Reimagining General Education: The Making of Pathways at Virginia Tech

In 2015, Virginia Tech’s University Council approved Pathways General Education with the intention of revitalizing its dated liberal education curriculum with a program that both worked across disciplines and addressed real-world problems, offering meaningful, inclusive experiences for all our students. 

To achieve these goals, the Pathways program needed to be connected to students’ area of study, align with their career goals, and address their lived experiences regardless of their major or background. 

Central to the initiative was the creation of Pathways Minors. Hosted by individual departments, these transdisciplinary programs are built around themes that allow students to examine concepts from a variety of perspectives

The program’s first four-year cohort of students graduated in May 2022. 

More detailed information about the program’s development is also available in the following documents:  

• The Pathways Curriculum Plan details the curriculum’s creation, including the concepts, learning outcomes, and Pathways Minors.
  
• The Pathways Implementation Plan explains the curriculum approval and assessment processes.
• Pathways Timeline

Have questions about Pathways General Education requirements? See the Pathways General Education: Structure, Concepts, and Learning Outcomes for more detailed information.