Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is NJCU changing its General Education Program?
A: The General Education Program continues to provide students with invaluable learning experiences across a wide range of academic fields, preparing students for success in their personal, professional, and civic lives. The goal has not changed, but we are changing how we achieve it. All students deserve the same quality program, one that is easy to understand, follow, and one that opens rather than blocks opportunities. Given NJCU’s unique character, doing all this requires offering a transfer-friendly General Education Program, one that will make NJCU as transfer-friendly as we aspire to be. We are thus revising our program to align with the standardized General Education Program at NJ’s Community Colleges. All courses approved by the state for satisfying General Education requirement are approved at NJCU too for General Education (bar a few Math and English course).

Q: What are the General Education requirements if I entered NJCU before fall 2024? 
A. Students either follow the requirements in place during their first semester at NJCU or they may migrate to the new curriculum effective from fall 2024. For students who do not migrate to the new curriculum, they may identify the requirements they must follow here:

• Students entering NJCU between fall 2021 and spring 2024 follow the curriculum first detailed in the 2021-2022 catalog.
• Students entering NJCU between fall 2015 and spring 2021 follow the curriculum detailed in the 2017-2018 catalog.

Q: Why should I migrate to the new program?
A. In the new program, many more courses, including many traditional major courses, can be used towards General Education requirements. Additionally, many courses that transfer students took at NJ’s community colleges for General Education will now satisfy NJCU’s General Education requirements. As such, many existing students will be closer to completion by migrating to the new program.

Q: Can I take courses in my major towards General Education requirement.
A. The new program allows for many courses in a major to count towards General Education requirement. Some major programs may place restrictions on the number of such courses you can take towards the major, so please check with your major advisor.

Q: I am a transfer student. How does the new program affect me?
A. In NJ, students with an A.A., A.S., B.A., or B.S., from an accredited institution are waived General Education requirements upon transfer to one of NJ’s four year institutions. However, students without such an earned degree, including those with an A.A.S, are not waived their General Education requirements. In NJCU’s new program, transfer students with 60 or more earned credits are waived the Capstone and Civic Engagement requirements. The requirements they must satisfy are easily satisfied with the General Education courses at NJ’s Community Colleges.

Q: I am thinking about migrating, but I’m not sure. What should I do? 
A: Please contact your academic advisor. They have access to a ‘what if’ tool that analyzes the impact of migration.

Q: I want to migrate, how do I do so?
A: Please contact your academic advisor. They will update your requirement term, and our degree audit software will automatically update your degree progress report to show your progress under the new requirements.

Q: What if I choose not to migrate?
A: A full range of courses are offered every semester that fulfill requirements in place before fall 2024. The Degree Audit/Academic Requirements feature of GothicNet lists those courses that will fulfill your degree requirements. Please also consult with your academic advisor who will be able to help you select appropriate courses.  

Q: How do I know what courses to take in order to fulfill my General Education and Major requirements?
A: Students can view personalized General Education and Major program requirements and track degree progress by accessing the Degree Audit/Academic Requirements feature of GothicNet. The purpose of the Degree Audit/Academic Requirements feature is to provide information to assist in academic planning and scheduling. Degree Audits are available to currently enrolled undergraduate students. Students who have already declared a major and feel that the audit is not correctly analyzing their program requirements should contact their academic advisor. Students who have not yet declared a major should report to the University Advisement Center.

Q: What if I have another question?
A: Please contact your academic advisor about any aspect of the General Education Program.