This amended policy, recommended by the Academic Senate at its meeting of Decemer 1, 1988, received the concurrence of the President on Decemer 7, 1988.
The policy was originally recommended by the Academic Senate in its meeting of April l23, 1981 and approved by the president on June 4, 1981. Amendments were approved on March 10, 1982 as Supplement #1 (included) and on February 15, 1985.

This Policy Statement supersedes Policy Statements 73-01, 75-01, 76-04, 77-29, Section of 78-23, and 79-20, as well as all previous amended versions of 81-11. (The relevant provisions of Policy Statement 79-20 regarding criteria for approval of General Education courses in Fine Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences may be taken as guidelines, together with Executive Order No. 338 and the provisions of this Policy Statement, for the approval of General Education courses and course lists.) Policy Statements 73-05, 79-16, 79-28, and 80-06 remain in force.

Each California State University, Long Beach baccalaureate graduate shall have completed a minimum of 51 semester units of General Education courses distrbiuted as follows:

Three units of approved course work in U.S. History and three units of approved course work in U.S. Constitution and American Ideals as required by Section 40404 of Title 5, California Administrative Code (see category D, below).

At least nine of the approved General Education units must be upper-division units taken after the student achieves upper- division standing (completion of 60 semester units) and must be completed at California State University, Long Beach.

At least six units must be selected from among approved Interdisciplinary Courses (IC) in any of the categories specified below.

An Interdisciplinary Course may be approved for more than one General Education category or subcategory when the course's disciplinary emphasis and content fall under more than one General Education category.

A cross-categorized Interdisciplinary Course may be counted (at the student's option) in one of the categories, but not in more than one.

No course in the student's major department may be used to satisfy the G.E. requirements. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the Academic Senate as follows:

1. All courses in Category A.
2. In Category .1.a for majors in the life science departments and .2 for majors in the Department of Mathematics.
3. In Category D.1.a for majors in the Department of History.
4. In Category D.1. for majors in the Department of Political Science.
5. All Interdisciplinary Courses (IC) in all categories.

Category A: Communication in the English Language and Critical Thinking

9 units to include:

1. One approved course in written English.
2. One approved course in oral communication or a combination of oral and written communication, to include an understanding of the process of communication and experience in communication.
3. One approved course in critical thinking, designed to develop the ability to reason clearly and logically and to analyze others' thinking.

Category : Physical Universe

12 units to include:

1. At least six units of inquiry into the physical universe and its life forms to include (a) one approved course in the life sciences and (b) one approved course in the physical sciences; both must involve laboratory experience.
2. At least three units of study in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning; approved courses must foster an understanding of mathematical concepts rather than merely providing instruction in basic computational skills.
3. Another three units as necessary, selected from approved courses, to achieve a minimum of 12 units.

Category C: Humanities and the Arts

12 units to include:

1. At least three units from approved fine arts courses.
2. At least six units from approved courses to include courses in at least two of the following areas: (a) literature, (b) philosophy, and (c) foreign languages.
3. Another three units as necessary, selected from approved courses, to achieve a minimum of 12 units.

Category D: Social and Behavioral Sciences and Their Historical Background

D.1 Citizenship:

(a) Three units selected from approved courses in U.S. History.
(b) Three units selected from approved courses in U.S. Constitution and American Ideals.

D.2 Social and Behavioral Science: At least nine units from approved courses in at least two disciplines.
(a) At least three units selected from approved courses which concern world societies and cultures in an international context.
(b) The remaining six units must be selected from the general list of approved social and behavioral science courses.

Category E: Self-Integration

3 units:

At least three units selected from approved courses which facilitate understanding of the human being as an integrated physiological, social, and psychological organism. Courses that meet this requirement are intended to include selected consideration of such matters as human behavior, sexuality, nutrition, health, stress, key relationships of humankind to the total social and physical environment, and implications of death and dying. Physical activity may be included provided that it is an integral part of the study described above.

To achieve a reduction of required General Education units for their students, the chairs of departments (or directors of programs) with high-unit degree majors may request, and the Planning and Educational Policies Council may approve with review by the Academic Senate, a reduction of the required units to a minimum of 48 units. When a program is approved for this reduction, the minimum required units in one of the Categories B, C, or D will be reduced by three units for students in that program.

Every effort shall be made to encourage the development of, and give equal consideration to, Interdisciplinary Courses that involve the participation of departments and teaching areas outside the Categories A through D. Development of Interdisciplinary Courses and courses designed for majors in Category A is strongly encouraged.

Disagreements over the implementation of this policy shall be referred to the Planning and Educational Policies Council. Except in those instances where it is provided that the PEP Council has final authority, the recommendations of the PEP Council shall be suject to review by the Academic Senate.



EFFECTIVE: Fall 1988