General Education
understanding charlotte core
The UNC Charlotte faculty created the Charlotte Core General Education set of courses to ensure students graduate with specific workforce core skills in effective communication, critical thinking, collaboration with diverse groups of people and in data analysis. These competencies also help students succeed in college and in daily life. Courses are split into Foundational courses and Themed courses.
Starting Fall 2023 all students will be required to complete ten (10) courses (31-32 credits total).
Disclaimer: **Please do not be alarmed about how to ensure you complete your general education requirements as they are already incorporated into each Lee College of Engineering academic plan of study.**
General Education Requirements (Beginning Fall 2023)
Complete ten (10) courses (31-32 credits total)
- First-Year Writing (WRDS 1103 or 1104)
- Second-Year Critical Thinking and Communication (CTCM 2530, formerly LBST 2301)
- Quantitative and Data (MATH or STAT) [View Required Courses on Academic Plan of Study]
- Natural Science with Lab [View Required Courses on Academic Plan of Study]
- Natural Science with Lab Optional [View Required Courses on Academic Plan of Study]
- Four (4) Theme Courses
- Two (2) Global (XXXX 1501 and XXXX 1502)
- Two (2) Local (XXXX 1511 and XXXX 1512)
Global and Local Themes
Additional Global and Local Themes information can be found in the University Catalog under
General Education Requirements.
Note: Not every course is offered each semester.
Global Themes
Global Themes
Global Sciences (select one course)
- AFRS 1501 – Africana Studies
- ANTH 1501 – An Introduction to Anthropology
- CAPI 1501 – Capitalism in Global Context
- COMM 1501 – Global and Intercultural Communication
- ECON 1501 – Global Social Science: Economics of Global Issues
- ESCI 1501 – Global Social Science: Environment, Society, and Sustainability
- GEOG 1501 – Global Social Science: World Geography
- INTL 1501 – Globalization and Interdependence
- LTAM 1501 – Introduction to Latin American Politics and Society
- POLS 1501 – Introduction to Comparative Politics
- SOCY 1501 – Sociological Approaches to Global Issues
Global Arts/Humanities (select one course)
- ARBC 1502 – Modern Arab Culture
- ARCH 1502 – Global Architecture, Culture, and Environment
- ARTA 1502 – Art in a Global Context
- CHNS 1502 – Chinese Culture in the World
- DANC 1502 – Dance in Global Contexts
- ENGL 1502 – Global Connections in English Studies
- FILM 1502 – Introduction to Film and Media Art
- FRAN 1502 – French and Francophone Cultures
- FREN 1502 – French and Francophone Cultures
- GERM 1502 – German and German-Speaking Cultures
- HIST 1502 – Issues in Global History
- HONR 1502 – Inquiry into the Visual Arts
- ITLN 1502 – Italian Culture in the World
- JAPN 1502 – Japanese Studies
- LACS 1502 – Introduction to Global Cultures
- LTAM 1502 – Introduction to Latin American History and Culture
- MUSC 1502 – Music in Global Communities
- PHIL 1502 – Global and Comparative Philosophy
- RELS 1502 – Other Worlds
- SPAN 1502 – Cultures of the Hispanic World
- THEA 1502 – Theatre in Global Contexts
- WGST 1502 – Introduction to Gender Studies Around the World
Local Themes
Local Social Science (select one course)
- ANTH 1511 – Money, Health, and Happiness
- CJUS 1511 – Foundations of Criminal Justice
- COMM 1511 – Health, Well-Being, and Quality of Life
- EDUC 1511 – Public Education and Schooling in the U.S.
- GEOG 1511 – Urban and Regional Planning
- HAHS 1511 – Issues of Health and Quality of Life
- HONR 1511 – Media Literacy in Contemporary Culture
- POLS 1511 – Introduction to American Politics
- SOCY 1511 – Sociological Approaches to Local Issues
- SOWK 1511 – The Field of Social Work
Local Arts/Humanities
- AFRS 1512 – Africana Studies
- CAPI 1512 – Capitalism in the USA and Beyond
- CHNS 1512 – Chinese and Chinese Culture in the U.S.
- DANC 1512 – Dance in the United States
- ENGL 1512 – Local Connections in English Studies
- FRAN 1512 – French and Francophone Cultures in the U.S.
- FREN 1512 – French & Francophone Cultures in the U.S.
- HIST 1512 – Issues in US History
- HONR 1512 – Local Arts/Humanities
- ITLN 1512 – Italian Culture in the U.S.
- MUSC 1512 – Music in U.S. Communities
- PHIL 1512 – Philosophy and Community
- RELS 1512 – Religions in America
- SPAN 1512 – US Hispanic, Latina/o/x Topics
- THEA 1512 – Theatre in the United States
- WGST 1512 – Introduction to Gender Studies in the U.S.