General Education
General Education Philosophy
The General Education program prepares you for success at CWU and as a citizen in our dynamic, diverse, and global society. The program fosters integrated learning, enhancing your ability to make connections across courses and disciplines and to apply a breadth of knowledge to real-world problems.
It will help you develop skills in critical thinking, clear communication, creative leadership, ethical decision making, and complex problem solving. Combined with your major, the General Education program will cultivate curiosity, empower personal development, strengthen understanding of and respect for diverse perspectives, and build a foundation for lifelong learning.
Explore General Education
Program-level student learner outcomes are within program goals through a student's opportunity and ability to explore, engage, connect, create, and empathize in academic and/or real-world settings. This website reflects the current General Education Program.
General Education Programs prior to Fall 2025 are reflected in your AR report. Please consult your AR Report and academic advisor.
Program-Level Goals
You will explore a breadth of knowledge, methods of inquiry and reasoning, and fundamental questions.
Component Areas
The main framework component areas have elements with the exception of the Culminating Experience.
Planning Your General Education Experience
Planning Your Gen Ed Experience and Beyond: Academic Requirements (AR) Report and Advising
Useful Resources for Your Success
The resources available to you that promote your academic success, health, and well-being.
Directed Self-Placement Writing Tool
CWU uses a Directed Self-Placement (DSP) tool to help students select and AWI course that best fits their needs.
Directed Self-Placement Math Tool
Directed Self-Placement for Your First CWU Mathematics Course
Assessing the General Education Program
Measuring the effectiveness of our General Education program.
Your Questions, Our Answers
We understand that higher education can be intimidating, and we want to help you in any way that we can.
CWU News
Basic Needs, Wildcat Pantry continue expanding access for all CWU students
March 18, 2026 by Rune Torgersen
CWU Trustees to hold special virtual meeting on Friday
March 17, 2026 by Marketing and Communications
Lumina Foundation grant to support high-impact practices at CWU
March 16, 2026 by Marketing and Communications