The General Education Program
Discover Your Passion. Create Your Future.
Discover Your Path with General Education at Medgar Evers College
At Medgar Evers College, our General Education Program is designed with you in mind—to give you a strong academic foundation while allowing you the flexibility to explore your interests and goals.
Here’s how it works:
- The Required Core (12 credits) – These are essential courses that help you build key college-level skills in areas like writing, math, and science.
- The Flexible Core (18 credits) – Choose from a range of subjects like the arts, world cultures, and social sciences. You’ll have the freedom to shape your learning based on what excites you most.
- The Medgar Evers College Option (12 credits) – If you’re working toward a bachelor’s degree, this part of the program helps you dive deeper into advanced topics and courses that reflect the unique mission of our college.
Together, these three components make up a total of 42 credits. If you’re pursuing an associate degree, you’ll complete the Common Core (30 credits)—a combination of the Required and Flexible Core. Bachelor’s degree students complete both the Common Core and the Medgar Evers College Option.
Some courses may carry more credits—especially in areas like math and science. These STEM variant courses can count toward your requirements while giving you a bit more depth in those subjects.
Transferring to MEC? No problem! We’ll help you meet the updated requirements and make sure you’re on track to graduate.
Scroll down to explore the different parts of the program and see how they fit into your degree. This is your education—designed to grow with you.
Your Foundation for Success
The Required Core includes four courses (12 credits) that give you the basics you’ll need for college. These classes help you build skills in writing, problem-solving, and scientific thinking.
Here’s what you’ll take:
- English Composition – Two courses (6 credits) to improve your writing and communication.
- Math and Quantitative Reasoning – One course (3 credits) to boost your number and data skills.
- Life and Physical Sciences – One course (3 credits) to explore how the natural world works.
Explore New Ideas
The Flexible Core is made up of six courses (18 credits) that let you explore big ideas and different perspectives. These classes cover topics like world cultures, social issues, diversity, science, and the arts—helping you better understand the world and your place in it.
You’ll choose one course from each of these five areas (and one extra from any area):
- World Cultures and Global Issues
- U. S. Experience in its Diversity
- Creative Expression
- Individual and Society
- Scientific World
Medgar Evers College Option
For Bachelor’s Degree Students Only
If you’re working toward a bachelor’s degree, you’ll take four additional courses (12 credits) as part of the Medgar Evers College Option. These courses are designed to build on what you’ve learned in the Required and Flexible Cores—helping you dive deeper into cultural understanding and interdisciplinary thinking.
You’ll take:
- One course from the Socio-Cultural area
- Three courses from Integrative Knowledge
These classes aim to enhance your experience at Medgar and prepare you for lifelong learning.
Note: Courses taken for other Core requirements can’t be used again for this option.
Be sure to check in with your academic advisor when choosing courses for your general education requirements—they’re here to help you stay on track.
STEM Variants
If you’re majoring in a field like Biology, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Math, Nursing, or Business, you might be able to take more advanced math or science courses that count toward both your general education and your major. These are called STEM variants—a smart way to stay on track and dive deeper into your area of study. Talk to your advisor to see which options are right for you.