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General Education Curriculum

Bryant’s general education curriculum — known as the Impact Core — gives students a holistic education rooted in social impact, while also preparing graduates for successful and purpose-driven careers.

Adapting to college. Choosing a course of study. Preparing for your career. Finding your purpose. These are transformational events for our Bulldogs as they transition into life at Bryant and beyond. Through our holistic general education program, known as the Impact Core, we take a unique approach to the standard requirements by embedding the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the curriculum. This program differentiator helps our students make sense of their place in the world — and find their path to success within it.

Empowering Ethical Leaders

Designed as a cohesive program rather than a series of disconnected courses, the Impact Core uses the framework of social impact to bring the curriculum together, centering around the Sustainable Development Goals to help you understand how you fit within a global society. You’ll be introduced to the complex challenges impacting our world today — such as barriers to economic stability or how to promote sustainability and address climate change — and build problem-solving and leadership skills to create positive change.

Purposeful and Engaging Curriculum

Every course in the Impact Core is intended to help you develop critical skills and prepare for life after Bryant. In your first year, you’ll take classes to support your transition into the college environment, explore areas of study, and even begin planning for your future career. You’ll also take a combination of required courses and approved electives across the liberal arts, sciences, and business, giving you the flexibility to discover new interests or start your major requirements earlier in your studies. The program culminates with a capstone course where you’ll collaborate with a community partner to address a real-world problem.

Through this solid educational foundation, you’ll leave Bryant ready to excel as an ethically engaged leader and changemaker — no matter what career path you take.

Bryant’s purposeful general education program is about more than just meeting the standard requirements. Our curriculum includes signature courses to help you adapt to life at college, prepare for your future career, and better understand our impact on society. Every course engages with at least one Sustainable Development Goal, while the full curriculum gives students the opportunity to view the SDGs in their entirety. Here are just a few sample courses:

GEN 100: Student Success at Bryant
Learn about the skills and strategies you need to thrive throughout your college experience, such as adaptability, accountability, and resiliency, and work on cultivating habits that lead to lifelong success. You’ll also develop a deeper understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the Bryant community.
IDEA 101: Bryant IDEA (Innovation and Design Experience for All)
Every January, first-year students return to campus for a 72-hour immersive experience to learn about the innovation process and how to cultivate new ideas through design thinking and teamwork. You’ll collaborate in groups to solve a real-word problem and present your creative solution to the Bryant community. Learn more about IDEA.
GEN 103: Career Launch
Explore and participate in the career development process during your very first year. This course will help you solidify your career interests as you map out your course of study and teach you practical career planning tools and strategies.
GEN 201: Intercultural Communication
Examine the nuances of communication in both domestic and international intercultural settings and learn more about the influence that culture has on sending and interpreting messages. This course will help you better understand and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds in everyday situations and within workplace settings.
GEN 390: General Education Capstone
In this experiential course, you’ll collaborate with a community partner to tackle a real-world problem using the skills, innovation principles, and understanding of the SDGs from across the Impact Core curriculum.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Our curriculum was developed through the lens of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the many challenges facing our society and how to address these challenges. Every course in the Impact Core engages with at least one SDG, while the full curriculum gives students the opportunity to view all the SDGs through a wide range of viewpoints.

Learn About the SDGs

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Impact Core Curriculum

Impact Core Curriculum

The Impact Core includes both mandatory courses as well as a variety of social science, science and laboratory, history, and literary and cultural studies course options to match your interests. Many courses also count toward major and minor requirements.

View the Course Catalog

Experiential Learning

From the IDEA program to capstone courses, experiential learning is a critical component of your entire academic experience. Participate in competitions, work with local businesses, and collaborate with your peers to solve real problems.

Engage in Experiential Learning

Experiential Learning

Bryant students pose with their prototype during the IDEA program.

Career Planning

A Bryant student receives support from the Amica Center for Career Education.

Career Planning

The first-year Career Launch course is just the beginning. Professional development and advanced career planning are woven throughout your entire student journey — so you’ll be well-equipped for life after graduation.

Career Planning at Bryant