General Education Curriculum | General Education | University of Nebraska Omaha

The University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) faculty have adopted university general education curriculum to ensure that each graduate possesses certain academic skills, experiences the breadth of a liberal education, and develops an appreciation for the diversity that exists in the nation and world.

In addition to the requirements that may be set by each college, or those required for your major, students must also satisfy general education requirements. These requirements became effective Fall semester 2011 for all UNO undergraduate programs. The requirements apply to all incoming first year and transfer students. Students enrolled in University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) administered programs should contact their advisors to determine the applicable requirements.

Learn more about the value of general education.

University general education curriculum consists of the following categories:

Fundamental Academic Skills
Distribution Requirements
Diversity Requirements

Fundamental Academic Skills (15 credits)

Proficiency in reading, quantitative skills, and written/oral expression are essential for professional success and effective citizenship. The courses in fundamental academic skills are designed to provide the foundation for advanced academic study.

Fundamental academic skills comprise 15 hours of your general education requirements, and consist of:

English & Writing: Nine Credits
Quantitative Literacy: Three Credits
Public Speaking: Three Credits

Learn more about the general education fundamental academic skills.

Distribution Requirements (25 credits)

Beyond the fundamental academic skills, courses within the distribution requirements provide students with the opportunity to: 1) understand, analyze, and explore the human condition; 2) understand the complex dynamics that make up the world particularly the challenges, problems and factors that lead to social stability and change as essential for contributing to and living in contemporary society; and 3) understand the nature of scientific inquiry and the operation of the natural, physical and technological world for making personal and public policy decisions.

Distribution requirements comprise 25 hours of your general education requirements, and consist of:

Humanities & Fine Arts: Nine Credits Representing at least Two Disciplines
Social Sciences: Nine Credits Representing at least Two Disciplines
Natural & Physical Sciences: Seven Credits Representing at least Two Disciplines with a minimum of One Laboratory Course

Learn more about the general education distribution requirements.

Diversity Requirements (6 credits)

A 21st century education requires exposure to cultures and institutions around the world; as well as within one’s own society, in order to promote intellectual flexibility, cultural understanding and informed citizenship. UNO seeks to foster cultural understanding to assist our students in becoming responsible citizens in a diverse world.

Diversity requirements comprise 6 hours of your general education requirements, and consist of:

U.S. Diversity: Three Credits
Global Diversity: Three Credits

Learn more about the general education diversity requirements.