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. The UCC provides broad, foundational knowledge through a well-defined curriculum to help students develop intellectual skills and habits that enable them to think critically, analytically, and creatively, thus fostering more effective and lifelong learners. 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 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 detailed below apply to all FIU students entering as first-time-in-college students in Summer B 2025 or later, and to all students entering as transfer students (who have not already earned an Associate in Arts [AA] degree at a state college or university in the State of Florida) in Fall 2025 or later. Students are required to complete a minimum of 36 credits from the UCC course list and satisfy the category requirements. Courses in the UCC are divided into five categories: Communication, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Social Science. Each category includes state core (Group 1) and institutional general education (Group 2) courses approved by the State University System of Florida Board of Governors. 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 programs require certain common prerequisite courses in addition to UCC requirements. Students 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 graduation requirements or notes included below.

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

Additional Graduation Requirements

Global Learning (GL) Requirement: Students must complete two Global Learning (GL) courses. Transfer courses and test credits may not be used to meet this FIU requirement. All Global Learning courses must be taken at FIU. Courses with “GL” designation satisfy the University’s Global Learning requirement. For an updated list of courses and their effective semester, visit http://goglobal.fiu.edu.

Gordon Rule with Writing (GRW) Requirement: Students are required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through six semester hours of Gordon Rule Writing (GRW)-designated courses. To fulfill this requirement, student can select any two GRW-designated courses in the UCC. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher to earn GRW credit.  

Gordon Rule Requirement: Courses in the following areas are considered Gordon Rule: Communication, Mathematics, and courses designated at GRW. A grade of "C" or higher is required in these 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 (3 courses required; one from Group One and two 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 of which must be from Group One)

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 of which must be from Group One)

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 of which must be from Group One)

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 of which must be from Group One)

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.

Student Choice Category (1 course required)

Students must complete one additional course of their choice from the Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science categories.

Additional Policies and Requirements

A student who has graduated from a Florida State College or University 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.

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.

Related FIU Policy

FIU Policy 340.280 The Core Curriculum