Requirements
UNC Charlotte's General Education program is designed to provide you with the broad liberal arts education that is an essential part of the college experience. The General Education requirements you must meet will come to between 39 and 44 semester hours (13 or 14 classes). These requirements fall into four major categories as described below. Click on the heading for each section or on the list to the right to get more information about that aspect of the program and the courses fulfilling each requirement. A summary check sheet of your requirements can be found on the Advising Worksheet.
- Fundamental Skills of Inquiry, 9-12 semester hours
These courses are designed to help students develop the foundational skills necessary for obtaining the full benefits of a college education; they include basic college-level writing, basic use of information technology, and basic college-level mathematical and logical skills.
- Inquiry into the Sciences, 11 semester hours
These courses provide students with an understanding of the methods of scientific inquiry and the ways that knowledge is acquired and accredited in the natural and the social sciences.
- Themes of Liberal Education, 12 semester hours
This aspect of your General Education requirements are unique to UNC Charlotte’s curriculum. These courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for your role as an educated citizen in the twenty-first century through the integrated Liberal Studies curriculum. These courses are found in course schedule under the heading of LBST, and they cover four key areas of learning: the arts and society, the Western historical and cultural tradition, global understanding, and ethical and cultural critique. While all sections of the same course address the same overarching goals, individual faculty take quite different approaches to these topics. Students are therefore urged to select a specific section based on the more detailed information provided in the semester course schedule.
- Communications Skills, 7-9 semester hours
These courses are intended to further develop more specialized skills for writing in the discipline and oral presentations.
General Education and the Major
These are GENERAL education requirements applicable to all students at UNC Charlotte regardless of their college or major. However, many academic programs prefer that you take particular courses within the general education program because those courses enhance your learning or preparation in a particular major. Therefore it is always advisable to consult an advisor in your program as you plan your schedule.
Transfer of General Education Equivalent Courses
Students may meet any of the course requirements of the General Education Program with approved equivalent courses transferred from other regionally accredited institutions. At the time of admission, transcripts of work at other institutions are evaluated to determine equivalency. This includes equivalency for the Liberal Studies courses required in the General Education Program. See the page for transfer students
Advising
Students should seek advising on completing Gen Ed course work to ensure that all requirements are being satisfied and that you are taking advantage of the program’s flexibility to pursue areas of interest. In addition to your assigned advisor, you may find it helpful to consult professional advisors in each of the college advising offices or the University Advising Center. For general information on advising at UNC Charlotte, visit the Advising web pages.
