General Education empowers students to face a rapidly changing world with the ability to frame questions and solve problems. Complementing the major, GenEd courses provide a set of strategies: communication, critical thinking, information analysis, quantitative skills, and responsibility towards local and global communities. In many GenEd courses, students address urgent problems directly through undergraduate research, race and social justice analysis, global awareness, community engagement, and innovation. By providing a base of knowledge and flexible tools for thinking, GenEd courses equip students for success throughout their education and after graduation.

Exploring different GenEd areas can be a great college strategy to find out what really interests you. Or, if you have a major in mind, your advisor can help you identify some courses to help you prepare for your next steps. Either way, browsing the course descriptions in each area of study will help you find courses that take you to unexpected places.

General Education is a total of 31 credit hours spread across each of the areas listed below. This website reflects the most current General Education Program course list under the 2024-2025 UNM Catalog. Departments and colleges may restrict student course choices related to the student's field of study to meet departmental and college degree requirements. A grade of "C" (not "C-") is required in all courses used to fulfill the requirements of the General Education Program. Courses taken CR/NC can be applied to General Education, subject to general University and individual college and department regulations on the number of credit hours that can be taken CR/NC and the applicability of courses taken CR/NC to the individual degree. Please consult your UNM Catalog for specific requirements for your General Education.

To review the GenEd lists under prior catalogs, please click here.