In Memoriam: Dr. Riaz-ul Haque
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of IFOM and CGAE president and founder, Dr Riaz ul Haque. Dr. Haque
Reflections on the passing of Dr Riaz Haque, founder of CGAE, by Dr. Falguni Paul, co-director CGAE
In Memoriam: Dr. Riaz Ul Haque (1935–2026) The Center for General and Applied Education stands as a living tribute to the life, vision,
In Memoriam: Dr. Riaz-ul Haque
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of IFOM and CGAE president and founder, Dr Riaz ul Haque. Dr. Haque
Reflections on the passing of Dr Riaz Haque, founder of CGAE, by Dr. Falguni Paul, co-director CGAE
In Memoriam: Dr. Riaz Ul Haque (1935–2026) The Center for General and Applied Education stands as a living tribute to the life, vision,
Non-Profit Educational Institute · Chicago, IL
Knowledge that
connects
everything.
We believe the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities are inseparable — and that fragmented education is at the root of our greatest learning failures. CGAE teaches integrated knowledge so students can finally see the whole picture.
Our Motto
"Acquire Integrated Knowledge — Not Just Bits and Pieces of Information."
When knowledge is fragmented into subjects and disciplines, the mind cannot make sense of it. Our curriculum is built differently — from the ground up.
Our Purpose
Why the Center exists — and why it matters now more than ever.
The Center for General and Applied Education (formerly the International Foundation of Microbiology) was founded on a simple but urgent question: why do students struggle, disengage, and leave feeling less capable than when they arrived?
After decades of research and hands-on teaching, our founder Dr. Riaz-ul Haque, Ph.D., concluded that the real culprit is fragmentation of knowledge — delivering learning in isolated bits and pieces, year after year, never giving students the coherent picture their minds are wired to seek.
Learning is involuntary and ongoing
The human mind never stops learning — it's tied to our survival. Our programs work with this nature, not against it.
Science is not chemistry, physics, or biology
Science is a way of questioning the world. It underpins all human knowledge — arts, music, religion, philosophy. We teach 150 core concepts that make this visible.
Everyone is a learner — and a scientist
There are no chosen few. Learning is not a talent; it's a birthright. CGAE is open to all, at any age, from any background.
Integration is the missing link
When knowledge is integrated and presented chronologically — as one coherent story — it shrinks in volume and expands in meaning.
If you want to produce scatter brains, scatter the knowledge. If you want wholesome, knowledgeable individuals, integrate, consolidate, and interconnect the knowledge.
— Dr. Riaz-ul Haque, Ph.D.
Founder, CGAE
News
In Memoriam: Dr. Riaz-ul Haque
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of IFOM and CGAE president and founder, Dr Riaz ul Haque. Dr. Haque passed peacefully
Reflections on the passing of Dr Riaz Haque, founder of CGAE, by Dr. Falguni Paul, co-director CGAE
In Memoriam: Dr. Riaz Ul Haque (1935–2026) The Center for General and Applied Education stands as a living tribute to the life, vision, and enduring
Dr. Haque Interview
‘This interview was conducted by daughter-in-law Jill Sanderson and grandson Charles (at the time age 8!)’ on October of 2016 Jill: We are asking some
Educational Programs
Learn differently. Think clearly.
COMING SOON:
Courses
Six comprehensive, hands-on courses covering Microbiology, Molecular Biology, integrated Science & Humanities, and research methodology. 100–200 hours of lab-based learning.
Workshops
One-day and weekend workshops on topics from Technotherapy™ to Green Microbiology™. Open to students, educators, and curious minds of all ages.
Tours
The best first step. Join a half-day Saturday tour of the Center to experience our learning environment first-hand. Fee: $30.
Professional Development
Intensive training for science and non-science teachers. Learn to teach integrative, hands-on science — and bring it back to your classroom.
The Difference
How we teach — and why it works.
We teach themes, not subjects. Themes transcend disciplines — they help students understand the world and make meaningful contributions to it.
We begin with overviews. The human mind learns by grasping the whole picture first, then filling in the details — not the other way around.
We place learning on a timeline. Knowledge presented chronologically shrinks redundancy and connects everything to a living story of human discovery.
We use your own pace. Flexible day and evening schedules fit around your life — you don't have to quit your job to learn.
Resources & Publications
Read our research.
Ready to learn the whole story?
Register for a course, book a Saturday tour, or get in touch — no age bars, no prerequisites.