General Education

Welcome to NJCU’s General Education Program

At Â鶹´«Ã½ (NJCU), our General Education (GenEd) program is built with students who are too often treated as edge cases—transfer students, part-time students, and those bringing AP, CLEP, and other diverse credit backgrounds—at the center. We don’t start with a model that works for the so-called traditional student and figure out exceptions later. We start with the students who have the most at stake. And we’ve found that when you build for them first, you build something that works for everyone. That’s what equity looks like in practice—not just in principle.

Program

The GenEd program introduces students to the fundamental ideas and intellectual activities that scholars and professional staff across campus—in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences—draw on in their work. GenEd courses make up 30 percent of NJCU’s graduation requirements, and they easily fit with all our majors and minors. 

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Vision and Mission

General Education is the foundational part of the college experience shared by all students regardless of major. The courses in the GenEd program will help you be more aware of the creative, natural, societal, and cultural forces that shape the world around you. At the same time, it will arm you with critical skills that will make you a valuable employee in today’s marketplace. 

“To Be a Creative Lifelong Learner!â€

Enhancing Access and Transferability

Recognizing the challenges transfer students often face, NJCU structured its GenEd curriculum to ensure
a seamless transition. Notably:

  • Alignment with Community Colleges: Courses certified by the Â鶹´«Ã½ Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) to satisfy GenEd requirements at community colleges fulfill NJCU’s GenEd requirements, even if there isn’t a direct course equivalent at NJCU.
  • Waivers for Transfer Students: Transfer students with an Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from a regionally accredited institution are exempt from NJCU’s entire GenEd program. Those who earn an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.), and Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.), or have transferred in over 60 credits are waived from the Civic Engagement and Capstone requirements. 

Celebrating Our Commitment to Transfer Students

NJCU is proud to be the only four-year institution in Â鶹´«Ã½ to have implemented these comprehensive transfer-friendly policies. This initiative underscores our commitment to:

  • Student Success: By reducing barriers, we empower students to focus on their academic and professional goals.
  • Timely Graduation: Streamlined credit transfers facilitate on-time degree completion.
  • Affordability: Recognizing more transfer credits can lower educational costs for students. 

Learn More Â鶹´«Ã½ NJCU’s GenEd Program

For detailed information about our General Education program and how it benefits transfer students, please visit our Information for Students web page.

Explore the NJCCC General Education Foundation

To understand the foundational courses recognized across Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s community colleges, refer to the following important documents:

  3. (updated twice per year)

Join the NJCU Community

We invite you to become part of a university that values accessibility, inclusivity, and student achievement. For more information on transferring to NJCU, visit our Transfer Resource Center: transfer@njcu.edu