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Home Catalog Graduation and Transfer Preparing to Transfer CSU GE Requirements

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2023-2024 California State University General Education Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Transfer to a California State University (CSU) With Junior Standing

  1. Complete 60 transferable semester units. Complete as many of the lower division requirements in your major as possible. These requirements can be found at assist.org.
    • Complete at least 30 semester units of CSU general education (GE) courses with a grade of "C-" or better.
  2. Have a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in all transferable units attempted.
  3. Be in good standing at the last college or university attended.
  4. Complete the following CSU GE areas with a grade of "C-" or better:
    • Area A1: Oral Communication
    • Area A2: Written Communication
    • Area A3: Critical Thinking
    • Area B4: Quantitative Reasoning

Tips for Using the CSU GE Pattern

  • Each year, a few courses are added or deleted on these patterns. If you take a course during the semester/term it appears on the CSU GE pattern, then it counts for CSU GE. If you take a course after it has been deleted or before it appears on the pattern, then it doesn't count for CSU GE.
  • Meet with your counselor before attempting to take courses at another college to fulfill CSU GE requirements. Approved courses vary from college to college.
  • The CSU GE pattern may change each year. It is the student's responsibility to check with a counselor for the updated CSU GE pattern.

General Education Certification

Most CSU campuses require that the CSU GE pattern be certified. You must meet with a counselor to have your CSU GE certified. Certification should be done in your last term of enrollment prior to transfer.

A. English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

Choose one course (three units minimum) from each area for a minimum of nine semester units.
Area Courses
A1 COMM 301, 331, 361, 362
A2 ENGWR 300, 480; ESLW 340
A3 COMM 302, 311; ENGRD 310; ENGWR 301*, 302, 303, 481, 482; ESL 350*; PHIL 320
  • * Courses appearing in more than one category may be used to satisfy only one category.

B. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning

Choose one course from each area for a minimum of nine semester units. Courses in areas B1 or B2 may also be used in area B3 where appropriate. Related lecture courses must be completed prior to or concurrently with lab courses.
Area Courses
B1 ASTR 300, 310, 320, 330, 481+; CHEM 305+, 309+, 338+, 400+, 401+, 423+; GEOG 300, 305, 306, 307, 308; GEOL 300, 305, 310, 320, 325, 330, 345; PHYS 310, 311, 350+, 360+, 410+
B2 ANTH 300, 303, 480; BIOL 300, 301, 303+, 305+, 310+, 332+, 342, 352, 370+, 375, 400+, 410+, 415+, 420+, 430+, 440+, 442+, 482+; HEED 308; NATR 301+, 302+, 305+, 306, 310+, 320+; PSYC 310
B3 Lab ANTH 301; ASTR 400, 481+; BIOL 303+, 305+, 310+, 332+, 370+, 400+, 410+, 415+, 420+, 430+, 440+, 442+, 482+; CHEM 305+, 309+, 338+, 400+, 401+, 423+; GEOG 301, 309; GEOL 301, 306, 311, 331; NATR 301+, 302+, 305+, 310+, 320+; PHYS 312, 350+, 360+, 410+; PSYC 311
B4 CISP 440; ECON 310#; MATH 300, 310, 311, 325, 333#, 340, 342, 355, 356, 370, 372, 373, 375, 400, 401, 402, 410, 420; PSYC 330; STAT 300, 305, 480
  • + This course may be counted in two areas.
  • # This course is approved for CSU GE beginning in fall 2023. See all new approvals for fall 2023.

C. Arts and Humanities

Choose one course from each area, plus an additional course from either area, for a minimum of nine semester units.
Area Courses
C1 Arts ART 300, 320, 324, 370, 372, 390, 420, 430; ARTH 300, 302, 308, 310, 318, 322, 333, 334, 335; ARTNM 305; ARTPH 300, 345; DANCE 403, 433; FASHN 330; IDES 310*, 312; MUFHL 300, 308, 310, 311, 315, 321, 330, 400, 401, 410, 411; MUSM 342; TA 300, 302*, 303*, 306, 350, 390, 406, 435; TAFILM 300, 302, 303, 304, 307
C2 Humanities DEAF 314, 316, 318, 380; ENGCW 430; ENGLT 300, 304, 308, 310, 311, 320, 321, 327, 330, 334, 335, 338, 340, 341, 345, 360, 365*, 370, 378, 380, 382, 392, 403, 486, 494; ENGWR 301*; ESL 350*; GERM 401, 402, 411, 412; HIST 300*, 302*, 305*, 307*, 308*, 320, 321, 340*, 341*, 364*, 365*, 367*, 373*, 399, 480*, 481*; HUM 300, 301, 310, 320, 326, 330; IDES 310*; ITAL 401, 402, 411, 412; PHIL 300, 310, 315, 330, 331, 350, 360*; RLST 301, 302, 310, 311, 313; RUSS 402, 411, 412, 413, 415; SPAN 401, 402, 411, 412, 413, 415, 427; TA 302*, 303*; TAFILM 320
  • * Courses appearing in more than one category may be used to satisfy only one category.
  • # This course is approved for CSU GE beginning in fall 2023. See all new approvals for fall 2023.

D. Social Sciences

Choose two courses for a minimum of six units. If you have catalog rights prior to Fall 2021, then choose three courses for a minimum of nine units from two different subject areas.
Area Courses
D ADMJ 300, 302, 304, 320; ANTH 310, 319, 320, 330, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 341, 481; BUS 320, 330; COMM 325; DEAF 351, 355; ECE 312*, 314; ECON 302, 304, 305, 320; ENGLT 365*; ETHNS 300*, 320*, 330*, 340*, 350*; GEOG 310, 320, 322; GERON 302*, 303*, 305*#; HIST 300*, 302*, 305*, 307*, 308*, 310, 311, 318, 320*, 321*, 323, 325, 327, 330, 332#, 333#, 340*, 341*, 343, 353#, 364*, 365*, 367*, 373*, 374, 375, 480*, 481*, 483, 484; HSER 330*; IS 301, 302, 305, 310, 312; JOUR 310, 320; NATR 307; NUTRI 310, 481; PHIL 360*; POLS 301, 302, 304, 310, 320, 330, 342, 480, 481; PSYC 300, 305, 320, 340*, 356*, 361, 365*, 370*, 372*, 373*, 374*, 375*#, 390*, 415, 480, 481*; SJS 300, 310; SOC 300, 301, 302, 309, 318, 321, 325, 342, 350, 480
  • * Courses appearing in more than one category may be used to satisfy only one category.
  • # This course is approved for CSU GE beginning in fall 2023. See all new approvals for fall 2023.

E. Lifelong Learning and Self Development

Choose at least one course for a minimum of three semester units.
Area Courses
E COMM 321; ECE 312*; GERON 302*, 303*, 305*#; HCD 310, 382; HEED 300; HSER 330*, 340; NUTRI 300; PSYC 340*, 342, 354, 356*, 359, 365*, 370*, 372*, 373*, 374*, 375*#, 390*, 400, 481*; SOC 335
One unit maximum from most courses with one of the following prefixes may be used for partial fulfillment of this area: ADAPT, DANCE, FITNS, PACT, SPORT, TMACT. Consult a counselor or assist.org to identify an appropriate physical education activity course.
  • * Courses appearing in more than one category may be used to satisfy only one category.
  • # This course is approved for CSU GE beginning in fall 2023. See all new approvals for fall 2023.

F. Ethnic Studies

Area F is only for students with Fall 2021 (or later) catalog rights. If you have catalog rights prior to Fall 2021, then this section does not apply to you.
Choose at least one course for a minimum of three units; courses cannot be counted twice.
Area Courses
F
ETHNS 300*, 320*, 330*, 340*, 350*
  • * Courses appearing in more than one category may be used to satisfy only one category.

US History, Constitution, and American Ideals

This is a CSU graduation requirement only – it is not required for CSU general education certification. These courses can also be used to satisfy Area D. Choose one course from each group for a total of two courses.
Group Courses
Group 1 POLS 301, 481
Group 2 HIST 310, 311, 318, 320, 321, 323, 325, 327, 330, 333#, 483, 484

New Approvals Effective Fall 2023

The following courses are approved for the designated CSU GE areas beginning in fall 2023.
Course Number CSU GE Area
ECON 310 B4
MATH 333 B4
GERON 305 D, E
HIST 332 D
HIST 333 D; US History, Constitution, and American Ideals
HIST 353 D
PSYC 375 D, E
FITNS 384 E
FITNS 386 E
FITNS 396 E
SPORT 408 E

Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT)

American River College offers associate degrees for transfer to CSU. These include associate in arts (AA-T) or associate in science (AS-T) degrees. These degrees are designed to provide a clear pathway to a CSU major and baccalaureate degree. Students who earn an ADT degree are guaranteed admission with junior standing at a campus in the CSU system and are given priority admission consideration to their local CSU campus or to a program that is deemed similar to their community college major.

Earning an ADT does not guarantee admission to specific majors or campuses. Students who earn an ADT degree are able to complete the remaining requirements for the major in which the ADT was earned with not more than 60 semester or 90 quarter units after transfer.

Current and prospective community college students are encouraged to meet with a counselor to review their options for transfer and to develop an educational plan that best meets their goals and needs.

CSU Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree

Degree requirements at a CSU consist of:

  1. General education requirements, which are required of all degree candidates
  2. Major requirements, which are part of the student's field of specialization
  3. Individual campus graduation requirements
  4. State law requirements

These requirements are classified in two levels – lower division and upper division. Students may transfer a maximum of 70 lower division semester units from a community college, which may involve preparation for the major and all lower division general education courses.

To be eligible for graduation with a bachelor's degree from a CSU, students must complete a minimum of 48 semester units of general education. American River College will certify completion of 39 lower division general education units for students if they follow the pattern of requirements outlined here. The remaining nine (9) units required in general education must be upper division courses completed at the four-year university.

A minimum of 60 transferable semester units are required for a student to transfer with junior standing. It is important that lower division major course requirements be completed prior to transfer. Major requirements can be found at assist.org.

Review Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations that are appropriate for fulfillment of specific areas of the CSU GE breadth pattern.