QUEST General Education Program

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Mercy’s General Education Program

QUEST is Mercy University’s general education program, designed to help students build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to succeed in college, careers, and civic life. Through interdisciplinary seminars, foundational coursework, skill development and opportunities for exploration, QUEST encourages students to ask meaningful questions, engage with diverse perspectives, and connect their education to real-world challenges. 

The program combines structure with flexibility, allowing students to explore different academic interests while developing essential skills in communication, critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving. QUEST supports students from their first semester through graduation, helping them discover purposeful pathways through their education and beyond.

What Students Will Gain

  • Develop strong communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills through collaborative and interdisciplinary learning experiences.
  • Explore a broad range of academic disciplines while connecting coursework to personal, professional, and civic goals.
  • Strengthen essential career-ready skills including teamwork, critical thinking, communication skills, and technological competency. 
  • Engage with diverse perspectives, cultures, and ideas in ways that prepare students for an interconnected world.
  • Build flexible academic pathways that support majors, minors, and other educational opportunities.

Program Structure

QUEST is organized around five interconnected pillars that guide students through their general education experience: Question, Understand, Explore, Strengthen, and Thrive.

Pathway Requirements Credits Advising Notes
question icon Question Seminar Courses

Seminar Sequence

  • Launch: First-Year Seminar(ideally in 1st semester)
  • Explore: Transformative Ideas(ideally in 2nd or 3rd semester)
  • Connect: Big Problems(ideally in 4th or 5th semester)
9 credits
  • Three linked seminars that introduce students to university learning and engage them in inquiry and collaboration.
  • Sequence maps will show these in BLUE.
understand icon Understand Core Seminar Courses

Core Requirements

  • ENGL 111 & 112(and 110 if needed)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (Math)
  • LANG 115/116(LANG 115 may not be needed)
12–18 credits
  • Build essential skills for success across all disciplines.
  • Credit total varies depending on placement and course completion.
explore icon Explore Breadth-of-Knowledge Courses

One Course in Each Category

  • Creative Expression (3 credits)
  • Self & Society (3 credits)
  • Ethical Reasoning (3 credits)
  • Humanities (3 credits)
  • Scientific Reasoning (3–4 credits)
15–16 credits
  • Wide ranging options across the liberal arts and sciences.
  • Students may use these courses toward minors and multiple categories.
strengthen icon Strengthen Skill-Enhancement Course Tags

Embedded in Other Courses

  • Writing Intensive (6 credits)
  • Communication Enhanced (6 credits)
  • Diverse Perspectives (3 credits)
Embedded (credits overlap with other requirements)
  • Overlap with Breadth of Knowledge, Electives and Major.
  • Focus on collaboration, written communication and engaging with diverse perspectives.
thrive icon Thrive Elective Courses

Student Choice

Space to pursue minors, explore interests and build academic credentials beyond required coursework.

Variable (all remaining credits)
  • Not a fixed credit block — these are all remaining credits.
  • Encourages intentional choices that reflect students' goals and interests.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUEST applies to incoming Mercy University first-year students completing general education requirements. Transfer students may complete modified requirements depending on the number of transferable credits or completion of an associate degree.
 

Students complete 42–43 credits of QUEST general education coursework in addition to embedded skill enhancement requirements.

Mercy Seminars are a sequence of inquiry-based courses that help students transition into university learning, explore transformative ideas, and examine major contemporary challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Yes. Many courses carry multiple QUEST attributes, allowing students to satisfy Breadth of Knowledge categories, Skill Enhancement requirements, and major requirements simultaneously.

Transfer coursework is evaluated for applicability to QUEST learning outcomes. Students transferring with a completed associate degree are considered to have fulfilled general education requirements.

Yes. Students must demonstrate second-language proficiency at the 116 level or above through coursework, placement, or approved proficiency examinations.

QUEST focuses on critical thinking, communication, information literacy, teamwork, quantitative reasoning, technological competency, and engagement with diverse perspectives.

Students should work closely with their PACT advisor or academic advisor to understand requirements, course sequencing, transfer policies, and opportunities for electives, minors, and certificates.

Contact/Next Step

Students interested in learning more about QUEST should speak with their academic advisor or visit the Mercy University advising and catalog resources. Faculty and staff with questions about course designations or curriculum implementation should contact the Office of the Provost.

Helpful Links

Faculty/PACT Advisors

Students with questions about QUEST requirements, course planning, transfer credit, or academic pathways should contact their PACT advisor or academic advisor. Faculty teaching Mercy Seminars and QUEST-designated courses are also available to support students throughout the program.