Overview
Every student seeking an associate or bachelor's degree at Utah State University completes the general education curriculum. The Center for Civic Excellence coordinates these courses to help you build practical, durable skills for your major and your career. Explore this section to understand graduation requirements and learn how prior credits transfer.
General Education at USU
At Utah State University, general education is a formal academic program of study consisting of a 27-credit General Education Certificate required for all degree-seeking students.
It provides you with cross-disciplinary coursework designed to help you develop critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and ethical skills. These courses deliver the broad-based academic knowledge necessary for an adaptable workforce and an educated citizenry.
Students fulfill their 27 required credits by selecting courses across the following categories:
Core
- Communication Literacy (CL - 6 credits)
- Quantitative Literacy (QL - 3 credits)
- American Institutions (BAI - 3 credits
Breadth
- Life Science (BLS - 3 credits)
- Physical Science (BPS - 3 credits)
- Social Science (BSS - 3 credits)
- Creative Arts (BCA - 3 credits)
- Humanities (BHU - 3 credits)
When completed in full, the certificate transfers across Utah System of Higher Education institutions (as do all individual CIVC classes). This certificate provides the academic foundation for every undergraduate degree at USU.
Civic Center (CIVC) Courses
The Center for Civic Excellence is proud to offer 23 new purpose-built courses to help you fulfill these general education requirements in a more meaningful and comprehensive manner.
Explore the CIVC course list to help plan your schedule.
Major Exploration
CIVC courses are a great way to get exposure to a wide range of disciplines if you are still deciding on your major. Because general education courses are interdisciplinary, they expose you to multiple fields of study early in your academic career. If a particular topic or approach appeals to you, your academic advisor can help you transition those general education credits directly into an associated major or minor degree program.
To discuss degree options or declare a major, connect with your academic advisor.
Transferring Your Credits
Transferring Within Utah (USHE Institutions)
All CIVC-prefix general education courses taught at USU transfer automatically and seamlessly to fulfill general education requirements at every other Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institution.
Similarly, general education courses you take at other USHE institutions, or credits you complete through approved external means like AP, ACT, SAT, or IB exams, will automatically articulate to fulfill your general education requirements at USU.
If you are completing courses with USHE general education designations, you are held harmless in transfer and will not lose your general education credits. However, you must always confirm with your transfer institution how your earned general education credits will apply to specific majors and prerequisites.
Transferring Outside of Utah
If you transfer to an institution outside of the USHE system, your course articulation is not governed by a single statewide framework. Instead, your course equivalencies will be determined individually by each receiving institution.