The Built by Bama General Education Program was developed through a multi-year, faculty-led process designed to modernize The University of Alabama’s general education curriculum and better prepare students for a changing world. In Fall 2022, UA faculty approved the initiative through a referendum endorsing significant changes to general education requirements.
During spring and summer 2023, approximately 140 faculty and staff members collaborated with university leadership to develop recommendations for implementing the new curriculum.
Beginning in fall 2023, committees focused on designing the framework for the program, including establishing governance structures, aligning existing courses with the new curriculum, developing the first-year experience course (Legends 101), creating Pathways for additional areas of expertise, and coordinating with admissions, advising, registrar, and transfer offices.
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Pre-Fall 2025 Catalog Core Curriculum
Prior to the launch of the Built by Bama Core Curriculum in Fall 2025, a comprehensive review of The University of Alabama (UA) Core Curriculum was last performed in 1995, prompted by the creation of the 41/42-hour general studies curriculum by the Alabama Articulation and General Studies Committee (AGSC). UA slightly revised its Core Curriculum in 1997 to adopt the AGSC general studies curriculum, resulting in the 53/55-credit-hour Core Curriculum in place until Fall 2025. Except for students enrolled in the College of Engineering, UA’s previous Core Curriculum required:
| Area | Hours Required | |
|---|---|---|
| Written Composition (FC) | 6 | |
| Writing Intensive (W) | 6 | Courses at the 300- and 400-level, preferably in the student’s major, approved for the writing designation |
| Computing (C) or Foreign Language (FL) | 6-8 | Computer courses integrating software or writing computer programs OR two semesters or the equivalent in one foreign language |
| Humanities (HU)Literature (L) Fine Arts (FA) | 12 | Students must complete at least 3 semester hours in fine arts and literature AND a 6-semester-hour sequence in either literature or history |
| History (HI)Social & Behavioral Sciences (SB) | 12 | Students must complete at least 3 semester hours in history AND a 6 semester hour sequence in either literature or history |
| Natural Sciences (NS) | 8 | Students must complete eight hours of natural sciences |
| Mathematics (MA) | 3 | Math 110 or higher |
| Total | 53-55 | |