Degree Requirements

Understanding the Components of Your Degree

Earning a bachelor's degree at FGCU involves more than completing courses within your major. Every undergraduate degree is built around several academic components that work together to provide a well-rounded educational experience. Understanding these requirements can help you make informed decisions, track your progress, and plan effectively for graduation.

The Four Components of an FGCU Bachelor's Degree

Most FGCU bachelor's degrees consist of four primary components:

1. General Education Requirements
2. University and State Requirements
3. Major Requirements
4. Electives

While the specific courses required will vary by major, these components form the foundation of every undergraduate degree program.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses provide a broad academic foundation that help students develop essential skills in communication, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and problem solving. Students who enter FGCU without an associate degree complete course work in the following five areas:

• Communication
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Natural Sciences
• Mathematics

Some general education courses may also satisfy requirements within your major. Your academic advisor can help you determine which courses apply to your degree program.

University and State Requirements

In addition to major and general education coursework, all students must satisfy university and state graduation requirements. Depending on your educational background and transfer credits, these requirements may include:

• Service Learning
• Sustainability Course Graduation Requirement (SCGR)
• Civic Literacy
• College-Level Writing Skills (CLWS)
• Residency and Upper-Level Coursework Requirements
• Summer Enrollment Requirement
• Foreign Language Requirement

Some students, particularly those entering with a Florida Associate in Arts (AA) degree, may have already completed certain requirements prior to enrolling at FGCU.

Major Requirements

Major requirements are the courses that provide specialized knowledge and skills within your chosen field of study. These requirements generally include:

• Common Prerequisites - Foundational courses that prepare students for upper-level study within an academic discipline.
• Required Courses in the Major - Core courses that provide the knowledge and skills necessary for successful completion of the degree program.
• Restricted Electives - Courses selected from an approved list of options that allow students to pursue specific interests within the major.
• Major-Specific Graduation Requirements - Additional requirements established by the program that must be completed before graduation.

Many majors require students to earn minimum grades in specific courses before progressing further in the program.

For the most accurate and up-to-date requirements, students should consult their Academic Catalog and Degree Works audit.

Additional Electives

Additional electives allow students additional flexibility within their degree program. Depending on the major, students may have opportunities to:

• Explore areas of interest outside their major
• Complete a minor
• Prepare for graduate or professional school
• Strengthen skills in specific subject areas
• Earn a digital badge

Some majors require very few additional elective credits to reach the minimum 120 credits required for a bachelor's degree, while others provide significant flexibility in course selection.

Planning for Graduation

Understanding your degree requirements is only the first step. FGCU provides several tools to help you track your progress and plan your academic pathway:

• Degree Works for monitoring degree progress
• Academic Catalog for official degree requirements
• Degree Maps for recommended course sequencing (located in the academic catalog)
• Academic Advisors for personalized guidance and planning

Meeting regularly with your advisor and reviewing these resources can help ensure you stay on track toward graduation.