy the lower-division breadth/general education requirements at both the University of California and the California State University.

Students may be IGETC certified if they complete coursework at one or more California community colleges without regard to current enrollment status or number of units accrued at a California community college. Students who enrolled at a UC campus, then enrolled at a California community college and transfer to a different UC campus may use IGETC (students returning to the same UC campus cannot complete IGETC).

Completion options

Students have the option of completing IGETC at their California community college or the specific lower-division breadth/general education requirements of the UC school or college at the campus they plan to attend. 

The UC agreement

UC has an agreement with each California community college that specifies which of its courses may be applied to each category of IGETC. Courses taken at more than one California community college may be used to fulfill IGETC and all courses must be completed with a grade of C or better (or the equivalent).

Which type of student should follow IGETC

IGETC is most helpful to students who want to keep their options open — specifically, those who know they want to transfer but haven't yet decided upon a particular institution, campus or major.

Which type of student should not follow IGETC

Certain students, however, will not be well served by following IGETC. Students who intend to transfer into majors that require extensive lower-division preparation, such as engineering or the physical and natural sciences, should concentrate on completing the prerequisites for the major required by the individual UC campus. However, they can choose to follow the IGETC for STEM pattern of course work in addition to major preparation. IGETC for STEM is a pattern of courses currently only available to students earning an associate degree for transfer (ADT) at a California community college in a major that explicitly offers IGETC for STEM as an option, and only if the UC program allows partial IGETC certification (see below for more information about partial certification).

Not a requirement, but a consideration

IGETC is not an admission requirement. Completing it does not guarantee admission to the campus or program of choice. However, completing the lower-division breadth/general education requirements — whether through IGETC or the campus-specific requirements — may be considered by the campus in selecting among qualified applicants.

Partial certification

Students who do not complete IGETC before transferring will be required to satisfy the lower-division general education/breadth requirements of the UC college or school they attend. However, California community colleges may grant partial certification of IGETC to students who are missing no more than two requirements. Students should verify that their UC school/college/major program will accept partial certification. After transfer, students submitting partial IGETC certification should complete the missing requirements at either UC or a California community college as designated by their department. Students who have been granted partial IGETC certification should not return to the community college for a full certification.

GPA requirement

IGETC courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. A grade of credit or pass may be used if the community college's policy states that it is equivalent to a grade of C or better.

Use of AP and IB exams

IGETC course credit may be earned for scores of 3, 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement (AP) exams or scores of 5, 6 or 7 on International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IB HL) exams that the community college faculty recognizes as equivalent to its IGETC-approved courses. An acceptable score on an English AP or IB exam may be used to meet the English Composition requirement, but not the Critical Thinking/English Composition requirement. A single exam cannot satisfy multiple requirements, with the exception of language exams which may satisfy a Humanities requirement and the Language other than English proficiency requirement. For more information, refer to the IGETC Standards, Policies, and Procedures Manual .

IGETC course agreements

A community college course can satisfy only one IGETC subject area even if it is listed on the IGETC Course Agreement in more than one area. However, a single course may be counted toward IGETC and a major requirement.

Coursework completed outside the California community colleges may be acceptable to clear some IGETC requirements (with the exception of IGETC area 1B: Critical Thinking) as long as the community college faculty recognizes the course in question as equivalent to one or more of its IGETC-approved courses.

Certification

Certification of IGETC completion is the responsibility of the last community college a student attends prior to transfer, regardless of how many courses or units the student has completed at that community college.

Additional IGETC considerations

Students with a substantial amount of coursework from institutions outside the United States should consult with a community college counselor to determine whether they should complete IGETC or the lower-division breadth/general education requirements at the campus they plan to attend. International coursework cannot be used to satisfy any area of IGETC except the Language other than English proficiency requirement (Area 6/6A).

In addition, some colleges or majors prefer that transfer students follow a more prescribed lower-division curriculum. Refer to the Quick Reference Guide to UC Admissions [PDF] for campus/program-specific recommendations.

Proficiency in a language other than English (IGETC Area 6/6A)

Students may demonstrate proficiency for the purpose of fulfilling the Language Other Than English IGETC requirement in one of the following ways:

• Complete two years of high school coursework in one language other than English with a grade of C or better.
• Complete a course or courses at a college or university with a grade of C or better in each course. Any course (excluding conversation courses) considered by the college or university to be equivalent to two years of high school language may be used. Many college catalogs list the prerequisite for the second course in a language as: Language 1 at this college, or two years of high school language. In this case Language 1 clears both years of the requirement.
• Chinese With Listening: not offered before 1995/520
• French/French With Listening: 500/540
• German/German With Listening: 500/510
• Hebrew (Modern): 500/470
• Italian: 500/520
• Japanese With Listening: 500/510
• Korean/Korean With Listening: not offered before 1995/500
• Latin: 500/530
• Spanish/Spanish With Listening: 500/520
• Achieve a score of 3, 4 or 5 on a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examination in a language other than English.
• Achieve a score of 5 or higher on an International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level Examination in a language other than English.
• Satisfactorily complete a proficiency test administered by a community college, university or other college in a language other than English. The test must assess the student proficiency at a level equivalent to at least two years of high school language.
• Complete, with grades of C or better, two years of formal schooling at the sixth-grade level or higher in an institution where the language of instruction is not English. If secondary school was completed in a non-English-speaking country and the language of instruction of the secondary school was not English, language other than English proficiency can be certified for IGETC without further evaluation. The student must present appropriate documentation of attendance at the secondary school.
• Earn a passing grade on the international A level or O level exam in a language other than English.

If an appropriate achievement test is not available to assert a student's proficiency in a language other than English, a faculty member associated with a California community college can verify competency. The college must provide a document on letterhead asserting that the student's proficiency in the language is equivalent to at least two years of high school study.

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Gen Ed is a unique place where faculty from across Harvard offer courses they've always dreamed of teaching -- and students take courses they'll never forget

View all courses, courses by semester, spring 2025, gen ed categories.

Aesthetics & Culture

Aesthetics & Culture courses foster critical engagement with diverse artistic and creative endeavors and traditions across history and geographical locations, helping students situate themselves and others as participants in and products of art and culture. 

In A&C courses, students do one or more of the following:

• Explore how aesthetic objects and practices affect our senses, emotions, and thoughts, and invite our interpretations.
• Engage directly with aesthetic objects, practices, and texts, broadly conceived, to develop students’ skills of close reading, listening, and observation and to support analysis of the production and reception of these objects in their cultural contexts.
• Engage in critical analysis of artistic and cultural production from a variety of approaches, including art-making, hands-on, or participatory/experiential assignments.
• Examine the roles that artistic and creative endeavors play in shaping and reshaping societies.

Ethics & Civics

Ethics & Civics courses examine the dilemmas that individuals, communities, and societies face as they explore questions of virtue, justice, equity, inclusion, and the greater good. 

In E&C courses, students do one or more of the following:

• Analyze the foundations and ramifications of diverse modes of ethical inquiry and practice.
• Situate ideas about ethics and civic engagement in their historical, cultural, and social contexts.
• Explore real-world ethical questions, ranging from problems in individual lives to the challenges of meeting civic responsibility at local, national, and global levels.

Histories, Societies, Individuals

Histories, Societies, Individuals courses explore the dynamic relationships between individuals and larger social, economic and political structures, both historically and in the present moment. 

In HSI courses, students do one or more of the following:

• Examine change over time to understand the historical origins of the contemporary world.
• Analyze the interplay between individuals, groups, and larger social, economic, and political structures in the making of the modern world.
• Compare societies across time and space to broaden students’ understandings of the complexities of global experiences.

Science & Technology in Society

Science & Technology in Society courses explore scientific and technological ideas and practices in their social and historical contexts, providing a foundation to assess their promise and perils. STS courses engage students in the practice of science, not just the study of scientific findings.

In STS courses, students  do one or more of the following: 

• Engage in scientific methods of inquiry, such as theoretical framing, structured observation or experimentation, and quantitative analysis.
• Examine the influence of social, economic, cultural, and political factors on science and engineering.
• Analyze the ethical, social, and political implications of scientific and technological ideas and practices, including their potential and risks.

What Are General Education Courses at US Universities?

What are general education courses, and why are they required to earn a bachelor’s degree in the US? Learn all about foundation courses and how they can impact your studies.

When a student enrolls at a liberal arts college in the USA, they are often required to complete a specific number of general education courses to earn a bachelor’s degree. These foundation course requirements are a big part of a student’s undergraduate degree — typically half the credits needed to graduate — and are mandatory for most students, regardless of major. The question is, what exactly makes a course “general education” and why is it a necessary part of the core curriculum? Let’s take a closer look. 

What Are General Education Courses? 

General education courses at US universities are designed to promote critical thinking across multiple subjects. By learning about subjects that differ from their chosen major , students gain a broader understanding of a range of topics. This equips them with highly desirable skills — communications, teamwork, ethics, time management, problem-solving, and more — while also providing necessary tools to positively impact the future. 

More than 90% of US universities teach general education courses. The types of foundation courses required vary by school, but often include liberal arts subjects such as history, science, math, ethics, and English. Some universities have also recently added health and diversity classes as part of their core curriculum. 

What Are Some Examples of General Education?

To gain a better understanding of which foundation courses a college might require, here is a breakdown of core curriculums at four top-100 Shorelight universities.

American University

Known as AU Core Curriculum , American University ’s inquiry-based liberal arts education is designed to challenge a student’s curiosity, helping to prepare them for a complex world beyond the classroom. 

The curriculum has three parts: foundation courses, Habits of Mind courses, and integrative courses. Foundation courses are designed to help students achieve success while at AU, as well as challenge their curiosity in all areas of study. Required courses include AU Experience 1 and 2, Written Communication and Information Literacy 1, Quantitative Literacy 1, and Complex Problems.

Once students complete their foundation courses, they then must take Habits of Mind courses, which provide critical thinking skills that will serve them well with different challenges in school, work, or life. Courses cover five areas:

Creative-Aesthetic Inquiry

Cultural Inquiry

Ethical Reasoning

Natural-Scientific Inquiry

Socio-Historical Inquiry

Finally, integrative courses combine foundation and Habits of Mind skills into their chosen major. Courses include Written Communication and Information Literacy 2, Quantitative Literacy 2, and Diversity and Equity .

AU Core culminates in a capstone, or signature project, that gives students an opportunity to showcase everything they have learned through general education courses, their degree courses, and life on campus .

American University believes “graduates should be equipped with certain intellectual skills and resources if they are to understand the complex dynamics of an increasingly connected global environment,” which is why the required AU Core courses are vital to a student’s education.

Auburn University

The main goal of Auburn University ’s core curriculum is to give students an “educated appreciation of the natural world, of human life, and the interactions between them.” The major students choose determines which general education course must be taken, but all students are required to take either history or literature. Additional courses that may also be required include English composition, humanities, mathematics, science, and social science.

These general education courses provide in-demand foundational skills, including:

Locating, evaluating, and using information

Reading and thinking critically

Applying mathematical methods

Writing and revising for a variety of purposes

Creating and delivering oral presentations

Analyzing their own society and its relationship to the larger global context

Interacting in intercultural situations

Applying scientific principles

Analyzing and valuing creative artistic endeavors

Auburn University hopes that general education courses will help students “become lifelong learners and use their education to solve practical problems.”

Gonzaga University

As a four-year program required of all students, Gonzaga University ’s core curriculum asks, “as students of a Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic university, how do we educate ourselves to become women and men for a more just and humane global community?” The curriculum is then divided into a main theme and question for each of the four years of study. 

Year one focuses on “Understanding and Creating: How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?” Required courses include the First-Year Seminar — designed to help students make a smooth transition to college — plus Writing, Reasoning, Communication and Speech, Scientific Inquiry, and Mathematics. 

Year two turns students’ attention to “Being and Becoming: Who are we and what does it mean to be human?” Courses include Philosophy of Human Nature and Christianity and Catholic Traditions.

Year three is centered around “Caring and Doing: What principles characterize a well-lived life?” Required courses are Ethics and World/Comparative Religions.

Finally, year four is about “Imagining the Possible: What is our role in the world?” In the Core Integration Seminar, students learn to bring together Jesuit-education principles, core foundation course components, and their own learning.

Throughout the four years, Gonzaga students must also take broadening courses, designed to enhance the core themes and student appreciation for the humanities, fine arts, and social/behavioral sciences. Courses designated as global studies, writing enriched, or social justice strengthen essential knowledge and competencies.

In hopes of giving each student a well-rounded education, the core curriculum is structured around five outcomes:

Basic modes of inquiry across disciplines of liberal learning

Intercultural knowledge/competence

Clear and persuasive communication

Identify reason from faith and spirituality

Formulate/articulate growth and social transformation

University of Utah

General education, according to the University of Utah , “provide(s) opportunities for connections.” With that in mind, the school created a core curriculum with four categories of learning outcomes: 

Collaborate effectively

Reason and act ethically

Persist in addressing complex problems

Respond creatively

Students are able to design their own degree program by selecting courses from one of the learning outcome categories that best aligns with the skills they hope to learn and develop. This gives them the opportunity to choose the experiences they want to have, as well as tailor their studies to their particular interests. 

For example, a student may choose to take most of their general education courses in the Reason and Act Ethically category, which will allow them to tackle the ethical layers of problem-solving and action. Students may also opt to take courses across several categories to develop a varied and versatile set of skills.

There are three types of general education and bachelor’s degree courses required within each of the learning outcome categories: foundational , which covers fundamentals such as writing, mathematics, and quantitative reasoning; perspective, which includes fine arts, humanities, and sciences; and enhanced proficiency , with options like diversity, international studies, and languages.

General education courses account for more than 50% of student credit hours at the University of Utah, with university representatives stating that the program “is the strongest single lever [we] can use to enhance student success.”  

Why General Education Is Important

Though each university may offer a different core curriculum, every school understands the value general education brings to a student and how it is vital to the college experience. General education encourages a student to enhance their goals, develop new and necessary skills, and challenge their assumptions. The benefit of this education reaches well beyond the classroom, however, and will give students the confidence, knowledge, and insight to excel in their chosen career, as well as have a positive impact on others.

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2024-25 Catalog

General education and course requirements, general education, foreign language proficiency requirement.

The Associate in Arts degree requires 60 eligible college-level credits including 36 credits in general education, 24 credits of acceptable electives, and satisfaction of the foreign language proficiency requirement.

General Education Program Requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree (36 Credits)

The general education program at Valencia is an integral part of the A.A. degree program and is designed to contribute to the student’s educational growth by providing a basic liberal arts education. A student who completes the general education program should have achieved the following outcomes:

Cultural and Historical Understanding: Demonstrate understanding of the diverse traditions of the world, and an individual’s place in it.

Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning: Use processes, procedures, data, or evidence to solve problems and make effective decisions.

Communication Skills: Engage in effective interpersonal, oral and written communication.

Ethical Responsibility: Demonstrate awareness of personal responsibility in one’s civic, social and academic life.

Information Literacy: Locate, evaluate and effectively use information from diverse sources.

Critical Thinking: Effectively analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and apply information and ideas from diverse sources and disciplines.

The general education program is 36 semester credits which serve as the core of the curriculum. The 36 credits are selected from 5 core areas of academic courses offered at Valencia: Communications, Humanities, Mathematics, Science and Social Sciences.

Core courses are established by the State Board of Education to create a common General Education experience at every public institution in each of the 5 core areas. Core courses must be offered and accepted by every Florida College System (FCS) and State University System (SUS) institution. Core courses account for 15 credits in the General Education program. Institutional courses are established by each college and university to support their General Education program outcomes. Institutional courses account for the remaining 21 credits of the 36 credit General Education program. 

Area 1. Communications

Students who complete  ENC 1101  FRESHMAN COMPOSITION I  with a grade of C or better will earn the Fundamentals of Written Communication digital badge. 

Area 2. Humanities

MUT 1111 must be paired with MUL 1010 to satisfy both the Institutional Humanities and Gordon Rule requirements.

Area 3. Mathematics

Area 4. science, area 5. social sciences.

 This course must be completed with a grade of C or better.

 This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog

 This is a General Education course.

 Denotes a Gordon Rule course

Students who complete  ENC 1101 FRESHMAN COMPOSITION I  with a grade of C or better will earn the Fundamentals of Written Communication digital badge. 

Electives/Required Prerequisites for Major (24 Credits)

Most college-level credit courses taught at Valencia will count toward elective credit. Any credits in excess of the minimum required in any of the five core areas listed above will count as elective credits. University majors require certain prerequisite courses before transferring; these are the courses that should be taken as electives at Valencia.

To select the most appropriate electives, create an education plan through Atlas for review with a Student Services staff member.

Valencia’s college-level foreign language proficiency requirement can be satisfied in one of the following ways:

• You may complete two credits (two years) of high school instruction in one language other than English with a passing grade each year as documented on your official high school transcript.
• You may satisfy this requirement by successfully completing foreign language course work at the Elementary II college level with a minimum grade of "C."
• Demonstration of proficiency by passing a CLEP (College Level Examination Program) foreign language test or a foreign language proficiency test administered by the University of Central Florida. Students who earn college-level foreign language credits through course work or CLEP may apply these credits toward the 24 Elective credits.
• If your native language is a language other than English, you may satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement by successful completion of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course requirements and successful completion of the Area I Communications requirements for the Associate in Arts degree.
• Demonstrated college-level proficiency in American Sign Language (either through completion of eight semester credits or successful completion of ASL 2150 ) can be used to fulfill this requirement at Valencia.
• Demonstration of proficiency by passing Advanced Placement test with a score of 4 or higher.
• American Sign Language cannot be used to fulfill the foreign language graduation requirement at many universities. Students are responsible for verifying acceptability at the institution to which they plan to transfer.

Note: Satisfaction of this graduation requirement for Valencia may also satisfy the foreign language admission requirement for Florida public universities; it may or may not satisfy a specific university graduation requirement. Students are encouraged to find out the specific requirements of institutions in which they are interested.

Civic Literacy Requirement

Satisfy the civic literacy requirement. As per Florida Rule 6A-10.04213*, prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2021-22 school year, and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy prior to graduation by: a. receiving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE), and b. successful completion of one of the following:

• successfully passing POS 2041 U.S. GOVERNMENT.  or AMH 2020 U.S. HISTORY 1877 TO PRESENT  or
• successfully passing a prescribed assessment: AP Government & Politics: United States Test* (passing score =3), or AP United States History Test* (passing score = 4), or CLEP American Government* (passing score = 50) *receiving a passing score will satisfy both the FCLE and course requirements.

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The Gordon Rule

State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.030, the Gordon Rule, requires that students complete with grades of C or better 12 credits in designated courses in which the student is required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments and six credits of mathematics course work at the level of college algebra or higher. These courses must be completed successfully (grades of C or better) prior to the receipt of an A.A. degree and prior to entry into the upper division of a Florida public university.

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General Education Approved Course List

U.S. Diversity (USD) and International Perspectives (IP) designations reflected on this list are based on the online 2023-24 Catalog as of February 22, 2023.

I. Arts and Humanities (minimum credits: 12)

Students should develop an understanding of human cultural heritage and history, and an appreciation of reasoning and the aesthetic value of human creativity.

IIA. Mathematical Disciplines (minimum credits: 3)

Students should appreciate mathematics as a valuable tool of the sciences and as an intrinsically important way of thinking.

IIB. Natural Sciences (minimum credits: 8)

Students should experience science as a rational search for understanding the structure and behavior of the natural world.

III. Social Sciences (minimum credits: 9)

Students should develop an appreciation of the principal methods of studying human behavior and an understanding of the structure and functioning of institutions.

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General Education Courses

• Liberal Studies Courses
• Communications Courses
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General education courses help you strengthen your transferable skills, such as critical analysis, problem-solving and communication. These foundational skills are essential for employment and are in demand across industries.

When you complete general education courses, you explore topics with broad-based personal and societal importance. We not only help you become better at your chosen academic discipline but also provide you with a competitive edge and a holistic outlook on the world.

General Education Requirements

You must complete at least three general education courses from the following categories:

• One course from arts and humanities
• One course from sciences and social sciences, and
• One course chosen from either of the above categories.

Visit your online Student Home for additional information on academic requirements for your program.

You can take only level one and two language courses as general education courses, and a maximum of two language courses can be used towards general education requirements.

Please note: Communicating Across Contexts (COM101/COM111) are not general education courses.

Global Learning and Engagement Opportunity

As a student in this program you have the chance to explore global learning opportunities through Global Learning and Engagement . Gain a global perspective and develop new skills for personal, professional, and academic growth – at Seneca or abroad.

Modes of Delivery

English and Liberal Studies courses will be delivered in one of the following formats:

• In-person (P) — This course is fully in person and requires you to come to campus. 
• Hybrid (H) — Some parts of this course are in person and other parts are online. You will need to come to campus to complete in-person requirements. 
• Flexible (FL) — This course offers classes where you have a choice of coming to campus for an in-person experience or learning remotely online. Professors teach live on site to students in a classroom or lab and this is broadcasted in real time to students choosing to learning online. 
• Online Asynchronous (OA) — This online course doesn't have a scheduled class time. You learn and study on your own time, while completing online learning modules by the assigned due dates. 
• Online Synchronous (OS) –  This course has scheduled online class time with professors.
• Online Synchronous & Asynchronous (OB)  — This is an online course that includes some scheduled class time and some independent study. Depending on the professor, this scheduled time may be used for drop-in sessions and/or live lectures or assessments. Please see the course addendum for details about how your professor will use scheduled class time.

Note: Students studying at Seneca International Academy (Markham Campus) can also access the courses listed below at any campus.

• Seneca@York

Below is the list of courses offered for the Summer 2024 term.

A Unified General Education Pathway

"...the transfer process is still unnecessarily complex, confusing and difficult for the majority of students to navigate." — Assembly Bill 928, The Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act 2021

More than 50% of CSU students are transfer students, arriving primarily from the California Community Colleges system. In an effort to simplify their pathway to a four-year degree, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (AB 928) creates a singular, lower-division General Education (GE) pattern for both California State University and University of California transfer admissions. This pattern, called Cal-GETC, was approved by all three higher education intersegmental partners via the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates in spring 2023. When Cal-GETC is implemented in fall 2025, it will become the only transfer GE pattern offered by California community colleges.

The STAR Act is meant to support student success and equity, helping to ease access, simplify advisement across segments, eliminate barriers and carve a clear path to a four-year degree across California's educational segments.

Recognizing a growing trend of first-time, first-year students arriving to the CSU with college credit, including 60% of CSU first-year applicants who have earned college credit, the Chancellor's Office has recommended a unified pathway. Historically, the CSU has had one unified GE pattern for all students—CSU GE Breadth. Changes to Title 5 California Code of Regulations ensure the CSU continues to provide one unified GE pattern whether students enroll as first-time, first-year students or transfer students.

GE Informational Webinar, April 15, 2024

An informational webinar was held on Monday, April 15, 2024 hosted by Interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic and Faculty Programs Laura Massa and Assistant Vice Chancellor and State University Dean Brent Foster. Questions posed in this webinar will be posted shortly.

On March 27, 2024, the CSU Board of Trustees approved proposed changes to Title 5 CSU General Education that modify CSU GE Breadth to mirror the Cal-GETC pattern and units.

The Chancellor’s Office will support campuses and faculty through the implementation processes, including through resources to support faculty release, written guidance and stipends for faculty effort during off-contract periods. Each campus will determine the application of units that are not included in Cal-GETC.

Changes to CSU General Education

The update to CSU GE removes five units from the GE pattern. It does this by:

• Including a one-unit laboratory for Biological or Physical Sciences
• Not including one of three Arts or Humanities courses (in Area C)
• Not including Area E, Lifelong Learning and Self-Development

The five units removed from GE will be returned to campuses to determine how to utilize.

About the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act

Authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman and approved in 2021, Assembly Bill 928 consolidates two existing general education pathways for California Community College students into a single pathway to either the CSU or UC system. It also requires that community colleges place incoming students on an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway, if one exists for their major, on or before August 1, 2024.

Key Terms and Definitions

What is Cal-GETC? Cal-GETC is a new GE pattern that will be implemented in fall 2025. As a result of its implementation, California Community Colleges will no longer offer the current CSU GE Breadth and Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) patterns.

What is IGETC? The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum, or IGETC, is designed for the community college student who wants to be eligible to transfer to either the CSU or the UC systems. 

What is CSU GE Breadth? CSU GE Breadth is the current General Education pattern for all CSU students whether they are first-time first-year students or transfer students. Following the approval of the CSU Board of Trustees on March 27, 2024, starting in fall 2025 CSU GE will mirror Cal-GETC in areas and units.

What is an ADT? The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) allows California Community College students who meet the CSU's minimum eligibility requirements guaranteed priority admission to the CSU, though not necessarily to a particular campus or major. Students earn a two-year associate degree (no more than 60 units) that is fully transferrable towards a CSU bachelor's degree.

Additional Resources

GE Informational Seminar May 2023

AB 928 Bill Text

ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee

The Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates (ICAS)

Frequently Asked Questions

Associate of Arts

• •  Art, AA
• •  Business, AA
• •  Communications: Advertising/Public Relations, AA
• •  Communications: Journalism/Mass Communication, AA
• •  Communications: Radio & Television Broadcasting/Broadcast Journalism, AA
• •  Communications: Speech, AA
• •  Criminal Justice, AA
• •  Dance, AA
• •  Economics, AA
• •  English, AA
• •  General Studies, AA
• •  Government, AA
• •  History, AA
• •  Music, AA
• •  Musical Theatre, AA
• •  Psychology, AA
• •  Social Work, AA
• •  Sociology, AA
• •  Theatre, AA

Associate of Arts in Teaching

• •  Education EC-6; 4-8 Grade Levels/EC-12 Special Education, AAT

Associate of Science

• •  Biology, AS
• •  Chemistry, AS
• •  Computer and Networking Information Technology: Computer Science, AS
• •  Engineering, AS
• •  Geology, AS
• •  Health Studies, AS
• •  Kinesiology, AS
• •  Mathematics, AS
• •  Physics, AS
• •  Science, AS

Associate of Applied Science

• •  Automotive Technology, AAS
• •  Business Management, AAS
• •  Child Development/Early Childhood, AAS
• •  Computer and Networking Information Technology: Network Technology, AAS
• •  Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Investigations, AAS
• •  Culinary Arts, AAS
• •  Culinary Arts: Baking and Pastry, AAS
• •  Dental Studies: Certified Dental Assisting, AAS
• •  Dental Studies: Dental Hygiene, AAS
• •  Diagnostic Echocardiography, AAS
• •  Diagnostic Medical Sonography, AAS
• •  Electrical/Electronic Controls Technology, AAS
• •  Emergency Medical Service Professions, AAS
• •  Energy Sytems Technology, AAS
• •  Engineering Design Technology, AAS
• •  Fire Protection Technology, AAS
• •  Game and Simulation Development: Graphics, AAS
• •  Game and Simulation Development: Programming, AAS
• •  Health Information Technology, AAS
• •  Healthcare Administration, AAS
• •  Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, AAS
• •  Hospitality and Restaurant Management, AAS
• •  Human Performance, AAS
• •  Human Services: Addiction Counseling, AAS
• •  Industrial Maintenance Technology, AAS
• •  Live and Recorded Sound, AAS
• •  Medical Laboratory Technology, AAS
• •  Medical Office Management, AAS
• •  Nursing, Associate Degree (ADN), AAS
• •  Nursing, Licensed Vocational (LVN)-ADN Transition, AAS
• •  Nursing, Paramedic-ADN Transition, AAS
• •  Occupational Therapy Assistant, AAS
• •  Ophthalmic Medical Assisting, AAS
• •  Paralegal, AAS
• •  Physical Therapist Assistant, AAS
• •  Public Administration, AAS
• •  Radiologic Technology, AAS
• •  Respiratory Care, AAS
• •  Sign Language Interpreting, AAS
• •  Surgical Technology, AAS
• •  Surveying and Geomatics, AAS
• •  Veterinary Technician, AAS
• •  Visual Communications, AAS
• •  Welding Technology, AAS

Bachelor of Applied Science

• •  Emergency Management, BAS

Bachelor of Applied Technology

• •  Healthcare Administration, BAT

Bachelor of Science

• •  Dental Studies: Dental Hygiene, BS

Certificate of Proficiency

• •  Automotive Technology: Chassis and Drive Train, CERT
• •  Automotive Technology: Engine Performance, CERT
• •  Business Management: Generalist Management, CERT
• •  Business Management: Leadership, CERT
• •  Business Management: Real Estate, CERT
• •  Business Management: Small Business Entrepreneurship, CERT
• •  Child Development/Early Childhood, CERT
• •  Child Development/Early Childhood: Administrator’s Credential, CERT
• •  Child Development/Early Childhood: Preschool Teaching, CERT
• •  Computer and Networking Information Technology: Desktop Support Technician, CERT
• •  Computer and Networking Information Technology: Network Technology, CERT
• •  Culinary Arts: Advanced Baking and Pastry, CERT
• •  Culinary Arts: Advanced Culinary, CERT
• •  Culinary Arts: Basic Baking and Pastry, CERT
• •  Culinary Arts: Basic Culinary, CERT
• •  Dental Studies: Certified Dental Assisting, CERT
• •  Electrical/Electronic Controls Technology: Electronic Fundamentals CERT
• •  Electrical/Electronic Controls Technology: Instrumentation, Electrical and Controls Fundamentals, CERT
• •  Emergency Medical Service Professions (Paramedic Option), CERT
• •  Engineering Design Technology: Computer-Aided Drafting and Design, CERT
• •  Fire Protection Technology: Basic Firefighter, CERT
• •  Fire Protection Technology: Fire Service Leadership, CERT
• •  Health Information Technology: Medical Coding, CERT
• •  Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology: Advanced Level, CERT
• •  Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology: Ammonia Track, Entry Level CERT
• •  Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology: General Track, Entry Level CERT
• •  Hospitality and Restaurant Management: Advanced Hospitality and Restaurant Management, CERT
• •  Hospitality and Restaurant Management: Basic Hospitality and Restaurant Management, CERT
• •  Human Performance, CERT
• •  Human Services: Addiction Counseling, CERT
• •  Industrial Maintenance Technology, CERT
• •  Medical Office Management, CERT
• •  Medical Office Management: Medical Insurance Coding Specialist, CERT
• •  Nursing, Vocational (VN), CERT
• •  Ophthalmic Medical Assisting, CERT
• •  Public Administration, CERT
• •  Sign Language Interpreting: ASL Skills, CERT
• •  Surveying and Geomatics, Level One CERT
• •  Surveying and Geomatics, Professionals’ CERT
• •  Visual Communications: Graphic Design, CERT
• •  Visual Communications: Photography, CERT
• •  Welding Technology: Advanced Level Option, CERT
• •  Welding Technology: Entry Level Option, CERT

Enhanced Skills Certificate

• •  Vascular Technology, ESC

Occupational Skills Award

• •  Automotive Technology: Introduction to Automotive Skills, OSA
• •  Business Management: Entrepreneurship Basics, OSA
• •  Business Management: Human Resources Assistant, OSA
• •  Child Development/Early Childhood, OSA
• •  Computer and Networking Information Technology: Computer Networking, OSA
• •  Computer and Networking Information Technology: Personal Computer Support, OSA
• •  Culinary Arts: Foodservice Fundamentals, OSA
• •  Electrical/Electronic Controls Technology: Fundamentals of Automation, OSA
• •  Electrical/Electronic Controls Technology: Fundamentals of Electronics, OSA
• •  Emergency Medical Service Professions: Emergency Medical Technology, OSA
• •  Engineering Design Technology, OSA
• •  Game and Simulation Development: Game Design, OSA
• •  Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology: Basic Refrigeration and Energy Principles, OSA
• •  Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology: HVAC Installer, OSA
• •  Industrial Maintenance Technology: Fundamentals of Industrial Maintenance, OSA
• •  Phlebotomy, OSA
• •  Public Administration, OSA
• •  Public Administration: Leadership, OSA
• •  Surveying and Geomatics, OSA
• •  Welding Technology: Basic Welder, OSA

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10 facts about today’s college graduates

Having a bachelor’s degree remains an important advantage in many sectors of the U.S. labor market. College graduates generally out-earn those who have not attended college, and they are more likely to be employed in the first place. At the same time, many Americans say they cannot afford to get a four-year degree – or that they just don’t want to.

Here are key facts about American college graduates.

This Pew Research Center analysis about U.S. college graduates relies on data from sources including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics, the National Student Clearinghouse and the Federal Reserve Bank, as well as surveys conducted by the Center.

Everyone who took the Pew Research Center surveys cited is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about  the ATP’s methodology .

Nearly four-in-ten Americans ages 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, a share that has grown over the last decade. As of 2021, 37.9% of adults in this age group held a bachelor’s degree, including 14.3% who also obtained a graduate or professional degree, according to data from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. That share is up 7.5 percentage points from 30.4% in 2011.

An additional 10.5% had an associate degree in 2021. About four-in-ten Americans ages 25 and older had a high school diploma with no further education (25.3%) or completed some college but didn’t have a degree (14.9%).

In a reversal, women are now more likely than men to graduate from college, according to the Current Population Survey . In 2021, 39% of women ages 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or more education, compared with 37% of men in the same age range. The gap in college completion is even wider among adults ages 25 to 34: 46% of women in this age group have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 36% of men.

In an October 2021 Pew Research Center survey of Americans without a degree, 34% of men said a major reason why they have not received a four-year college degree is that they just didn’t want to. Only one-in-four women said the same. Men were also more likely to say a major reason they didn’t have a four-year degree is that they didn’t need more education for the job or career they wanted (26% of men said this vs. 20% of women).

Women (44%) were more likely than men (39%) to say not being able to afford college was a major reason they don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Men and women were about equally likely to say a major impediment was needing to work to help support their family.

There are racial and ethnic differences in college graduation patterns, as well as in the reasons for not completing a degree. Among adults ages 25 and older, 61% of Asian Americans have a bachelor’s degree or more education, along with 42% of White adults, 28% of Black adults and 21% of Hispanic adults, according to 2021 Current Population Survey data. The share of bachelor’s degree holders in each group has increased since 2010. That year, 52% of Asian Americans had a four-year degree or more, compared with a third of White adults, 20% of Black adults and 14% of Hispanic adults.

The October 2021 Center survey found that among adults without a bachelor’s degree, Hispanic adults (52%) were more likely than those who are White (39%) or Black (41%) to say a major reason they didn’t graduate from a four-year college is that they couldn’t afford it. Hispanic and Black adults were more likely than their White counterparts to say needing to work to support their family was a major reason.

While a third of White adults said not wanting to go to school was a major reason they didn’t complete a four-year degree, smaller shares of Black (22%) and Hispanic (23%) adults said the same. White adults were also more likely to cite not needing more education for the job or career they wanted. (There weren’t enough Asian adults without a bachelor’s degree in the sample to analyze separately.)

Only 62% of students who start a degree or certificate program finish their program within six years, according to the most recent data from the  National Student Clearinghouse , a nonprofit verification and research organization that tracked first-time college students who enrolled in fall 2015 with the intent of pursuing a degree or certificate. The degree completion rate for this group was highest among students who started at four-year, private, nonprofit schools (78.3%), and lowest among those who started at two-year public institutions (42.2%).

Business is the most commonly held bachelor’s degree, followed by health professions.  According to the  National Center for Education Statistics , about a fifth (19%) of the roughly 2 million bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2019-20 were in business. Health professions and related programs were the second most-popular field, making up 12.6% of degrees conferred that year. Business has been the single most common major since 1980-81; before that, education led the way.

The  least  common bachelor’s degrees in 2019-20 were in military technologies and applied sciences (1,156 degrees conferred in 2019-20), library science (118), and precision production (39).

There is a growing earnings gap between young college graduates and their counterparts without degrees. In 2021, full-time workers ages 22 to 27 who held a bachelor’s degree, but no further education, made a median annual wage of $52,000, compared with $30,000 for full-time workers of the same age with a high school diploma and no degree, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This gap has widened over time. Young bachelor’s degree holders earned a median annual wage of $48,481 in 1990, compared with $35,257 for full-time workers ages 22 to 27 with a high school diploma.

The unemployment rate is lower for college graduates than for workers without a bachelor’s degree, and that gap widened as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In February 2020, just before the COVID-19 outbreak began in the U.S., only 1.9% of college graduates ages 25 and older were unemployed, compared with 3.1% of workers who completed some college but not a four-year degree, and 3.7% of workers with only a high school diploma. By June 2020, after the pandemic hit, 6.8% of college grads, 10.8% of workers with some college, and 12.2% of high school grads were unemployed.

By March 2022, the unemployment rate had nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels for college graduates (2%) while dropping to 3% among those with some college education but no four-year degree, and 4% among those with only a high school diploma.

Recent college graduates are more likely than graduates overall to be underemployed – that is, working in jobs that typically do not require a college degree, according to an analysis of Census Bureau and BLS data by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York . As of December 2021, 41% of college graduates ages 22 to 27 were underemployed, compared with 34% among all college graduates. The underemployment rates for recent college grads rose in 2020 as the COVID-19 outbreak strained the job market, but have since returned to pre-pandemic levels.

As of the end of 2021, only 34% of underemployed graduates ages 22 to 27 worked what the Fed defines as “good non-college jobs” – those paying at least $45,000 a year – down from around half in the 1990s. The share of underemployed graduates ages 22 to 27 in low-wage jobs – those earning less than $25,000 annually – rose from about 9% in 1990 to 11% last year.

When it comes to income and wealth accumulation, first-generation college graduates lag substantially behind those with college-educated parents, according to a May 2021 Pew Research Center analysis . Households headed by a first-generation college graduate – that is, someone who has completed at least a bachelor’s degree but does not have a parent with a college degree – had a median annual income of $99,600 in 2019, compared with $135,800 for households headed by those with at least one parent who graduated from college. The median wealth of households headed by first-generation college graduates ($152,000) also trailed that of households headed by someone with a parent who graduated from college ($244,500). The higher household income of the latter facilitates saving and wealth accumulation.

The gap also reflects differences in how individuals finance their education. Second-generation college graduates tend to come from  more affluent families , while first-generation college graduates are more likely to incur education debt than those with a college-educated parent.

Most Americans with college degrees see value in their experience. In the Center’s October 2021 survey , majorities of graduates said their college education was extremely or very useful when it came to helping them grow personally and intellectually (79%), opening doors to job opportunities (70%) and developing specific skills and knowledge that could be used in the workplace (65%).

Younger college graduates were less likely than older ones to see value in their college education. For example, only a third of college graduates younger than 50 said their college experience was extremely useful in helping them develop skills and knowledge that could be used in the workplace. Among college graduates ages 50 and older, 45% said this.

• Higher Education

Katherine Schaeffer is a research analyst at Pew Research Center

Most Americans think U.S. K-12 STEM education isn’t above average, but test results paint a mixed picture

About 1 in 4 u.s. teachers say their school went into a gun-related lockdown in the last school year, about half of americans say public k-12 education is going in the wrong direction, what public k-12 teachers want americans to know about teaching, what’s it like to be a teacher in america today, most popular.

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Studying in Russia: How Is Higher Education System Different?

No comments · Posted by Alex Smirnov in Education

Thinking about acquiring education in Russia? Though this country has never been a very popular destination for international students, times change. Today, studying in this country is an opportunity to get high-quality education for free or at a very affordable price.

But, what should one be prepared for when applying? There are a number of factors that make the Russian higher education system different from the US or European ones, and we’re here to tell you more!

Language of Instruction

Officially, the language of instruction in the country’s universities is Russian. This fact can turn into a significant stumbling point for international students.

Although many schools offer preparatory language courses to help international students acquire the skills they need to study in Russian, we have to say that this language can be extremely hard to learn. So, if you still decide to test your luck, be ready that you will need some extra help from a professional online essay writing service in order to keep your grades high.

One more thing we have to note is that it is possible to find English-taught programs in Russia. But, there are not too many of those. And, the majority of English-taught programs are available starting from the MA level.

Student Demographics

According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, there were close to 4 million students in Russian higher education facilities at the end of 2020. And, according to the Institute of International Education (IEE) , the number of international students in the same year was 353,331. This is not a large share of the total number of students, especially if you compare it to the indicators of some well-known American and European universities that host a huge number of international students. However, the Russian education system has been pretty actively developing lately to invite more international students.

Higher Education System in Russia

Basically, in every higher education facility, an academic year is divided into two semesters. The first semester traditionally begins on September 1st and goes on to January 25th. Then students have their winter break. After the break, the second semester begins, and students come back on February 9th and continue studying till June 30th. All in all, the academic year lasts for ten months.

What about the finals? In the last month of every semester (i.e., in January and June), students have to take their term exams on the specific subjects they picked for their curriculum.

Now, let’s look closer at the system in general.

Types of Institutions

There are three types of higher education facilities in Russia:

• Universities. This type of institution provides training programs for students of all levels, including graduate, postgraduate, and continuing education.
• Academies. Another type of education facility also offers a wide range of programs for different academic levels. However, unlike universities, academies make a larger focus on developing students’ practical skills in a specific field (e.g., architecture, music, art, etc.) instead of just providing them with knowledge.
• Institutes. Finally, there are independent higher education facilities that are typically branches of larger universities or academies. Institutes offer professional education courses on a variety of disciplines.

Types of Degrees

Let us give you a quick overview of the different degree types that can be pursued in Russian universities:

• Bachelor’s or Specialist’s degree. The two lowest higher education degrees are Bachelor’s or Specialist’s degree. These can be pursued right upon completion of your secondary education. Typically, a Bachelor’s degree takes 4 years to complete, whereas a Specialist’s degree will take a minimum of 5 years to obtain. The core difference between these two types of degrees is that Bachelor’s provides general education, while a Specialist’s degree is more focused on practical experience. Both degrees qualify you to pursue an MA degree later.
• Master’s degree. The next step after a Specialist’s or Bachelor’s degree is a Master’s course. Typically, the duration of this course is two years, one of which is fully dedicated to practice, research, and preparation of a master’s thesis.
• Ph.D. and Doctoral. After graduating from a Master’s program, students can continue their studies by acquiring a Ph.D. degree and then the final Doctoral degree, which is the highest you can get.

Grading System

A significant difference between education in Russia and the US is a different grading system. Unlike habitual A through F letter grades that are used to evaluate students’ progress in American schools and colleges, higher education facilities in Russia use a five-point grading scale.

This grading system in Russian universities has been officially established since the middle of the nineteenth century. The scale is used to evaluate students’ work.

Basically, the five-point scale can be interpreted the following way:

Please note that in the Russian grading system, there are two grades that are considered unsatisfactory. Instead of a D grade, which is generally assumed to be passable, there are grades 1 and 2, which are basically the equivalents of an F grade. Receiving either 1 or 2 means that you didn’t pass. When students graduate, they only get grades from excellent to satisfactory in their college transcripts. Respectively, if you score any of the two lowest grades for a specific subject, you won’t be able to graduate.

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Independent prescriber education and training

A pharmacist independent prescriber may prescribe autonomously for any condition within their clinical competence. This currently excludes three controlled drugs to treat addiction.

To qualify as an independent prescriber, you must complete one of our accredited courses. On successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a practice certificate in independent prescribing and be eligible to apply to our register.

An accredited independent prescribing course typically takes six months to complete. The course is part-time and often delivered through a combination of face-to-face teaching sessions (often one day a week) and self-study.

Some universities offer distance learning courses, but with a minimum of 26 days of teaching time. Each pharmacist must successfully complete at least 12 days (90 hours) of learning in a practice environment under the supervision of a designated prescribing practitioner.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for independent prescribing courses  are set out in in our new standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers. Course providers may require additional entry requirements, so it’s best to check with your chosen place of study.

Registered pharmacists must have at least two years of experience in a patient-orientated UK practice setting to enrol on one of our accredited independent prescribing courses. Relevant experience gained while provisionally registered can also count towards the two-year requirement.  

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Search courses.

Use the search below to find specific independent prescriber courses. You can use the filters n the left to find different types of courses, or search by location.

Glyndwr University

Independent prescribing course.

Approved to use revised entry requirements** - No

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*12 months extension issued from Aug 2025

University of Reading

Approved to use revised entry requirements** - Yes

Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen)

Swansea university, university of wolverhampton, bangor university, university of bolton, buckinghamshire new university, university of chester, university of cumbria, university of derby, university of exeter, university of portsmouth, university of hull, university of leeds, london south bank university, northern ireland centre for pharmacy learning and development (nicpld), open university (milton keynes), university of plymouth, university of salford, university of south wales, university of the west of england.

*9 months extension issued from Jun 2025

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Edge hill university, university of leicester.

*9 months extension issued from Aug 2025

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*12 months extension issued from Jul 2025

Cardiff University

University of birmingham.

School of Pharmacy * 12 months extension issued from Feb 2025

School of Nursing and Midwifery Approved to use revised entry requirements** - Yes

University of Bradford

University of central lancashire (preston).

School of Pharmacy Approved to use revised entry requirements** - No

School of Community Health and Midwifery Approved to use revised entry requirements** - No

De Montfort University (Leicester)

University of huddersfield, king's college, university of london, university of lincoln, liverpool john moores university, medway school of pharmacy, universities of greenwich and kent, university of manchester.

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