FAQ - Double Counting

Can some courses be double counted for the major and GE?


University policy states that courses taken in the major department may not be used to satisfy GE requirements.  However, major requirement courses housed in other major departments can be used for both GE and major requirements if they appear on the list of approved GE courses in the Schedule of Classes.  For example, Electrical Engineering majors are required to take chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses which are taught in departments other than Electrical Engineering. Since those courses appear on the approved list of GE courses, Electrical Engineering majors may use these courses for both the major and GE in terms of subject credit. Students only receive unit credit once for the course(s) taken.  The University's rule that major department courses may not be used for GE also has some exceptions. They are:

  • All courses in Category A.
  • Courses in Category B1a for majors in life science departments and in B2 majors in mathematics.
  • Courses in C1 and C3 for art and music majors.
  • Courses in Category D1a for majors in history.
  • Courses in D1b (1985, 1993) for Category F (1981) for majors in political science.
  • All interdisciplinary ("I") course in all categories.
  • All Human Diversity (HD) courses in all categories.

    Keep in mind that although courses may double count for the major and GE, students receive unit credit only once for the course(s) taken.