The undergraduate curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is divided into three parts: preparation in general education; a major field of study; and electives that complement the major and provide the breadth and depth of a liberal education. To earn a degree, students must meet the general education requirements described below (in addition to fulfilling major, total credits, and grade point average requirements described elsewhere). For complete information about these requirements, please see the Undergraduate Catalog (much of which is available on the UMass Boston website).

General Education
If you matriculated before fall 2000, these general education requirements apply to you:

• The Freshman Writing Requirement. Students must complete a year of Freshman English (English 101/101E and 102/102D).
• The Core Requirement
• The Distribution Requirement
• The Writing Proficiency Requirement
• The Diversity Requirement

If you matriculated in fall 2000 or spring 2001 with 30 or more credits, these general education requirements apply to you:

• The Freshman Writing Requirement. Students must complete a year of Freshman English (English 101/101E and 102/102D).
• The Distribution Requirement
• The Writing Proficiency Requirement
• The Diversity Requirement

If you matriculated in or after fall 2000 with 29 or fewer credits, these general education requirements apply to you:

• The Critical Analysis Requirement. Part I of this requirement is a First-Year Seminar, which must be completed within the first two semesters. Part II is an Intermediate Seminar, to be completed between 30 and 60 credits.
• The Quantitative Reasoning Requirement. Students must complete Math Q114, 115, 124, or 125, or place into or complete Math 129 or higher. This requirement should be completed before a student accumulates 30 credits.
• The Verbal Reasoning and Expression (Freshman Writing) Requirement. Students must complete English 101/101E and 102/102E, or demonstrate proficiency equivalent to completion of English 102/102E. As a result of placement testing, students may be required to complete another course before beginning English 101/101E. This requirement should be completed before a student accumulates 30 credits.
• The Distribution Requirement
• The Writing Proficiency Requirement
• The Diversity Requirement

If you matriculated in or after fall 2001 with from 30 to 89 credits, these general education requirements apply to you:

• The Critical Analysis Requirement. You are exempt from the First-Year Seminar, but are required to take an Intermediate Seminar during one of your first two semesters at UMass Boston.
• The Quantitative Reasoning Requirement. Students must complete or earn transfer credit for Math Q114, 115, 124, or 125, or place into or complete Math 129 or higher. You should meet this requirement during your first two semesters at UMass Boston.
• The Verbal Reasoning and Expression (Freshman Writing) Requirement. Students must complete English 101/101E and 102/102E, or demonstrate proficiency equivalent to completion of English 102/102E. As a result of placement testing, students may be required to complete another course before beginning English 101/101E. You should meet this requirement during your first two semesters at UMass Boston.
• The Distribution Requirement.
• The Writing Proficiency Requirement. This requirement is to be met by the time you have earned 68 credits.
• The Diversity Requirement

If you matriculated in or after fall 2001 with 90 or more credits, the general education requirements apply to you in this way:

• The Critical Analysis Requirement. You are exempt from First-Year and Intermediate Seminars.
• The Quantitative Reasoning Requirement. Students must complete or earn transfer credit for Math Q114, 115, 124, or 125, or place into or complete Math 129 or higher. You must meet this requirement by the end of your first semester at UMass Boston.
• The Distribution Requirement.
• The Writing Proficiency Requirement. You must meet this requirement by the end of your first semester at UMass Boston.
• The Diversity Requirement