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 |
---|---|
Minimum General Education requirement total [1]
|
42
|
[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
Preferred course sequence
GEN/201- Foundations For University Success
SCI/163(T) – Elements of Health and Wellness
PSY/110 - Psychology of Learning
ENG/110 – English Composition I
HUM/115 - Critical Thinking in Everyday Life
ENG/210 – English Composition II
Conquer math with confidence. Learn how
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.
Learn skills, earn badges
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
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
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.
Frequently asked questions
General education articles
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