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  • General Education

    The General Education Program (Gen Ed) supports the mission of the University of Florida by providing undergraduate students with common collective knowledge about the world in which they live. The curriculum enables students to think creatively, reason critically, communicate effectively, and make informed decisions that affect all aspects of their lives.

    Through general education courses, students gain fresh perspectives and discover new approaches to intellectual inquiry that promote understanding of both the traditional and the newly discovered. To achieve these outcomes, the general education curriculum encompasses a breadth of knowledge in composition, diversity studies, humanities, international studies, mathematics, biological, physical, and social and behavioral sciences.

    Ultimately, competence in these areas enables students to better understand themselves, their neighbors, other cultures and times, and the principles governing the natural world and the universe; and to participate fully and responsibly as informed citizens in local, national, and global matters. The general education curriculum is organized around eight major subject areas: biological sciences, composition, diversity studies, humanities, international studies, mathematics, physical sciences, and social and behavioral sciences.


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    General Education Program Requirements

    All undergraduate students (except those transferring to UF with an A.A. degree from a Florida public college or an A.A. certificate from a Florida public state university) are required to complete UF's general education requirement to graduate.

    GENERAL EDUCATION SUBJECT AREA State Core Credits UF Core Credits Additional
    UF Gen Ed Credits    		 TOTAL CREDITS
    15 3 18 36
    Credits must be taken from approved list for each area. One required course. Selected from any course approved for the area. ♦ Must be completed with minimum grades of C; no S-U.
    Composition (C) 3
    		3 6
    Mathematics (M) 3
    		3 6 ♦♦
    Humanities (H) 3
    3
    IUF 1000
    What is the Good Life
    12

    Taken from Humanities (H), Biological and Physical Sciences (B/P), and Social and Behavioral Sciences (S).
    24

    A minimum of 6 credits from Humanities (H), Biological and Physical Sciences (B/P), and Social and Behavioral Sciences (S).

    The distribution across these areas may be:
    • 6-6-12
    • 6-12-6
    • 12-6-6
    • 6-9-9
    • 9-6-9
    • 9-9-6
    Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences (B/P) 3
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (S) 3
    International
    (N) ♦♦♦
    Met with any C, H, S, P, B course coded with N.
    One State Core Gen Ed course carries this code.
    3
    In conjunction with another Gen Ed Area.
    Diversity
    (D) ♦♦♦
    Met with any C, H, S, P, B course coded with D.
    Several State Core courses carry this code.
    3
    In conjunction with another Gen Ed Area.
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    ♦ All general education courses are identified by letter in the course descriptions section of this catalog. The subject area letter designations appear at the end of the course description. For example: AMH 2010 United States to 1877 fulfills three credits in the Humanities (H) area.

    The schedule of courses also includes a list of all courses that fulfill each Gen Ed subject area. In addition, course listings in each semester's schedule identify whether a course section satisfies Gen Ed credit (refer to the G.E. column).

    ♦♦ Three credits must be from a general education mathematics course with a prefix of MAC, MAP, MAS, MGF or MHF (a.k.a., 'pure math').

    ♦♦♦ Some C, H, P, B and S general education courses carry the diversity (D) or international (N) designation. The latter can be assigned only to courses with the former designations. The general education program requires the completion of two 3-credit courses, one with the diversity (D) designation and the other with the international (N) designation.

    Important Considerations

    • A minimum grade of C is required for general education credit. Courses intended to satisfy the general education requirement cannot be taken S-U.
    • Some majors require or recommend specific general education courses.
    • Certain classes are approved to count for multiple general education program areas. Students can count a general education course toward one area only except for (D) and (N) credits, which must be earned concurrently with another area. For example, a course designated as HD can count toward both the H and D requirements, but a course designated CH can count only as C or H.
    • Study abroad courses can fulfill international credit, in addition to fulfilling credit in other subject areas. Study abroad must be approved in advance by an academic advisor and the UF International Center.

    Successful completion of these requirements will result in the student learning outcomes listed below.

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    Subject Area Objectives

    Biological Sciences (B)

    Biological science courses provide instruction in the basic concepts, theories and terms of the scientific method in the context of the life sciences. Courses focus on major scientific developments and their impacts on society, science and the environment, and the relevant processes that govern biological systems. Students will formulate empirically-testable hypotheses derived from the study of living things, apply logical reasoning skills through scientific criticism and argument and apply techniques of discovery and critical thinking to evaluate outcomes of experiments.

    Composition (C)

    Composition courses provide instruction in the methods and conventions of standard written English (i.e. grammar, punctuation, usage) and the techniques that produce effective texts. Composition courses are writing intensive, require multiple drafts submitted to the instructor for feedback prior to final submission, and fulfill 6,000 of the university’s 24,000-word writing requirement. Course content must include multiple forms of effective writing, different writing styles, approaches and formats and methods to adapt writing to different audiences, purposes and contexts. Students are expected learn to organize complex arguments in writing using thesis statements, claims and evidence and to analyze writing for errors in logic.

    Diversity (D)

    Diversity courses provide instruction in the values, attitudes and norms that create cultural differences within the United States. These courses encourage students to recognize how social roles and status affect different groups in the United States. Students are expected to analyze and evaluate their own cultural norms and values in relation to those of other cultures and to distinguish opportunities and constraints faced by other persons and groups.

    Humanities (H)

    Humanities courses provide instruction in the history, key themes, principles, terminology and theories or methodologies used within a humanities discipline or the humanities in general. Students will learn to identify and to analyze the key elements, biases and influences that shape thought. These courses emphasize clear and effective analysis and approach issues and problems from multiple perspectives.

    International (N)

    International courses provide instruction in the values, attitudes and norms that constitute the contemporary cultures of countries outside the United States. These courses lead students to understand how geographic location and socioeconomic factors affect these cultures and the lives of citizens in other countries. Through analysis and evaluation of the students’ own cultural norms and values in relation to those held by the citizens of other countries, they will develop a cross-cultural understanding of the rest of the contemporary world.

    Mathematics (M)

    Courses in mathematics provide instruction in computational strategies in fundamental mathematics including at least one of the following: solving equations and inequalities, logic, statistics, algebra, trigonometry, inductive and deductive reasoning. These courses include reasoning in abstract mathematical systems, formulating mathematical models and arguments, using mathematical models to solve problems and applying mathematical concepts effectively to real-world situations.

    Physical Sciences (P)

    Physical science courses provide instruction in the basic concepts, theories and terms of the scientific method in the context of the physical sciences. Courses focus on major scientific developments and their impacts on society, science and the environment and the relevant processes that govern physical systems. Students will formulate empirically-testable hypotheses derived from the study of physical processes, apply logical reasoning skills through scientific criticism and argument, and apply techniques of discovery and critical thinking to evaluate outcomes of experiments.

    Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)

    Social and behavioral science courses provide instruction in the history, key themes, principles, terminology and underlying theories or methodologies used in the social and behavioral sciences. Students will learn to identify, describe and explain social institutions, structures or processes. These courses emphasize the effective application of accepted problem-solving techniques. Students will apply formal and informal qualitative or quantitative analysis to examine the processes and means by which individuals make personal and group decisions, as well as the evaluation of opinions, outcomes or human behavior. Students are expected to assess and analyze ethical perspectives in individual and societal decisions.

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    Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs): Content and Skills

    Content: Students demonstrate competence in the terminology, concepts, theories and methodologies used within the discipline.
    Communication: Students communicate knowledge, ideas and reasoning clearly and effectively in written and oral forms appropriate to the discipline.
    Critical Thinking: Students analyze information carefully and logically from multiple perspectives, using discipline-specific methods, and develop reasoned solutions to problems.
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    State Core General Education Courses

    State Core Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences Courses

    BSC X085 not offered at UF, but may be transferred in from a Florida public institution.
    • AST 1002 Discovering the Universe (P)
    • AST 3018 Astronomy and Astrophysics 1 (P)
    • AST 3019 Astronomy and Astrophysics 2 (P)
    • BOT 2011C Plant Diversity (B)
    • BSC 2005 Biological Sciences (B)
    • BSC 2010 Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (B)
    • CHM 1020 Chemistry for the Liberal Arts (P)
    • CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1 (P)
    • CHM 2046 General Chemistry 2 (P)
    • CHM 2051 Honors General Chemistry 2 (P)
    • CHM 2096 Chemistry for Engineers 2 (P)
    • ESC 1000 Introduction to Earth Science (P)
    • EVR 2001 Introduction to Environmental Science (B or P, also GE-N)
    • PHY 2020 Introduction to Principles of Physics (P)
    • PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus 1 (P)
    • PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus 2 (P)
    • PHY 2053 Physics 1 (P)
    • PHY 2054 Physics 2 (P)
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    State Core Gen Ed Composition Courses

    • ENC 1101 Expository and Argumentative Writing
    • ENC 1102 Argument and Persuasion
    • ENC 2210 Technical Writing
    • ENC 3246 Professional Communication for Engineers
    • ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline
    • ENC 3453 Writing in the Health Professions
    • ENC 3459 Writing in the Medical Sciences
    • ENC 3464 Writing in the Social Sciences
    • ENC 3465 Writing in the Law
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    State Core Gen Ed Mathematics Courses

    All are pure math except for STA 2023.
    • MAC 1105 Basic College Algebra
    • MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra
    • MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry
    • MAC 2233 Survey of Calculus 1
    • MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
    • MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2
    • MGF 1106 Mathematics for Liberal Arts Majors 1
    • MGF 1107 Mathematics for Liberal Arts Majors 2
    • STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1
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    State Core Gen Ed Humanities Courses

    HUM X020 not offered at UF, but may be transferred in from a Florida public institution.
    • ARH 2000 Art Appreciation: American Diversity and Global Arts (also GE-D)
    • LIT 2000 Introduction to Literature
    • MUL 2010 Experiencing Music (also GE-N)
    • PHI 2010 Introduction to Philosophy
    • THE 2000 Theatre Appreciation (also GE-D)
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    State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Courses

    • AMH 2020 United States since 1877 (also GE-D)
    • ANT 2000 General Anthropology
    • ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics
    • POS 2041 American Federal Government
    • PSY 2012 General Psychology
    • SYG 2000 Principles of Sociology
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    Selecting General Education Courses

    Students can take Gen Ed courses at the 1000-4000 levels. First-year students generally take introductory (1000/2000-level) courses. If a student has the academic background and the interest they may take more advanced courses, but he or she should first check the course prerequisites and/or consult an academic advisor.

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    Applying Incoming Credits to General Education

    AP, IB, AICE and CLEP credit count toward completion of the general education program requirements. In general, course equivalencies are derived from the course equivalency charts from the student's year of matriculation at UF.

    Acceptable dual enrollment and other transfer credit will fulfill the general education requirements that the same UF course fulfills if the course is equivalent. Courses from Florida public colleges and State University System schools generally adhere to the Statewide Course Numbering System. If the prefix (first three letters) and the last three digits of the course number are the same, then the course is considered equivalent.

    If the course does not have a common-numbered equivalent at UF (either because UF does not offer the course or because the transferred course was not taken in the state system), then the student's college needs to evaluate the course to determine whether it fulfills a general education requirement.

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