Fall 2021 General Education Requirements
LD = Lower Division (100 and 200 level courses); UD = Upper Division (300 and 400 level courses) Students under earlier G.E. plans or who need help with the above chart should contact their College Advising Center or the University Center for Undergraduate Advising.
Students who began continuous enrollment in Fall 2021 or later at a California Community College or other California State University must follow this pattern.
The following is an overview of the General Education requirements beginning with the Fall 2021 catalog. Click the link in the "List of Approved Courses" column to see current lists of all courses approved for that requirement. Refer to the online schedule of classes to see which specific sections of courses are being offered for a specific term. You can also run your Academic Requirements Report to see your current status in completing General Education requirements.
- The Foundation (A1, A2, A3 and B4 Courses)
- Explorations (B2, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3, and E - Lower Division Courses)
- Upper Division Requirements (B, C, and D)
These courses will provide you with the basic essential skills of a college-educated person including written communication and oral communication in the English language, critical thinking, and mathematics/quantitative reasoning.
Purpose:
In these courses, you will develop and improve fundamental academic skills that are critical to success in college.
Note:
All GE Foundation Courses must be completed with a grade of C or better within the first 30 CSULB baccalaureate units.
| Area of Study | GE Category | Units Required | List of Approved Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Communication in English | A1 | 3 | A1 courses |
| Oral Communication in English | A2 | 3 | A2 courses |
| Critical Thinking | A3 | 3 | A3 courses |
| Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning | B4 | 3 | B4 courses |
These courses will provide you with opportunities to explore human knowledge in a variety of disciplines.
Purpose:
You will be able to select courses from all across the university, so the topics you can explore are nearly unlimited. You will also refine the skills you developed in the Foundation courses, and you will be expected to practice additional skills like ethical reasoning, solving complex problems, creativity, respect for different points of view, and understanding your part in a democratic society and global community.
| Area of Study | GE Category | Units Required | List of Approved Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Sciences* | B1 | 3 | B1 courses |
| Life Sciences* | B2 | 3 | B2 courses |
| Laboratory Experience |
B3 | 1 | B3 courses |
* In this category, either Life Sciences or Physical Sciences must include a lab component.
| Area of Study | GE Category | Units Required | List of Approved Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts, Cinema, Dance, Design, Film, Music, Theatre | C1 | 3 | C1 courses |
| Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, LOTE |
C2 | 3 | C2 courses |
| Explorations: C1 Arts or C2 Humanities |
C3 | 3 | C3 courses |
| Area of Study | GE Category | Units Required | List of Approved Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. History | D1 | 3 | D1 courses |
| Constitution and American Ideals | D2 | 3 | D2 courses |
| Social Sciences and Citizenship | D3 | 3 | D3 Courses |
| Area of Study | GE Category | Units Required | List of Approved Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifelong Learning and Self Development | E | 3 | E Lower Division courses |
* In this category, six units of lower division are required. Students are required to take three units of U.S. History and three units of Constitution and American Ideals, which may be taken at lower division or upper division level. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (Area E)
These courses will provide you with opportunities to explore ethnic studies in a variety of disciplines.
| Area of Study | GE Category | Units Required | List of Approved Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethnic Studies | F-ES, UD D, D3, Human Diversity | 3 | Ethnic Studies |
The Upper Division Requirements represent the culmination of the GE experience and are designed to reinforce knowledge and skills acquired from many areas. Students are required to take 3 Upper Division units in Category B, 3 Upper Division units in Category C, 3 Upper Division units in Category D.
Purpose:
All Upper Division Requirement courses must reinforce advanced college skills, including writing, synthesis and application of knowledge, analysis, critique, and research.
| Area of Study | GE Category | Units Required | List of Approved Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Inquiry & Quantitative Reasoning | B | 3 | Upper Division B Courses (300-400) |
| Art or Humanities | C | 3 | Upper Division C Courses (300-400) |
| Social Sciences | D | 3 | Upper Division D Courses (300-400) |
