What are some general education classes that I will be required to take in college? I searched up the degree requirements for some of the colleges I am applying to, but the degree path seems not to have specific classes listed for general education. If I were to take a random class at a local community, would it count as a “breath elective” at a 4 year university I am applying to? For example I have already taken general psychology, so would that count as a social or behavioral science elective? However, I am also taking physics (algebra based), but will that be able to count as any elective course??
Depends on the school. At my school, certain classes are classified as each type of gen ed. A community college / dual enrollment / AP class that is a direct substitute for one of those qualifying classes would be able to be used as a gen ed in that category. But I’ve taken other classes that didn’t count for anything when I transferred the credit.
You should be able to look at the different gen ed requirements on each college’s website. At my school, we have certain required areas and multiple classes can fulfill the area. For example, we have a continuing writing area and any class designated as writing intensive qualifies. This could be from any subject and not just English or Creative Writing.
In terms of transferring credits, the best way to see if a course from a cc counts for anything is to see if there correspond with a class from the university. If you’re taking an algebra-based physics class and the university also offers it, then you can just check if it lists what gen ed requirements it fulfills. My school has a course catalog/course atlas where you can look at course organized by what gen ed they meet, so you should see if the colleges you’re applying to also have that.
And it is a “breadth elective” BTW.
In most cases you can check what the general education requirements are. Then you can see if you took a class that matches what is acceptable at the Universities you’re considering.
It also depends on whether you’re applying to a public instate university that routinely accepts cc classes as substitutes, a university OOS, or an elite private university. Elite Universities are unlikely to accept a lot if auxh transfer credit and OOS universities may have very specific criteria to accept a cc class or not.
As for the subjects, outside if open curriculum schools and correct curriculum schools, which tend to be at opposite end of the spectrum in terms of requirements, roughly 25-30% of your curriculum will be taken through these distribution and general skill requirements, to ensure you’re well-educated.
Many colleges require one class in the arts (art history, drawing, music appreciation, drama…), several classes in the humanities (Literature, philosophy, etc.), social sciences, and sciences (with typically two if three streams, one for non majors so the focus is on understanding the world around you, premed, and stem/engineering majors), plus demonstrating a certain level in a foreign language and in quantitative skills. Some Universities also require religion, American history, or American government classes.
Look at your colleges of interest and see if they have categories of courses to take
For example, you may need to take classes from each of the following categories:
Arts and Humanities
Literary, Visual and Performing Arts
World Views and Ways of Knowing
Social Sciences and History
Behavioral, Social or Cultural Perspectives
Social Change in Historical Perspective
Natural Science and Quantitative Reasoning
Natural Science
Quantitative Reasoning