Dietrich College General Education Program
For more information visit:
www.cmu.edu/dietrich/gened
Dietrich College General Education Requirements
For students entering Fall 2021 and later
The Dietrich College General Education curriculum (GenEd) provides robust training and knowledge that complements and strengthens the skills learned in a student’s primary major. The GenEd program contains several unique features including: 1) the anchoring of the curriculum on an explicit set of measurable learning outcomes; 2) a focus on creative multi and interdisciplinary approaches to complex problems; 3) the integration of instruction in core competencies like writing and data science across the entire four-year curriculum; 4) ensuring holistic advising is available to every Dietrich student; 5) the expansion of experiential learning opportunities through research and creative inquiry, paid internships opportunities, study abroad, and community engagement; and 6) the commitment to iterative program-level assessment that includes direct measures of student learning.
The GenEd is built on the foundation of 12 high level learning areas and nearly 50 specific student learning outcomes that guide the program. More information about the learning areas can be found on our GenEd website.
Curriculum Requirements
The GenEd curriculum requirements total just above one third of a student’s overall degree requirements:
The coursework will require students to complete six (6) foundations courses, five (5) disciplinary perspectives courses, two (2) special seminars and one (1) experiential learning activity.
| Category Type | Units Required |
| Foundations | 54 |
| Disciplinary Perspectives | 42 |
| Special Seminars | 18 |
| Experiential Learning Activity | 1 |
| TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION | 115 |
Course Categories
1. Foundations (54 units total)
There are six (6) foundations requirements, designed to teach both competencies that transcend disciplinary boundaries and the foundational knowledge and skills particularly important for Dietrich College students to acquire.
| Required in Year 1 | Units Required |
| Communication | 9 units |
| Data Analysis | 9 units |
The Communication requirement may be satisfied through one of the following options:
- 76-101 Interpretation and Argument or 76-102 Advanced First Year Writing: Special Topics
- Choose 2 mini courses: 76-106 Writing about Literature, Art and Culture, 76-107 Writing about Data, or 76-108 Writing about Public Problems .
The Data Analysis requirement must be satisfied through the completion of 36-200. Advanced Standing (AP, IB, Cambridge, Transfer) credit will be accepted for this requirement.
| Required in Years 1-4 | Units Required |
| Computational Thinking | 9 units |
| Contextual Thinking | 9 units |
| Intercultural and Global Inquiry | 9 units |
| Scientific Inquiry | 9 units |
A list of courses for each of the above requirements can be found on the GenEd website.
2. Disciplinary Perspectives (42 units total)
There are five (5) disciplinary perspectives requirements, designed to provide a broad reflective understanding of disciplines both within and outside of the College.
| Required in Year 1 | Units Required |
| Humanities | 9 units |
| Social Sciences | 9 units |
| Required in Years 1-4 | Units Required |
| The Arts | 9 units |
| Logic/Mathematical Reasoning | 9 units |
| Required in Years 1-4 (6 units in one of the following three disciplines): |
| Design |
| Business |
| Engineering |
A list of courses for each of the above requirements can be found on the GenEd website.
3. Special Seminars (18 units total)
The Special Seminars and Topics offer opportunities for students to engage in high impact learning practices to ensure transformative and integrative learning.
| Required in Year 1 | Units Required |
| Grand Challenge Seminar | 9 units |
| Required in Years 1-4 | Units Required |
| Perspectives on Justice and Injustice | 9 units |
A list of courses for each of the above requirements can be found on the GenEd website.
4. Experiential Learning Activity (1 unit total)
The Experiential Learning Activity provides students with the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom. This may include completing an internship, undergraduate research, community engaged learning, work-based learning or study abroad. This requirement can be fulfilled anytime after the first semester.
Requirements for Experiential Learning
In order to fulfill this requirement, the experiential learning activity must occur within an authentic context, meaning that it provides the opportunity to utilize and expand upon academic learning in an environment that has stakes beyond the classroom. Additionally, while engaging in the activity, a mentor, supervisor or instructor must be identified and met with on a regular basis. The experience should consist of at least 60 total hours. Learning goals must be set at the beginning of the activity and critical reflection is completed at its conclusion.
Students who complete the experiential learning requirement enroll in 66-310 Reflecting on Experiential Learning after or during the experience. 66-310 is an asynchronous, one-unit, pass/no pass course that does not factor into the maximum number of units per semester. In order to enroll in the course, an experiential learning placement form must be submitted and approved by a member of the experiential learning team prior to or at the beginning of the experience. Additional information about this requirement can be found on the experiential learning website.