Gen Ed
at the University of Maryland
General Education at the University of Maryland serves to unite the intellectual and creative goals that we have for our students and define the University of Maryland education.
About the General Education Program and Its Goals:
- Develop the skills necessary to succeed in academic careers and in professional lives by establishing habits and understanding of clear writing, effective speaking and presentation, and critical and analytic reasoning.
- Strengthen knowledge in major areas of study.
- Broaden knowledge of civilizations past and present.
- Establish the ability to thrive both intellectually and materially and to support themselves, their families, and their communities through a broad understanding of the world in which they live and work.
- Define the ethical imperatives necessary to create a just society in their own communities and in the larger world.
>> Download a fillable PDF of the Gen Ed folder
When do you take Gen Ed courses?
Students will take Fundamental Studies, Academic Writing, and Math during their first thirty credits. Many other General Education courses will be completed throughout your academic career. For guidance, please see Finding University of Maryland 4-Year Plans for Academic Majors. Your advisor will be able to assist you with selecting courses.
>> View current Gen Ed course offerings
UMD requires students to complete a minimum of 40 credits of General Education.
The signature program of General Education is Big Question (formerly I-Series courses).
Focus on Big Question and Scholarship in Practice:
I told (the students) whenever there’s a crash, they should all stand up and applaud, and they did. Failure is a great learning experience, so you have to celebrate.”
40
Minimum number of Gen Ed
credits required
credits required
33
Percent of students’ credit towards degree
that are Gen Ed courses
that are Gen Ed courses
1,000
Estimated number of Gen Ed
courses to choose from
courses to choose from