General Education

The University of Florida General Education Program includes approximately 300 undergraduate courses in the program areas of composition, humanities, mathematics, biological science, physical science, and social and behavioral science, with many of these courses also having an international focus.

General Education courses must be general in nature and not focus narrowly on skills, techniques, or procedures specific to a particular occupation or profession. Any prerequisite for a General Education course must themselves be courses in the General Education program. The content of these courses must address the appropriate general education subject area objective, which describes the contest within which the student learning outcomes (SLOs) are achieved, and the course should be designed to permit assessment of the SLOs. The course syllabus must meet the Gen Ed. Syllabus Policy requirements (in addition to the UF Syllabus Policy), and the assignments and assessments should conform to the General Education Policy on Academic Standards of Excellence and the Grade Integrity Policy.

The General Education Committee (GEC) is responsible for reviewing, in accordance with established criteria, all course proposals seeking General Education designations or fulfillment of University Writing requirements. To submit an item to the GEC for review, please fill out the corresponding request here.

Existing Gen Ed. courses are reviewed annually, and new courses undergo rigorous review to ensure adherence to policies established by State Statutes 1007.25 and 1007.55, as well as by the University of Florida.

Apply Incoming Credits to General Education

AP, IB, AICE, and CLEP credit count towards 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.

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. 

¹Majors that feature extensive use of these subject areas may require a student to complete all 6 "Additional Required Gen Ed. Coursework" credits in a particular subject area. See the major's Model Semester Plan for details.

*For additional information regarding the General Education Subject Area Objectives, please see the General Education Subject Area Objectives page.

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. 
• 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').
• The general education program also requires the completion of a 3-credit course with the International (N) designation). Some majors require or recommend specific general education courses. 
• 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. 

General Education Student Learning Outcomes

The General Education Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) describe the knowledge, skills and attitudes that students are expected to acquire while completing a General Education course at the University of Florida. The SLOs fall into three categories: content, communication and critical thinking. Every general education course must address all three SLOs. 

Explore below how these student learning outcomes are applied across general education subject areas.