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General Education Program

UNSW requires that all undergraduate students undertake a structured program in General Education as an integral part of studies for their degree. The University believes that General Education complements the more specialised learning undertaken in a student’s chosen field of study and contributes to the flexibility which graduates are increasingly required to demonstrate. Employers repeatedly point to the complex nature of the modern work environment and advise that they highly value graduates with the skills provided by a broad general education, as well as the specialised knowledge provided in more narrowly defined degree programs.

The General Education Program at UNSW intends to broaden students’ understanding of the environment in which they live and work and to enhance their skills of critical analysis.

General Education Requirements

The University’s basic requirements are the same for students in all single degree programs. Students must satisfactorily complete 12 units of credit in General Education courses or their equivalent. Students in an Arts Faculty program that is combined with a program from another Faculty are not required to complete the General Education Program.
Effective from Semester 2, 2008: to meet their 12 units of credit General Education requirement, students may take up to 12 units of General Education, or courses substituted for General Education, from any faculty or faculties, other than the faculty that is the authority for the program in which the student is enrolled. Students in Arts Faculty programs can no longer enrol in General Education courses taught by The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (those with a GENT code) and have them credited to their General Education Program. Students who completed a GENT course prior to Semester 2, 2008 will still be credited with 3 units of credit towards their General Education requirements.

Credit transfer/substitution

Students may wish to apply for credit towards their General Education Program requirements on the basis of courses already completed at UNSW or another higher education/tertiary institution. Students seeking credit must complete an Application for Credit/Advanced Standing and submit it to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre. Students may request to substitute part or all of their General Education Program requirements on the basis of mainstream courses offered by other Faculties at UNSW. Before enrolling in a substitution course students must seek approval from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Student Centre. Students cannot use a course approved for inclusion in their major sequence as a substitution for General Education.

Please Note: UNSW does not consider life experience, mature age entry, practical experience or industry placement as grounds for exemption/substitution/credit for the General Education Program.

Further details regarding the University’s program and General Education courses are available in the Online Handbook:

http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/generaleducation/2008/generaleducation2.html

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