In November 2022, the University Senate adopted a new system of university general education guidelines called the Common Curriculum for Leadership and Global Citizenship - referred to as Common Curriculum (CC) - that went into effect with students entering the University of Connecticut in Fall, 2025.

At present, the outgoing General Education program is still in effect for students who entered prior to Fall 2025, and students following that curriculum should see the General Education pages on this site for more information.

The Purpose of Common Curriculum

Although the specific university general education requirements have changed, the purposes of the new Common Curriculum requirements remain the same. Common Curriculum courses are not directed primarily at mastering a body of information or developing professional expertise.  Any system of general education should provide all university undergraduate students with the foundations for learning throughout their years at the university and their entire lives; enable them to understand, appreciate, and enjoy both the past and present diversity of human achievement and perspectives at the levels of individuals, groups, and cultures and in relation to the natural world; prepare them for responsible citizenship; and give them the flexibility and skills necessary to face the changes and challenges of the future.

NECHE General Education Requirements

The University of Connecticut is accredited as an academic institution by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and must adhere to their Standards for Accreditation. According to NECHE, general education “embodies the institution’s definition of an educated person and prepares students for the world in which they will live.” While individual institutions have some leeway in determining how general education is structured, NECHE requires that it shows “a balanced regard for what are traditionally referred to as the arts and humanities, the sciences including mathematics, and the social sciences.” NECHE also requires that “all undergraduate students complete at least the equivalent of 40 semester credits in a bachelor’s degree program.” In short, University of Connecticut does not set the minimum standards, but we do have some leeway to determine how students will meet NECHE requirements within those minimum standards. Common Curriculum is UConn's answer to NECHE's general education requirements.

For more information about why colleges and universities seek accreditation, click here.

Please note that some schools and colleges, particularly CLAS, add additional standards on top of the minimum university ones required by NECHE.

Common Curriculum Requirements at UConn

The Common Curriculum is made up of Topics of Inquiry (TOIs) and Competencies.

Students must pass at least three credits of coursework in each of six Topics of Inquiry (TOI):
TOI1 – Creativity: Design, Expression, Innovation
TOI2 – Cultural Dimensions of Human Experiences
TOI3 – Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice
TOI4 – Environmental Literacy
TOI5 – Individual Values and Social Institutions
TOI6 – Science and Empirical Inquiry (Students must complete at least one laboratory course in TOI6).

At least one course must be passed in each Topic of Inquiry (some courses fulfill two). Students must also satisfy a Focus
requirement, by successfully completing at least nine credits in either a single Topic of Inquiry or in a faculty-designed Theme spanning multiple disciplines. Topic of Inquiry courses may be counted toward the major. Students must pass at least 21 credits of TOI courses, including those in the Focus or Theme area. These credits are subject to the following restrictions and guidelines:

• The 21 credits of TOI courses must be from at least six different subject areas
  as designated by subject code (e.g., ANTH, ARE, etc)
• For cross-listed courses, students may count any subject code under which
  the course is offered toward this requirement regardless of the subject code
  under which they register for the course.
• No more than six credits with the INTD prefix may be applied
• Courses designated as repeatable for credit may be applied for a maximum
  of three credits per course

The Common Curriculum includes competencies in quantitative skills, second language proficiency, and writing. Two additional competencies – Information, Digital, and Media Literacy and Dialogue – are infused across the Common Curriculum.

Quantitative Competency is established by completing two courses that are designated for this purpose as Q courses. One Q course must be a MATH or STAT course.

Second Language Competency is established by either 1) passing the third-year high school level course in a language other than English or 2) attaining a Seal of Biliteracy or 3) passing the second semester course in the first-year sequence of college level study in a language other than English, or equivalent.

Writing Competency is established by passing the First-Year Writing requirement (ENGL 1007 or 1010 or 1011) and two W courses, one of which must be in the major field of study at the 2000-level or above.