Image Carousel



Overview
College of Western Idaho (CWI) offers you the opportunity to complete what has traditionally been referred to as your General Education or core classes and earn a college certificate in the process. What’s great about this certificate is that you can transfer to any Idaho public university or college, and the credits you earned will fulfill general core classes there.
You can earn the General Education Academic certificate by itself or along with your degree. Transferring is made simpler because you have a designation on your transcript that you have completed the General Education program.
This General Education Academic Certificate consists of 36 credits.
Areas you will study:
- Ethical Reasoning
- Global Perspectives
- Written Communication
- Oral Communication
- Mathematics
- Science
- Humanities and Arts
- Behavioral and Social Science
Be sure to check out which classes are available online!
Mission
Courses in the General Education Academic Certificate at CWI will engage students to consider other contexts and viewpoints, communicate with clarity and accuracy, and apply solutions and ideas. Students will be prepared to move forward in their academic career with a solid foundation from the General Education courses they completed at the College of Western Idaho.
Why This Program
The CWI General Education Academic Certificate gives you the opportunity to earn credits that will count towards your future whether or not you have already decided your career path. CWI General Education classes are taught by instructors with at least a master’s degree. You receive a high-level education at a fraction of the cost of universities in Idaho.
Requirements and Costs
Degrees and Certificates
General Education - Academic Certificate
1.5
YEARSAC
Important Dates for Credit Programs
Summer 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Priority Registration Begins1 | N/A | April 10 | Nov. 13, 2023 | |
Open Registration Begins | Feb. 27 | April 17 | Nov. 20, 2023 | |
Financial Aid Priority Deadline | May 13 | July 29 | Dec. 16, 2023 | |
Admission Deadline2 | May 27 | Aug. 12 | Jan. 6 | |
Last Day to Register for Classes | June 2 | Aug. 18 | Jan. 12 | |
Tuition and Fees Due | June 2 | Aug. 18 | Jan. 12 | |
Classes Begin3 | June 5 | Aug. 21 | Jan. 16 | |
1 Priority registration is limited to continuing students. Students are assigned a registration time based on their cumulative credits earned. Students should check myCWI and their CWI email to learn their assigned registration time. Students may register online anytime on or after their assigned registration time. | ||||
2 The admission deadline for international students is earlier than the deadline for non-international students and is only available during the fall and spring semesters. Please consult the Academic Calendar for the international student admission deadlines for the fall and spring semesters. | ||||
3 Classes in shorter sessions (including 4-, 5-, and 8-week sessions) may begin before or after this date. Please refer to the Registration and Refund Deadlines by Class Section Dates (located beneath each semester) of the Academic Calendar for more information. |
Advising
Navigating your way through college can be confusing, especially if you try to go it alone. CWI offers advising assistance to help in deciding which courses you need to take to reach your education and career goals. Visit Advising or contact One Stop Student Services for more information.
Connecting With Ideas
Connecting With Ideas (CWI 101) is the first semester student success course designed to help CWI students become engaged members of the academic community and cultivate habits for lifelong achievement and success. Each semester, students can select from a variety of themes. More information about next semesters CWI 101 themes
Transfer
Look beyond your degree at CWI and plan for continuing your education by working closely with CWI advising and representatives of your intended transfer school. Planning before you transfer can save you time and money. Visit Transfer Information for more information or contact One Stop Student Services.
General Education courses transfer to all public colleges and universities in Idaho. The General Education Academic Certificate meets the General Education requirements for any Associates or Bachelor’s degree at a public college or university in Idaho.
Financial Aid Available
Did you know that as a student in this program you may be eligible for financial aid? Through grants, scholarships, and loans, more than 60 percent of first-time, full-time CWI students receive some form of financial assistance. To learn more about financial aid options and whether you may be eligible, visit Financial Aid.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for a full-time CWI student averages half the cost of a state university and a third of the cost of a private college. Tuition and fees vary based on program and residence. Visit Tuition and Fees for more information.
Career Info
The skills developed in CWI’s General Education Program help students succeed in any work environment because employers want people who can solve problems, communicate effectively, and apply knowledge and skills to new situations. Graduates understand that success in our interconnected world requires consideration of multiple perspectives, cultures, and contexts. The General Education Academic Certificate will ensure students gain these skills and are well prepared for employment.
Instructors
Program Department Chair
Respectful Community
The College of Western Idaho is committed to maintaining a Respectful Community by providing equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate in services, benefits, or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. More on Title IX
News and Blogs

Congratulations to Greg Wilson, College of Western Idaho’s Faculty of Distinction for January 2021.

College of Western Idaho student, Brandon Edralin, won a new Apple iPad during the College’s mobile app giveaway!

Congratulations to Jana McCurdy, College of Western Idaho’s Faculty of Distinction for March 2019.

Faculty who teach General Education courses recognized for exemplary teaching, creativity, excellence, delivery, and service.
Academic Transfer
- Agriculture Business, Leadership, and Education
- Animal Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Biotechnology Laboratory Assistant
- Business
- Chemistry
- Communication
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Education, Elementary
- Education, Secondary
- Engineering
- English
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
- Exercise Science
- General Education
- Geographic Information Systems
- Geography
- Geosciences
- Health Science and Public Health
- History
- Liberal Arts
- Mathematics
- Media Arts
- Military Science (Army ROTC)
- Nursing, Professional
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
- Sign Language Studies
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Studio Art