General Education Courses

Finish your degree on your terms with our flexible, fully online general education courses. Designed specifically for online degree-completion students, our courses fit your busy schedule while helping you meet core academic requirements. These courses are consistently offered in an eight-week, asynchronous format and utilize zero-cost textbooks. Get the quality education you need—anytime, anywhere.

Fall 2025

8W1 – 8/25/25 through 10/19/25

  • ENGL 103 – Rhetoric and Composition I (3 credits)
    • Foundational Studies Writing Requirement
  • CHEM 100 – Chemistry in Everyday Life (3 credits)
    • Nature and Technology Knowledge Domain Elective

8W2 – 10/20/25 through 12/13/25

  • COMS 100 – Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3 credits)
    • Foundational Studies Oral Communication Requirement
  • MATH 101 – Core Competencies in Mathematics (3 credits)
    • Prerequisites: Intermediate Algebra and Geometry
    • Foundational Studies Quantitative Literacy Requirement
  • SOCI 250 – Contemporary Social Institutions (3 credits)
    • Society and Culture Knowledge Domain Elective

*There may be additional online general education courses offered each semester that are not listed here. Connect with your academic advisor for a complete list or check our MyNIU course search page.

Have Questions?

Office of Online Learning
815-753-6660
online@niu.edu

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