When I describe the General Education program to students, I explain that we are giving students the skills to help them learn how to “Take on the World.” As a freshman, you learn foundational skills for world readiness; as sophomores and juniors, you build on those skills in discovery classes; and as seniors, you take on the world in your Frontier Capstone class, where you go into the world and work with a community partner to take on a problem or opportunity with your Capstone teammates.
—Kimberly Crews, Assistant Dean and Director of General Education
Within the General Education courses, students participate in high-impact educational practices including,
Through the 13 courses in the General Education curriculum, students attain the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will serve them in their efforts to become lifelong learners, community leaders, and productive citizens in the complex, 21st-century global village.
The video "Did You Know..." was created by students in the General Education Frontier Capstone class (IGED 391-392), where students work in teams to address a problem/opportunity presented by a community partner.
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This Capstone team photographed and inventoried art donated to UDC from the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
General Education Capstone Students Jovan Williams (Human Development, Class of 2024) and Jamil Mian (Urban Sustainability, Class of 2024) present their research at the 2023 Annual Conference of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Your future career may require technical skills, but employers also value skills that are the focus of your General Education classes.
General Education classes give you the opportunity to engage with classmates in all majors and provide the foundational skills valued by employers, including:
General education skills are transferable skills that will serve you in any career that you pursue, regardless of your major. It is estimated that less than 30% of college graduates are working in a career closely related to their major; the average worker in the United States has more than 12 jobs in their lifetime. Today’s workers must be nimble and build transferable skills that can be applied in any career.
Your General Education classes are the glue that complements and expands on the skills and knowledge acquired in your major.
The Interdisciplinary General Education Program (IGED) is designed to complement your major requirements and provide the skills, habits, and experiences to be productive citizens and thrive in the complex 21st-century global economy.
In 2010, UDC revised its’ General Education curriculum, making UDC a leader in guiding students to world readiness through its’ structured and developmentally sequenced curriculum that spans the four-year undergraduate experience. This set us apart from other post-secondary institutions which were mostly using a distributive model for general education.
By the time they finish the General Education program, we expect our graduating Firebirds to:
The General Education requirements needed to complete a baccalaureate degree at the University of the District of Columbia are listed below. Please consult with your advisor to confirm course selections and major requirements for your chosen degree.
Each student should review their General Education course requirements with their academic advisor. The required General Education courses are also outlined in DegreeWorks.
If a student changes their major, their general education courses may change. Please review the new requirements on your course guide, with your advisor, and in DegreeWorks.
“During my interview for the Department of Buildings, the employer stated, ‘It takes a team to run our office, and everyone’s input and experience is required to complete projects and make things flow.” I was able to relate my experience working in a team during my Capstone class, which is all about teamwork. I got the job!“
—Karen Woodbury, Digital Media, 2024 Graduate
"I've found that so much of what I learned in Discovery Diversity with Professor Riley, such as the complexities of intercultural communication and collaboration, helped me excel in my internship."
—Miguel Sanchez, ΑΦΑ Omicron Omicron Chapter President, Electrical Engineering Major, Class of 2026
Assistant Dean and Director of General Education
Van Ness Campus
Building 71, Room 6113
kcrews@udc.edu
202-274-5857