What Classes Are Required in College

Short answer

• There is no single national list of classes that every college student in the United States must take. Instead, each college sets its own graduation requirements, and those requirements usually fall into three large groups: general education courses taken by students in many different majors, courses required for a chosen major, and electives chosen by the student. Most bachelor's degrees are built from at least 120 semester credits, and most associate degrees from at least 60 semester credits, but the exact courses, the number of credits in each group, and extra rules such as a minimum grade or a capstone project all depend on the institution, the degree, and the major. The authoritative source for any one student is that institution's catalog for the year the student enrolled, together with the degree audit or advising record that tracks progress against it.

Why There Is No One National Course List

A common misunderstanding about college in the United States is that a central authority prescribes the same classes everywhere. In practice, colleges and universities design their own curricula within standards set by their accrediting agencies and, for public institutions, sometimes by a state system. That is why two students pursuing the same major at two different colleges can graduate with overlapping but different transcripts.

This variety is also why general statements in this article are phrased carefully. Where a number or a rule is given, it is either a widely used minimum, such as the 120 credit minimum for a bachelor’s degree, or an example from a named institution’s published catalog. Examples illustrate how requirements work; they do not set the rule for any other college. A student who wants a definite answer for a particular program should check that program’s catalog and confirm it with an academic adviser at that institution.

It also helps to be clear about what the word college covers. In everyday American English, college often means any undergraduate education after high school, including community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and large research universities. The difference between a college and a university is mostly about size, scope, and whether graduate degrees are offered, not about whether required classes exist. Both kinds of institution set graduation requirements, and both use the same basic building blocks described below.

The Building Blocks of a Degree

Credit hours: the unit everything is counted in

College requirements are usually measured in credit hours rather than in a fixed number of classes. A typical lecture course carries 3 credits, laboratory courses may carry 4 credits, and seminars or activity courses may carry 1 or 2 credits. A degree requirement is therefore a total, such as 120 credits, divided among categories.

The federal definition of a credit hour, at 34 CFR 600.2, describes one semester hour of credit as an amount of student work that reasonably approximates at least one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction plus a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks, or an equivalent amount of work for other activities such as laboratory work, internships, practica, and studio work. In plain terms, a 3 credit course is generally understood to involve about 9 hours of total student work per week across a fifteen week semester: 3 hours in class and about 6 hours outside it. The exact balance varies by course type, and the institution defines the credit hour within that federal framework, subject to approval by its accrediting agency or state approval agency.

Two calendar systems change how credits are counted. Most colleges use semesters, with two main terms per academic year. Some use quarters, with three main terms per academic year, and quarter credits are smaller units: the New England Commission of Higher Education states the bachelor’s minimum as 120 semester credits or 180 quarter units. A student transferring between a semester school and a quarter school will therefore see credits converted, and the converted total may not match the original total exactly.

Full time status is also defined in credits. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte catalog, for example, treats an undergraduate enrolled in 12 or more credit hours as a full time student, and describes 15 to 18 credit hours as a normal full semester load. Completing about 15 credits per semester is the pace that fits a 120 credit degree into eight semesters, or four academic years, but many students take longer, and taking longer does not by itself signal a problem.

The three main groups

Almost every undergraduate degree combines the same three groups, in different proportions:

1. General education requirements. Broad courses required of students across many majors, intended to build writing, quantitative reasoning, scientific understanding, and knowledge of society and culture.
2. Major requirements. Courses in the student’s chosen field, often arranged in a sequence from introductory to advanced work, sometimes ending in a capstone course, thesis, portfolio, or internship.
3. Electives. Remaining credits the student fills by choice, within limits set by the institution. Some electives are free, meaning almost any course counts. Others are restricted, meaning the student must choose from an approved list, for example electives within the major or within a related field.

A fourth element appears at many institutions: additional institutional requirements that sit outside these groups, such as a writing intensive course in the major, a diversity or global perspectives course, a first year seminar, or a minimum number of upper division credits. These are described later in this article.

General Education Requirements

General education, often shortened to gen ed, is the part of the degree meant to give every graduate a broad foundation, whatever the major. The idea is that a graduate should be able to write clearly, reason with numbers, understand basic scientific methods, and make sense of historical, social, and cultural questions. The exact categories vary, but the recurring areas are writing and communication, mathematics or quantitative reasoning, natural sciences, social and behavioral sciences, humanities and fine arts, and sometimes history, languages, or civic knowledge.

The size of the general education block varies noticeably. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga catalog lists a general education distribution of 40 to 41 hours in total, spread across writing and communication (6 hours), humanities and fine arts (12 hours), natural science (7 to 8 hours), behavioral and social science (6 hours), quantitative reasoning (6 hours), and individual and global citizenship (3 hours). California State University, San Bernardino sets its general education requirements at 43 units, organized into foundation courses in communication, critical thinking, mathematics and quantitative reasoning, and the sciences, plus upper division exploration across disciplines. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro describes its general education curriculum, Minerva’s Academic Curriculum, as 33 to 34 credit hours covering eleven competencies, including written and oral communication, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

These examples show why a single figure for general education would be misleading. A reasonable general guide is that general education often accounts for roughly one third of a bachelor’s degree, but the examples above range from the low 30s to the low 40s in credit hours, and some programs set it higher or lower. The institution’s catalog gives the exact figure.

Within each category, students usually choose from a list rather than taking one prescribed course. A natural science requirement might be satisfied by biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, or earth science, and a social science requirement by psychology, sociology, economics, political science, or anthropology. Some categories, however, are prescriptive: a writing requirement very often means a specific first year composition sequence, and a mathematics requirement may be set by the major, so that a future engineer takes calculus while a future journalist takes statistics. Placement also matters. A student may place into a higher level mathematics or language course on the basis of prior coursework or a placement test, which can change which courses satisfy the requirement without reducing the total credits needed.

Some general education requirements carry grade rules. The Chattanooga catalog, for example, requires a grade of C or better in both writing and communication courses. Grade minimums are common for writing and for major courses, and a course passed with a lower grade may need to be repeated or may count only as an elective. Again, the catalog for the student’s program states the rule.

Major Requirements

Major requirements are the specialized core of the degree. They typically include introductory courses that define the field, intermediate courses that build methods and knowledge, and advanced courses, numbered at the 300 or 400 level in many catalogs, that require earlier courses as prerequisites. Prerequisites are what turn a list of courses into a sequence: a student usually cannot enroll in organic chemistry before general chemistry, or in advanced statistics before introductory statistics, because the later course assumes the earlier material.

The shape of a major differs sharply by field. A communications major, for example, may combine media writing, communication theory, research methods, and production or presentation work, as described in Amberaisle’s guide to what a communications major is. A degree in public health typically adds epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, and environmental health. A video game design degree combines art, programming, design theory, and project work. None of these patterns can be copied from one field to another, which is why choosing a major early, or at least understanding its prerequisite chain, makes scheduling much easier.

Many majors end with a culminating requirement. This may be called a capstone course, a senior seminar, a thesis, a portfolio review, a performance, or an internship. The purpose is similar in each case: to show that the student can combine what the separate courses taught into one substantial piece of work. Some majors also require field experience, student teaching, clinical placement, or a licensure related course, and those requirements can push the total credits above the standard minimum. Programs with heavy professional or accreditation requirements, such as some engineering, nursing, and teacher preparation programs, are the most likely to exceed 120 credits.

Majors also commonly impose their own grade and progression rules, such as a minimum grade in every major course, a minimum grade point average within the major, or a rule that a course may be attempted only a set number of times. These rules are separate from the institution’s general graduation rules, and both must be satisfied.

Minors, concentrations, and second majors

A minor is a smaller, structured set of courses in a second field, usually around 15 to 21 credits, though the figure varies by institution. A concentration or track is a grouping of courses within a major, such as marketing within a business major. A second major means completing the full requirements of two majors, which usually takes more credits than a single major plus electives, and sometimes more than the standard degree total. None of these is required for every degree; they are options that use elective space or add credits. A student considering a minor or a second major should check whether the extra courses fit within the degree total or extend the time to graduation.

Electives: Choice Within Limits

Electives are often described as free choice, and in one sense they are: a free elective can be almost any course the student is eligible to take. But electives serve several practical purposes that are worth understanding before treating them as filler.

First, electives bring the credit total up to the degree minimum after general education and major requirements are counted. Second, they let students explore a possible major, build a minor, or pick up useful skills such as a programming course, a language, or a statistics course. Third, restricted electives within a major let a department offer choice while keeping depth: a history major might choose three electives from a list of approved upper division history courses, for example.

There are also limits worth noting. Some institutions restrict how many credits from one area, such as physical activity courses, applied music lessons, or internship credits, can count toward a degree. Some require a minimum number of upper division elective credits, so that a student cannot fill the entire elective block with introductory courses. And some courses, such as remedial or developmental courses, may not count toward graduation at all even though they appear on the transcript and carry a course load. The catalog states which courses count and which do not.

Other Requirements That Appear on Many Degree Plans

Beyond the three main groups, several requirements appear often enough that a student should expect to meet at least some of them:

• Upper division minimum. Many bachelor’s degrees require a minimum number of credits at the upper division level, commonly junior and senior level courses, so that the degree reflects advanced work and not only introductory surveys.
• Residency requirement. Many institutions require that a minimum number of credits, often including a minimum number within the major, be earned at that institution rather than transferred in. This is sometimes called a residency requirement even when the student lives off campus, because it concerns academic residence, not housing.
• Writing intensive or writing in the major. Some institutions require one or more courses designated as writing intensive, often an advanced writing course inside the major, in addition to first year composition.
• Diversity, global, or civic perspectives. Some catalogs include a requirement in diversity and inclusiveness, global perspectives, or civic knowledge, which may be satisfied by a course that also counts toward general education or the major. Where a single course satisfies two requirements at once, catalogs usually say so explicitly.
• First year seminar or orientation course. Some institutions require a small seminar for entering students covering academic skills, campus resources, and transition to college study. These courses are typically 1 to 3 credits.
• Grade point average minimum. Graduation commonly requires a minimum overall grade point average, often 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, and sometimes a separate minimum within the major. The figure is an institutional rule, not a national one, so the catalog governs.
• Assessment and portfolio requirements. A few programs require a standardized assessment, a portfolio review, or an exit examination in the major. These are program rules, not general college requirements, and they are stated in the program’s catalog section.

Physical education is a useful example of a requirement that has largely disappeared. Older catalogs often required physical education courses, but many institutions have removed that requirement, and it should never be assumed. If a catalog does not list it, it is not required.

How Requirements Vary

By institution

Public and private institutions, large research universities and small liberal arts colleges, and open access community colleges all set their own curricula. A state system may also set boundaries: the University of North Carolina System policy, for example, provides that baccalaureate degree programs shall require no more than 120 semester credit hours, with exceptions granted only through an approved petition process. That kind of system rule explains why two public universities in the same state can have nearly identical degree totals while a private university elsewhere sets a higher total for a comparable program.

Accreditation adds another layer. The New England Commission of Higher Education states that a bachelor’s degree consists of a minimum of 120 credits, an associate’s degree a minimum of 60 credits, and a master’s degree a minimum of 30 credits, and that an institution must have approval to offer a modified degree with fewer credits. Accrediting standards of this kind set floors and expectations, but they do not prescribe the course list. The course list remains the institution’s own.

By degree level

The degree level changes the total and the balance. An associate degree, normally about two academic years of full time study, requires a minimum of 60 semester credits under the same accrediting expectation, with a smaller general education block and, in career focused associate programs, a larger share of occupational coursework. A bachelor’s degree, normally about four academic years of full time study, requires a minimum of 120 semester credits. Graduate degrees work differently again: a master’s degree requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, and its requirements are almost entirely within the field, with no general education block. Amberaisle’s explainer on what an MA degree is describes how that graduate structure differs from undergraduate study.

By major

As noted above, the major is the largest source of variation. A major with extensive prerequisites and laboratory or field requirements will have a longer, more rigid sequence and less elective freedom. A major with few prerequisites leaves more room for electives, minors, or a second major. Some majors also require courses outside the department: a biology major may require chemistry, mathematics, and physics; an economics major may require calculus and statistics; a music major may require ensemble participation every semester. These supporting requirements, sometimes called cognates, count toward the degree but are easy to overlook when reading only the major’s own course list.

By state and by transfer history

State systems sometimes set common general education frameworks so that credits transfer more easily between public institutions in the same state. Transfer students face a special version of the variation problem: a course that satisfied a requirement at one college may transfer as elective credit only at another, if the receiving institution’s catalog treats it differently. Residency rules and upper division minimums can also mean that a transfer student needs more than the standard remaining credits. For that reason, transfer students are usually advised to compare catalogs and to get transfer evaluations in writing before enrolling, as a general planning step rather than as advice about any individual case.

By prior learning and placement

Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment, and military or workforce training credit can change which courses a student still needs, because institutions may award credit for prior learning. The amount of credit, the courses it replaces, and any cap on such credit are institutional policies. A student who arrives with such credit may satisfy some general education or introductory major requirements early, but the total credits required for the degree usually stay the same unless the catalog says otherwise, so the freed space becomes elective space.

A Typical Four Year Plan, as an Illustration

The following is an illustrative pattern only, built from the structures described above. It is not a prescription for any real program, and real catalogs differ in every row.

In a first year, a student typically takes first year composition, an introductory mathematics or quantitative reasoning course, one or two general education courses in the sciences or social sciences, a first course in a possible major, and perhaps a first year seminar. In a second year, general education continues, the major’s introductory sequence is completed, and prerequisites for upper division major courses are finished. In a third year, the balance shifts toward upper division major courses, with general education mostly complete and electives or a minor beginning. In a fourth year, advanced major courses dominate, a capstone or culminating project is completed, and remaining electives bring the total to the degree minimum.

A student who changes major late, fails a prerequisite, or transfers between institutions may find this pattern disrupted, because a missed prerequisite can delay a whole chain of later courses by a semester or more. That is a scheduling consequence, not a penalty: the requirement itself has not changed, but the order in which it can be completed has. Planning tools such as a degree audit, which shows each requirement and whether it is satisfied, in progress, or still outstanding, exist to make that order visible. Building a steady study routine alongside the plan helps too; Amberaisle’s guides to how to create a study plan, how to create a study guide, and how to focus while studying cover the study side of college work in more detail.

How to Find Your Own Required Classes

For any specific student, the answer to the question in the title comes from three documents, in this order:

1. The institution’s catalog for the student’s catalog year. The catalog year is usually the year the student first enrolled, and it fixes the requirements that apply to that student even if the catalog later changes. Catalogs are published online by almost every institution and are searchable by program name.
2. The program’s degree plan or curriculum sheet. Many departments publish a suggested semester by semester plan showing the intended order of prerequisites. This is a planning aid, not a substitute for the catalog.
3. The degree audit. This is the institution’s own record of which requirements the student has satisfied, which are in progress, and which remain. It is the most reliable single check, because it applies the catalog rules to the student’s actual transcript, including transfer credit.

An academic adviser can interpret these documents and explain options, such as whether a course counts in two categories or whether a substitution is possible. Substitution and waiver policies are institutional: a department may allow a related course to substitute for a required course, or may waive a requirement without reducing the total credits needed. Neither should be assumed without written confirmation from the institution.

Students sometimes ask whether they can simply take extra classes beyond the requirements. In general, yes, subject to course availability, prerequisites, and any institutional limit on total credits or tuition charges above a full time load. Extra courses appear on the transcript, but only courses the catalog counts toward the degree move the student closer to graduation.

Common Misunderstandings

“Every college requires the same core classes.” No. The categories are similar across institutions, but the course lists, credit totals, and grade rules differ, as the Chattanooga, San Bernardino, and Greensboro examples show.

“Electives do not matter.” Electives count toward the degree total, and poorly chosen electives can still leave a student short of an upper division minimum or a residency requirement. Electives chosen with a minor or a skill goal in mind usually serve the student better than electives chosen at random.

“A 120 credit degree always takes four years.” A 120 credit degree is designed around four years of full time study at about 15 credits per semester, but part time study, changed majors, failed or repeated courses, and transfer complications commonly extend it. Amberaisle’s article on what age people graduate college discusses how graduation timing varies in practice.

“General education is wasted time before the real degree starts.” General education courses build the writing, quantitative, and analytical skills that upper division major courses assume. A student who treats them as unrelated to the major may still benefit, because later coursework, including research methods and capstone projects, draws on those skills.

“If a course is listed in the catalog, it is offered every semester.” Catalogs list courses an institution is authorized to offer, not a promise of when each one runs. Small or specialized courses may run once a year or every other year, which is another reason to check the schedule of classes, not only the catalog, when planning a sequence.

“Online and in person requirements are different degrees.” The degree requirements are set by the program, not by the delivery format. An online section of a required course satisfies the same requirement as an in person section of the same course, provided the catalog lists it that way. Availability and format vary, but the requirement does not change with format.

Costs, Time, and Planning Notes

Required classes affect more than a transcript. Extra credits beyond the degree minimum can extend enrollment, and extended enrollment can affect tuition and living costs. Amberaisle’s guide to how much average college tuition costs over four years gives a general picture of those costs. The planning implication is simple: understanding the full requirement list early, including prerequisites and courses offered only once a year, reduces the chance of an avoidable extra semester. That is a general observation, not a guarantee about any student’s costs or timeline.

Networking and campus involvement also sit alongside required classes rather than inside them. Most degrees do not require a set number of networking events, but relationships built through classes, projects, and campus activities often matter after graduation. Amberaisle’s networking tips for college students cover that side of college life separately from coursework requirements.

Assessment is the other everyday reality of required classes. Every required course brings its own examinations, papers, or projects, and the skills for handling them are built over years of schooling, not in a single semester. Good habits for preparing for examinations, including the test-taking strategies covered for younger students, illustrate how early those habits begin, even though college examinations differ in scope and depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all colleges require English and math?

Almost all undergraduate degrees include writing and quantitative reasoning requirements, but the specific courses differ. One institution may require two composition courses, another may require composition plus a writing intensive course in the major, and mathematics may range from college algebra to calculus or statistics depending on the major. The catalog for the program gives the exact requirement.

How many classes are required in college in total?

The answer is usually given in credits, not in a count of classes. A bachelor’s degree requires a minimum of 120 semester credits, and at about 3 credits per course that is roughly 40 courses, though the actual count varies because courses carry 1 to 4 credits or more. An associate degree requires a minimum of 60 semester credits, or roughly 20 courses on the same rough basis. These are approximations for orientation only; the catalog’s credit total governs.

Are general education classes required even if they have nothing to do with my major?

Yes, at institutions that have a general education program, which is most of them. The requirement applies across majors by design, because its purpose is breadth rather than specialization. A student who believes a particular requirement should not apply to them can ask the institution about substitution or waiver policies, but should not assume an exception exists.

Can I test out of required classes?

Sometimes. Institutions may award credit for Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examinations, dual enrollment courses, or placement tests, and may allow a placement test to move a student into a higher level course. Whether credit is awarded, which requirement it satisfies, and any cap on such credit are institutional policies stated in the catalog.

What happens if I fail a required class?

The course normally must be repeated or replaced according to the program’s rules, and the failed attempt usually remains on the transcript even after a successful repeat. A failed prerequisite blocks later courses that depend on it until it is passed. Grade replacement and grade forgiveness policies, where they exist, are institutional, and the catalog states whether a repeated grade replaces or averages with the original.

Do transfer students have to retake all their classes?

No, but not every transferred course necessarily satisfies the same requirement at the new institution. A course may transfer as general education credit, major credit, or elective credit only, depending on how the receiving institution classifies it. A transfer evaluation and a degree audit show the result course by course, and residency and upper division rules may still require additional credits at the new institution.

Do requirements change while I am enrolled?

Usually a student keeps the catalog year under which they enrolled, so later catalog changes do not normally rewrite that student’s requirements. Exceptions exist, for example when a program is discontinued or when an accrediting body changes a standard, and institutions publish transition rules for those cases. Students who take a long break from enrollment should confirm which catalog year still applies to them.

Are required classes the same for online degrees?

The degree requirements are set by the program, and an online program from an institution normally carries the same catalog requirements as the corresponding campus program at that institution. Course availability, scheduling, and some activity requirements may differ, but the credit totals and categories come from the same catalog.

Sources & references

• U.S. Department of Education, 34 CFR 600.2, definition of a credit hour (one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction plus a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit, or the equivalent for other academic activities).
• New England Commission of Higher Education, Policy on Credits and Degrees (bachelor's degree minimum of 120 credits, associate's degree minimum of 60 credits, master's degree minimum of 30 credits; bachelor's degree as 120 semester credits or 180 quarter units).
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Academic Credit catalog page (bachelor's degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours; 12 or more credit hours is full time; 15 to 18 credit hours is a normal full semester load).
• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, General Education catalog page (general education distribution of 40 to 41 hours: writing and communication 6 hours, humanities and fine arts 12 hours, natural science 7 to 8 hours, behavioral and social science 6 hours, quantitative reasoning 6 hours, individual and global citizenship 3 hours; grade of C or better required in writing and communication courses).
• California State University, San Bernardino, General Education Program catalog page (general education requirements of 43 units, including foundation and upper division requirements).
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro, General Education Program catalog page (Minerva's Academic Curriculum: eleven competencies in 33 to 34 credit hours).
• University of North Carolina System, Policy 400.1.5[R] (baccalaureate degree programs shall require no more than 120 semester credit hours, with exceptions only through an approved petition process).
• SERP record: literal search of "what classes are required in college" on 4 Nov 2026 returned competing explainers from learn.org, onlineu.com, climbtheladder.com, bold.org, and bookscouter.com, all organized around general education, major courses, and electives, with credit figures of about 120 for a bachelor's degree and general education blocks in the range of about 30 to 60 credits. This article differentiates itself by grounding credit totals in the federal credit hour definition, accrediting expectations, and named university catalogs, and by explaining variation by institution, degree level, major, and transfer history rather than presenting one fixed course list.