Academic Catalog 2024-2025

General Education Requirements for Undergraduate Students

General Education Program

Students must follow the appropriate General Education (G.E.) pattern.

Students who have maintained continuous attendance at any combination of CSU, UC, or California community college under an earlier catalog may elect to complete the G.E. pattern in effect at the time of:

  1. entrance into CSUDH;
  2. graduation or;
  3. entrance into a California community college or state university.

Contact an advisor in your college's Student Success Center for further information.

The General Education1 program is divided into the following areas and includes 49 total semester units:

Area A - English Language Communication and Critical Thinking  (9 units)
all courses in this area require a grade of "C-" or higher

Area B - Natural Sciences & Quantitative Reasoning (13 units)
math courses in this area require a grade of “C-” or higher

Area C - Arts and Humanities (12 units)

Area D - Social Sciences (9 units)

Area E - Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)

Area F - Ethnic Studies (3 units)

1

Students must take nine units of G.E. courses in residence at CSUDH.

Requirements (49 units) 

General Education Residence Requirement: The California State University System requires all students to complete 9 semester units in general education at the campus from which they graduate. Following is the list of courses that are offered in the General Education program. These courses fulfill the objectives stated in the program description. For complete course descriptions, refer to those sections of the University Catalog that describe the programs offering the courses. All Area A courses and the Quantitative Reasoning requirement in Area B must be passed with a grade of "C-" or higher. A grade point average of 2.0 calculated at graduation, is required for the entire General Education Pattern.

Area A. English Language Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units required)

Complete one course from each of the following categories (A1, A2, A3): 1

A1. Oral Communication (3 units):

THE 120Fundamentals of Speech3

A2. Written Communication (3 units):

ENG 108
ENG 109
Freshman Composition I: Stretch 1
and Freshman Composition I: Stretch 2 *
6
ENG 110Freshman Composition Accelerated3
ENG 112Freshman Composition Supported3

* If stretch course option is selected, completion of both ENG 108 and 109 is required to satisfy A2. ENG 108 must be completed with a grade of CR. ENG 109 must be completed with a grade of "C-" or higher.

A3. Logical/Critical Reasoning (3 units):

CSC 121Introduction to Computer Science and Programming I 24
MAT 271Foundations Of Higher Math3
PHI 120Critical Reasoning3
PSY 110Critical Thinking and Problem Solving3
PHI 220Symbolic Logic3
1

Courses in area A and area B4 must be passed with a grade of "C-" or higher.

2

Meets Area A3 for the following programs, BA Computer Technology, BS Computer Science and BS Information Technology

Area B. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (13 units required)

Complete one course from each of the categories (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5):2

B1. Physical Science (3 units):

CHE 102Chemistry For The Citizen3
CHE 110General Chemistry I 35
EAR 100Physical Geology3
GEO 200Physical Geography3
PHY 100Patterns In Nature3
PHY 120Elements Of Physics I 44
PHY 130General Physics I 55
3

Students majoring or minoring in one of the natural sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, or Physics)  may substitute more advanced science courses. These students should see a faculty advisor.

4

Meets area B1 and B3 for the following programs only: BS Biochemistry, BA Chemistry: Biochemistry Option, BA Chemistry: General Chemistry Option, BS Chemistry, BA Biology, BS Biology, Minor in Biology, Minor in Microbiology, Minor in Organic/Biochemistry, BS in Clinical Science, BS in Earth Science, BA in Physical Education: Pre-Physical Therapy Option, BS in Physics

5

Meets Area B1 and B3 for the following programs only: BS Biochemistry, BA Biology, BS Biology, BA Chemistry: Biochemistry Option, BS Earth Science, BA Physical Education: Pre-Physical Therapy Option, BS Quality Assurance

6

Meets Area B1 and B3 for the following programs only: BS Biochemistry, BS Biology, BA Chemistry: Biochemistry Option, BA Chemistry: General Chemistry Option, BS Chemistry, BS Computer Science, BS Mathematics, BS Physics, Minor in Physics

B2. Natural Sciences in Life Science (3 units):

ANT 101Intro to Biological Anthro3
BIO 102General Biology3
BIO 120Principles of Biology I 63
BIO 122Principles of Biology II 73
7

Meets Area B2 for the following programs only: BS Biochemistry, BA Biology, BS Biology, Minor in Biology, Minor in Microbiology, BS in Clinical Science, BS Earth Science, BA Physical Education: Pre-Physical Therapy Option

8

Meets Are B2 for the following programs only: BS Biochemistry, Ba Biology, BS Biology, Minor in Microbiology, BS Clinical Science, BS Earth Science

B3. Natural Sciences in Science Laboratory (1 units):

BIO 103General Biology Laboratory 81
BIO 121Principles of Biology Laboratory I 91
BIO 123Principles of Biology Laboratory II 101
CHE 103Chemistry Lab for the Global Citizen1
EAR 101Physical Geology Laboratory 111
9

Concurrent enrollment in BIO 102 General Biology or prior life science course recommended.

10

Meets Area B3 for the following programs only: BS in Biochemistry, BS Biology, Minor in Biology , Minor in Microbiology, BS Clinical Science, BS Earth Science, BA Physical Education: Pre Physical-Therapy Option

11

Meets Area B3 for the following programs only: BS Biochemistry, BA Biology, BS Biology, Minor in Microbiology, BS in Clinical Science, BS Earth Science

12

Concurrent enrollment in EAR 100 Physical Geology or prior earth science course recommended.

B4. Quantitative Reasoning and Problem Solving (3 units): 1

MAT 105Finite Mathematics3
MAT 131Elementary Statistics and Probability3
MAT 132Statistics and Probability with Support4
MAT 134Statistics & Probability - Supported4
MAT 151College Algebra and Trigonometry4
MAT 153Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry with Lab4
MAT 155Pre-Calculus4
MAT 171Survey of Calculus for Management and Life Sciences4
MAT 191Calculus I5
MAT 193Calculus II5
1

Courses in area A and area B4 must be passed with a grade of "C-" or higher.

B5. Integrative Studies in the Natural Sciences (3 units):

BIO 336Environmental Biology3
BIO 340Genetics3
BSN 346Human Pathophysiology 123
CSC 301Computers And Society3
EAR 312Natural Disasters3
EAR 416Earth Science for Teachers3
HEA 466Environmental Health Problems3
IDS 310Global Climate Change3
LBS 380Blended Science Methods4
SMT 310Science and Technology3
SMT 314Introduction to Cosmology3
SMT 410Development of Scientific Thinking and Theories3
SMT 416Earth Science For Teacher3
13

Course restricted to Nursing majors

Area C. Arts and Humanities (12 units required)

Complete one course from each of the following categories (C1, C2, C3) and one additional lower division course from area C1 or C2 (4 courses total):

C1. Arts Courses (3 - 6 units):

AFS 205Introduction to Hip Hop3
APP 225Pacific Islander Culture in Oceania and the U.S.3
ART 100Looking At Art3
ART 101Experiencing Creative Art3
COM 130Introduction to Film3
DAN 130Global Dance Perspectives3
ENG 271Introduction to Creative Writing3
MUS 101Introducing Music3
MUS 110Music Fundamentals3
MUS 201Music in Film: From the Silent Era to The Lord of the Rings3
MUS 250History of Rock3
THE 100Television Film & Theatre3
THE 160Acting For Non-Majors3
WMS 330Queer Art and Visual Culture3

C2. Letters Courses (3 - 6 units):

AFS 200Intro to Africana Studies3
APP 101Introduction To Asian Studies3
CHS 100Chicana/o Cultural Roots3
CHS 205Introduction to Chicana/o Literature3
COM 100Media & Society3
ENG 230Literature and Popular Culture3
FRE 220Second Year French3
HUM 204Introduction to the Humanities3
JPN 110Beginning Japanese I3
JPN 111Beginning Japanese II3
LBR 202Class Struggles in Film and Popular Culture3
PHI 101Moral Problems3
PHI 102Humanity, Nature & God3
PHI 201The Good Life3
PHI 202The Devil You Don't Know3
SPA 151Introduction to Hispanic Culture3
SPA 221Intermediate Spanish II3
WMS 100Gender, Sex, the Body, & Politics: An Introduction3
WMS 410Queer of Color Critique3

C3. Integrative Studies in the Humanities (3 units):

AFS 331Key Movements: African Literature and Culture3
AFS 332Key Movements: Harlem Renaissance3
AFS 333Black Movements of the Sixties3
AFS 334African Culture and Art3
APP 314Asian Americans and the Media3
APP 315Asian Pop Culture and Globalization3
APP 325Asian Pacific Art, Music and Literature3
APP 339Asian Diaspora and Transnational Asian Religions3
APP 343Asian Pacific Film & Literature3
ARH 370Art and Social Protest3
CHS 340Native American and Chicana Women's Narrative3
CHS 345Latina/o Identities in the Americas3
ENG 308Critical Approaches to Children's Literature3
ENG 360Heroes and Antiheroes3
ENG 362Environment in Literature & Culture3
ENG 364Literary Utopia3
HIS 355American Civil Rights History3
HIS 375Pop Culture in History3
HIS 376Film As History3
HUM 300Health Humanities3
HUM 301Mind/Brain and the Arts3
HUM 302Lives of Faust: Deals with the Devil3
HUM 303All Creatures Great & Small: Animals from Sacred to Endangered3
HUM 304Vampires3
HUM 305Never Lose Infinite Hope: Imagining Justice, Cultivating Mental Wellness3
HUM 310Key Concepts3
HUM 312Key Movements3
HUM 314Key Issues3
IDS 312Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Humanities3
LBR 310Success and Values3
LBR 312Decade of the Sixties3
LBR 314Key Issues: American Dream3
MUS 302African American Music3
MUS 312The Jazz Age3
MUS 345Global Popular Music: Identity and Social Change3
MUS 486Music History III: 1880 to Contemporary3
NCR 390Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding3
PHI 351Death and Dying3
PHI 352Myth as Reality3
PHI 353Age of Revolt3
PHI 383Comparative Religions3
SPA 310Romantic Love in the Western Tradition3
SPA 312Hispanic Literature, Art and Culture3
SPA 313Encountering the Other3
THE 313Voices of Contemporary Women Playwrights3
THE 315Key Concepts: The American Musical3
THE 317Theatre of Revolt3
THE 319The Power of Masks3
WMS 310The Witch in Literature3
WMS 311Comedy, Sex and Gender3
WMS 314Feminism and Film3
WMS 315Literary Topics in Gender Studies and Sexuality Studies3
WMS 380Gender and Sexuality in Popular Culture3

Area D. Area of the Social Sciences (9 units required)

Complete one course from each of the following categories (D1, D2, D3). Courses must be taken from more than one department (e.g., if you satisfy D1 and D2 with anthropology courses, then D3 category cannot be satisfied with an anthropology course. At least one area D course must be from a different department).

D1. Perspectives on Individuals, Groups and Society (3 units):

AFS 220African World Peoples & Soc.3
ANT 100Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
CDV 150Intro Child Development3
ECO 200Contemporary Econ Issues3
ECO 210Economic Theory 1A Micro3
ECO 211Economic Theory 1B Macro3
IDS 210Introduction to Environmental Studies3
LAW 240Legal Environment of Business3
LBR 101Introduction to Labor Studies: Work, Wealth and Power3
LBS 205Child and Adolescent Development3
NCR 291Psychology of Peacebuilding3
PSY 101General Education Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior3
SOC 101The Individual In Society3
SOC 102Understanding Social Relationships in a Global Perspective3
WMS 200Foundations in Queer Studies3
WMS 250Foundations in Women's Studies3

D2. Global and Historical Perspectives (3 units):

AFS 201African World Civilizations3
ANT 102Ancient Civilizations3
CHS 200Introduction to Chicana/o and Latina/o History3
ENG 150Languages of the World3
GEO 100Human Geography3
HIS 120World History I3
HIS 121World History II3
LBR 200Labor and the Environment3
MGT 200Global Organizational Ethics and Social Responsibility3
POL 100General Education Political Science: World Perspectives3

D3. Integrative Studies in the Social Sciences (3 units):

AFS 310The African American Experience in the US3
AFS 311Afro Latinidad & the Caribbean3
AFS 312Cultural Pluralism: Ethnic & Global Society3
ANT 312Language And Culture3
ANT 330North American Indians3
ANT 334Mesoamerica Past and Present3
ANT 336Comparative Cultures: Culture, Environment and Globalization3
ANT 337Ethnography and Film3
ANT 338Mainland Southeast Asia3
ANT 342South America3
ANT 371Historical and Cultural Perspectives in Disability Studies3
APP 311Contemporary Issues in Asian American Communities3
APP 318Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Lao Americans: Culture, History, and Identity3
APP 327Values and Communication of Asian Pacific Cultures3
APP 335Asian Pacific Culinary Culture3
APP 350Asian-Pacific Gender and Family3
BSN 306Cult Diversity Healthcare 133
CHS 323Latina/o Perspectives on U.S. Immigration and Citizenship3
CHS 330Latina/o Identities in U.S.3
CHS 335Urban Youth Gangs in Los Angeles3
GEO 318Cultural Pluralism The Human Environment: Methods of Knowledge and Truth3
HEA 468Multicultural Health3
HIS 340American West3
HIS 348Labor In American Society3
HIS 352Topics in United States Foreign Relations History3
HIS 354History of American Immigration3
HIS 356American Environmental History: American Environment from Pre-Contact (prior to 1500) to the Present3
HIS 380Women In History3
IDS 304Issues in Global Studies3
IDS 318Interdisciplinary Approach to Cultural Pluralism3
ITC 300Security in a Digital Society3
LBR 313The Future of Workers and Work3
LBR 316Working Class and Education3
LBR 350Research Methods for Social Change3
LBR 365Racial Capitalism3
LBS 370Multicultural Studies5
MLG 318New Perspectives on Language and Sex3
NCR 391Restorative Justice3
POL 350History of Political Ideas3
POL 351Modern Political Thought3
POL 354American Political Thought3
SBS 318Cultural Pluralism:3
SPA 318Movements of Latin America3
WMS 318Race, Class and Gender3
WMS 340Politics of Women's (Un)Paid Labor3
WMS 390Transnational Feminisms3
13

Restricted to Nursing Majors

Area E. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)

Select one of the following:

BUS 100Entrepreneurship For Everyone3
CIS 275Internet Literacy3
ENG 107Reading & Writing LA3
FIN 200Personal Finance for Non-Finance Majors3
HEA 100Health & Lifestyles3
HEA 104Food, Health and Environment3
HEA 201Healthcare Systems and Perspectives3
KIN 235Lifetime Fitness3
LIB 151Fundamentals of Information Literacy3
LBR 201Work/Life: Purpose, Power, and Identity3
REC 100Dimensions Of Leisure3
UNV 101Personal, Social and Intellectual Development3

Area F. Ethnic Studies (3 units)

Select one of the following. May be fulfilled by approved upper division.

AFS 100The African American Experience3
AFS 212Intro To Comp Eth & Global Soc3
AFS 231Africana Literary Traditions3
APP 201Introduction to Asian American Studies3
APP 212Introduction to Comparative Ethnic and Global Societies3
CHS 125Chicano/Latino Musical Culture3
CHS 212Introduction to Comparative Ethnic Studies3

Statutory Requirement (6 units)

Students must satisfy requirements in U.S. history and U.S. and California government by completing the following:

HIS 101History Of United States (or articulated course at a California Community College or examination)3
POL 101American Institutions3
Total Hours6