Building a Foundational and Career-Ready General Education
Every student in the University System of Georgia engages in a General Education curriculum designed to provide a foundation of knowledge, skills, and competencies to promote academic success and lifelong learning.
This curriculum, Core IMPACTS, introduces the different ways of knowing the world and connects students to the big questions that will drive their future and provide the essential skills needed to succeed.
Core IMPACTS is structured across seven areas: Institutional Priority; Mathematics and Quantitative Skills; Political Science and U.S. History; Arts, Humanities and Ethics; Communicating in Writing; Technology, Mathematics and Sciences; Social Sciences.
Each of these seven areas of the general education core curriculum includes learning outcomes, career-ready competencies, and is structured around an “orienting question."
Core IMPACTS supports every student in the University System of Georgia (USG), ensuring that their course credits transfer seamlessly throughout all USG institutions. MGA requires each student to take 42 credit hours of Core IMPACTS courses, preparing every student with robust portfolios of crucial skills.
IMPACTS is a mnemonic for students to appreciate the impact of the overall core curriculum.
Shorthand for these areas replace prior use of pre-2024 alphabetical designations of areas A-E.
Foundation of Knowledge
Career-Ready Competencies
USG Transferability
I
M
P
A
C
T
S
I: Institutional Priority
ORIENTING QUESTION
How does my institution help me navigate the world?
LEARNING OUTCOME
Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically and solve problems related to priorities at their institution.
CAREER-READY COMPETENCIES
Critical thinking, teamwork, time management
M: Mathematics & Quantitative Skills
ORIENTING QUESTION
How do I measure the world?
LEARNING OUTCOME
Students will apply mathematical and computational knowledge to interpret, evaluate, and communicate quantitative information using verbal, numerical, graphical, or symbolic forms.
CAREER-READY COMPETENCIES
Information literacy, inquiry and analysis, problem-solving
P: Political Science: U.S. and Georgia History & Constitution
ORIENTING QUESTION
How do I prepare for my responsibilities as an engaged citizen?
LEARNING OUTCOME
P1: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia. P2: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the history of the United States and the history of Georgia.
How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?
LEARNING OUTCOME
A1: Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/ philosophical texts.
A2: Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of works in the visual/performing arts.
CAREER-READY COMPETENCIES
Ethical reasoning, information literacy, intercultural competence
C: Communicating in Writing
ORIENTING QUESTION
How do I write effectively in different contexts?
LEARNING OUTCOME
C1: Students will communicate effectively in writing, demonstrating clear organization and structure, using appropriate grammar and writing conventions.
C2: Students will appropriately acknowledge the use of materials from original sources.
C3: Students will adapt their written communications to purpose and audience.
C4: Students will analyze and draw inferences from written texts.
CAREER-READY COMPETENCIES
Critical thinking, information literacy, persuasion
T: Technology, Mathematics & Sciences
ORIENTING QUESTION
How do I ask scientific questions or use data, mathematics, or technology to understand the universe?
LEARNING OUTCOME
T1: Students will use mathematical and computational methods to analyze data, solve problems, and explain natural phenomena.
T2: Students will use the scientific method and laboratory procedures to analyze data, solve problems and explain natural phenomena.
CAREER-READY COMPETENCIES
Inquiry and analysis, problem-solving, teamwork
S: Social Sciences
ORIENTING QUESTION
How do I understand human experiences and connections?
LEARNING OUTCOME
S1: Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical relationships develop, persist, or change.
S2: Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how economic, political, social or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.
Meaningful names for Core IMPACTS areas are used instead of alphabetical designations.
System-wide Learning Outcomes for each Core IMPACTS area.
System-wide Career-Ready Competencies for each Core IMPACTS area.
Courses designed to satisfy the U.S./Georgia history and constitutions requirements are now separated into the Citizenship area within “P” for Political Science and U.S. History.
for Faculty
Access training and resources for Core IMPACTS via MGA’s CETL page:
