FIU University Core Curriculum (UCC)

Florida International University seeks to develop productive, creative, and responsible citizens who both shape society and lay the foundation for tomorrow. In addition to exploring areas of specialization, the university experience must provide a venue for investigating the origins and natures of cultures, ideas, and the physical universe and endow graduates with the ability to analyze critically, think sustainably, learn creatively, and express themselves clearly and cogently. Diversity and breadth of experience are essential characteristics of both education and success in our global community.

The UCC provides the broad, well-defined curriculum that enables graduates to think critically, analytically, and creatively, with a passion to learn and with the skills and ability to assemble, assess, incorporate, and synthesize new knowledge and information; organize and clearly express their knowledge and ideas; and determine the importance and relevance of new ideas through a synthesis of both broad and narrow contexts and the integration of seemingly disparate pieces into a meaningful whole.

The UCC rests upon the belief that a foundational curriculum, shared by students, fosters intellectual development and enhances personal, social, intellectual, and academic relations. Together with concentration in major fields of study, the UCC builds the base that makes future academic and professional excellence possible.

Implementation of the UCC and day-to-day monitoring of student compliance with UCC requirements are the responsibility of the Office of Academic Support Initiatives & Services (OASIS) within the Division of Academic and Student Affairs. Academic advising is a priority at the university. Undergraduate students are assigned to academic advisors within their major who will assist them with understanding and completing the requirements of the UCC.  

The UCC requirements apply to all FIU students who entered as first-time-in-college students in summer B 2015 or later, and to all students who entered as transfer students (and had not already earned an Associate in Arts [AA] degree at a state college or university in the State of Florida) in fall 2015 or later.

The courses that satisfy the UCC are divided into six categories. Some of these categories include courses that have been approved by the State of Florida as meeting the category, as well as those courses that were approved by the FIU Faculty Senate. Each category includes the number of courses required as well as the current list of approved courses; only these courses meet the UCC requirements and all must be taken for a letter grade. 

Most departments require certain common prerequisite courses in addition to UCC requirements. Applicants should consult the catalog section dealing with the programs they wish to pursue to determine the nature and extent of the additional requirements. Students are ultimately responsible for meeting with advisors to discuss academic and career goals, course planning, academic policies and procedures, and opportunities for engagement at the University. Students are encouraged to meet with advisors should they have any questions about the UCC requirements or any of the notes included below.

For information about the Florida Postsecondary Institutions General Education Digital Badges, please visit the Office of Micro-Credentials.

Important Notes

Global Learning Requirement: First year students must complete one Global Learning (GL) Foundation course and one Discipline-Specific GL course. Transfer students who meet UCC requirements prior to entering FIU must complete two Discipline-Specific GL courses. Transfer students who do not meet UCC requirements prior to entering FIU must take one GL Foundation course and one GL Discipline-Specific course. All GL courses must be taken at FIU. For an updated list of GL courses and their effective semester, visit http://goglobal.fiu.edu. Courses with "GL" after the course title satisfy the university's Global Learning requirement.

Writing Requirement: Students are required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through twelve semester hours of writing courses. Six semester hours must be in communication courses (i.e., courses with the prefix ENC). The additional six semester hours must be approved intensive writing courses designated as Gordon Rule Writing (GRW). To fulfill this requirement, student can select any two GRW-designated courses in the UCC; courses may be from the same or different categories. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher to earn GRW credit.  

Gordon Rule Requirement: A grade of "C" or higher is required in Gordon Rule courses, which include courses in the Communication category, courses in the Mathematics category, and GRW-designated courses.

Postsecondary Civic Literacy (CL) Requirement: Students must demonstrate understanding of American Civics via completed course work or test credit. This requirement is applicable to freshmen students enrolling for the first time in a Florida state college or university starting Summer 2018 or transfer students starting Fall 2018. Note: Students initially entering a Florida state college or university Summer B 2021 and thereafter must now complete both a course and an exam. In addition to AMH 2020 and POS 2041, AMH 2010 will also satisfy the state of Florida's Civic Literacy course requirement if taken Fall 2024 or later.

Communication Category (2 courses required; one from Group One and one from Group two.)

Communication courses afford students the ability to communicate effectively, including the ability to write clearly and engage in public speaking. [These are Gordon Rule courses; a grade of “C” or higher is required.]

Humanities Category (2 courses required; One from Group One and One from Group Two.)

Humanities courses afford students the ability to think critically through the mastering of subjects concerned with human culture, especially literature, history, art, music, and philosophy.

Mathematics Category (2 courses required: One from Group One and One from Group Two)

Mathematics courses afford students a mastery of foundational mathematical and computation models and methods by applying such models and methods in problem solving. [Mathematics courses are Gordon Rule courses; a grade of “C” or higher is required.]

Any student who successfully completes a mathematics course in Group Two for which a course in Group One is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed Group One and may take two mathematics courses from Group Two.  

Social Science Category (2 courses required; One from Group One and One from Group Two.)

Social science courses afford students an understanding of the basic social and behavioral science concepts and principles used in the analysis of behavior and past and present social, political, and economic issues.

Natural Science Category (2 courses required; One from Group One and One from Group Two; 1 lab required from Group Two)

Natural science courses afford students the ability to critically examine and evaluate the principles of the scientific method, model construction, and use the scientific method to explain natural experiences and phenomena.

Any student who successfully completes a natural science course in Group Two for which a course in Group One is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed Group One and may take two natural science courses from Group Two.

Arts (1 course required)

Students will become acquainted with the fundamental aspects of the arts while developing a capacity to understand, appreciate, or experience particular forms.  Students address universal themes central to the cultural traditions of the past and present as expressed through the perspectives of the arts.

Additional Policies and Requirements

A student who has graduated from a Florida State College with an Associate in Arts degree will have met UCC requirements.

A student who has met the General Education requirements (as noted on their transcript) of any institution in the State University System of Florida will have met UCC requirements.

A student who has earned a previous baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution will have met UCC requirements.  

A student who has taken the first two years in an accredited college other than a Florida College System or a State University System of Florida institution may receive credit for courses meeting UCC requirements.  

A student who has been admitted before completing an equivalent general education program must do so at the university prior to graduation.

Most departments require certain common prerequisite courses in addition to UCC requirements. Applicants should consult the catalog section dealing with the programs they wish to pursue to determine the nature and extent of the additional requirements.

A transfer student who has successfully completed one or both science courses without labs at another institution prior to admission to FIU will be deemed to have completed the appropriate components of the science requirement.

Students in the Honors College who have satisfied designated Honors courses will be deemed to have met sections of the UCC and global learning requirements. Visit honors.fiu.edu for course equivalencies.

Related FIU Policy

FIU Policy 340.280 The Core Curriculum