The University’s general education requirements for all students are designed to be integrated throughout your four-year undergraduate experience. These courses provide you an opportunity to explore fields outside your major and complement your major curriculum with a multidisciplinary perspective. Both the BS in Health Sciences and BS in Health Professions degrees offered at the University of Minnesota Rochester require the same general education requirements.
- List of courses that fulfill your general education requirements at UMR
- Reference the Class Search when planning your degree
- Use the University Course Catalog to find degree requirements
UMR's General Education requirements will be changing in Fall of 2026. Below you will find both sets of requirements. The Current Requirements must be fulfilled by students who were admitted to UMR prior to Fall of 2026. The Future Requirements (2026+) must be fulfilled by students who will be admitted to UMR in the Fall of 2026 and onward. Students planning to transfer to UMR in Fall 2026 should use the Future Requirements for their transfer planning. A more complete description of the 2026 requirements can be found at z.umn.edu/UMRGenEd
Current General Education requirements
The general education areas guide you through the "why" and "how" of different academic disciplines. These classes will equip you with a broad range of tools that can be used to approach problems in everyday life and work, and, ultimately, help you make a positive difference within communities, society, and the world. Students are required to satisfy all seven core requirements.
| Requirements for UMR students | Required credits |
|---|---|
| Arts/Humanities | 3 credits |
| Biological Sciences | 4 credits; must include lab or field experience |
| Historical Perspectives | 3 credits |
| Literature | 3 credits |
| Mathematical Thinking | 3 credits |
| Physical Sciences | 4 credits; must include lab or field experience |
| Social Sciences | 3 credits |
The general education themes are topics central to an understanding of contemporary life. Investigating these themes helps you prepare to become knowledgeable, ethical, and engaged public citizens. You are required to satisfy all five themes.
| Requirements for UMR students | Required credits |
|---|---|
| Civic Life and Ethics | 3 credits |
| Diversity and Social Justice in the United States | 3 credits |
| The Environment | 3 credits |
| Global Perspectives | 3 credits |
| Technology and Society | 3 credits |
Students are required to satisfy all five areas.
| Requirements for UMR students | Required credits |
|---|---|
| Humanities | 6 credits in at least two subject areas |
| Laboratory Sciences | 6 credits in at least two subject areas; courses must include lab or field experience |
| Social Sciences | 6 credits in at least two subject areas |
| Writing | 3 credits |
| Mathematical Thinking | 3 credits |
Students must fulfill four of the five themes.
| Requirements for UMR students | Required credits |
|---|---|
| Challenges in Human Health | 3 credits |
| Challenges in Interpersonal Interactions | 3 credits |
| Challenges in Social Structures | 3 credits |
| Challenges in Sustainability | 3 credits |
| Challenges Throughout History | 3 credits |