General Education is an independent program of study that serves as the intellectual foundation for Associates and Bachelor’s degrees. General Education provides students with cross-disciplinary coursework that helps develop critical thinking, analytical and ethical skills, and the broad-based academic knowledge necessary for an adaptable 21st century workforce and an educated citizenry. Students transferring to Utah State University should see the General Education Requirements for Transfer Students section. All Utah State University students must complete the following (or approved equivalents):
Learning outcomes for core requirements address foundational competencies to promote student success across the curriculum and prepare students for subsequent coursework. Specifically, students should be able to communicate effectively (both writing and speaking) and utilize quantitative methods of analysis.
Or one of the following test scores:
Please refer to the Credit by Exam tables on the Registrar’s Office website for transfer exam scores that may potentially fulfill general education requirements.
Or ACT Math Score of 26 or higher | SAT Math score equivalent . Or one Mathematics or Statistics course requiring MATH 1050 as a prerequisite.
Please refer to the Credit by Exam tables on the Registrar’s Office website for transfer exam scores that may potentially fulfill general education requirements.
Please refer to the Credit by Exam tables on the Registrar’s Office website for transfer exam scores that may potentially fulfill general education requirements.
General Education requires students to complete courses within five different breadth areas in order to cultivate the exposure to a range of subjects, analytical skills, and to develop the intellectual agility required to navigate a variety of perspectives and participate effectively in professional life and a diverse democracy.
Students must take a minimum of 15 total credits, including at least one course from each of the five categories shown below.
Click here to see exceptions to the Breadth Requirements.
One of the following Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) courses:
Please refer to the Credit by Exam tables on the Registrar’s Office website for transfer exam scores that may potentially fulfill general education requirements.
One of the following Breadth Humanities (BHU) courses:
Please refer to the Credit by Exam tables on the Registrar’s Office website for transfer exam scores that may potentially fulfill general education requirements.
One of the following courses:
Please refer to the Credit by Exam tables on the Registrar’s Office website for transfer exam scores that may potentially fulfill general education requirements.
One of the following courses:
Please refer to the Credit by Exam tables on the Registrar’s Office website for transfer exam scores that may potentially fulfill general education requirements.
One of the following courses:
Please refer to the Credit by Exam tables on the Registrar’s Office website for transfer exam scores that may potentially fulfill general education requirements.
Choose an additional class from one of the following General Education or Depth Education categories: QL, BAI, BCA, BHU, BLS, BPS, BSS, CI, QI, DHA, DSC, or DSS.
Note: Students may use an additional Quantitative Literacy (QL) course to satisfy the Integrated Studies Requirement only if they received college credits for the QL requirement. Students who had the QL requirement waived as a result of an ACT Math or SAT Math score do not receive any college credit for those exams. Therefore, these students may not take an additional QL course to satisfy the Integrated Studies Requirement unless they first earn QL credits through coursework or examination.
Note: The Integrated Studies Requirement is required only for students whose first semester enrolled at USU is Summer Semester 2008 or thereafter.
All courses approved for the General Education requirements are clearly designated in this catalog. The designations used for General Education courses are as follows:
Core CoursesSee page for more information.
Exceptions may be made for transfer students or students who have earned credit (prior to attending USU) through Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), Dantes Standardized Subject Tests (DSST), or concurrent enrollment.
Exceptions may be made to satisfy the breadth requirement within a major’s categorization. For example, in order to accommodate students within majors or minors not offering an approved Breadth course, an advisor may request a substitution of a higher-numbered course (i.e., a higher numbered Physics class might be used to satisfy the Physical Sciences requirement for an Engineering major). In order to accommodate students within majors or minors offering an approved Breadth course, but for which a student is required to take a significant amount of coursework within the subject matter that does not include the approved Breadth course, an advisor may request a substitution of a higher-numbered course (i.e., a higher-numbered Music class might be used to satisfy the Creative Arts requirement for a Music major).
Recording Exceptions: When exceptions are granted, it is the advisor’s responsibility to work with the Registrar’s Office to have the exception or substitution recorded within the degree audit program.