General education

Your general education matters

General education studies are the starting point for your undergraduate degree. These courses may also inspire unexpected directions in learning and spark new choices—for your career and your life. 

Explore programs with general education requirements

The general education courses in your program help you meet the expectations of your core curriculum and offer skills that align with your career pathway, so you’re more prepared for new opportunities.

General education requirements

General education credits vary depending on your undergraduate degree. Students with eligible credits and relevant experience on average saved $11k and 1 year off their undergraduate degree.

General education skills Associate degree credits Bachelor's degree credits
Minimum General Education requirement total [1]
Minimum General Education requirement total [1]
Minimum General Education requirement total [1]
42
Minimum General Education requirement total [1]
54

[1]General education requirements may vary by program. Find more details on program requirements.

Prepare for your future with the Phoenix Success Series

The Phoenix Success Series are general education courses that help prepare you for college and your career with foundational learning in reading comprehension, writing with purpose, critical thinking, and academic ethics. Complete these courses to prepare for your core curriculum.

Phoenix Success Series courses

Illustration of student on laptop learning more about Phoenix Success Series courses.

Your general education at work

You don’t have to wait to finish your degree to benefit from your general education. Digital badges align to skills you will learn in general education courses. Showcase earned badges on your online resume or LinkedIn® profile and make your earned career-relevant skills visible to employers before even graduating from your program.

Learn more about general studies digital badges. opens in new window

Learn skills, earn badges

A person takes a break from working at their laptop to drink water.

Three students sit together to discuss a psychology assignment.

A group of students sit together to discuss a critical thinking assignment.

A person exercises outdoors to improve health and wellness.

A person writes an English paper on their laptop.

A man smiles as he reviews his grade on an English paper.

Questions about general education requirements? We can help.

Math and writing help is here for you

Stronger math and writing can help you academically and professionally. We’ll help you develop those important skills.

Make math a milestone—we can help

Pass rate

91%

Our math courses are designed with working learners in mind. We have relevant and relatable content and instructors who help you understand how to leverage how you use math already. We’ll work with you to overcome hurdles, so you can learn math with confidence. For all our math pathway courses combined, the pass rate is 91%. [1]

Visit the Center for Mathematics Excellence.

Write with self-assurance

We’re here to help you improve writing skills so you can communicate more effectively— on paper and online—a major accomplishment for your degree and your career. Visit the Center for Writing Excellence.

[1] Individual student outcomes may vary. Based on courses taken by 35,769 students from January 2023-to January 2024.

Dr. Jacquelyn Kelly, associate dean of general studies, explains better ways to learn math and science.  

How our students apply their general education skills

Quotation mark

I remember a cover letter assignment I had in English Composition II, where I decided to use an email to demonstrate a rhetorical pattern. I used principles we were studying to negotiate with my current employer. I want to thank my teachers and UOPX for helping me develop real-world skills that have helped me!”

Melissa Holder
University of Phoenix student, Bachelor of Science in Accounting program

Start here with skills that prepare you for college learning

Foundations for University Success is the first course you will take at University of Phoenix. This course helps you develop a personalized strategy for college success, including how to balance home, work, and school responsibilities. In five weeks, you will explore topics like time management, motivation and mindset, goal setting, and professional networking. You will gain the organizational, information literacy, and communication skills you need to make the most of your core curriculum.

  • Develop approaches for successful academic and professional communication
  • Learn how to review academic sources for credibility, bias, and relevance
  • Enhance practices and habits that contribute to successful academic study and professional development
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Try our Savings Explorer® tool

Students with eligible credits and relevant experience on average saved:

$11,000

1 year

Off their undergraduate degree with University of Phoenix.

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Frequently asked questions