2008 General Education Pattern
New General Education Requirements, effective Fall 2008
In Fall 2008, a new General Education (GE) policy will be in effect at California State University, Long Beach.
The new 48 unit requirement will be streamlined and more efficient than the current 51 units required under earlier patterns. Moreover, the current confusing double-counting rules will be eliminated and a new flexible GE course selection process will enable students more choices in GE.
Simply, the major differences between previous GE patterns and the new Fall 2008 (and subsequent semesters) are these:
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Fewer overall units are required, 48 units instead of 51.
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Fewer units are required for Categories B, C, and D. The minimum units in each Category were reduced to 9, 9, and 12 respectively, from 12, 12, & 15 under earlier patterns.
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The ability of students to take up to 10 units in their major department and double count them in GE, if the courses were on the GE course list at the time they were completed.
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A new elective Category in which 6 units from Categories B or C or D may be taken, if they are needed to reach the total of 48 units required for GE. Students may also use excess units from all or any combination from Categories B, C or D to meet this requirement as well.
Thus, the new 48 unit requirement can be described in the following way:
| Category A – English Language & Critical Thinking |
9 units |
| Category B – Natural Science & Mathematics |
9 units |
| Category C – The Arts & Humanities |
9 units |
| Category D – Citizenship & Social & Behavioral Sciences & History |
12 units |
| Category E – Self Integration |
3 units |
| GE Electives* – 6 units (if needed) of GE |
6 units |
Total |
48 units |
At least one GE course will still be designated “Human Diversity in the United States,” one course will still be designated as Global Issues and at least 3 upper division courses (9 units) will be designated as Capstone Courses. These designations may be combined. An example of a combination is CLSC 300I, a 3 unit Capstone course that is also a “Global Issues” course. Although the student receives credit for both a Capstone and a Global Issues requirement, only 3 units are counted toward GE and the Baccalaureate degree.
Link to the Academic Senate Policy on the 2008 GE Pattern
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