Former General Education Requirements

See also Who Completes the CORE Program

Statute of Limitations for Previous General Education Programs at UMCP (GEP, GUR, USP):

Students who return or transfer to the College Park campus after August 1987, will no longer have the option of completing general education requirements under the older General Education Program (GEP) or General University Requirements (GUR). Thereafter, if you return or transfer to College Park after a separation of five continuous years, you must follow the requirements at the time of re-entry. If you had completed 60% or more of the general education requirements in effect at the time of separation, an exception may be granted. For example, if you entered UM for the first time in 1985, took classes for two years, and then left school until 1995, unless you had completed at least 60% of the general education requirements in effect when you were first a student (1985-1987), you would be required to finish your degree under the CORE general education requirements. Contact the CORE Office if you have questions.

Only students meeting USP requirements may select courses from the USP lists. USP courses may also be used to satisfy college, major and/or supporting area requirements if the course also appears on USP Distributive Studies lists. They may not be taken on a Pass-Fail basis.

Students under the USP requirements may choose to fulfill CORE requirements instead, or to substitute CORE courses for USP courses in appropriate categories. Check with the CORE Office for details (301-405-9359).

USP Fundamental Studies

3 courses required

USP Fundamental Studies requirements are identical to CORE Fundamental Studies Requirements.

USP Distributive Studies

8 courses (2 courses from each of four areas)

Area A: Culture and History
Two courses required
Area B: Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Two courses required. At least one course MUST be a lab science.
Area C: Literature and the Arts
Two courses required. The two Area C courses must be taken in two different departments.
Area D: Social and Behavioral Sciences
Two courses required

USP Advanced Studies

2 courses required

USP Advanced Studies requirements have been the same as CORE Advanced Studies requirements since August 1994.