The General Education Program supports the Florida Gulf Coast University mission and guiding principles by promoting academic excellence, preparing students for their majors, and cultivating habits of lifelong learning. The FGCU General Education curriculum assists students in developing fundamental skills in quantitative reasoning, written communication, oral communication, and critical thinking.

In accordance with Florida statutes, FGCU students complete 36 credit hours of General Education coursework within the subject areas of communication, mathematics, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Approved courses for each area are listed below. Where applicable, courses taken to meet state common prerequisites for a program may also be used to fulfill general education requirements. All first-time-in-college students are expected to take ENC 1101 (Composition I) during their first semester at FGCU.

In compliance with State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.024, a transfer student who has successfully completed the general education requirements for any public university or community college in Florida prior to enrolling as a degree-seeking student at FGCU, and has this completion noted on his/her official transcript, shall be considered to have satisfied the General Education requirement. All other transfer students are expected to complete the FGCU General Education Program. Transfer students' transcripts will be evaluated to determine course equivalencies and fulfillment of FGCU general education requirements.

All courses listed are approved for meeting General Education Program requirements at FGCU. Courses marked with (W) can be used to satisfy a portion of the Gordon Rule writing requirement, and the mathematics courses can be used to satisfy a portion of the Gordon Rule computation requirement (State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.030). A grade of C or higher is required for all Gordon Rule coursework.

Communication Subject Area (6 hours)
Each student must complete a two-semester sequence (ENC 1101-1102) in English composition. The sequence develops students' communication skills in written formats; this includes reading critically as well as writing clearly in a variety of styles. Students may satisfy all or part of this requirement with approved IB, ACIE, CLEP or AP English credit scores. CAPP attribute: GECO.

• ENC 1101 Composition I (W) (3)
• ENC 1102 Composition II (W) (3)

Mathematics Subject Area (6 hours)
Mathematics and statistics courses give students competence in quantitative methods and an understanding of how those methods are used to describe and analyze the natural world. These courses also give students exposure to the theories and practice of mathematics, and to the unique nature of mathematical knowledge. They will have a practical component, giving students the opportunity to apply mathematical and statistical methods to "real-world" problems. All students must successfully complete either STA 2023 (Statistical Methods) or STA 2037 (Statistics with Calculus), and an additional 3 credit hours of approved coursework at the level of college algebra or higher. CAPP attributes: GEMA, GEST.

    One of the following courses:

• STA 2023 Statistical Methods (3)
• STA 2037 Statistics with Calculus (3)

    Plus one of the following courses:

• MAC 1105 College Algebra (3)
• MAC 1147 Precalculus (4)
• MAC 2157 Analytic Geometry with Trigonometry (3)
• MAC 2233 Elementary Calculus (3)
• MAC 2311 Calculus I (4)
• MAC 2312 Calculus II (4)
• MAC 2313 Calculus III (4)
• MGF 1106 Finite Mathematics (3)
• MGF 1107 General Mathematics (3)
• STA 2122 Social Science Statistics (3)

Humanities Subject Area (9 hours)
Students are required to complete HUM 2510 (Understanding Visual & Performing Arts), plus 6 additional semester hours of humanities coursework, which may include literature, philosophy, religion, and the fine arts. Humanities courses provide students the opportunity to study the aesthetic dimension of human experience and to learn how people have given creative interpretations to events from differing perspectives. Students will learn the methods, suppositions, and theories of the chosen areas of study. CAPP attribute: GEHM.

    The following course:

• HUM 2510 Understanding Visual & Performing Arts (3)

    Plus any two of the following courses:

• AML 2010 Literature & Culture of the US I (3)
• AML 2020 Literature & Culture of the US II (3)
• ARH 2050 History of the Visual Arts I (3)
• ARH 2051 History of the Visual Arts II (3)
• ARH 2500 Survey of Non-Western Art (3)
• CRW 2001 Introduction to Creative Writing (W) (3)
• ENC 2160 Introduction to Nature Writing (W) (3)
• ENL 2012 British Literature & Culture I (3)
• ENL 2022 British Literature & Culture II (3)
• HUM 1931 First Year Humanities Seminar (3)
• HUM 2395 Environmental Humanities (3)
• HUM 2930 Intro to Humanities (3)
• IDH 2931 Honors Humanities Seminar (W) (3)
• LIT 2000 Intro to Literature (W) (3)
• LIT 2110 World Literature & Culture I (3)
• LIT 2120 World Literature & Culture II (3)
• MMC 2604 Journalism & Society (3)
• MUH 2110 Masterworks of Music (3)
• MUL 2110 Intro to Music Literature (3)
• PHI 2000 Intro to Philosophy (W) (3)
• PHI 2016 Philosophy through Film (3)
• REL 2306 Contemporary World Religions (3)
• SPC 1017 Fundamentals of Communication (3)
• SPT 2721 Latino Culture & Society (3)
• THE 2020 Intro to Theatre (3)
• THE 2300 Survey of Dramatic Literature (3)

Social Sciences Subject Area (6-9 hours)
Students must successfully complete 6 to 9 semester hours of approved coursework in the social science disciplines. Social sciences courses include the disciplines of history, economics, anthropology, sociology, area studies, geography, political science, and psychology. Students will gain an understanding of historical and socio-cultural perspectives and a sense of the evolution of societies and the various modes of interaction among peoples of the world. Coursework completed in the Social Sciences and Natural Sciences areas must total 15 semester hours. CAPP attribute: GESO.

    Two to three of the following courses:

• AFA 2000 Intro to African & Diaspora Studies (W) (3)
• AFS 2250 Culture & Society in Africa (3)
• AMH 2010 US History to 1877 (W) (3)
• AMH 2020 US History since 1877 (W) (3)
• ANT 2000 Intro to Anthropology (3)
• ANT 2100 Intro to Archaeology (3)
• ANT 2211 Peoples of the World (W) (3)
• ANT 2410 Cultural Anthropology (3)
• ASN 2005 Intro to Asian Studies (3)
• ASN 2010 Civ of Asia: China & Japan (3)
• ASN 2011 Civ of Asia: South Asia (3)
• DEP 2004 Principles of Development (3)
• ECO 1000 Survey of Economics (3)
• ECO 2013 Principles of Macro Economics (3)
• ECO 2023 Principles of Micro Economics (3)
• EUH 1000 The Western Tradition, Part I (3)
• EUH 1001 The Western Tradition, Part II (3)
• EUH 2011 Ancient European History (3)
• EUH 2021 Medieval European History (3)
• EUH 2031 Modern European History (3)
• GEA 2000 Introduction to Geography (3)
• HSC 2106 Choosing Wellness (3)
• IDS 1356 Applied Critical Thinking (3)
• INR 2005 Peace & Conflict in the Public Sphere (3)
• INR 2015 Global Studies (3)
• ISS 2011 Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (3)
• ISS 2200 Intro to International Studies (3)
• LAS 2000 Intro to Latin American Studies (W) (3)
• MAN 2062 Ethical Issues (3)
• POS 2041 American National Government (3)
• POS 2112 State & Local Government & Politics (3)
• PSY 2012 General Psychology (3)
• SOP 2770 Introduction to Human Sexuality (3)
• SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology (3)
• SYG 2010 Social Problems (3)
• SYG 2012 Comp Sociology-Global Issues (3)
• SYG 2220 Intro to Gender Studies (3)
• SYG 2231 Intro to African-American Studies (3)
• SYG 2250 Multicultural Issues (3)
• SYG 2442 Sociology of Sport (3)
• WOH 1023 World Civ 1500 -1815 (W) (3)
• WOH 1030 World Civ since 1815 (W) (3)

Natural Sciences (6-9 hours)
Students must successfully complete a minimum of two courses, totaling 6 to 9 semester hours, of approved coursework in the natural sciences that include biology, chemistry, geology, environmental studies, marine science, and physics. At least one course must include a laboratory or field component; courses meeting this requirement contain "C" or "L" in their course numbers. Courses will give students experience in the theories, principles, and practices of the natural sciences and will address the relationship of science with the modern world. Coursework completed in the Social Sciences and Natural Sciences areas must total 15 semester hours. CAPP attributes: GENA, GENL, GENC.

    Two to three of the following courses:

• ANT 2511 Physical Anthropology (3)
• AST 2002C Intro to Space Science (3)
• AST 2004C Stellar Astronomy (4)
• AST 2005C Intro to Astrobiology (3)
• AST 2100C Solar System Astronomy (4)
• BSC 1005 Biological Science (3)
• BSC 1005L Biological Science Lab (1)
• BSC 1010 General Biology I (3)
• BSC 1010L General Biology I Lab (1)
• BSC 1010C General Biology w/Lab I (4)
• BSC 1011 General Biology II (3)
• BSC 1011L General Biology II Lab (1)
• BSC 1011C General Biology w/Lab II (4)
• BSC 1020C Human Systems (3)
• BSC 1051C Environmental Biology-SW Florida (3)
• BSC 1085C Human Anatomy & Physiology w/Lab I (4)
• BSC 1086C Human Anatomy & Physiology w/Lab II (4)
• BSC 2024C Human Species (3)
• BSC 2026 Biology of Human Sexuality (3)
• BSC 2300C Biological Systems I (4)
• CHM 1045 General Chemistry I (3)
• CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
• CHM 1045C General Chemistry I w/Lab (4)
• CHM 1046 General Chemistry II (3)
• CHM 1046L General Chemistry II Lab (1)
• CHM 1046C General Chemistry w/Lab II (4)
• CHM 1084C Environmental Chemistry (4)
• CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3)
• CHM 2210L Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
• CHM 2210C Organic Chemistry w/Lab I (4)
• CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3)
• CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
• CHM 2211C Organic Chemistry w/Lab II (4)
• EVR 1001C Intro to Environmental Science (3)
• EVR 2264 Environmental Health (3)
• GLY 1000C Physical & Historical Geology (4)
• GLY 2030 Environmental Geology (3)
• ISC 1002C Systems of Physical Science (3)
• ISC 2930 Selected Topics in Interdisciplinary Science (3)
• MCB 2010C Microbiology w/Lab (4)
• OCE 1001C Marine Systems (3)
• PCB 2336 Human Genetics (3)
• PHY 2020 Conceptual Physics (3)
• PHY 2048C General Physics w/Lab I (4)
• PHY 2049C General Physics w/Lab II (4)
• PHY 2053C College Physics w/Lab I (4)
• PHY 2054C College Physics w/Lab II (4)