Revitalized General Education Program
The Revitalized General Education Program (R.G.E.P.) of the University of the Philippines (U.P.) subsumes the old General Education Program (G.E.P.). It adapted the objectives and framework of G.E.P. but opened up a lot more avenues for learning as it is based on the premise of freedom of choice and no prerequisites.
The R.G.E.P. comprises a set of G.E. courses which are usually taken prior to specialization. The G.E. courses are spread out to three domains of knowledge for the students to acquire a healthy mix of knowledge and competencies that will better prepare them for the basic understanding of various ways of knowing.
The liberal education thrust of G.E. is perceived to help mold the U.P. student to becoming a holistic person, a more independent, creative and critical thinker, a morally sound and intellectual individual of high integrity and well able to adapt to the fast changing pace of today's living.
It was 1st semester AY 1986-87 when the G.E.P. was first approved for implementation. It was the result of many discussions among faculty members through system-wide conferences, workshops, echo workshops, and consultative meetings. Since then, a number of faculty workshops have been conducted to review the strengths and weaknesses of the G.E.P. After 15 years, the G.E. Council saw the need to revitalize the program. The Council conducted a series of consultative meetings in 2001. The program underwent several revisions before finally arriving at the proposal for a Revitalized General Education Program (R.G.E.P).
Old General Education Program
G.E.P. stands for "General Education Program." It was first approved for implementation 1st semester AY1986-87. In college, the first two years are usually spent for taking general education subjects which prepare the students for learning new skills. The G.E. subjects include a good mix of the Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics to broaden the intellectual and cultural horizons, to foster a commitment to nationalism balanced by a sense of internationalism, to cultivate a capacity for independent, critical and creative thinking, and to infuse a passion for learning with a high sense of moral and intellectual integrity. This is the liberal arts education that makes the U.P. student a well-rounded person and ready for lifelong learning skills.
Philippine Studies
To safeguard UP's commitment to nationalism, you are required to take at least 6 units (or 2 subjects) related to Philippine Studies from any of the 3 domains. Examples of current existing Philippine Studies subjects are: KASAYSAYAN 1, SOCIOLOGY 10 (Soc. Sc and Philo domain), PANITIKAN NG PILIPINAS 12, PANITIKAN NG PILIPINAS 17 (Arts and Humanities domain).
