General Education Curriculum

The General Education Curriculum educates students to engage in active intellectual inquiry by developing analytical skills, communication skills, and diverse perspectives.

Across a range of disciplines, students acquire enhanced analytic skills in quantitative and scientific reasoning and critical and creative thinking, along with a global and cross-cultural perspective, local/civic engagement, and effective communication skills.

University Requirements

Students across the University must complete the following requirements:

  • One course in mathematics or statistics—quantitative reasoning
  • One course in natural and/or physical laboratory sciences—scientific reasoning
  • Two courses in social sciences—quantitative, scientific, critical, or creative thinking
  • One course in humanities—critical or creative thinking
  • UW 1020
  • Two writing intensive courses, or Writing in the Disciplines (WID), after successful completion of UW 1020

CCAS College Specific Requirements

Students in CCAS must complete additional requirements:

  • One course in art (visual, performing, critical, or historical practices)—critical or creative thinking
  • One additional course in natural and/or physical laboratory sciences—scientific reasoning
  • One additional course in humanities
  • One course that includes a global or cross-cultural perspective
  • One course that includes local/civic engagement
  • One Oral Communication course

General Curriculum Policies

  • Students admitted to GW in the Fall 2011 or later follow the G-PAC curriculum
  • Courses taken to fulfill any of the general education requirements, except UW 1020, may also be counted toward the major
  • Credit by examination (AP, IB) and pre-matriculation transfer credit can count toward G-PAC if approved as a G-PAC equivalent course
  • Once a student has matriculated, all remaining G-PAC courses must be done in residence (study abroad taken during the fall and spring semesters is considered in residence)
  • Courses taken prior to the semester they were approved for G-PAC do not count towards G-PAC