General Education at Rice

A well-rounded education is central to every student’s experience at Rice. The Rice degree provides students a rigorous and well-rounded education, one that combines a broad-based liberal arts education with depth of knowledge in specific disciplines. At Rice, general education ensures students gain a broad knowledge foundation while also developing skills in writing, diversity awareness, and physical wellbeing. It promotes intellectual exploration and prepares students to think critically and engage meaningfully with the world.

General Education Competencies

Rice currently has three student competencies that its general education program aims to achieve:

• Critical Thinking
• Communication
• Research/Design/Scholarly Pursuits

The General Education Curriculum

The total credit hour requirement for general education is 31 hours. Note that the required AD course must be either a FWIS or distribution course.

For information on these requirements, see the Rice General Announcements (GA) and the General Education Advising Booklet.

How to Approach General Education Courses

The way students approach their general education courses can shape their overall experience at Rice. Rather than just checking boxes, students should choose a pathway and be intentional about how and when they complete general education courses, especially your distribution courses. Whether you want to explore new subjects early on or maintain balance throughout your time at Rice, these pathways can help you make the most of your academic plan while reducing last-minute stress in later semesters.

Exploration Pathway
Take more distribution courses during your first two years, as they are a great way to explore different fields, especially if you are undecided. This approach lets you explore different fields early on and can help shape your future course choices or even influence your major/minor decisions.

Balanced Pathway
Spread out your distribution courses across your four years, taking 1–2 distribution courses each semester. This keeps your academic schedule balanced and gives you an opportunity to engage with disciplines outside your major on a regular basis. It is a good way to keep practicing different skills, ways of thinking, and forms of communication you might not get in your main field of study.

Rice is currently redesigning its general education curriculum. Click here for more information on this process.