The Essential Education curriculum includes 13 requirements, divided into three segments: the first-year experience, the pathway, and activities for well-being and success. Additionally, students will complete an ePortfolio to integrate their learning within Essential Education, their major, and their extracurricular activities.
Note: Students who have completed the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) have completed the equivalency of the Essential Education program. Transfer students from Michigan who do not earn the MTA, or students from outside of Michigan, will be a part of the Essential Education program. Based on credits and types of classes for transfer credit, these students will pursue either the Essential Education Minor Pathway or the Distribution Pathway. Please visit our Transfer Credit page on the Registrar site for more information.
Learn more about the individual components of the Essential Education curriculum using our helpful glossary of terms. You can also click on individual terms in the curriculum flowchart below to jump to the definition.
First-Year Experience
(16 credits)
Michigan Tech’s First-Year Experience is a foundational segment of the Essential Education curriculum designed to help incoming students explore academic interests, build successful study habits, and map out their college path. The first-year experience encourages critical thinking through a variety of disciplinary lenses. Students will build on their major with the following academic elements.
The Pathway
(18 credits)
Students may choose one of two pathways, based on their individual needs and goals.
Essential Education Minor Pathway
The Minor Pathway is the primary pathway for Essential Education, allowing students to earn a secondary credential alongside their undergraduate degree as a part of their current course of study. This option is encouraged for most students. The first set of Essential Education minors have been developed and are related to the following themes:
- AI Ethics
- Creativity and Expression
- Economics and Society
- Entrepreneurship
- Human-Centered Design
- Leadership
- Population Health
- Public Policy and Law
- Sustainability Studies
Distribution Pathway
The Distribution Pathway is a flexible pathway that allows for a more customizable experience within the Essential Education curriculum. This option may be more suitable for students who have a substantial number of AP and/or transfer credits.
Activities for Well-being and Success
(3 credits)
Michigan Tech's Essential Education curriculum includes a dedicated segment for Activities for Well-being and Success designed to support options support students' personal development, physical well-being, creative expression, mental/emotional well-being, and success.
Husky Folio
Husky Folio, Michigan Tech's ePortfolio, is a high-impact practice, which is completed through Essential Education courses, provides a structured opportunity for students to integrate their learning—including Essential Education, major courses, and extracurricular activities.