Upper Division General Education (9 Units)
General Education (GE) coursework at the 300-level or above must be selected from:
- Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning or Area 5 Physical and Biological Sciences (3 units)
- Area 3 Arts and Humanities or CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies/Gender, Race, Class, and Ethnicity Studies, and Foreign Languages (3 units)
- Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences or CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies/Gender, Race, Class, and Ethnicity Studies, and Foreign Languages (3 units)
Students must take 3 units in Area 2 or Area 5 and 6 units from Area 3, Area 4 and/or CSUN Section F with no more than 3 units each from Area 3 or Area 4. Upper division GE courses (300-level and above) are not to be taken sooner than the semester in which junior standing (60 units) is achieved. Students enrolling in upper division GE courses shall have completed required lower division GE courses in English Composition (Written Communication), Critical Thinking, Oral Communication, and Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning.
Writing Intensive (W.I.) Requirement
All upper division GE courses are designated Writing Intensive (W.I.). Therefore, the WI requirement will be satisfied by meeting the upper division General Education requirement. Courses meeting this designation must satisfy all of the Writing Intensive student learning outcomes. Only courses approved for upper division GE or as equivalent pattern modifications, or upper division courses approved for the American Institutions or Lifelong Learning campus requirements, may be designated as Writing Intensive.
General Education Residency Requirement
Students must complete a minimum of 9 units of General Education in residence at a California State University campus at the upper division level.
Grading Method Requirement
Students may not take courses on a Credit/No Credit basis to fulfill GE requirements. Refer to the Policies and Procedures section on Credit/No Credit for all restrictions on this basis of grading.
Additional General Education Rules
- A student may count for GE credit any GE course that counts for major credit.
- Changes or substitutions to GE that are specific to particular majors are listed in the General Education Pattern Modifications section or may be listed in the description of the major program. An academic advisor in the major should be consulted regarding these changes.
- Courses taken to fulfill a particular GE requirement will continue to count for GE credit even after a student changes major. However, once a student changes the major, the student is responsible for fulfilling the GE requirements in the areas of GE that have not been completed.
- Students must earn a “C-” or better grade in the four basic skills courses: English Composition (Written Communication), Critical Thinking, Oral Communication, and Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning.
Requirements for Transfer Students
Transfer students can meet CSUN GE requirements by completing a General Education Certification* plan at a California Community College and 9 units of upper division GE coursework at CSUN after transfer, or by completing the General Education program at CSUN, which includes the following areas of study in Basic Skills: English Composition (Written Communication); Critical Thinking; Oral Communication; and Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning; and, Subject Explorations: Arts and Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Physical and Biological Sciences; and Comparative Cultural Studies/Gender, Race, Class, and Ethnicity Studies, and Foreign Languages).
Comparative Cultural Studies Requirement
Students starting at CSUN as upper division transfer students must also meet a 3 unit CSUN requirement in Comparative Cultural Studies/Gender, Race, Class, and Ethnicity Studies, and Foreign Languages. This requirement can be met through transfer credit evaluation or the completion of an appropriate CSUN upper division GE course designated as Comparative Cultural Studies. Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) students may be required to complete upper division CSUN Section F courses only if those courses are already specified in the 60 units of baccalaureate-completion requirements for the ADT-to-bachelor’s degree.
United States History, Constitution and American Ideals Requirement
All students must meet the CSU Graduation Requirements in United States History, Constitution and American Ideals (Title 5). Upper division transfer students may meet this requirement through transfer credit evaluation or the completion of appropriate CSUN upper division courses designated as United States History, Constitution and American Ideals. Students who need to complete Area 4A/B Constitution of the United States/State and Local Government may double count the course for upper division Area 4. If needed, ADT students may also double count an American History, Institutions and Ideals course for upper division Area 3.
Ethnic Studies Requirement
Students whose transfer record does not include an articulated Ethnic Studies (E.S.) General Education course (CSU GE Area 6) must take a course designated as meeting that requirement prior to graduation.
*Students who may be eligible for Cal-GETC certification are urged to consult with their community college counselor about this process, preferably in advance of their transfer.