General Education Requirements

UWRF General Education Mission Statement

The purpose of UWRF’s Core General Education Requirements is to facilitate the acquisition and integration of knowledge, abilities, and ethics in order to form a foundation for lifelong learning.

The interdisciplinary foundation includes the ability to communicate effectively; to describe the diverse ways of thinking that support the search for knowledge in the social sciences, humanities and/or arts, and diversity studies; to demonstrate knowledge of the principles and methods of mathematics and quantitative reasoning; to demonstrate the knowledge of the principles and methods of quantitative and qualitative scientific and wellness reasoning, including in a laboratory experience; and to make and defend judgments with respect to individual conduct, citizenship, stewardship of the environment, and global perspectives. 


Current General Education Requirements

Requirements: Fall 2026 and beyond

Category One: Communication and Literacy (CL), 9 credits

Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak, and listen effectively.

  • Communication Writing (CL-CW) Choose one: 
    • ENGL 100 or ENGL 101
  • Communication Speaking (CL-CS) Choose one:
    • COMS 101
    • CHIN 101
    • FREN 101
    • GERM 101
    • JAPN 101
    • SPAN 101
  • Communication Advanced (CL-CA) Choose one:
    • ENGL 200 or ENGL 201

Category Two: Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), 6 credits

Students will be able to describe the diverse ways of thinking that support the search for knowledge in the social sciences.

  • Choose two from different disciplinary prefixes:
    • ANTH 100
    • ECON 100
    • ENGL 111
    • PLN 107
    • GEOG 120
    • GEOL 250
    • HIST 100
    • HIST 101
    • HIST 102
    • HIST 222
    • HIST 292
    • POLS 110
    • POLS 114
    • POLS 220
    • PSYC 101
    • SOCI 100
    • TED 250

Category Three: Humanities and Arts (HA), 6 credits

Students will be able to describe the diverse ways of thinking that support the search for knowledge in the humanities and/or arts and diversity studies.

  • Choose two from different disciplinary prefixes
    • Humanities and Arts (HA-HA) Choose one:
      • ART 100
      • ENGL 105
      • ENGL 106
      • ENGL 107
      • ENGL 108
      • ENGL 162
      • ENGL 202
      • ENGL/WGSS 215
      • MUS 100
      • MUS 105
      • MUS 107
      • MUS 234
      • MUS 235
      • MUS 255
      • PHIL 151
      • PHIL 221
      • PHIL 240
      • PHIL 310
      • PHIL 323
      • PHIL 345
      • POLS 230
      • SASA 100
      • SASA 105
      • SASA/FILM 200
    • American Cultural Diversity (HA-ACD) Choose one 
      • ANTH/SOCI 322
      • COMS 213
      • COMS 220
      • CROP 318
      • ECON 312
      • ENGL 203
      • ENGL 208
      • ENGL 252
      • ESM 325
      • GEOG 237
      • GEOG 265
      • HIST 206
      • HIST 207
      • JOUR 315
      • JOUR/WGSS 317
      • MNGT 330
      • MUS 255
      • POLS 212
      • PSYC 385
      • SASA 230
      • SOCI 220
      • TED 252
      • TED 325
      • WGSS 200
      • WGSS 350

Category Four: Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (MQR), 3 credits

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the principles and methods of mathematics and quantitative reasoning.

  • Choose one:
    • MATH 126
    • MATH 136
    • MATH 146
    • MATH 147
    • MATH 149
    • MATH 156
    • MATH 166
    • MATH 216
    • MATH 226
    • MATH 246
    • PSYC 201
    • TED 323

Category Five: Natural Sciences and Wellness (NSW), 6 credits

Students will be able to demonstrate the knowledge of the principles and methods of quantitative and qualitative scientific and wellness reasoning, including in a laboratory experience.

(All students must take at least one NSWL class, but both classes may be taken from the NSWL class list as long as they are taken from two different disciplinary prefixes.)

Category Six: Civics and Perspectives (CP), 6 credits

Students will be able to make and defend judgments with respect to individual conduct, citizenship, stewardship of the environment, and global perspectives.

(Classes must be taken from two different disciplinary prefixes)

  • Ethical Citizenship (CP-EC) Choose one:
    • ANSC 115
    • COMS 219
    • CRIM 130
    • CIDS 120
    • ENGL 205
    • ENGL 228
    • ENGL 230
    • ENGL/FILM 306
    • ENGL 374
    • ESM 105
    • ESM 300
    • ENVN 380
    • FINC 210
    • GENG 225
    • GEOG 220
    • GEOL 269
    • HUM 305
    • JOUR 101
    • MNGT 250
    • PHIL 201
    • PHIL 211
    • PHIL 220
    • PHIL 224
    • PHIL 304
    • PLSC 120
    • SASA 110
    • SMGT 420
    • SOWK 150
    • SUSJ 197
    • TED 326
  • Global Perspectives (CP-GP) Choose one:
    • AGEC 250
    • AGEC 470
    • ANSC 250
    • ANTH 234
    • ART 291
    • BIOL 209
    • BIOL 277
    • BIOL 278
    • BIOL 308
    • CROP 287
    • ECON 329
    • ENGL/WGSS 214
    • ENGL 230
    • ENGL 234
    • ENGL/FILM 306
    • ENGL/FILM 317
    • ESM 218
    • ESM 242
    • ENVN 380
    • GEOG 340
    • GEOG 342
    • GEOG 344
    • HIST 201
    • HIST 202
    • HIST 203
    • HIST 209
    • HIST 211
    • HIST 333
    • HIST 382
    • HIST 393
    • HUM 312
    • INTS 200
    • INTS 365
    • INTS/POLS 371
    • INTS 377
    • JOUR 350
    • MKTG 355
    • MNGT 355
    • MUS 106
    • MUS 222
    • MUS 300
    • PHIL 245
    • POLS 245
    • POLS 260
    • SASA 227
    • SMGT 420
    • SOCI 231
    • SOCI/ANTH 395
    • TED 327
    • WIS 305
Core General Education Requirements: Prior to fall 2026

Current General Education Requirements

For a full description of the goals and objectives including revisions, refer to the Faculty Senate General Education Goals, Criteria and Outcomes. 


Approved Courses

Goal One: Communicate effectively: Students will demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak, and listen effectively.

CW (Communication - Reading and Writing) - select one course:

  • ENGL 100 Academic Reading and Writing (3)
  • ENGL 101 Freshman English for International Students I (3)

CS (Communication - Speaking and Listening) - select one course:

  • CHIN 101 Beginning Chinese I (4)
  • FREN 101 Beginning French I (4)
  • GERM 101 Beginning German I (4)
  • JAPN 101 Beginning Japanese I (4)
  • OJIB 101 Beginning Ojibwe I (4)
  • SPAN 101 Beginning Spanish I (4)
  • MODL 101 Oral Communication (3)
  • COMS 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3)
  • COMS 116 Business and Professional Communication (3)

CA (Advanced Communication) - select one course:

  • ENGL 200 Investigating Ideas: Reading, Writing, & the Disciplines (3)
  • ENGL 201 Freshman English for International Students II (3)

Goal Two: Demonstrate Knowledge of Past and Present Human Endeavor: Describe the diverse ways of thinking that underlie the search for knowledge in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

SB (Social and Behavioral Sciences) - select two courses (Courses taken under both SB and HF designators must be from different disciplinary prefixes):

  • ANTH 100 Introduction to Anthropology (3)
  • ECON 100 Modern Economics (3)
  • ENGL 111 Introduction to Linguistics
  • PLN 107 Planning for a Sustainable Society (3)
  • GEOG 120 Human Geography (3)
  • GEOL 250 Geological Destinies of Nations (g) (3)
  • HIST 100 Defining Themes in U.S. History (3)
  • HIST 101 Origins of Civilization (3)
  • HIST 102 History of the Modern World, 1500-Present (3)
  • HIST 201 Introduction to Asian Civilization (g) (3)
  • HIST 211 History of Japan and Films (g) (3)
  • HIST 222 Love, Sex, and Marriage in the Pre-Modern World (g) (3)
  • HIST 292 History of Agriculture: Origins to 1800 (g) (3)
  • HIST 333 Silk, Spices, and Silver: The Making of the Global Exchange System to 1700 (g) (3)
  • INTS 200 Introduction to International Studies (g) (3)
  • INTS 371/POLS 371 German Politics (g) (3)
  • MNGT 250 Global Business & Society (3)
  • POLS 110 Controversies in Politics (3)
  • POLS 114 American Government and Politics (3)
  • POLS 220 Introduction to Public Opinion and Political Behavior (3)
  • POLS 245 Introduction to Comparative Politics (g) (3)
  • POLS 260 Introduction to International Relations (g) (3)
  • PSYC 101 General Psychology (3)
  • SOCI 100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
  • TED 250 Educational Psychology for Teachers (3)

HF (Humanities and Fine Arts) - select two courses (Courses taken under both SB and HF designators must be from different disciplinary prefixes):

  • ART 100 Introduction to Art (3)
  • ENGL 105 Literature and Human Experience (3)
  • ENGL 106 Topics in Literature (3)
  • ENGL 107 Heroes in Literature (3)
  • ENGL 108 Power, Money and Business in Literature (3)
  • ENGL 162 Introduction to Creative Writing (3)
  • ENGL 202 Literature of Science Fiction (3)
  • ENGL 215/WGST 215 LGBTQ Literature (3)
  • MUS 100 Understanding Music (3)
  • MUS 105 Popular Music (3)
  • MUS 106 Music & Movies (g) (3)
  • MUS 107 Video Game Music (3)
  • MUS 222 Contemporary Music Creators and Concepts (3)
  • MUS 234 Music History and Literature 1 (3)
  • MUS 235 Music History and Literature 2 (3)
  • MUS 255 History of Jazz (d) (3)
  • MUS 300 World Music (g) (3)
  • HUM 312 Arts and Ideas II: The Baroque to the Postmodern (g) (3)
  • PHIL 151 Living Issues in Philosophy (3)
  • PHIL 201 Human Nature, Ethics and the Natural World (3)
  • PHIL 211 Futuristic Visions: Utopias and Dystopias
  • PHIL 221 Ancient Philosophy (3)
  • PHIL 240 Social Ethics (3)
  • PHIL 310 Philosophy and History of Visual Art (3)
  • PHIL 323 Science and the Philosophers of the Age of the Enlightenment (3)
  • PHIL 345 God, Religion and Science (3)
  • POLS 230 Introduction to Political Philosophy and Ideology (3)
  • SASA 100 Dance Appreciation (3)
  • SASA 105 Introduction to Theater and Drama (3)
  • SASA 200/ FILM 200 Introduction to Film Studies (3)

GOAL THREE: APPLY SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES TO THE NATURAL WORLD: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the principles and methods of quantitative and qualitative scientific reasoning.

M (Mathematics) - select one course

  • MATH 126 Activities in Math (3)
  • MATH 136 Quantitative Reasoning (3)
  • MATH 146 College Algebra (3)
  • MATH 147 Algebra and Trigonometry (3)
  • MATH 149 Pre-Calculus (4)   
  • MATH 156 Calculus for Business (3)
  • MATH 166 Calculus for Science and Math (4)
  • MATH 216 Elementary Statistical Concepts (3)
  • MATH 226 Fundamentals of Statistics (3)
  • MATH 246 Math for Elementary Teachers I (4)
  • PSYC 201 Behavioral Statistics (3)
  • TED 323 Content and Techniques of K-3 Mathematics I (3)

SI (Scientific Inquiry) - select two courses (The courses taken under SI must be from different disciplinary prefixes. For example, you cannot take two Biology course, but could take a Biology course and a Chemistry course)

  • BIOL 101 Concepts in Biology (3)
  • BIOL 103 Fundamentals of Biological Evolution (3)
  • BIOL 150 General Biology (3)
  • BIOL 160 General Biology-Freshman Research Focus (3)
  • CHEM 100 Modern Alchemy (3)
  • CHEM 111 / CHEM 116 General Chemistry 1 (5)
  • CHEM 115 Concepts in General Chemistry (4)
  • CHEM 130 Introduction to Organic Chemistry (5)
  • CHEM 210 Chemistry and Society (3)
  • FDSC 110 The Science of Food (3)
  • GEOG 110 Physical Environment: Patterns and Systems (3)
  • GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology (3)
  • GEOL 115 Oceanography (3)
  • NSCI 111 Introduction to Neuroscience (4)
  • PHYS 114 Basic Physics (3)
  • PHYS 117 Astronomy (3)
  • PHYS 121 Algebra-based Physics I (5)
  • PHYS 131 Calculus-Based Physics I (5)
  • PHYS 150 Science and Art (3)
  • PHYS 318 Astrophysics (3)

GOAL FIVE: EVALUATE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO SELF, SOCIETY, AND THE WORLD: Students will make and defend judgments with respect to individual conduct and well being, citizenship, and stewardship of the environment.

HW (Personal Health and Wellness) - select 1 course

  • HEAL 108 Health and Fitness for Life (required) (1)

EC (Ethical Citizenship) - select one course

  • ANSC 115 Animal Welfare (3)
  • CHEM 210 Chemistry and Society (3)
  • COMS 219 Civic Communication (3)
  • CRIM 130 Introduction to Crime, Law, and Society (3)
  • CIDS 120 Technology and Cyberspace: Ethics and Issues (3)
  • ECON 312 Political Economy of Discrimination (d) (3)
  • ENGL 205 Literature of War: Culture and Ethics (3)
  • ENGL 228 Literature of Environmental Justice (d) (3)
  • ENGL 230 International Short Story (g) (3)
  • ENGL 306/ FILM 306 Postcolonial Literature and Film (g) (3)
  • ENGL 374 Cyberliteracy and Writing on the Web (3)
  • ESM 105 Introduction to Environmental Studies (3)
  • ESM 300 Environmental Education (3)
  • FINC 210 Personal Finance (3)
  • GENG 225 Energy for a Sustainable Society (3)
  • GEOG 220 Economic Geography (3)
  • GEOG 265 Mapping and Spatial Justice (d) (3)
  • GEOL 269 Environmental Geology (3)
  • HUM 305  Human-Animal Studies (3)
  • JOUR 101 Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
  • MNGT 250 Global Business and Society (3)
  • PHIL 201 Human Nature, Ethics and the Natural World (3)
  • PHIL 211 Futuristic Visions: Utopias and Dystopias
  • PHIL 220 Bioethics (3)
  • PHIL 224 Existentialism (3)
  • PHIL 304 Business Ethics (3)
  • PLSC 120 Plants and Society (3)
  • POLS 114 American Government and Politics (3)
  • POLS 230 Introduction to Political Philosophy and Ideology (3)
  • SASA 110 Sustainability from the Perspective of the Arts (3)
  • SMGT 420 The Built Environment and Sustainability (3)
  • SOWK 150 Introduction to Social Work (3)
  • SUSJ 197 Sustainable Justice Foundations (3)
  • TED 326 Place-Based Science for Early Childhood Educators (3)
University Requirements: Prior to fall 2026

These two University Undergraduate Requirements (ACD and GP) are part of the larger General Education and University Requirements (GEUR) Program.  The General Education portion of the GEUR program includes the requirements for Communicating Effectively; Demonstrating Knowledge of Past and Present Human Behavior; Applying Scientific Principles to the Natural World; and Evaluating Individual Responsibility to Self, Society, and the World.  A list of approved General Education courses can be found on the General Education Requirements website. Note that, in general, GEUR courses can count wherever they have been approved, which means that some courses may satisfy more than one graduation requirement.

ACD (American Cultural Diversity) - select one course

  • ANTH 322/ SOCI 322 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (3)
  • COMS 213 Intercultural Communication (3)
  • COMS 220 Communication and Anti-Racism (3)
  • CROP 318 Migrant Farmworkers in America (3)
  • ECON 312 Political Economy of Diversity (3)
  • ENGL 203 Literature of the African American Experience (3)
  • ENGL 208 Literature of the Native American Experience (3)
  • ENGL 228 Literature of Environmental Justice (3)
  • ENGL 252 Multicultural Education: Language, Literature, Media, and Philosophy (3)
  • GEOG 237 Poverty in the United States (3)
  • GEOG 265 Mapping and Spatial Justice (3)
  • HIST 206 Native American and the United States (3)
  • HIST 207 African American History (3)
  • JOUR 315 Race, Class and News (3)
  • JOUR 317/ WGSS 317 Queer Media (3)
  • MNGT 330 Managing Workplace Diversity (3)
  • MUS 255 History of Jazz (3)
  • PLN 325 Planning for Public Lands and Open Space. 
  • POLS 212 The Politics of Equality and Inequality in the United States (3)
  • PSYC 385 Psychology of Prejudice and Racism (3)
  • SASA 230 Playwrights of Color (3)
  • SOCI 220 Sociology of Diversity (3)
  • TED 252 Foundations of Multicultural Education (3)
  • TED 325 Diversity in Early Childhood (3)
  • WGSS 200 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (3)
  • WGSS 350 Introduction to LGBTQ+: Genders and Sexualities (3)

GP (Global Perspectives) - select one course

  • AGEC 250 World Food and Population (3)
  • AGEC 470 Agribusiness International Study (3)
  • ANSC 250 Animal Care and Use: A Global Perspective (3)
  • ANTH 234 Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion (3)
  • ART 291 Asian Art History (3)
  • BIOL 209 Global Issues of Cancer (3)
  • BIOL 277 Taiwan Biomed Study Abroad (3)
  • BIOL 278 Costa Rica Education Abroad (3)
  • BIOL 308 HIV/AIDS: Science and Society (3)
  • CROP 287 Tropical Agriculture, Culture, and Environment (3)
  • ECON 329 Global Topics in African, Asian, and Latin American Econ Dev (3)
  • ECON 340 Contemporary International Trade (3)
  • ENGL 214/ WGST 214 Women's Literature (3)
  • ENGL 230 International Short Fiction (3)
  • ENGL 234 Modern Novels (3)
  • ENGL 306/ FILM 306 Postcolonial Film and Literature (3)
  • ENGL/ FILM 317 Modern East Asian Literature and Cinema (3)
  • ESM 242 Tropical Restoration Experience (3)
  • GEOG 340 Europe (3)
  • GEOG 342 Latin America (3)
  • GEOG 344 Asia and Oceania (3)
  • GEOL 250 Geological Destinies of Nations (3)
  • HIST 201 Intro to Asian Civilization (3)
  • HIST 202 Introduction to Latin American Civilizations (3)
  • HIST 203 The Mediterranean: A Survey (3)
  • HIST 209 Introduction to African History (3)
  • HIST 211 History of Japan and Films (3)
  • HIST 222 Love, Sex, and Marriage in the Pre-Modern World (3)
  • HIST 333 Silk, Spices, and Silver (3)
  • HIST 382 Culture and Civilization of Italy (3)
  • HIST 292 History of Agriculture: Origins to 1800 (3)
  • HIST 393 War and Society (3)
  • HUM 312 Arts and Ideas II: The Baroque to the Postmodern (3)
  • INTS 200 Introduction to International Studies(3)
  • INTS 365 Contemporary Europe (3)
  • INTS 371/ POLS 371 The Politics of German-speaking Europe (3)
  • INTS 377 Semester Abroad: Europe (6)
  • JOUR 350 Mass Communication in the Global Age (3)
  • MKTG 355 International Marketing (3)
  • MNGT 355 International Business (3)
  • MUS 222 Contemporary Music Creators and Concepts (3)
  • MUS 106 Music and Movies (3)
  • MUS 300 World Music (3)
  • PHIL 245 Eastern Religions and Islam (3)
  • PLN 218 International Experience in Resilience Planning (3)
  • POLS 245 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
  • POLS 260 Introduction to International Relations (3)
  • SASA 227 World Puppetry (3)
  • SMGT 420 The Built Environment and Sustainability (3)
  • SOCI 231 Sociology of Globalization (3)
  • SOCI 395/ ANTH 395 Belize Study Tour (3)
  • TED 327 Australia: An Integrated Cultural Study (3)
  • WIS 305 Scotland: Society and Globalization (3)