Information presented on this webpage pertains to the revised General Education Program requirements in effect from the Fall 2012 semester onward. Students following catalogs prior to the 2012-2013 academic year must adhere to the general education requirements outlined in the graduation section of their respective catalog.

Students following catalogs in effect from Fall 2012 onward must use the General Education Program Advising Worksheet.

General Education Program Mission Statement

Liberal studies form the core component of an AUS education. The general education program encourages intellectual discovery and critical reflection, promotes an appreciation of the various modes of human inquiry, and develops the knowledge and skills to succeed in and contribute to the Arab Gulf region and the world at large. The program fosters personal development by providing the foundation for lifelong engagement with the questions that shape individuals and societies. General education at AUS complements professional programs by offering opportunities for students to reflect on a diverse and increasingly interdependent world and their place within it.

General Education Program Requirements

Every student must complete a minimum of 42 credits in core and non-core general education requirements (GERs) with a minimum grade of C- to graduate. In addition, students must successfully complete one course from each area of the major-designated requirements.

Core Requirements

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 18 credits in courses meeting the following core general education areas. Credits earned in these areas cannot be counted towards other general education requirements or other degree program requirements.

• History and Culture of the Arab World: three to six credits
• Culture in a Critical Perspective: three to six credits
• Arts and Literature: three to six credits
• Human Interaction and Behavior: six to nine credits

Non-Core Requirements

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 24 credits in courses meeting the following non-core general education areas. Courses in these areas may also meet major requirements. In cases where a course is considered both a non-core general education requirement and a major requirement, credits for the course are counted only once towards the overall credits earned.

• Natural Sciences: a minimum of six credits
• Mathematics: a minimum of three credits
• Statistics: a minimum of three credits (for College of Engineering, please see degree program details)
• Communication: A minimum of 12 credits in 100-level writing (WRI) courses or 200-level or above English (ENG) courses. 

Major-Designated Requirements

Students must successfully complete one course from each of the following areas:

• Ethical Understanding
• Discipline-Specific Writing Intensive Course
• Oral Proficiency
• Information Literacy
• Computer Literacy

Students who transfer to AUS may satisfy general education requirements if the course(s) being transferred meet the outcomes of a general education area as defined by the general education program.

• Program Goals and Outcomes
• Program Areas and Courses
• General Education Program Advising Worksheet