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CSUF GE Comparison
As required by the CSU General Education Requirements, a revised CSUF GE pattern will be effective Fall 2025. The table below summarizes the changes and provides a comparison to the Cal-GETC pattern required by California Community Colleges. A PDF version of this GE comparison table is available.
CSUF GE Breadth (Fall 2021 - Summer 2025)
Lower- and Upper-Division (48-49 units)
Area A: Core Competencies
- A1: Oral Communication (3 units)
- A2: Written Communication (3 units)
- A3: Critical Thinking (3 units)
Area B: Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning
- B1: Physical Science (3 units)
- B2: Life Science (3 units)
- B3: Laboratory (0 - 1 unit)
- B4: Mathematics/QR (3 units)
- B5: Implications & Explorations in Natural Sciences & Math/QR (3 units)
Area C: Arts and Humanities
- C1: Introduction to Arts (3 units)
- C2: Introduction to Humanities (3 units)
- Additional C1 or C2 (3 units)
- C3: Explorations in Arts or Humanities (3 units)
Area D: Social Sciences
- D1: Introduction to Social Sciences (3 units)
- D2: American History, Institutions, & Values (3 units)
- D3: Explorations in Social Sciences (3 units)
Area E: Lifelong Learning and Self-Development
- One course (3 units)
Area F: Ethnic Studies
- One course (3 units)
Overlay Z: Cultural Diversity
- One course (0 units)
CSUF GE (Fall 2025 & Beyond)
Lower- and Upper-Division (43 units)
Area 1: English Communication
- 1A: English Composition (3 units)
- 1B: Critical Thinking (3 units)
- 1C: Oral Communication (3 units)
Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
- 2A: Math Concepts and QR (3 units)
- 2U: Implications & Explorations in Math/QR (0-3 units)
Area 3: Arts and Humanities
- 3A: Introduction to Arts (3 units)
- 3B: Introduction to Humanities (3 units)
- 3U: Explorations in Arts or Humanities (3 units)
Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences
- 4A: Introduction to Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 units)
- 4B: American History, Institutions, & Values (3 units)
- 4U: Explorations in Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 units)
Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences
- 5A: Physical Science (3 units)
- 5B: Biological Science (3 units)
- 5C: Laboratory (1 unit)
- 5U: Implications & Explorations in Physical & Biological Sciences (0-3 units)
Area 6: Ethnic Studies
- One course (3 units)
Overlay Z: Cultural Diversity
- One course (0 units)
Students must complete 3 units in either Area 2U or 5U.
Cal-GETC at Community Colleges (Fall 2025 & Beyond)
Lower-Division (34 units)
Area 1: English Communication
- 1A: English Composition (3 units)
- 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition (3 units)
- 1C: Oral Communication (3 units)
Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
- One course (3 units)
Area 3: Arts and Humanities
- 3A: Arts (3 units)
- 3B: Humanities (3 units)
Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Two courses (6 units)
Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences
- 5A: Physical Science (3 units)
- 5B: Biological Science (3 units)
- 5C: Laboratory (1 unit) - May be embedded in 5A or 5B course, as long as 7 units are met for lower-division Subject Area 5.
Area 6: Ethnic Studies
- One course (3 units)
Nine units of upper-division GE are required of Cal-GETC-certified students after transferring to a CSU campus.
For GE program requirements for earlier catalog years, please see the GE Requirements.
Download a PDF version of the GE comparison table.