Here's how a few students actually enjoyed fulfilling their Gen Ed requirements

For many UNC students, class registration can be a stressful time — especially when having to decide which classes outside of major and minor requirements also end up satisfying University general education requirements. 

Since UNC is a Division I Research University that offers a liberal arts education, the University curriculum requires students to take courses that fulfill certain general education requirements, including Visual and Performing Arts (VP) and Quantitative Reasoning (QR). 

Here are a few suggestions from students who took classes outside their major and thoroughly enjoyed them. 

SOCI 468 

Brooklyn Avery is a sophomore studying communication. Avery took SOCI 468: United States Poverty and Public Policy, which explores social policy and poverty issues. 

“I learned how to analyze social policies to understand their effects on society, specifically those living in poverty,” she said. 

Avery said she wrote her final paper on educational attainment in relation to poverty status in the United States. 

“It opened my eyes to the disparities that still exist in our education system based on socio-economic status,” she said. 

PHIL 164

Sarah Ward, a sophomore studying economics and human development and family studies, also had a positive experience with a class outside of her two majors. She took PHIL 164: Morality and Business. The class focuses on business ethics and potential business dilemmas. 

Ward liked how the class talked about real world applications, as well as what drives moral issues and decisions. 

“It definitely helped me understand the business world a little better,” Ward said. 

HIST 225

Gregory Murrell, a sophomore studying astrophysics, took HIST 225: History of Greece. The class examines Greek history from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period. 

Murrell said he learned about ancient Greece, including Hellenistic and Classical Greece. He said this was a nice deviation from his normal astrophysics classes. 

“I just enjoyed learning about ancient Greek culture, learning about what made their society what it was, how it is different from ours today,” Murrell said. 

According to the College of Arts & Sciences' website, a liberal arts education provides "perspective, context and understanding" to UNC students and gives them a sturdy foundation for their lives. 

Those stressing about not getting into their first choice classes can consider these and other classes in departments outside their chosen majors. 

And who knows — the courses may even help students find a new personal passion, academic interest or even a new major.

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