California Code of Regulations
Title 5 - Education
Division 5 - Board of Trustees of the California State Universities
Chapter 1 - California State University
Subchapter 2 - Educational Program
Article 5 - General Requirements for Graduation
Section 40405.1 - California State University General Education Requirements

Universal Citation: 5 CA Code of Regs 40405.1

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Each recipient of the bachelor's degree completing the California State University General Education Requirements pursuant to this subdivision (a) shall have completed a program which includes a minimum of 3 semester (or quarter equivalent) units of which 9 semester (or quarter equivalent) units shall be upper division and should be taken no sooner than the term in which the candidate achieves upper division status. The 3 semester (or quarter equivalent) units shall be distributed as follows:

(1) A minimum of 9 semester (or quarter equivalent) units in communication in the English language, to include both oral communication and English composition, and in critical thinking.

(2) A minimum of 13 semester (or quarter equivalent) units, including 3 semester (or quarter equivalent) units at the upper-division level, to include inquiry into the physical universe and its life forms, which includes a 1 semester (or quarter equivalent) unit laboratory activity, and mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning and their applications.

(3) A minimum of 9 semester (or quarter equivalent) units, including 3 semester (or quarter equivalent) units at the upper-division level, among the arts, literature, philosophy and foreign languages.

(4) A minimum of 9 semester (or quarter equivalent) units, including 3 semester (or quarter equivalent) units at the upper-division level, dealing with human social, political, and economic institutions and behavior and their historical background.

(5) A minimum of 3 semester (or quarter equivalent) lower-division units focusing on ethnic studies.

The specification of numbers of units implies the right of discretion on each campus to adjust reasonably the proportions among the categories in order that the conjunction of campus courses, credit unit configurations and these requirements will not unduly exceed any of the prescribed semester or quarter unit minima. However, the total number of units in General Education accepted for the bachelor's degree under the provisions of this subdivision (a) shall not be less than 43 semester (or quarter equivalent) units unless the Chancellor grants an exception.

(b) The president or an officially authorized representative of a college which is accredited in a manner stated in Section 40601(d)(1) may certify the extent to which the requirements of subdivision (a) of this section have been met up to a maximum of 34 lower-division semester (or equivalent quarter) units. Such certification shall be in terms of explicit objectives and procedures issued by the Chancellor.

(c) In the case of a baccalaureate degree being pursued by a post-baccalaureate student, the requirements of this section shall be satisfied if:

(1) The student has previously earned a baccalaureate or higher degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association; or

(2) The student has completed equivalent academic preparation, as determined by the appropriate campus authority.

Note: Authority cited: Section 89030, Education Code. Reference: Sections 66055.8, 89030 and 89032, Education Code.

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