General Education
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):
General Education Requirements (27 credits)
USU’s General Education program consists of two sets of requirements: Core and Breadth.
Core Requirements (12 credits)
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.
Communications Literacy (CL1) (3 credits)
One of the following Communications Literacy (CL1) courses:
Or one of the following test scores:
ACT English Test: Score of 29 or higher
RSAT Evidenced -Based Reading and Writing Test (if taken after March 2016): Score of 640 or higher
SAT Critical Reading Test (if taken before March 2016): Score of 640 or higher
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.
https://www.usu.edu/registrar/transfer/credit-by-exam
Communications Literacy (CL2) (3 credits)
One of the following Communications Literacy (CL2) courses:
Quantitative Literacy (QL) (3 credits)
One of the following Quantitative Literacy (QL) courses:
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. https://www.usu.edu/registrar/transfer/credit-by-exam
Breadth American Institutions (BAI) (3 credits)
One of the following Breadth American Institutions (BAI) 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. https://www.usu.edu/registrar/transfer/credit-by-exam
Breadth Requirements (15 credits)​
​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.
Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) (3 credits)
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. https://www.usu.edu/registrar/transfer/credit-by-exam
Breadth Humanities (BHU) (3 credits)
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. https://www.usu.edu/registrar/transfer/credit-by-exam
Breadth Life Sciences (BLS) (3 credits)
One of the following Breadth Life Sciences (BLS) 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. https://www.usu.edu/registrar/transfer/credit-by-exam
Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS) (3 credits)
One of the following Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS) 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. https://www.usu.edu/registrar/transfer/credit-by-exam
Breadth Social Sciences (BSS) (3 credits)
One of the following Breadth Social Sciences (BSS) 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. https://www.usu.edu/registrar/transfer/credit-by-exam
Designation of Courses that Satisfy General Education Requirements
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 Courses
Communication Literacy, CL1 and CL2
Quantitative Literacy, QL
American Institutions, BAI
Breadth Courses
Creative Arts, BCA
Humanities, BHU
Life Sciences, BLS
Physical Sciences, BPS
Social Sciences, BSS
General Education Requirements for Transfer Students
See Transfer Credit page for more information.
Exceptions to General Education Breadth Requirements
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 Office of the Registrar to have the exception or substitution recorded within the degree audit program.
