General Education Program

GEP Category Requirements

The NC State General Education Program (GEP) for undergraduates at NC State was approved by the Provost on February 1, 2008 to be effective beginning Summer II, 2009.

Additional changes were considered, approved, and implemented effective Fall 2023, reflecting internal CUE discussion, and again effective Fall 2025, reflecting a UNC System requirement and CUE implementation discussion.

Mission Statement

The mission of general education is to provide students the opportunity to experience varied and integrative disciplinary perspectives. General education enhances students’ intellectual engagement in their majors, prepares them for the changing demands of professional careers, equips them for a lifetime of learning, and lays the foundation for involvement in their communities as responsible citizens and leaders.

General Education Program Rationale

General Education at NC State provides the opportunity for a broad and informed understanding of the world, offering our students the foundation for rich and productive lives.  General education is valuable for students because logical and creative thinking are fundamental to improving the human condition; because a respect for the value of broad pespectives and an understanding of human history and cultures are essential to true citizenship; because the development of global knowledge has become increasingly important in response to international interdependence; because knowledge of science and the ability to apply scientific reasoning provide the basis for an appreciation of the workings of the universe and the richness, variety, and ecological interconnectedness of the world around us; because well-considered moral, philosophical, aesthetic, and intellectual convictions are necessary for contributing to human thought and achievement; because effective communication is central to productive engagement in academic, professional, and civic communities; because an ability to understand and evaluate the interaction among science, technology, and society is important in a world that is changing through technological innovation and scientific discovery; and because the development of attitudes and skills for a healthy life is essential to social, mental, and physical well-being.

GEP Special Topics Course offering forms Note

General Education Program

AGI Core Requirements

While the AAS program is designed as a stand-alone degree, its general education courses are transferable to a baccalaureate program.  Required courses in the core areas of humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural science/mathematics are all included on NC State’s approved baccalaureate-level GEP course list.  The GEP program also requires a one-credit course, Introduction to the Agricultural Institute, and two writing courses designed specifically for the AAS program.  As a pair, these two writing courses are equivalent to and transfer to NC State as freshman composition (English 101).

GEP Thematic Track Option

A thematic track within the GEP is a 12 credit hour option. Upon completion of an approved thematic track, the title will be noted on the student’s transcript.

Upon completion of the thematic track requirements, the Application for Thematic Track Option form should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Courses and Curricula for approval and notation on the transcript.

Click here for the Thematic Track Application Form.

All students have three options for thematic tracks within the General Education Program (GEP).

A student may:

• Choose a thematic track that has been approved by the Council on Undergraduate Education (CUE). Completion of one approved thematic track will be noted in the student’s official transcript upon graduation provided that the student selects the thematic track prior to completion of degree requirements.
• Create a thematic track of their own choice.  In this case, the thematic track will not be noted in the student’s transcript.
• Choose to complete the GEP without a thematic track.

Requirement for completion of a thematic track (12 credit hours)

• Choose a total of twelve credit hours in the thematic track category as a combination of four courses (12 credit hours) – which are linked by a common theme or topic.
• One course must come from the university-approved GEP Mathematical Sciences /Natural Sciences/ Engineering lists. One course must come from the GEP Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts lists.
• The remaining courses are also to be chosen from approved GEP lists.

Double-counting

• A course taken to satisfy a major requirement may be used as part of a thematic track provided the course is on an approved GEP thematic track list.
• A course that satisfies the thematic track requirement may also satisfy the Global Knowledge or U.S. Diversity co-requisite if the course also exists on either university-approved GEP co-requisite course list.