General Education Waiver

ECU’s General Education Program requires 40 hours in 7 Competency Areas. This requirement exists for all undergraduates, regardless of chosen major. A General Education Waiver is available for qualifying students.

Who’s Eligible?

  • Students who transfer to ECU, specifically from a North Carolina Community College with an Associate in Arts , an Associate in Science, an Associate in Arts Teacher Preparation, or Associate in Science Teacher Preparation qualify for the General Education waiver.
  • Students who completed their General Education at another UNC System institution.

How is it Awarded?

  • Students must submit a final, official transcript from the community college where they graduated, confirming the conferral of the degree.
    • The official transcript must include a “Date Awarded” for the A.A., A.S., A.A.T.P., or A.S.T.P.
  • Students must submit a final, official transcript from the UNC System institution they previously attended, confirming “General Education Satisfied.”
  • For students entering ECU in the 2025-2026 Academic Catalog year, the waiver will be automatically applied in their Degree Works audit as long as the above information is included on the transcript.
  • Students who previously transferred to ECU under a different catalog year should speak with their Academic or Faculty Advisor about the possibility of getting a waiver applied to their degree.

Is Anything Excluded?

The General Education waiver does not 

  • waive ECU’s Writing Intensive requirement
  • waive any Cognate, prerequisite, or major specific course requirement
  • apply for other community college degrees other than the A.A., A.A.T.P., A.S., or A.S.T.P.
  • apply to students transferring from other states
  • waive the 120-125 hours, depending on major, needed to graduate

Additionally, transfer students may be granted a GE Waiver but not awarded transfer credit for courses below a “C-.”

Students who complete an A.A.S., A.E., A.F.A., A.G.E, or other community college degree do not qualify for a General Education waiver under the CAA.

Questions? Email transfer@ecu.edu.