The general education courses are divided into four main strata: Tien 天 “heaven,” Di 地 “science,” Ren 人 “humanities,” and Xing 心 “arts.” Tien, which encompasses faith, spirituality, and philosophy, acknowledges that students have innate abilities to explore the ultimate meaning of life and to differentiate truth from falsehood. Di, pertaining to science, the environment, life, and ethics, directs students to observe the relationships among the ecological environment, technology, and the public. Ren embraces the fields of history, economics, and society. From the viewpoint of ren, students consider the historical and economic development of societies as well as theoretical interpretations of their significance. Within xing are embedded the areas of aesthetics, cultural appreciation, and humane care. As a result of the focus on xing, students gain self-knowledge, acquire compassion, and learn to perceive the beauty of texts and images.

The following table shows the minimum number of credits the students of three departments of Mackay Medical College are required to complete (two in each of the four strata “ Tien, Di, Ren, and Xing;” two for Mackay lecture series; four in Chinese and English; and 10-14 in general education,(including required and selective).