Navigating General Education Requirements at California State University

One of the foundational principles of a modern university is the distinction between vocational training and comprehensive education, which prepares students for a fulfilling life. Unlike trade schools that focus on specific job skills, universities aim to develop "educated" individuals with a broad understanding of the world. The Sacramento State General Education Program embodies this philosophy, striving to cultivate well-rounded individuals. This article provides a detailed overview of CSU's general education requirements, designed to help students navigate their academic journey effectively.

The Essence of a University Education

The goal of a university education extends beyond simply acquiring and applying knowledge. It is about fostering critical thinking, promoting understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures, developing a sense of history and social forces, enhancing communication and quantitative skills, cultivating an appreciation for the arts, and encouraging lifelong learning. The Sacramento State General Education Program is intentionally designed to provide this holistic education.

Rather than viewing general education as a mere checklist of courses, students are encouraged to actively engage with subject areas that broaden their perspectives, challenge their assumptions, and offer new experiences like inquiry-based or community-based learning. This approach allows students to lay a strong foundation for their future and develop into educated members of the global community.

Core Objectives of General Education

Sacramento State General Education courses are meticulously designed and approved by faculty to align with the university’s baccalaureate learning goals and specific GE Area Learning Outcomes. These courses aim to equip students with:

Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World: This includes study in the sciences and mathematics, social sciences, humanities, histories, languages, and the arts.
Understanding and Respect for Diversity: This encompasses understanding of and respect for those who are different from oneself and the ability to work collaboratively with those who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. It also includes a significant and useful understanding of peoples from a diversity of cultures and backgrounds, including women and ethnic and other minority groups who have been the objects of prejudice and adverse discrimination within our society.

Students are encouraged to consult with the Academic Advising Center or advisors in their major departments to make informed decisions about their General Education course selections.

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Structure of the General Education Program

The General Education pattern at Sacramento State requires the completion of 43 units. This includes specific requirements across five subject areas, an upper-division requirement, and a writing-intensive requirement.

Area Requirements (Areas 1-5)

Students must complete courses in five areas, ensuring a broad exposure to different disciplines:

Area 1: Basic Subjects (typically covering skills like communication and critical thinking)
- A1
- A2
- A3
Area 2: Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning
Area 3: Arts and Humanities
- At least 3 lower division units must be completed in Area 3A: ARTS and at least 3 lower division units must be completed in 3B: HUMANITIES.
Area 4: Social Sciences
- A minimum of two disciplines (e.g. ANTH, ECON, ETHN, HIST, POLS, RPTA, etc.) must be taken in Area 4.
Area 5: Science and Technology
- At least 3 units must be taken in each Subject Area 5A: Physical Science, 5B: Biological Science, and upper division Subject Area 5: Science or 2: Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning.

While a course may be listed in multiple areas, it may only be applied to one area.

Upper Division Requirement

At least 9 units must be in upper division GE courses (100-199) from Subject Areas 3, 4, and 5 or 2 taken after you complete 34 units of coursework. Enrollment in upper division General Education courses is limited to students who have completed Areas 1A, 1B, and 1C. These requirements must be completed before enrollment in upper division GE courses.

Race and Ethnicity Requirement

Students who have not completed an approved course for the "Race and Ethnicity in American Society" category at a community college must take a course in this category at Sacramento State. The Race and Ethnicity requirement can be met with an upper or lower division course from a student’s major or major department.

Writing Intensive Requirement

One Writing Intensive course, i.e., a course with comprehensive writing assignments (minimum 5,000 words) is required. Some Writing Intensive courses also satisfy a GE Area Requirement, a major requirement, or both. Prerequisite: Completion of GE Subject Areas 1A, 1B, second semester composition (ENGL 20), junior standing, and either ENGL 109M/ ENGL 109W or completion of the WPJ. HIST 100RDeveloping Historical Skills.

Overlap Possibilities

The General Education program is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing for overlap between various requirements. The Race and Ethnicity requirement can be met with an upper or lower division course from a student’s major or major department.

Specific Course Examples and Area Designations

To provide clarity, here are examples of courses and their corresponding GE areas, drawn from a community college articulation list, demonstrating how these requirements might be fulfilled:

Area A: English Language Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units)

A1 - Oral Communication: Courses in public speaking or interpersonal communication.
A2 - Written Communication: Courses focusing on composition and rhetoric. The CSU Sacramento English 20 graduation requirement can be satisfied by completing Sierra’s ENGL 0001B or ENGL 0001C. Either of these courses may “double count” to meet both the English 20 graduation requirement and the CSU General Education Breadth requirement for area A3.
A3 - Critical Thinking: Courses that develop analytical and problem-solving skills.

Area B: Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (Minimum 9 units)

B1 - Physical Science:
- ASTRO 1 Introductory Astronomy Units: 3
- ASTRO 1L Astronomy Laboratory Units: 1 *
- ASTRO 11 Astronomy of the Solar System Units: 4 *
- ASTRO 12 Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe Units: 4 *
- CHEM 1A General Chemistry Units: 5 *
- CHEM 1B General Chemistry Units: 5 *
- CHEM 3A Introduction to Chemistry Units: 4 *
- CHEM 10 Exploring Everyday Chemistry Units: 3
- CHEM 12A Organic Chemistry Units: 5 *
- CHEM 12B Organic Chemistry Units: 5 *
- GEOG 1 Physical Geography Units: 3
- GEOG 1L Physical Geography Laboratory Units: 1 *
- GEOL 1A Physical Geology w/Lab Units: 4 *
- GEOL 1B Historical Geology w/Lab Units: 4 *
- GEOL 2 Introduction to Environmental Science Units: 3
- GEOL 5 Earth Science Units: 3
- GEOL 5A Earth Science with Laboratory Units: 4 *
- GEOL 15 Environmental Geology Units: 3
- GEOL 16 Oceanography Units: 3
- PHSCI 1 Conceptual Physical Science Units: 3
- PHYSC 2A General Physics Units: 4 *
- PHYSC 4A Principles of Physics: Mechanics Units: 4 *
- PHYSC 10 Introduction to Physics Units: 4 *
- PLANT 14 Soil Science Units: 4 *
B2 - Life Science:
- ANTHR 2 Biological Anthropology Units: 3
- ANTHR 2L Biological Anthropology Laboratory Units: 1 *
- ASCI 10 Principles of Animal Science Units: 3
- ASCI 10L Principles of Animal Science Laboratory Units: 1 *
- BIOL 1 Cell and Molecular Biology Units: 4 *
- BIOL 2 Zoology/Animal Diversity and Evolution Units: 5 *
- BIOL 3 Plant Diversity and Ecology Units: 4 *
- BIOL 10 Survey of Biology Units: 4 *
- BIOL 11 Human Biology Units: 4 *
- BIOL 23 General Microbiology Units: 5 *
- BIOL 31 Human Anatomy Units: 4 *
- BIOL 32 Human Physiology Units: 5 *
- BIOL 33 Anatomy & Physiology Units: 6 *
- N R 2 Environmental Science Units: 3
- PLANT 10 Principles of Plant Science Units: 3
- PLANT 10L Principles of Plant Science Laboratory Units: 1 *
- PSYCH 5 Introduction to Biological Psychology Units: 4 *
B3 - Laboratory Activity: Satisfied by completion of any laboratory course in Area B1 or B2. Laboratory courses are indicated with an asterisk (*).
B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning:
- BUS 67 Introduction to Personal Finance Units: 3
- COM ST 14 Statistical Analysis for Communication Units: 3
- LAW 26 Introductory Statistical Analysis for Law, Policy, and Justice Studies Units: 4
- MATH 1 Calculus I Units: 5
- MATH 2 Calculus II Units: 4
- MATH 3 Multivariable Calculus Units: 4
- MATH 4 Differential Equations Units: 4
- MATH 5 Linear Algebra Units: 4
- MATH 13 Survey of Calculus Units: 4
- MATH 17A Concepts and Structures of Mathematics Units: 3
- MATH 20 Finite Mathematics Units: 3
- MATH 37 College Algebra Units: 3
- MATH 37EX College Algebra with Support Units: 4
- MATH 38A Precalculus I Units: 4
- MATH 38B Precalculus II Units: 4
- MATH 39 Precalculus Units: 6
- PSYCH 2 Statistical Methods for Psychology & Social Science Units: 3
- STATS 12 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Units: 4
- STATS 12EX Introduction to Probability and Statistics with Support Units: 4.5

Area C: Arts, Literature, Philosophy, and Languages Other Than English (Minimum 9 units)

C1 - Arts:
- ART 1A Art History: Europe from Prehistory to 1400 Units: 3
- ART 1B Art History: Europe from the Fifteenth to the Twentieth Century Units: 3
- ART 1C Modern and Contemporary Art History Units: 3
- ART 2 Art History of the Non-Western World Units: 3
- ART 3 Art Appreciation Units: 3
- ART 6 2D Design and Color Units: 3
- ART 7A Painting I Units: 3
- ART 12 3-D Design Units: 3
- ART 20A Sculpture I Units: 3
- ART 33A Beginning Drawing Units: 3
- ART 40A Printmaking I Units: 3
- ART 64A Ceramics I Units: 3
- COM ST 2 Oral Interpretation of Literature Units: 3
- DANCE 29 Dance Appreciation Units: 3
- DANCE 32 Dance Cultures Units: 3
- DANCE 35A Afro-Caribbean Dance I Units: 3
- DRAMA 10 Introduction to Theatre Units: 3
- DRAMA 16A History of Theatre: Primitive to the 18th Century Units: 3
- DRAMA 16B History of Theatre:18th Century to Present Units: 3
- DRAMA 31 Acting I: Introduction to Acting Units: 3
- ENG 30 The Film as Literature Units: 3
- FASHION 8 History of Fashion to the Twentieth Century Units: 3
- HORT 4 History of Garden Design Units: 3
- ID 8 History of Interior Design & Furniture Units: 3
- MUSIC 1 Music Fundamentals Units: 3
- MUSIC 4 Exploring Music Units: 3
- MUSIC 7 Excursions in Music of Our World Units: 3
- MUSIC 8 Exploring Jazz, Ragtime, and Blues Units: 3
- PHOTO 1A Introduction to Photography Units: 3
C2 - Humanities:
- CHIN 2 Elementary Chinese II Units: 5
- CIVIL /HUM 3 Autobiography of Civilization Units: 3
- CUL ART 16 Gastronomies of the World Units: 3
- DANCE 32 Dance Cultures Units: 3
- ENG 35 Chicano Literature Units: 3
- ENG 37 Women in Literature Units: 3
- ENG 38 Mythology Units: 3
- ENG 42A Survey of American Literature I Units: 3
- ENG 42B Survey of American Literature II Units: 3
- ENG 43C World Literature I Units: 3
- ENG 43D World Literature II Units: 3
- ENG 45 Introduction to Shakespeare Units: 3
- ENG 46A Survey of British Literature I Units: 3
- ENG 46B Survey of British Literature II Units: 3
- ENG 49A Introduction to Creative Writing Units: 3
- ENG 52 From Story to Screen Units: 3
- ENG 57 Children’s Literature Units: 3
- ENG 61 Hip Hop Poetics Units: 3
- ENG 62A Race and Ethnicity in Literature Units: 3
- ENG 62B Contemporary African American Literature Units: 3
- ENG 62C Asian American Literature Units: 3
- ENG 62D Indigenous American Literature Units: 3
- ENG 62E Introduction to Latino/a Literature Units: 3
- FASHION 9 History of Fashion from the Twentieth Century to Present Units: 3
- FASHION 10 Clothing and Culture Units: 3
- FREN 2 Elementary French II Units: 5
- FREN 3 Intermediate French I Units: 5
- FREN 4 Intermediate French II Units: 5
- FREN 5 Advanced French Units: 5
- GERM 1 Elementary German I Units: 5
- GERM 2 Elementary German II Units: 5
- HIST 6C History of the Middle East Units: 3 +
- HIST 7 History Through Film Units: 3
- HUM /CIVIL 3 Autobiography of Civilization Units: 3
- ITAL 2 Elementary Italian II Units: 5
- JAPAN 2 Elementary Japanese II Units: 5
- PHILO 6 Introduction to Philosophy Units: 3
- PHILO 40 Ethics Units: 3
- PHILO 45 Philosophy of Religion Units: 3
- PHILO 50 Asian Philosophy Units: 3
- RELGN 14A Great Religions of the Eastern World Units: 3
- RELGN 14B Great Religions of the Western World Units: 3
- SL 2 Elementary American Sign Language II Units: 4
- SL 3 Intermediate American Sign Language I Units: 4
- SL 4 Intermediate American Sign Language II Units: 4
- SPAN 2 Elementary Spanish II Units: 5
- SPAN 3 Intermediate Spanish I Units: 5
- SPAN 3A Spanish for Spanish Speakers I Units: 5
- SPAN 4 Intermediate Spanish II Units: 5
- SPAN 4A Spanish for Spanish Speakers II Units: 5
- SPAN 5 Advanced Spanish Introduction to Literature I Units: 5
- SPAN 6 Advanced Spanish Introduction to Literature II Units: 5
- SPAN 20 Introduction to Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies through Literature Units: 5

Area D: Social, Political, and Economic Institutions (Minimum 6 units)

AGBUS 12 Agricultural Economics Units: 3
AJ 21 Criminal Justice in Society Units: 3
ANTHR 1 Cultural Anthropology Units: 3
ANTHR 6 Native Peoples of North America Units: 3
ANTHR 10 Introduction to Archaeology Units: 3
BIOL /PSYCH 30 Human Sexuality Units: 3 +
BUS 8 Introduction to Law and Society Units: 3
BUS 26 Economics of Business Units: 3
BUS 32 Managing Diversity and Inclusion Units: 3
COM ST 7 Intercultural Communication Units: 3 **
COM ST 11 Intracultural Communication Units: 3 **
ECE 21 Child and Adolescent Development Units: 3 +
ECON 3 Principles of Microeconomics Units: 3
ECON 5 Principles of Macroeconomics Units: 3
ETHNS 33 Introduction to Native American Studies Units: 3 +
ETHNS 34 Introduction to Chicana/Chicano Studies Units: 3 +
ETHNS 35 Introduction to Black/African American Studies Units: 3 +
ETHNS 36 Introduction to Asian American Studies Units: 3 +
GEOG 2 Cultural Geography Units: 3
GEOG 3 Geography of California Units: 3
GEOG 10 World Regional Geography Units: 3
HIST 2A World History to 1600 Units: 3
HIST 2B World History Since 1600 Units: 3
HIST 4A History of Western Civilization Units: 3
HIST 4B History of Western Civilization Units: 3
HIST 6A History of Asian Civilizations Units: 3
HIST 6C History of the Middle East Units: 3 +
HIST 17A History of the United States Units: 3
HIST 17B History of the United States Units: 3
HIST 27 Women in History Units: 3
HIST 30A African-American History to 1877 Units: 3
HIST 30B African-American History Since 1877 Units: 3
HIST 31 Mexican-American History Units: 3
HIST 34 Asian Pacific American History Units: 3
HIST 37 California History Units: 3
LAW 16 Introduction to Social Justice: Law and Social Change Units: 3
PETHEORY 41 Sport in Society Units: 3
PETHEORY 49 Psychology of Fitness and Sport Performance Units: 3
POLSC 1 American Government and Institutions Units: 3
POLSC 2 Introduction to Comparative Politics Units: 3
POLSC 3 Introduction to Political Theory Units: 3
POLSC 4 California Politics Units: 3
POLSC 5 International Relations Units: 3
POLSC 6 International Political Economy Units: 3
PSYCH 1 Introduction to Psychology Units: 3
PSYCH 3 Personal and Social Psychology Units: 3 +
PSYCH 4 Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology Units: 3
PSYCH /BIOL 30 Human Sexuality Units: 3 +
SOCIO 1A Introduction to Sociology Units: 3
SOCIO 1B Social Problems Units: 3
SOCIO 5 Sociology of the Family Units: 3
SOCIO 27 Introduction to Gender Units: 3
SOCIO 33 Introduction to Race and Ethnicity Units: 3

Note: Courses marked with (**) satisfy CSU Sacramento’s “Race and Ethnicity in American Society” general education requirement.

Important Considerations

Course Approval: Ensure that the courses you select are approved for GE credit during the academic year in which you take them. Courses are approved annually, and lists are updated to reflect changes. If a course is taken before it is approved or after it is removed, it cannot be used to satisfy CSU GE Breadth.
Minimum Grades: A grade of “C” or better is required for all courses in Area A, the mathematics course in Area B4 and at least 30 of the units completed in Areas A through F.
Transfer Students: A maximum of 70 semester units may be transferred to a CSU campus.
Double Counting: Be aware of opportunities where a single course can satisfy multiple requirements, such as both an English composition graduation requirement and a GE area requirement. While a course may be listed in multiple areas, it may only be applied to one area.

Changes to GE Requirements in Fall 2025

Beginning in Fall 2025, the GE requirements in the CSU will change from the GE pattern that has existed since Fall 2021. The revised CSU GE Requirements was approved by the CSU Board of Trustees in March 2024 to provide an equitable experience for all CSU students. This goal stemmed from the passage of California Assembly Bill 928 (AB 928), the Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act of 2021, which mandates a singular lower-division GE pattern, known as the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), for students transferring from the California Community Colleges to the CSU or the University of California. Effective Fall 2025, Cal-GETC will become the only GE transfer pattern offered by the California Community Colleges.

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American Institutions Requirement

All CSU campuses require that students demonstrate competence in American History and the Constitution of the United States. Completion of HIST G170 or HIST G175 or HIST G121 or ETHS G121 in Area C2 or D or HIST G155 or ETHS G150 in Area D or F and PSCI G180 in Area D or PSCI G181 or ETHS G181 in Area D or F will satisfy this requirement. These courses can also be counted for CSU GE Breadth. This requirement may be met before or after transfer to CSU; however, students are advised to meet this requirement prior to transfer and while completing the CSU General Education certification. Area below, a student may use the course to satisfy all areas listed. History. Government and Politics.

Importance of Academic Advising

Navigating the General Education requirements can be complex. Students are strongly encouraged to seek guidance from academic advisors. Academic Advising provides an inclusive environment in which students can explore, grow and plan for a meaningful academic career. Professional staff and faculty advisors support and guide students to their successful degree completion. They can provide personalized advice, help students understand the overlap possibilities, and ensure they are on track to meet all requirements for graduation.

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