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General Education Requirements

Complete the required core courses you need to earn a bachelor's degree at UMGC.

Within your bachelor’s degree program, University of Maryland Global Campus incorporates core and program-specific competencies known as general education requirements. Any course that may be applied toward a general education requirement is considered a general education elective. Credit applied to general education requirements may not also be applied toward major, minor, or elective requirements. Courses applied to meet general education requirements may not be taken pass/fail.

These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2024–2025 academic year. For prior year academic requirements, please visit our catalog archive.

General Education Course Requirements: 41 Credits

Any course that may be applied toward a general education requirement is considered a general education elective. Credit applied to general education requirements may not also be applied toward major, minor, or elective requirements. Courses applied to meet general education requirements may not be taken pass/fail.

Research and Computing Literacy | 7 Credits

  • Professional and Career Exploration course (3 credits), which must be taken within the first 6 credits; the following courses apply:
    • (3 Credits, PACE 100)
    • (3 Credits, PACE 111B)
    • (3 Credits, PACE 111C)
    • (3 Credits, PACE 111M)
    • (3 Credits, PACE 111P)
    • (3 Credits, PACE 111S)
    • (3 Credits, PACE 111T)
  • (1 Credit, LIBS 150), (1 Credit, CAPL 398A), or a one-credit general education elective
  • One 3-credit course or three 1-credit courses in computing or information technology
    • Unless otherwise specified, the following courses apply:
      • Courses designated CMIT, CMSC, CMST, CSIA, CYOP, and IFSM
      • (3 Credits, ACCT 326)
      • (3 Credits, DATA 200)

Communication | 12 Credits

No more than 3 credits in writing may be earned through credit by examination.

  • (3 Credits, WRTG 111) or another writing course (3 credits) chosen from the following:
    • All 3-credit WRTG courses (except WRTG 288, WRTG 388, WRTG 486A, or WRTG 486B)
    • (3 Credits, COMM 390)
    • COMM 492
    • (3 Credits, ENGL 102)
    • (3 Credits, JOUR 201)
  • (3 Credits, WRTG 112) 
    • Must be completed with a grade of C- or better within the first 24 credits. May not be earned through Prior Learning (Portfolio or Course Challenge) assessment.
  • A course in communication, writing, or speech (3 credits) chosen from the following:
    • All 3-credit COMM, SPCH, and WRTG courses (except those numbered 486A and 486B)
    • (3 Credits, ENGL 102)
    • (3 Credits, ENGL 281)
    • (3 Credits, JOUR 201)
  • An upper-level advanced writing course (3 credits) chosen from the following:
    • (3 Credits, WRTG 391)
    • (3 Credits, WRTG 393)
    • (3 Credits, WRTG 394)

Mathematics | 3 Credits

Must be completed within the first 24 credits. A prerequisite is required for (3 Credits, MATH 108), (4 Credits, MATH 140), and any higher-numbered MATH or STAT courses. Check individual majors for recommended math courses and related requirements.

One 3-credit course chosen from the following:

  • (3 Credits, MATH 105)
  • (3 Credits, MATH 107)
  • (3 Credits, MATH 115)
  • (4 Credits, MATH 140)
  • (3 Credits, STAT 200)
  • A mathematics course approved by the department

Arts and Humanities | 6 Credits

  • Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following courses and disciplines:
    • Any ARTH, ARTT, ASTD, GRCO, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, literature, or foreign language course
    • Any ENGL course, with the exception of (3 Credits, ENGL 281) and (3 Credits, ENGL 384)

Behavioral and Social Sciences | 6 Credits

  • Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following courses and disciplines:
    • (3 Credits, AASP 201)
    • Any ANTH, ASTD, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, or SOCY course
    • (3 Credits, CCJS 100)
    • (3 Credits, CCJS 105)
    • (3 Credits, CCJS 350)
    • (3 Credits, CCJS 360)
    • (3 Credits, CCJS 461)
    • Any GERO course, with the exception of GERO 342 and GERO 351
    • (3 Credits, WMST 200)

Biological and Physical Sciences | 7 Credits

  • A science lecture course (3 credits) with related laboratory course (1 credit) or a science course combining lecture and laboratory (4 credits)
  • Any other science course (3 credits)

Courses from the following disciplines may satisfy both requirements: ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, NSCI, NUTR, or PHYS. Science courses in other disciplines may also satisfy these requirements.

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