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Baccalaureate Degree Information

GE Requirements (48 units*)

The General Education curriculum is organized as three sequential phases. The first is the Foundation, a group of courses designed to provide fundamental learning skills. The second is Explorations, courses distributed across the curriculum that are intended to provide an opportunity to explore the various way of acquiring and examining knowledge while continuing to develop learning skills. The third is the Capstone, designed to integrate knowledge and skills developed earlier in the curriculum.

(*Students majoring in departments within the College of Engineering are required to take only 45 units of GE)

In completing the Foundation, Explorations, and Capstone phases of the General Education program, all students must complete a distribution pattern described below.

Communication in the English Language and Critical Thinking (Category A, 9 units):

  • Includes three Foundation Courses:
    • Written Communication in English (A1), Oral Communication in English (A2), and Critical Thinking (A3).

Natural Sciences & Mathematics (Category B, 9 units)

  • Includes one course in biological science with lab (B1a) and one course in physical science with lab (B1b). This requirement also includes the fourth Foundation course in Mathematics (B2).

The Arts and Humanities (Category C, 9 units)

  • Includes one course in the arts (C1) and 6 units in humanities from two of three areas: literature, philosophy, or foreign language (C2).

Citizenship and Social and Behavioral Sciences and History (Category D, 12 units)

  • Includes one course in US history (D1a) and one course covering the US Constitution, including CA State and local government (D1b). This requirement also includes two additional courses in social and behavioral sciences or history (D2).

Self-Integration (Category E, 3 units)

  • Includes one course that deals with the human being as a psychological, physiological, and social organism.

GE Electives (Categories B, C, D, 6 units):

  • Includes up to two additional courses from Natural Sciences and Mathematics, The Arts and Humanities, or Citizenship and Social and Behavioral Sciences and History which may be needed to complete the 48 unit General Education requirement.

Additional GE Requirements

The 48 units above must include courses that also fulfill the following requirements:

Global Issues (GI, 3 units):

  • Requires a course designed to introduce students to cultures and places outside of the US.

Human Diversity (HD, 3 units)

  • Requires a course designed to introduce students to diverse populations and cultures within the US.