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.
Like what you’re reading?
Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.
Join Now
FAQs
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.
How many Gen EDS do you need JMU? ›
In order to graduate, each student must complete fourteen requirements across all five areas, which typically comprise one-third of a student's coursework - about 41 credit hours. Area Search Codes can be found HERE. Below is a brief overview of the program's requirements.
Can Gen EDS count towards major? ›
but leave the actual course choices up to you. This is an incredibly easy way to pick things that fit the gen ed category but also count towards your minor or major. For example, a history major might have to complete a certain amount of gen ed art credits.
Are electives and Gen EDS the same? ›
General Education is the first part of a degree, before you get into the Area of Study courses (the main classes that define your degree) or top off the degree with Free Electives. Basically, General Education (or Gen Ed for short) is required curriculum that makes up the foundation of an undergraduate degree.
Why are Gen Eds important in college? ›
The goal of general education classes is to provide background and core skills you can later use in your specialty. Even if you're not a math major odds are you'll have to take at least one math class in college.
Does Harvard have Gen EDS? ›
The Program in General Education is the cornerstone of the Harvard College curriculum. Background photo of a student speaking into a microphone during Gen Ed 1131: Loss.
Does Princeton have Gen EDS? ›
Each student's program of study encompasses a combination of courses that satisfy general education and departmental requirements, and substantial independent work during the junior and senior years. With the exception of students who receive one or two terms of advanced standing, all A.B.
Do your major and minor have to correlate? ›
While many students pair their major with a related minor, some students go a different route and minor in a field unrelated to their major. Some do it to pursue another area of interest without committing to a full major course load.
Does Stanford have Gen Eds? ›
Unless otherwise specified, General Education Requirement courses must be taken for a letter grade and a minimum of 3 units of credit.
What is the difference between general education and liberal education? ›
In sum, liberal education's aim is the disciplining of the mind through a prescribed common core of learning. General educations aim, on the other hand, is the empowering of the individual through a common core of experiences. "General" and "liberal" education are vastly different in many respects.
The Core Curriculum of the College of Arts and Science provides a foundational academic experience of general education in the liberal arts for undergraduates at NYU.
Is astronomy a general ED? ›
This category includes introductory or integrative courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, general physical science, geology, meteorology, oceanography, physical geography, physical anthropology, physics, and other scientific disciplines.
What is the difference between GE and GE elective? ›
GE Elective: a General Education (GE or GenEd) course a student can choose from the list of General Education courses prescribed by the program. Elective: a non-GenEd course a student can choose from any area or discipline and regardless of course number that contributes to the student's program of study or track.
Why shouldn't general education classes be required? ›
By only taking classes within students' majors, individuals can find their passion and show off their strengths. Students may also feel more motivated and engaged if they are only in courses that apply to their major and they enjoy, instead of boring, useless courses.
Why do first gen students go to college? ›
When low-income, first-generation students attain a college degree, they are five times more likely to move out of poverty. Additionally, people with a bachelor's degree earn nearly double what high school graduates make over a 40-year career and experience lower unemployment rates.
Do European colleges have Gen EDS? ›
One factor to weigh when comparing higher education in Europe vs. the U.S. is how long it takes to get a degree. U.S. colleges tend to offer breadth, requiring general education courses and exposing students to a variety of fields, while European universities favor depth, focusing more on a specific area of study.
How many letters of recommendation does JMU require? ›
Optional Application Information
The following items are not required for completion of the applicaiton: One letter of recommendation: The request will be submitted electronically using the name and email you provide on the application.
How many credits do you need per semester at JMU? ›
“The university considers full-time enrollment in a term to be a minimum of 12 credit hours. In all programs, the normal load per semester is 15 or 16 credit hours. A student with a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or better may register for as many as 21 credit hours per semester.
What do you need to get into JMU? ›
With a GPA of 3.55, JMU requires you to be around average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, and very few C's. If you have a lower GPA, you can compensate with harder courses like AP or IB classes. This will help boost your weighted GPA and show your ability to take college classes.
What general ed classes are required in college uc? ›
See the Graduation Requirements section of the Catalog for specific courses which meet these requirements.
- English Communication - 6 units.
- Mathematical Concepts - 3 units.
- Arts and Humanities - 9 units.
- Social and Behavioral Sciences - 6 units.
- Physical and Biological Sciences - 7-9 units.
