General Education Breadth Pattern

As part of the requirements for a bachelor's degree, all students must meet general education requirements. The CSU General Education (GE) Breadth pattern requires a minimum of 48 semester units: 37-39 of lower division and at least 9 upper-division semester units. All of the lower-division courses for CSU GE Breadth may be completed at a California Community College before you transfer to a CSU campus.

In addition, once you enroll at a CSU you must complete at least 9 upper-division semester units of coursework (or the equivalent quarter units) to complete your GE requirement. Students must take specified courses in the following areas:

• Area A — English Language Communication and Critical Thinking
• Area B — Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning
• Area C — Arts and Humanities
• Area D — Social Sciences
• Area E — Lifelong Learning and Self-Development

Each California Community College has a list of courses that can be used in each of the areas. Each of the areas has a minimum number of units or courses. You can use the Transfer Planner to track your progress towards completing your CSU general education requirements.

Up to 39 lower-division CSU GE Breadth units can be transferred from and certified by a California Community College or other certifying institution. Students who are certified with 39 semester units of lower-division CSU GE-Breadth units will be required to complete a minimum of 9 semester units of upper-division general education work after transfer.

It is important that you request that your California Community College certify completion of California Community College coursework that meets CSU general education requirements. Certification means that CSU will accept these courses to meet the CSU GE Breadth areas designated by your California Community College.