What Is IMPACT?
Education is not just about what you learn — it's about what you do with it and who you become because of it.
The IMPACT Curriculum is GCU's general education program: a carefully designed set of courses, experiences, and competencies that every undergraduate student completes alongside their major. It's built on three core convictions:
IMPACT is transformational
You won't just graduate with knowledge — you'll leave with the ability to shape lives, solve problems, and create meaningful change. You'll become an agent of your own self-discovery and a visionary for the world we'll share.
IMPACT is mission-driven
Grounded in the values of mercy, this curriculum prepares you to be a just, compassionate leader in an evolving world. Values-based education encourages you to make meaning of what you're learning — and to make your experience meaningful.
Why IMPACT? Because a degree isn't enough.
Today's employers don't just want specialists — they want graduates who can think across disciplines, communicate with clarity, work across cultural differences, reason quantitatively, and lead with ethical grounding. The IMPACT Curriculum is built around exactly those competencies.
What are the "wicked problems" of the world — the ones that require collaboration, creativity, and rigorous analysis to solve — and how can your education position you not just to understand their complexity, but to help resolve them? The Sisters of Mercy demonstrate the power of contemplation in action through their emphasis on five critical concerns: Anti-Racism, Immigration & Migration, Women and Minoritized Genders, Environment, and Nonviolence and Peace. The IMPACT Curriculum invites you to bring those same commitments into your learning.
How the IMPACT Curriculum Is Organized
The IMPACT Curriculum is 34–39 credits, organized in three parts.
Part 1: MERCY CORE — The BRIDGE (8 credits)
The BRIDGE program is the heart of GCU's liberal arts education — the courses that build intellectual and personal bridges between your first days on campus and your last, between your coursework and your values, between who you are and who you're becoming.
GEN101: Pathway to the BRIDGE (2 credits) Required for first-time college students only Your first step into GCU's community of citizen-scholars. Through collaborative service projects, weekly workshops for personal and professional development, and engagement with GCU's mission, you'll build the habits of a curious, resilient, and purpose-driven learner. You won't just learn about your education — you'll shape it.
GEN199: Discovering Self in the Universe (3 credits) — Writing Intensive The Cornerstone Course What does it mean to be human in a complex, dynamic, and fragile world? Through philosophy, science, history, and culture, you'll examine how all of humanity is connected — and develop a deeper sense of self and a clearer vision for the kind of impact you want to have in the world. Typically taken in spring of the first year (or first semester at GCU for transfer students).
GEN400: Visioning a Future — Justice, Service, and Compassion (3 credits) — Writing Intensive The Capstone Course As you prepare to step beyond the university, this capstone experience asks you to synthesize your learning, engage in service, and explore pressing global issues. You'll reflect on how your education has shaped your worldview — and envision the future you want to help create. Prerequisite: Senior standing or program director approval; GEN199.
Part 2: MERCY CORE — Common Intellectual Experiences (9 credits)
Three courses that connect your learning to the Catholic intellectual tradition, ethical reasoning, and the realities of power and justice in society.
Religious Studies (3 credits) Faith traditions are more than rituals — they are blueprints for meaning, morality, and social change. These courses engage foundational texts, moral teachings, and global perspectives, exploring how faith traditions call us to action, justice, and mercy. Choose one approved course.
Ethics (3 credits) Ethical decisions shape everything — from personal choices to global policies. These courses equip you with the tools to analyze ethical dilemmas, challenge assumptions, and develop arguments grounded in philosophical and theological traditions of justice and moral reasoning. Choose one approved course. Prerequisite: completion of a Critical Reading & Analysis course.
Power & Society (3 credits) Power is everywhere — in laws, institutions, media, and culture. These courses challenge you to examine systemic oppression, analyze movements for social justice, and explore the intersections of gender, race, class, sexuality, and ability in shaping identity and society. Choose one approved course. Prerequisite: completion of a Critical Reading & Analysis course.
Part 3: IMPACT Competencies (22 credits)
Seven competency areas — one course each — that build the versatile, transferable skills employers want and communities need. You choose the specific course within each category that interests you most.
1. Academic Writing, Information Literacy & AI Proficiency (3 credits) Mastering the Art of Influence The ability to communicate clearly, think critically, and engage ethically with information is more essential than ever. You'll hone the power of words, learn to research and write with clarity and purpose, and develop foundational AI literacy — including ethical ways technology can enhance your writing and thinking. EN111 Writing, Research, and Digital Literacy or EN221 Honors equivalent. AI101 Google AI Essentials is an optional 0-credit supplement.
2. Creative Thinking & Expression (3 credits) Turning Imagination into Action Creativity fuels progress — from designing solutions to global challenges to expressing ideas in new and transformative ways. You'll cultivate the courage to think differently, the skills to bring ideas to life, and the confidence to make your mark. Choose one approved course in visual art, media, film, music, theatre, or creative writing.
3. Critical Reading & Analysis (3 credits) Decoding the World, One Text at a Time Every movement, every revolution, and every breakthrough begins with someone challenging the status quo. You'll learn to interrogate, interpret, and synthesize — sharpening your ability to analyze arguments, detect bias, and shape your own informed perspective. Note: Completion of a Critical Reading & Analysis course is a prerequisite for all Ethics and Power & Society courses.
4. Mathematical Reasoning (3 credits) Reading Numbers, Writing Change Mathematics is the language of patterns, logic, and problem-solving. Whether calculating risk, analyzing data, or building models for real-world challenges, you'll develop the mathematical mindset to break down complexity, find solutions, and make informed decisions in any field. Any mathematics course (MA prefix) or approved quantitative course.
5. Intercultural Understanding & Intercultural Communication (3 credits) Bridging Worlds, Building Change In an interconnected world, the ability to listen, understand, and communicate across cultures is not just a skill — it's a necessity. These courses invite you to step beyond your own experience, engage in dialogue, and develop the skills to build bridges and advocate for a more just and inclusive world. Choose one approved language, communication, or intercultural studies course.
6. Understanding Human Behavior & Social Systems (3 credits) Unraveling Systems, Creating Solutions Social structures shape our lives — from laws and economies to cultures and communities. You'll decode human behavior and social systems, empowering yourself to ask big questions, challenge injustices, and use data to advocate for change. Choose one approved course in sociology, psychology, economics, anthropology, political science, or social work.
7. Scientific Thinking (4 credits) Curiosity That Drives Discovery Science isn't just about knowledge — it's about questioning the world, seeking truth, and solving the problems that shape our future. You'll think like a scientist: using evidence, experimentation, and critical analysis to understand the natural world and contribute to discoveries that matter. Choose one approved course with a laboratory component.
Experiential Learning (included within the 34–39 credits)
Every GCU undergraduate completes two experiential learning requirements before graduating:
1. GEN400 Visioning a Future (your capstone, which includes a service learning project)
2. One additional experience chosen from: a service learning project in another course, an internship or practicum or field placement, an approved global education experience, or an approved research experience.
GCU believes learning happens beyond the classroom — and the IMPACT Curriculum ensures that every student's undergraduate experience includes real, applied engagement with the world.
| Mercy Core Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| MERCY CORE: The BRIDGE (GEN101¹, GEN199, GEN400) | 8 |
| MERCY CORE: Common Intellectual Experience (Religious Studies, Ethics, Power & Society) | 9 |
| IMPACT Competencies (7 areas) | 22 |
| Total | 34–39 |
¹ GEN101 is required only for first-time college students. Students entering GCU with 45 or more transfer credits are waived from GEN199 but may take it as an elective.
View the Full IMPACT Course List
The IMPACT general education program went into effect for students newly enrolled at GCU in fall 2025. For students following the BRIDGE general education requirements (students enrolled prior to fall 2025), Categories and Courses for the BRIDGE program are located here https://catalog.georgian.edu/archives/2024-2025/undergraduate/academic-programs/bridge-general-education-program-categories-courses/ (GCU home page, About GCU, publications and policies, 2024-2025 undergraduate catalog).
Note 1: No course can satisfy more than one IMPACT / general education requirement.
Note 2: A student cannot fulfill more than three IMPACT categories with courses from the same discipline. Example: There is at least one CM course in at least five categories. Students cannot use a CM course to fulfill more than three of the IMPACT categories.
Note 3: Each academic department can limit or restrict double-counting of courses for its program requirements and for the IMPACT curriculum. Consult individual program requirement pages for any policies that may be in place.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MERCY CORE: THE BRIDGE | ||
| First-Year Seminar | ||
| GEN101 | Pathway to the Bridge | 2.0 |
| Cornerstone 1 | ||
| GEN199 | WI:Discovering Self in the Universe | 3.0 |
| Capstone 1 | ||
| GEN400 | WI:Visioning a Future | 3.0 |
| MERCY CORE: COMMON INTELLECTUAL EXPERIENCE | ||
| Religious Studies 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
RS208 | Discovering the Bible | |
RS213 | Women & the Bible | |
RS220 | Exploring Christian Theology | |
RS260 | Christianity in Dialogue | |
| Power & Society (all courses have completion of a Critical Reading & Analysis course as a prerequisite) 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
AR310 | Women, Art & Society | |
CM244 | Women in Film | |
CM252 | Organizational Communication | |
EN217 | Women's Literature | |
ES320 | Gender in Sports | |
GPS311 | Gender, Power, &Society:Voices of Change | |
HST308 | Civil War & Reconstruction | |
HST320 | Rebels & Radicals in U.S. History | |
HST358 | Modern Middle East | |
PO211 | American National Government (PO211 fills the Power&Society requirement only for students in a Teacher Certification program) 3 | |
SW203 | Introduction to Social Welfare | |
SW253 | Human Rights & Social Justice | |
| Ethics (all courses have completion of a Critical Reading & Analysis course as a prerequisite) 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
BU319 | Business & Professional Ethics | |
PL300 | Philosophical Ethics | |
PL354 | Bioethics | |
RS334 | Theological Ethics | |
RS336 | Social Justice Ethics | |
| IMPACT COMPETENCIES | ||
| Academic Writing, Information Literacy, & AI Proficiency 1 | ||
| Required: | ||
| EN111 | Writing, Research, and Digital Literacy | 3.0 |
| or EN221 | HNRS: Rhetoric, Research & Digital Lit | |
| Strongly Recommended: (suggest taking after first year in college) | ||
| AI101 | Google AI Essentials | 0.0 |
| Creative Thinking & Expression 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
AR111 | Drawing I | |
AR113 | Visual Thinking & Design | |
AR214 | Mixed Media | |
AR220 | Modern Art | |
AR228 | European & U.S. Art | |
AR230 | Art of Medicine and Health | |
AR313 | Painting I | |
AR422 | Creative Photography I | |
CM200 | Visual Communication | |
CM205 | Transmedia Storytelling | |
CM217 | Media Production | |
CM235 | The Art of Film | |
EN174 | Beginning Shakespeare: Dramatic Readings | |
EN280 | Environmental Literature & Writing | |
MU214 | Music of the Americas | |
| Critical Reading & Analysis (completion of one of these courses is a prerequisite for all Ethics and Power & Society courses) 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
CM/EN245 | Writing About Television | |
EN113 | American Literature Before 1865 | |
EN114 | American Literature Since 1865 | |
EN115 | World Literature I | |
EN116 | World Literature II | |
EN175 | British Lit from Anglo-Saxon to 1785 | |
EN176 | British Lit Since 1785 | |
EN190 | TopicsPostcolonialLit | |
EN226 | HNR American Literature & Culture | |
HST110 | US History Survey to 1877 | |
HST111 | US History Survey since 1877 | |
HST120 | World History Survey to 1500 | |
HST121 | World History Survey since 1500 | |
HST304 | American Revolution & Aftermath | |
HST321 | Gandhi & King | |
HST374 | Europe Since 1914 | |
PL245 | Survey of Philosophy: The Big Questions | |
RS350 | Exploring Spiritual Autobiographies | |
RS360 | African American Religious Experience | |
| Intercultural Understanding & Intercultural Communication 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
Any French language course | ||
Any Italian language course | ||
Any Spanish language course | ||
CM105 | Public Speaking | |
CM251 | Intercultural Communication | |
PS300 | Multicultural Psychology | |
| Mathematical Reasoning 1,2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
Any Mathematics (MA) course | ||
BU121 | Quantitative Business Concepts | |
BU221 | Business Statistics & Probability | |
CS123 | Computer Programming I | |
PS232 | Intro to Stats for the Beh Sciences | |
| Scientific Thinking | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4.0 | |
BI111 | Life: Human Biology | |
BI121 | Cellular Organiz., Energetics & Function | |
BI219 | Microbiology (nursing and health profession studies majors only) | |
PH/SC103 | Earth Science | |
PH111 | Physics in Everyday Life I | |
PH112 | Physics in Everyday Life II | |
PH115 | College Physics I | |
PH121 | University Physics I | |
PH334 | Astronomy & Cosmology | |
PH337 | Physics of Meteorology | |
| Understanding Human Behavior & Social Systems 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
AN112 | Cultural Anthropol. What Makes Us Human? | |
CM302 | Mass Media & Social Issues | |
CM310 | Interpersonal Communication | |
EC180 | Contemporary Economics | |
EC181 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
EC182 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
PO211 | American National Government | |
PS111 | Introduction to Psychology | |
PS113 | Foundations of Psychology | |
PS221 | Child & Adolescent Development | |
PS227 | Lifespan Development | |
SO101 | Principles of Sociology | |
SW305 | Human Behavior & Social Environment I | |
SW306 | Human Behavior & Social Environment II | |
| Total Credits | 39.0 | |
- 1
GS150 General Education Abroad I, GS250 General Education Abroad II, or GS350 General Education Abroad III (see course descriptions below) may satisfy the general education requirement in this category.
- 2
Students must complete a course that is a minimum of three credits to satisfy the Mathematical Reasoning requirement.
- 3
PO211 American National Government will fulfill the Power & Society category only for students in a Teacher Certification program.
Experiential Learning
Two experiences must be successfully completed by all students earning a first bachelor's degree from GCU, whether or not they are transfer students:
- GEN400 WI:Visioning a Future, which includes a service learning project, and
- a service learning project completed in a course other than GEN101 Pathway to the Bridge or GEN400 WI:Visioning a Future, an internship/practicum/field placement, an approved global education experience, or an approved research experience.
Students are encouraged to complete more experiential learning experiences than the two that are required.
Sections of courses offering a service learning option will be identified on each semester’s course schedule and/or on the Office of the Registrar’s web page.
Students completing one of the following noncredit or for-credit courses will have satisfied one of the two experiential learning requirements (the internship/field placement/practicum type of option.) A noncredit internship not completed in association with a course will also satisfy this requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Internship/Field Placement/Practicum Course and Credits | ||
| AC451 | Accounting Internship | 1.0 |
| BI401 | Medical Technology Internship I | 16.0 |
| BI402 | Medical Technology Internship II | 16.0 |
| BI404 | Internship in Biology I | 2.0 |
| BI405 | Internship in Biology II | 2.0 |
| BI431 | Clinical Sonography Internship I | 16.0 |
| BI432 | Clinical Sonography Internship II | 16.0 |
| BI433 | Clinical Sonography Internship III | 16.0 |
| BU351 | Internship | 2.0 |
| BU445 | Summer Internship | 1.0 |
| CAR465 | NonCredit Internship | 0.0 |
| CH345 | Externship Program | 1.0 |
| CJ333 | Internship in Criminal Justice | 3.0 |
| CM299 | Practicum | 1.0 |
| CM405 | Communication Internship | 3.0 |
| CS415 | Internship | 1.0 |
| ED3209 | Math Instruct. in EC & ELEM Ed | 3.0 |
| ED3250 | Methods of Instr. Secondary Subjects | 3.0 |
| ED3260 | UDL& Bl. Learn Strat. In Sec. Ed. | 3.0 |
| ED3306 | Assess & Remediate Math Diffic | 3.0 |
| ED4304 | ELEM Ed Clinical Practice | 9.0 |
| ED4306 | Secondary Education Clinical Practice | 9.0 |
| EE4302 | Early Childhood Ed Clinical Practice | 9.0 |
| EN299 | Practicum | 1.0 |
| EN405 | Internship | 3.0 |
| ES390 | Internship I | 3.0 |
| ES391 | Internship II | 3.0 |
| ES392 | Coaching Internship | 3.0 |
| GD429 | Internship | 3.0 |
| GD435 | Summer Internship | 1.0 |
| HRP404 | Internship in Health Care | 3.0 |
| HST410 | Internship in History | 3.0 |
| MA415 | Internship/Externship Program | 1.0 |
| NU496 | Transition into Clinical Nursing | 6.0 |
| PH448 | Intern/Externship Program | 1.0 |
| PS450 | Internship in Psychology | 3.0 |
| SPE3030 | Foundations of Special Education | 3.0 |
| SPE3032 | Assessment in Special Education | 3.0 |
| SW390 | Macro Junior Field Education | 3.0 |
| SW496 | Senior Field Education in Social Work | 6.0 |
| SW497 | Advanced Field Education in Social Work | 6.0 |
| Rutgers University clinical/practicum 1 | ||
| Any other credit-bearing internship course | ||
- 1
In one of GCU's joint degree programs with Rutgers University
Students considering a credit-bearing or noncredit-bearing (CAR465 NonCredit Internship) internship are encouraged to take CAR200 Internship Prep & Career Development or BU350 Internship & Career Preparation, a 1-credit course, prior to seeking an internship.
Students completing one of the two courses in the table below with a global experience approved by the Director of Global Education Programs will have satisfied one of the two experiential learning requirements (the global education option). Students who need more information about other approved global education experiences may contact the director of global education programs.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Course and Credits | ||
| GS100 | Experiential Learning Global Education | 0.0 |
| GS200 | Global Perspectives of Diversity | 1.0 |
The courses in the table below include a study abroad experience. Students must enroll in GS100 with the courses below in order to satisfy one of the two experiential learning requirements (the global education option).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Course and Credits | ||
| AR437 | Study Abroad | 1.0 |
| GS100 | Experiential Learning Global Education | 0.0 |
| GS150 | General Education Abroad I | 3.0 |
| GS200 | Global Perspectives of Diversity | 1.0 |
| GS250 | General Education Abroad II | 3.0 |
| GS300 | Faculty-Led Education Abroad | 1.0 |
| GS350 | General Education Abroad III | 3.0 |
| RS403 | Foreign Study: Biblical | 1.0 |
| WLC210 | World Language & Culture Abroad | 1.0 |
| WLC215 | Lang&CultureExperienceAbroad | 3.0 |
Students completing the courses in the table below will have satisfied one of the two experiential learning requirements (the research experience option).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Course and Credits | ||
| BI446 | Research Problem in Biology I | 1.0 |
| BI447 | Research Problem in Biology II | 1.0 |
| CH350 | Research in Chemistry/Biochemistry I | 2.0 |
| CH449 | Research in Chemistry/Biochemistry II | 2.0 |
| CH450 | Research in Chemistry/Biochemistry III | 2.0 |
| CJ410 | Independent Research in Criminal Justice | 1.0 |
| CS414 | Research Problem in CS or CIS | 1.0 |
| EN421 | Independent Project | 1.0 |
| ES371 | Exercise Science Research Experience | 1.0 |
| ES471 | Research Project in Exercise Science | 3.0 |
| HST450 | Research in History | 1.0 |
| MA414 | Research Problem in Mathematics | 1.0 |
| PH370 | Research Project | 1.0 |
| PH371 | Research Project | 1.0 |
| PH470 | Research Project | 1.0 |
| PH471 | Research in Physics | 1.0 |
| PS440 | Supervised Research in Psychology | 3.0 |
| PS460 | Research in Psychology I | 3.0 |
| PS461 | Research in Psychology II | 1.0 |
Courses
This course introduces students to foundational and practical skills for using artificial intelligence in academic, professional, and everyday contexts. Through Google’s AI Essentials specialization, students will learn how AI works, how to write strong prompts, how to use AI tools responsibly, and how to integrate AI into real workflows. No prior technical knowledge is required. Students receive a grade of completed or not completed for this course. Acceptable completion requires submission of a Google AI certificate, which students receive after successfully finishing Google AI modules.
This course, required of all first time in college students, will develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success at Georgian Court University. Students will gain an understanding of the university’s mission, charism, and heritage. Through a collaborative project, students will execute and reflect on the practices associated with a successful college experience. Enrollment restricted to first time in college students.
A cornerstone general education course that asks students to explore the Mercy core values of respect and integrity within the framework of commonality, diversity, and symbiosis. Students analyze their identity by investigating the oneness of humanity and the rich complexity of diverse cultures. Students consider, from multiple disciplines, how all of humanity is a part of a much larger story of the universe. It examines the origin and the composition of the universe and humanity’s response to its complexity and fragility, beauty and wonder. In this writing intensive course, students develop questions about what it means to be creative, responsible human beings in today’s integrally connected global society and dynamic universe. The course is designed to be taken in the spring of the first time in college year or, in the case of transfer students, in the first semester at GCU.
Pre/corequisite(s): EN111 or equivalent or EN221.
In light of GCU Mercy core values, this writing intensive capstone course invites students to reflect and analyze how their General Education Program has impacted their understanding of themselves in the world, as well as how their world view has developed. Course readings, service learning, and speakers encourage students to consider key questions of the time. Students contribute toward envisioning the future and humankind’s responsibility in helping to shape that future. This involves questions that have emerged from the General Education Program such as how do we contribute to a more compassionate and just world for humankind and the Earth itself? How do we think about just, healthy, and sustainable ways of living and working on this planet?
Prerequisite(s): Senior status or approval from the director of the General Education Program; GEN199.
This interdisciplinary course considers how gender shapes experiences, relationships, identities, and systems of power. Students critically analyze the intersection of gender with race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality. The course focuses on the foundations of women’s and gender studies. It also considers gender in work, government, schools, media, religion, sports, and medicine, etc. Students will also explore social justice and equity, focusing on women’s leadership and activism in history and at the present moment. Finally, the course empowers students to practice effective advocacy, to challenge systemic inequalities, and to imagine transformative change.
Prerequisite(s): EN111 or EN221, and junior or senior status, and in addition, a Critical Reading & Analysis course.
This course is an option for an undergraduate student interested in pursuing a global education program to satisfy an experiential learning requirement for graduation. The student will either commit to and complete a study abroad program that is a minimum length of one week and has been approved by the Office of Global Education Programs before the student starts the program or will complete an approved virtual exchange program as part of another course. Following the completion of the program, the student will write a reflection blog post and complete a final program self-evaluation showing how (a) the program developed their intercultural competence and global awareness and (b) the global education program enhanced their higher learning and personal growth. The director of global education program or the course instructor will evaluate the reflection and final self-evaluation. This is a noncredit course that will be graded pass/fail and will satisfy an experiential learning requirement if the student earns a passing grade.
Prerequisite(s): Approval of the director of global education programs or course instructor.
This general education course will be offered in conjunction with a faculty-led education abroad experience. The course’s learning goals and objectives and the activities designed to meet them depend on the nature of the specific general education requirement and the education abroad experience. The course will meet before and after the education abroad experience in addition to during the experience. Students will be asked to apply what they learned to the trip and complete academic assignments as aligned with the learning outcomes of the specific general education category designated for the course. Students spend approximately 12.5 hours in formal instruction and have approximately 25 hours of learning activities outside of class per credit. Course will be offered upon approval of the director of the General Education Program.
This course will explore global perspectives of diversity through students’ virtual interactions and direct collaboration with people across cultures and borders. This will be a virtual global experience that results in cognitive and emotional growth in intercultural competence. This course is intended for any students who wish to strengthen their intercultural competence skills and global awareness and understanding while also satisfying an experiential learning requirement.
This course satisfies a 200-level general education requirement and will be offered in conjunction with a faculty-led education abroad experience. The course’s learning goals and objectives and the activities designed to meet them depend on the nature of the specific general education requirement and the education abroad experience. The course will meet before and after the education aboard experience in addition to during the experience. Students will be asked to apply what they learned to the trip and complete academic assignments as aligned with the learning outcomes of the specific general education category designated for the course. Students spend approximately 12.5 hours in formal instruction and have approximately 25 hours of learning activities outside of class per credit. Course will be offered upon approval of the director of the General Education Program.
This course may be offered in conjunction with a faculty-led education abroad experience. The course’s learning goals and objectives and the activities designed to meet them depend on the nature of the education abroad experience. The course may meet before and after the education abroad experience in addition to during the experience. Students spend approximately 12.5 hours in formal instruction and have approximately 25 hours of learning activities outside of class per credit. With the approval of the department chair, the course may be used for credit in the major.
This course satisfies a 300-level general education requirement and will be offered in conjunction with a faculty-led education abroad experience. The course’s learning goals and objectives and the activities designed to meet them depend on the nature of the specific general education requirement and the education abroad experience. The course will meet before and after the education aboard experience in addition to during the experience. Students will be asked to apply what they learned to the trip and complete academic assignments as aligned with the learning outcomes of the specific general education category designated for the course. Students spend approximately 12.5 hours in formal instruction and have approximately 25 hours of learning activities outside of class per credit. Course will be offered upon approval of the director of the General Education Program.
This course is an option for an undergraduate student interested in pursuing learning through service as an experiential learning requirement for graduation. The student will commit to and complete a minimum of 10 hours of service work at a community service organization, which may include GCU, under the guidance of a GCU instructor. Prior to starting the project, the student must get the approval of the instructor (on CareerLink). Following the completion of the project, the student will write a reflection paper showing how (1) the application of their college education helped in the service activity and (2) the service activity enhanced their higher learning and personal growth. The instructor will evaluate the paper in consultation with the supervisor at the community organization. This is a noncredit course that will be graded pass/fail and will satisfy an experiential learning graduation requirement.
This course will be an option for a student interested in pursuing learning through service, working with a community service organization, to earn 1 credit. A student wanting to register for this course must contact a faculty service fellow who will serve as the advisor. The student, in consultation with the advisor, will develop the learning goals and identify an appropriate community service organization for the student. Then, working with the Office of Career Services, the student will contact the organization and make suitable arrangements for participation in the service activity. The student must commit to and complete a minimum of 30 hours of service work. While participating in the service activity, the student should make arrangements with the advisor for regular conferences to report on the progress of the service activity. The student should engage in library research about the community service organization and its mission, and how the student’s contribution contributes to the organization achieving its mission. Following the completion of the project, the student will write a reflection paper showing how (a) the application of their college education helped in the service activity and (b) the service activity enhanced their higher learning and personal growth. The advisor will evaluate the paper in consultation with the supervisor at the community organization. The course may be repeated, and the student may apply a maximum of three credits toward the degree. This course will be graded pass/fail and will satisfy an experiential learning graduation requirement.
Already Completed College Coursework? Here's What You Need to Know.
GCU’s IMPACT curriculum transfer policy is designed to be equitable and generous to both community college and four-year university transfer students.
- Courses you’ve already taken may satisfy IMPACT Distributive Competency requirements if they are equivalent to an approved GCU course — or if they are in a discipline that meets the competency, even without a direct equivalent.
- Block Transfer: Students who transfer to GCU with an earned associate degree from a New Jersey community college receive a Block Transfer — meaning they are waived from all seven Distributive Competencies and need only fulfill the GCU Writing Requirement. They must still complete GEN400 and the Common Intellectual Experience courses.
- NJ Transfer equivalencies are listed at njtransfer.org. The GCU Registrar will evaluate your transcripts and produce a Preliminary Progress Chart showing which requirements you’ve already met.
Questions about your transfer credits? Contact the Office of the Registrar or your academic advisor.
For Students Enrolled Before Fall 2025
If you enrolled at GCU before Fall 2025, you follow the BRIDGE general education program — GCU's previous general education curriculum. Your requirements are outlined in the 2024–2025 Undergraduate Catalog, available at georgian.edu/academics/catalogs.
All students enrolled Fall 2025 or later follow the IMPACT Curriculum described on this page.
Not sure which requirements apply to you? Contact your academic advisor.
Program Leadership
Director of the General Education Program: Kristen Wedlock, Associate Professor of Writing & Director of General Education
The MERCY CORE courses were developed by Sister Mary Paula Cancienne, Sister Mary Bilderback, and the General Education Curriculum Committee, including Director Dr. Paul Cappucci.
What You'll Gain From the IMPACT Curriculum
Goal 1: Foundational Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World You will demonstrate the ability to apply foundational knowledge in the arts, humanities, languages, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.
Goal 2: Intellectual and Practical Skills You will demonstrate competence in: critical and creative thinking grounded in inquiry, analysis, and synthesis; written and oral communication; quantitative literacy; information literacy; and teamwork and problem solving.
Goal 3: Personal and Social Responsibility You will demonstrate: ethical reasoning; global awareness and respect for diverse cultural perspectives; knowledge of GCU's mission and Mercy charism; and civic knowledge at local and global levels.
Goal 4: Integrative Learning You will demonstrate the ability to make connections among courses in multiple disciplines — and between your experiences inside and outside the classroom.
