Through the review of the literature and analyzing the data on the general education courses in American and Korean colleges and universities bulletin, it was found that the meaning of the general education and the necessity for the innovation of the general education. The meaning of general education was developed as (1) the liberal education (2) the general education and (3) the general including the liberal .education in American and, Korean colleges and universities emphasized the liberal education in the past and the general education at present. In 1980 the nations as far as the world are confronting the energy and economic crisis, the phenomena of dehumanizing, the problems of the population and the conflicts of the relationships in between the nations and the ideology. In order to overcome the crisis and the conflicts, the students must have the common values, thoughts and experiences through the general education. The unity should be emphasized instead of the diversity in the general education. Accomplishing the above mentioning purposes the higher learning of America and Korea should intend to innovate the frame of reference in general education curriculum, not just simply change several courses or add the few courses. The interdisciplinary, the theme course and the core curriculum are recommended.