Curriculum for Liberal Education Guides
CLE Requirements and Course Offerings
Please note that these are the current offerings for the CLE. If you don't see a particular course listed here that you have previously taken to meet a CLE area requirement, please reference previous years' guides or consult your advisor. Any courses listed since your enrollment still count toward completion of your CLE requirements.
| Area 1: Writing and Discourse | 6 credit hours1 |
| Area 2: Ideas, Cultural Traditions, and Values | 6 credit hours |
| Area 3: Society and Human Behavior | 6 credit hours |
| Area 4: Scientific Reasoning and Discovery | 6 or 8 credit hours2 |
| Area 5: Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning | 6 credit hours |
| Area 6: Creativity and Aesthetic Experience | 1 or 3 credit hours3 |
| Area 7: Critical Issues in a Global Context | 3 credit hours |
1. Students who entered the university prior to Fall 2005 and maintain continuous enrollment until graduation must meet the previous Writing Intensive requirement.
2. Some majors require 2 credit hours of related laboratory (2 labs) selected from approved CLE courses
3. Students in the College of Science and most majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences must take one (1) 3-credit hour course.
See also:
Yearly Guides (PDF)
Students should view the guide of the year in which they entered Virginia Tech. Any courses that have been added on to the CLE since then will count toward that student's completion of the CLE.
| 2009-2010 | CLE Guide | Alphabetical Guide |
| 2008-2009 | CLE Guide | Alphabetical Guide |
| 2007-2008 | CLE Guide (Updates) | Alphabetical Guide |
| 2006-2007 | CLE Guide | Alphabetical Guide |
| 2005-2006 | CLE Guide | Alphabetical Guide |
| 2004-2005 | CLE Guide | Alphabetical Guide |
| 2003-2004 | CLE Guide | Alphabetical Guide |
Note that Virginia Tech's Curriculum for Liberal Education was previously called the University Core Curriculum.
If you need a guide from a year that is not listed here, please contact us.
"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows."
- Sydney Harris
For More Information
Major Checksheets
For requirements and recommendations for CLE courses in specific areas of study, see the checksheet for each appropriate major.
Earth Sustainability Course Series
Explore the ES Course Series for an innovative option in completing your CLE.
Living In the KnowlEdge Society (LIKES) Course Series
LIKES courses integrate computing concepts into the activities of diverse disciplines.

