Undergraduates who started at the University in or after the fall of 2010 will only have to take four liberal education theme courses in order to graduate. The change is effective immediately.

The measure was approved by the University Faculty Senate earlier this month. The University announced its finalization in an email to students Monday.

The five-theme requirement, which took effect in the fall of 2010, required students to fulfill technology and society, civic life and ethics, diversity and social justice in the United States, the environment and global perspectives themes. Now, students can pick four of the five.

Students in highly-structured degrees like engineering and nursing had trouble fulfilling the requirements and graduating in four years under the five-theme rule.

 “I think it’s an absolute win for students because it’s simply going to make it a bit easier in negotiating the curriculum at the University,” Robert McMaster, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, told the Daily earlier this month.