Frequently Asked Questions for General Education
FAQs for Faculty
What is the protocol for proposing a new GE Course?
Please see UPS 411.100 Curriculum Guidelines and Procedures: Courses.
What does it meant to teach GE at CSUF?
Teaching General Education at CSUF means being committed to the principle of a well-rounded education for all University students and contributing to that education by sharing one’s disciplinary knowledge with non-major students as well as major students.
By teaching General Education, faculty ensure that our graduates can fully and effectively participate in professional and civic life by drawing on both professional skills honed through their major discipline and a wide range of practical and intellectual skills that span many disciplines.These skills include critical thinking, effective communication, analytical thinking, and the ability to consider multiple perspectives, as is increasingly necessary in our complex, diverse and globally oriented society.
Faculty can learn more about a 21st-century liberal education by reviewing the AAC&U’s general education initiatives, and in particular, the LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes.
What is GE Assessment?
Led by the Senate GE Committee, the Office of Undergraduate Studies and General Education and the Office of Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness, CSUF has piloted and implemented a multi-year assessment plan for the General Education Program since the 2015-16 academic year. The intention is to assess GE as an integral program as opposed to assessing individual courses. For more information, go to the General Education Assessment page.
What is AAC&U
The mission of the Association of American Colleges and Universities is to make a liberal education and inclusive excellence the foundation for institutional purpose and educational practice in higher education.
Through over 30 years of intense attention to GE, AAC&U GE initiatives continue to be designed to allow every undergraduate student to experience a relevant and rigorous GE curriculum. In addition to working with individual campuses to improve their GE programs, AAC&U aims to strengthen GE for transfer students, ensuring the curricula maintain high expectations and meaningful assessment of learning, and GE is seen as essential for enhancing curricula and pedagogy.
What is WASC?
The WASC Senior College and University Commision (WSCUC), is CSUF's accrediting body.
"The WASC Senior College and University Commission is a regional accrediting agency serving a diverse membership of public and private higher education institutions throughout California, Hawaii, and the Pacific as well as a limited number of institutions outside the United States. Through its work of peer review, based on standards agreed to by the membership, the Commission encourages continuous institutional improvement and assures the membership and its constituencies, including the public, that accredited institutions are fulfilling their missions in service to their students and the public good."
More information is available on the main WSCUC website. To see the report drafted in response to CSUF's most recent WASC visit, go to the CSUF Accreditation website.
FAQs for Students
Can I take courses outside CSUF?
YES. You can take certain courses at another university or community college to meet your GE requirements. Visit assist.org to learn exactly which courses from another campus can be used to meet your GE requirements here at CSUF.
You can also use CSU Fully Online to find acceptable courses.
Meet with your advisor to confirm how you can meet your GE requirements with these courses.
How do I register for classes?
Log into your Student Portal and follow these instructions.
What is the Ethnic Studies requirement and how does it affect me?
Ethnic Studies offers students the opportunity to study the historical development and social significance of race and ethnicity in the United States and to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success in an increasingly diverse environment. The ES requirement, which is mandated by law and the CSU system, requires all students in the Fall 2021 catalog year and later to take 3 units of Ethnic Studies within General Education.
Learn more about the ES requirement
What is my catalog year and why is it important?
The CSU and CSUF occasionally modify graduation requirements. Often, these changes can happen in the middle of your academic journey here at CSUF. Understanding your catalog year ensures you abide by your graduation requirements.
Learn more about your catalog year by going to the catalog rights FAQ page.