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Course Codes Changed

Starting with the July 2023 term, TESU added a fourth digit to its course codes. As a result, most course codes had a zero (0) added. For example, ENC-101 changed to ENC-1010. See our Course Code FAQs page for more information.

General Education at Thomas Edison State University

General Education at Thomas Edison State University provides students with broad exposure to multiple disciplines and forms the basis for developing essential intellectual, civic, and practical capacities. The General Education program encompasses 45 credit hours of coursework for all bachelor’s (BA/BS) and Associate of Arts degrees (AA); 30 credit hours for the Associate in Science degrees (AS); and 21 credit hours of coursework for the Applied Associate in Science (AAS) degrees.

About the TESU General Education Program:
Thomas Edison State University is focused on meeting the educational needs of the self-directed adult learner. Students come to the University with a wealth of experience from academic work at other institutions, from the workplace and from military service. Thomas Edison State University is committed to education as a transformative process that broadens perspectives in a global, technologically sophisticated and diverse society. General education at the University is threaded throughout the curriculum, across all schools and at all levels of inquiry. General Education at Thomas Edison encompasses an integrated foundation grounded in the liberal arts with a focus on core skills and competencies, that are essential to their success in their personal lives, careers, and engagement as citizens. The General Education program emphasizes the development of ethical leadership to equip our adult students with the aptitude needed in our complex and constantly evolving world. The general education structure at TESU aligns with the Association of American Colleges and Universities’ (AACU) “Essential Learning Outcomes.” The Essential Learning Outcomes provide a framework to guide students’ cumulative progress through college and outlines the “broad knowledge, higher-order capacities, and real-world experience needed for students to thrive both in the economy and in a globally engaged democracy” (AACU, 2007).

New General Education Offering

We are excited to announce a new General Education offering:
A suite of courses with all learning materials included at no additional cost.

What does this mean for you?
If you choose from the select courses, there is now a pathway through the general education requirements that calls for no money for textbooks or other course materials.

View General Education Courses