Mar 19, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

General Education


General education is the core of undergraduate education. It is general in that it provides students with comprehensive educational experience and prepares them for study within their major. General Education teaches students to think critically and communicate effectively; it provides an introduction to the methodologies and practices of the academic disciplines; it promotes intellectual curiosity and a love of learning. General education is the heart of an EMU education and a source of institutional pride.

General Education Program 

W. John Koolage, Ph.D. | Interim Director | 101 Boone Hall | 734.487.0439 | generaleducation@emich.edu

Curriculum Categories


For category information and course lists, please see the links below. General Education Worksheet  is also available for download.

General Education Requirements

Effective Communication  

Quantitative Reasoning  

Knowledge of the Disciplines  

General Education Application Requirements

Perspectives on a Diverse World  

Learning Beyond the Classroom  

Writing Intensive (see Major )

Additional Information


  • Upon a student’s initial enrollment at EMU, the University Advising and Career Development Center (200 McKenny Hall, 734.487.0400 has the authority to exercise professional judgment when accepting transfer courses for the General Education Program. Credits earned through the Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and the military are treated as transfer credit, and the scores/credits are evaluated by the following departments:
    • AP - Office of Records & Registration, 303 Pierce Hall, 734.487.4111
    • CLEP - University Advising and Career Development Center, 200 McKenny Hall, 734.487.0400
    • IB - Office of Records & Registration, 303 Pierce Hall, 734.487.4111
    • Military credit - Veterans Services, 734.487.3119
  • After their initial enrollment at EMU, students who wish to receive General Education approval to take, at another institution, courses not accepted as direct (course-to-course) equivalencies to the General Education Program, must receive prior approval from the General Education Director 734.487.0439.
  • Upon receipt of an official DD214 (honorable discharge), the General Education Program recognizes a student’s military service by
    • Only requiring completion of the Global Awareness (GEGA) or U.S. Diversity (GEUS) requirement, not both.
    • Waiving the student’s Learning Beyond the Classroom requirement
  • Waivers and substitutions for courses taken at EMU and not approved for the General Education Program can only be granted by the General Education Director (734.487.0439) and cannot be approved for General Education credit by academic departments.

General Education Transfer Guidelines

The Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) satisfies EMU’s General Education Core Requirements. Transfer students with an MTA endorsement on their transcript will only need to complete the General Education Application Requirements:

  1. Perspectives on a Diverse World - Demonstrate the application of learning in either global awareness or U.S. Diversity by completing one course, which may be transferred in as a part of the MTA
  2. Learning Beyond the Classroom - Demonstrate the application of classroom knowledge and obtain hands-on experience in settings outside of the classroom, which must be completed while at EMU
  3. Writing Intensive - Demonstrate the application of written communication skills within the major, which must be completed with an EMU approved Writing Intensive course.

*MTA may be completed after initial enrollment at EMU

For transfer students without the MTA endorsement, transfer courses completed before admission to EMU will be applied to General Education Core requirements if they meet the spirit of the requirement.