General Education Requirements 

These requirements are applicable to students who begin earning baccalaureate credit as a degree-seeking student at The University of Alabama fall 2025 and after. Students who begin earning baccalaureate credit at The University of Alabama prior to fall 2025 who change their catalog term to fall 2025 or after are also subject to these requirements.

The General Education curriculum is designed to cultivate adaptable, resilient, and engaged citizens prepared to lead in a complex and interconnected world.  This curriculum balances broad academic exploration with opportunities for students to align their education with personal and professional goals.  The framework emphasizes critical thinking, effective communication, and interdisciplinary learning, creating well-rounded scholars equipped for lifelong success.

Foundational Core

First-Year Compass (2-6 credit hours): The First-Year Compass Course sequence provides students with tools for academic success and critical thinking.

• UA 101 (1 credit hour): A foundational course introducing students to the UA community and university-level learning.  Transfer students take UA 201 .
• College-Specific Compass Courses (1-5 credit hours): Discipline-specific courses focusing on success strategies tailored to each student’s college and major field of study.

Written Composition (3-6 credit hours)

• EN 103 (3 credit hours): Advanced English Composition OR
• EN 104 (3 credit hours): Honors English Composition OR
• EN 101 & EN 102/ EN 103 (6 credit hours): Students with a high school GPA below 3.0 will complete a sequence of EN 101 English Composition I and EN 102 English Composition II or EN 103 Advanced English Composition OR
• EN 120 and EN 121 (6 credit hours): Non-native English speakers will complete a sequence of EN 120 English Comp I Multilingual Writers and EN 121 English Comp II Multilingual Writers, which also satisfy the World Language Proficiency requirement of the general education.

World Language Proficiency (0-8 credit hours)

• Complete and pass a two-semester sequence of introductory language courses in a single world language (6-8 semester hours) at UA. Students may also transfer an equivalent sequence from another postsecondary institution, subject to the Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy. In addition to satisfying the world language proficiency requirement, these courses will also count towards the fulfillment of the Humanities/Literature/Fine Arts/World Language general education requirement.
• Complete and pass UA’s written composition sequence for non-native speakers of English - EN 120 and EN 121. Students who complete this sequence will also satisfy the Written Composition requirement of the general education.
• Complete a world language placement exam at UA and score high enough to be placed at the 201-level or above. Students placing into the second part of an introductory language sequence course (102) will satisfy the world language proficiency requirement after successfully completing the 102 course.
• Complete and pass two years of world language in high school as documented on the official high school transcript.
• Meet the criteria to receive a Seal of Biliteracy.
• Complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science at a postsecondary institution that is fully accredited by one of the six agencies listed in the Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy.

History and Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 credit hours)

• 9 credit hours of courses approved for either the History or Social and Behavioral Sciences designation with at least 3 credits from courses approved for the History designation.

Humanities, Literature, Fine Arts, and World Language (9 credit hours)

• 9 credit hours of courses approved for the Humanities, Literature, Fine Arts or World Language designations with at least 3 credits from courses approved for the Literature designation.

Natural Science and Mathematical Science (11 credits hours)

• 8 credits in courses approved for the Natural Science designation.
• 3 credits in courses approved for the Mathematical Science designation.

Upper-Division Core

US and Global Citizenship (3 credit hours)

• 3 credits in courses approved for the US and Global Citizenship designation. The US and Global Citizenship requirement must be satisfied by coursework taken at UA.

Writing (3 credit hours)

• 3 credits in courses approved for the Writing designation. The Writing requirement must be satisfied by coursework taken at UA.

Courses may be approved to carry both the Writing and US and Global Citizenship designations. Completion of 3 credits of coursework approved to carry both designations will satisfy both requirements.

With the exception of the Writing and US and Global Citizenship requirements, general education requirements may be satisfied using coursework completed at another institution or earned through Credit by Examination, provided the equivalent courses awarded have been approved for and currently carry general education designations at The University of Alabama. Per the Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy, transfer courses will be evaluated and equivalencies assigned based on the inventory of course offerings active in the catalog at the time the student’s transcript is received for evaluation. 

Review of general education courses is an ongoing process. New courses may be approved and added to the list of those that meet general education requirements. The general education designations for existing courses may be discontinued. A course carries a general education designation if the course is approved as a general education course at the time the course is taken. Students are responsible for ensuring that the designation is in effect at the time the course is taken, which can be confirmed by reviewing the core curriculum course list on the Office of the University Registrar website. 

Pathways

Pathways are an optional element of the General Education, offering students a way to specialize their coursework around thematic interests.  The following Pathways are currently offered:

• Global Engagement Pathway: Explores global issues and cross-cultural communication.
• Executive Systems & Structures Pathway: Examines the political, cultural, and economic frameworks shaping societies.

All Pathways consist of 9 hours of coursework that have been approved for inclusion in the specified Pathway and fall into the three categories listed below:

• 3 credits in courses approved for the Social & Behavioral Sciences or History designation
• 3 credits in courses approved for the Humanities, Literature, Fine Arts, or World Language designation
• 3 credits outside of the Foundational Core

Courses required for students’ majors, minors, or concentrations can also be used to fulfill Pathway requirements, but courses may not be double counted across multiple Pathways.