General Education Requirements

General Education for Undergraduate Students

At CSULB, General Education is an important part of the undergraduate educational experience. A well-planned General Education program of study will provide students with the skills they will need to excel in whatever disciplines they choose to pursue.

College students all across the United States complete a GE program toward becoming a well-educated person. General Education is the key to a most successful future. A well-planned GE program of study provides students with the skills they will need to excel in whatever discipline(s) they choose to pursue. Employers are hiring and promoting people who have more than just knowledge in a discipline; they are looking for people who can do things like write and speak clearly, solve problems, work well in diverse teams, and make ethical decisions. These are some of the essential skills of GE. As a successful student, one of your responsibilities is to seek out information to work with advisors to plan to take a set of GE courses that best suits your current interests and future directions.

This site offers much of the information needed to build your best GE Program. The links below provide further information on the importance of General Education, as well as information on requirements and approved courses.

  • 2021 General Education
    Students who began continuous enrollment in Fall 2021 or later at CSULB, a California Community College, or other California State University must follow this pattern.
     
  • 2019 General Education Designation Changes
    In 2018, CSULB aligned our GE requirements with Executive Order 1100 from the CSU Chancellor’s Office.  Students who began continuous enrollment in Fall 2018 or later at a California Community College or other California State University must follow this pattern.
     
  • 2018 General Education 
    Students who first enrolled at CSULB in Fall 2018 or Spring 2019 must follow this pattern.
     
  • 2012 General Education 
    Students who began continuous enrollment in Fall 2012 or later at a California Community College or other California State University must follow this pattern.
     
  • 2008 General Education  
    Students who began continuous enrollment between 2008 and Spring 2011 can follow this pattern or may elect the 2012 pattern.
     
  • 1999 General Education
    Students who began continuous enrollment between 1999 and Spring 2008 at a California Community College or other California State University can follow this pattern or may elect the 2012 pattern.
     
  • University Center for Undergraduate Advising 
    Students enrolled prior to 1999 or with questions related to the appropriate General Education pattern should contact the University Center for Undergraduate Advising.