SAU student going over the new curriculum. Photo courtesy of Madison Thompson.
After the Feb. 14 deadline to switch General Education catalogs passed, freshmen and sophomores at St. Ambrose University are reflecting on a choice that could follow them through graduation.
Beginning in Fall 2026, the university will implement a new core curriculum that reshapes General Education requirements.
While the updated catalog will primarily affect future students, current underclassmen were given the option to switch, forcing many to make an early decision about the structure of their academic pathway.
“I didn’t think it would stress me out as much as it did,” said freshman Rachael Bauer, a nursing major. “I’m still learning how college works, and suddenly I had to decide which version of my education I wanted.”
More Flexibility, More to Consider
Under SAU’s new course catalog, General Education requirements total 36 credits, compared with 44–46 credits in the current catalog.
The new core removes second language, health and wellness, and information literacy requirements, along with several philosophy and theology courses.
Literature and film humanities courses and the social sciences have been merged into a single Human Experience category, and new Local Difference and Global Difference requirements have been added.
According to Ella Johnson, Director of General Education, the new core curriculum is designed to give students more flexibility while maintaining a strong academic foundation.
Johnson said the updated structure is also intended to make degree planning clearer and easier for students and advisors to navigate.
For some underclassmen, the reduced credit load felt like an opportunity.
“I switched to the new catalog because it gives me more flexibility,” said freshman finance major Jackson Hofer. “I’m still figuring out my major, and having fewer Gen Eds makes that process less stressful.”
Others worried that fewer requirements could mean missing out on parts of the SAU experience.
“I decided to stay with the original catalog,” said freshman Tyler Driver. “The philosophy and theology classes really challenge you to think differently, and I didn’t want to lose that.”
A Decision Made Early
Because not all courses in the current catalog crosswalk directly into the new core, many freshmen and sophomores said they spent weeks meeting with advisors and comparing degree plans.
“It felt like a permanent decision,” said sophomore Grace Fessler. “When you’re only a year or two in, it’s hard to know what you’ll value later.”
Several underclassmen said the process involved repeatedly comparing both catalogs, meeting with advisors, and mapping out multiple semester plans before making a final decision.
For first-year students especially, it was one of the first major academic choices they faced beyond selecting classes. Some said they discussed the decision with family members or older students before committing.
Looking Ahead
Now, underclassmen are shifting from decision-making to reflection, wondering how the new core will shape their remaining years at St. Ambrose University.
As the university prepares to officially roll out the new core curriculum in Fall 2026, the impact is already being felt in advising meetings, course planning, and long-term academic conversations across campus.
Johnson said the revision is intended to better align general education with student goals and career preparation while maintaining a focus on broad, transferable skills.
For many freshmen and sophomores, the choice was not just about the number of credits in a degree plan — it was about picturing what they want their college experience to look like and how they want to spend their time over the next few years.
