Degree Requirements

General Studies are new! That means only students who started with NAU in Fall 2025 or later will follow this program. Students who started with NAU before fall 2025 will follow Liberal Studies instead (skip to the next drop down menu if you started at NAU before Fall 2025).

What is General Studies?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8P31jtMVGc&t=1s

This is your opportunity to take courses outside of your major area so you can expand your knowledge base and transferable skills. When selecting General Studies classes you may want to consider asking these questions:

• How might this General Studies course connect to my major, or help me find a major?

• How might this General Studies course help me grow personally?

• How might this General Studies course prepare me for a career after college?

What is Required?

Foundations (7 units) - There are a number of options to complete these requirements including transfer and test credit.  The most optimal course may depend on your major, career goals, and placement. Work with your advisor to make the best selection possible.

• English Foundations (4 units)

• Mathematics Foundations (3 units)

Knowledge Areas (27 units with embedded Inclusive Perspectives) - You will have the opportunity to explore many options to complete each of these areas. Some may be built into your major, but others you can choose something completely different! Your advisor will help you understand how these fit with your particular degree and goals. 

• Arts and Humanities (9 units)

• Social and Political Worlds (6 units)

• American Institutions (3 units)

• Scientific Literacy & Scientific Methods (9 units)

  • Scientific Literacy (6 units)

    • Physical/Life/Space or Earth Sciences (3 units)

    • Social Sciences (3 units)

  • Scientific Methods (3-4 units)

• Inclusive Perspectives

  • Global (3 units)

  • U.S. Ethnic (3 units)

  • Indigenous Peoples (3 units)

If you started with NAU before Fall 2025, watch this video to learn about the Liberal Studies Program and how that fits in with your degree requirements. 

Foundation Requirements

• English Composition (minimum of 4 units)

• Mathematics (minimum of 3 units)

Distribution Block Requirements

• Aesthetic and Humanistic Inquiry - AHI (minimum of 6 units)

• Cultural Understanding - CU (minimum of 6 units)

• Science (minimum of 7 units)

  • 3-4 units of Science and Applied Science - SAS course(s) AND

  • 3-4 units of Science and Applied Science with embedded Lab Science course - LAB

• Social and Political Worlds - SPW (minimum of 6 units)

• 3 additional units from any distribution block or foundation category to meet the 35 unit Liberal Studies requirement

Major or minor requirements are the classes that are required for your specific program (i.e., your major, and your minor if you have one). These would be classes that you must take to successfully complete your degree requirements. Often, there is a specific progression plan or track for your major's classes, which means there is a specific order courses need to be taken in, and students must follow those prerequisite requirements before enrolling into future classes. Make sure to talk with your advisor and review your specific major progression plan to learn about prerequisites, corequisites, and the progression plan of your program. 

Elective courses (also known as General Electives) are classes that count towards your degree but are not used for your major/minor or liberal/general studies requirements. ANY class at NAU may be used as an Elective.  The number of electives you take will depend on your major. Some majors like Mechanical Engineering have more major requirements and fewer electives while a major like Sociology has fewer major requirements and more flexibility to take electives.

Your Math Placement score is based on one or several factors: SAT or ACT scores, transfer math credits, high school GPA, AP/IB test scores, and/or the NAU Math Placement Test. Your very first math class you take at NAU is based on your Math Placement. Some majors require more math than others, but all majors require a Foundational Math Class, which will differ based on your specific program and your Math Placement score. 

Several majors, such as Engineering, Math, or Sciences, require students to take a specific math class during the first semester to ensure that they will be on a 4-year progression track to graduation (starting at a lower level math class could delay your expected graduation term depending on your major). Make sure to check your specific degree requirements and contact your advisor to learn which math class or classes are required for your major and if you need to take the NAU Math Placement Test.

If you do need to take the NAU Math Placement Test , you can take it anywhere as the test is fully online. Students can take the test up to three times, and NAU will count the highest score.  There is also the Peak Performance Program offered in the summer to any incoming NAU student to assist them with improving their score on the test.  

You can learn more information about your math placement and the test from the Math Placement website.