California State University General Education Requirements (CSU GE)

2023 - 2024

Students who plan to transfer to a CSU campus may complete their lower division General Education requirements for graduation at COD. Students may follow the CSU GE-Breadth Certification pattern listed below, which is accepted by all CSU campuses in most majors to fulfill these requirements. This course pattern may also satisfy COD's General Education requirements.

To be fully certified, students must complete a minimum of 9 units each in Areas A, B, C, 6 units in D, 3 units in Area E and F. At least 30 of these units must be completed with a grade of "C" or better, including the 9 units in Area A: Communication in the English Language; and 3 units in Area B-4: Mathematics.

GE-Breadth Certification is not automatic and must be requested by the student at the same time transcripts are requested to be sent to the CSU following the posting of final grades.

Note: A single course, even though listed in more than one area, can only be used to satisfy one General Education requirement.    

A. English Language Communication & Critical Thinking

Nine (9) units minimum; select 1 course from each of the 3 groups. (C or better required in all courses.)

A-1. Oral Communication

Course Code Title Units
COMM 001Introduction to Public Speaking3
COMM 005Survey of Human Communication3
COMM 009Intro to Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 013Small Group Communication3
COMM 017Intercultural Communication3
COMM 021Introduction to Persuasion3

 A-2. Written Communication

Course Code Title Units
ENG 001AEnglish Composition4

A-3. Critical Thinking

Course Code Title Units
COMM 025Argumentation and Debate3
ENG 002Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking through Literature4
PHIL 010General Logic3
SOC 004Sociological Analysis& Critical Thinking3

B. Scientific Inquiry & Quantitative Reasoning

Nine (9) units minimum; select one course from each group. One course must include laboratory.

B-1. Physical Science

Course Code Title Units
A 001Descriptive Astronomy3
A 002Descriptive Astronomy4
A 003Planetary Astronomy4
CH 001AGeneral Chemistry I5
CH 001BGeneral Chemistry II5
CH 003Introductory General Chemistry4
CH 005Bio-organic Chemistry4
CH 007Fundamentals of Chemistry5
CH 010AOrganic Chemistry I5
CH 010BOrganic Chemistry II5
G 001Physical Geology4
G 002Historical Geology with Laboratory4
G 005Environmental Geology4
G 010The Earth Sciences4
G 022Introduction to Environmental Sciences3
GEOG 001Physical Geography3
PH 001Introductory Physics4
PH 002ACollege Physics I4
PH 002BCollege Physics II4
PH 003AEngineering Physics4
PH 003BEngineering Physics4
PH 003CEngineering Physics4
PH 017Introduction to Meteorology3
PH 020APhysics for Life Sciences Majors I4
PH 020BPhysics for Life Sciences Majors II4

B-2. Life Science

Course Code Title Units
AGEH 001Horticulture3
AGPS 002Entomology - General & Applied4
AGPS 005Plant Science3
ANTH 001Human Evolution: Introduction to Biological Anthropology3
BI 004Elements of Biology4
BI 005Molecular and Cell Biology5
BI 006Biology of Organisms5
BI 007Biology of Mammals3
BI 011Biology of Viruses3
BI 013Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BI 014Human Anatomy and Physiology II5
BI 015General Microbiology5
NR 0013

B-3. Laboratory Activity

Course Code Title Units
A 002Descriptive Astronomy4
A 003Planetary Astronomy4
AGEH 001LHorticulture Laboratory1
AGPS 002Entomology - General & Applied4
AGPS 005LPlant Science Lab1
ANTH 001LHuman Evolution: Introduction to Biological Anthropology Lab1
BI 004Elements of Biology4
BI 005Molecular and Cell Biology5
BI 006Biology of Organisms5
BI 007LBiology of Mammals Lab1
BI 013Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BI 014Human Anatomy and Physiology II5
BI 015General Microbiology5
CH 001AGeneral Chemistry I5
CH 001BGeneral Chemistry II5
CH 003Introductory General Chemistry4
CH 005Bio-organic Chemistry4
CH 007Fundamentals of Chemistry5
CH 010AOrganic Chemistry I5
CH 010BOrganic Chemistry II5
G 001Physical Geology4
G 002Historical Geology with Laboratory4
G 005Environmental Geology4
G 010The Earth Sciences4
GEOG 001LPhysical Geography Lab1
NR 001LConservation of Natural Resources Lab1
PH 001Introductory Physics4
PH 002ACollege Physics I4
PH 002BCollege Physics II4
PH 003AEngineering Physics4
PH 003BEngineering Physics4
PH 003CEngineering Physics4
PH 017LIntroduction to Meteorology Lab1

B-4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning

Course Code Title Units
BUMA 0033
CIS 009Mathematical Modeling for Business3
MATH 001ACalculus4
MATH 001BCalculus II4
MATH 002AMultivariate Calculus4
MATH 002BLinear Algebra4
MATH 002COrdinary Differential Equations4
MATH 005Trigonometry5
MATH 009Business Calculus4
MATH 010College Algebra4
MATH 011Math Concepts for Elementary School Teachers - Number Systems4
MATH 012Pre-calculus5
MATH 013Liberal Arts Math4
MATH 014Statistical Methods4
MATH 015Discrete Mathematics for Computers4
MATH 0163
SOC 003Fundamentals of Statistics3

C. Arts & Humanities

Nine (9) units minimum; one course must in the ARTS and one in the HUMANITIES

C-1. Arts (Arts, Cinema, Dance, Music, Theatre)

Course Code Title Units
ARCH 014History of Architecture I3
ART 003ABasic Design & Color3
ARTH 002AHistory of Art I: Prehistoric to Medieval3
ARTH 002BHistory of Art II: Renaissance to Contemporary3
ARTH 002CHistory of Modern Art3
ARTH 010Understanding Art3
ARTH 012AArts of Asia3
ARTH 012BArts of Africa, Oceania, & Indigenous North America3
ARTH 012CArts of Latin America3
ARTH 033History of Photography3
DANC 010Introduction to Choreography2
DANC 015History of Dance3
FILM 001Introduction to Film3
FILM 021Contemporary World Film3
FILM 022American Film to the 1960s3
FILM 023Contemporary American Film3
MUS 005History of Rock 'n' Roll3
MUS 006History of Film Music3
MUS 007History of Musical Theatre3
MUS 010Introduction to Music3
MUS 011The History of Jazz3
MUS 012Fundamentals of Music3
TA 001Introduction to Theatre3
TA 002Acting I3
TA 007History of Musical Theatre3

C-2. Humanities (Literature, Philosophy, Languages Other than English)

Course Code Title Units
ASL 001Elementary American Sign Language I5
ASL 002Elementary American Sign Language II5
ASL 003Intermediate American Sign Language I4
ASL 004Intermediate American Sign Language II4
CDE 229Children's Literature3
ENG 002Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking through Literature4
ENG 010AAmerican Literature I3
ENG 010BAmerican Literature II3
ENG 011AEnglish Literature I3
ENG 011BEnglish Literature II3
ENG 012AGlobal Literature 13
ENG 012BWorld Literature II3
ENG 014Shakespeare3
ENG 015The Short Story3
ENG 017Literature by Women3
ENG 018Poetry CSI3
ENG 021Intro Latin American/Chicano Literature3
ENG 022Intro to African American Literature3
ENG 024Native American Literature3
ENG 025Introduction to the Novel3
ENG 026LGBTQ+ Literature3
ENG 035Myth and Legend3
ENG 036Children's Literature3
FR 001Elementary French I5
FR 002Elementary French II5
FR 003Intermediate French I4
FR 004Intermediate French II4
GER 001Elementary German I5
GER 002Elementary German II5
HIST 003History of World Civilization I (Fall 2012)3
HIST 004History of World Civilization II (Fall 2012)3
HIST 005History of Western Civilization I3
HIST 006History of Western Civilization II3
HIST 017US History through Reconstruction (Fall 2012)3
HIST 018US History from Reconstruction to Present (Fall 2012)3
HIST 021California History3
HIST 050American Popular Culture3
JPN 001Elementary Japanese I5
JPN 0025
PHIL 006Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 007Ideas of the Great Philosophers3
PHIL 012Religions of the World3
PHIL 013Perspectives on Death & Dying3
PHIL 014Introduction to Ethics3
PHIL 017Philosophy of Religion3
PHIL 018Philosophy of Science3
SPAN 001Elementary Spanish I5
SPAN 002Elementary Spanish II5
SPAN 003Intermediate Spanish I4
SPAN 004Intermediate Spanish II4
SPAN 0203
SPAN 021Spanish for Heritage Speakers I5
SPAN 022Spanish for Heritage Speakers II5
SPAN 0244

D. Social Sciences

Six (6) units minimumtwo different disciplines recommended.
Note: The "American Institutions" requirement may be satisfied by taking either HIST 017 or 018, plus PS 001. AP Government credit does not count toward this requirement.

Course Code Title Units
ANTH 002Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH 003Archaeology, Introduction to Prehistory3
ANTH 007Anthropology of Religion, Magic, Witchcraft, and Healing3
CDE 1013
CDE 102Child, Family, & Community3
CJ 001Introduction to Criminal Justice3
CJ 020Introduction to Social Justice Studies3
COMM 017Intercultural Communication3
ECON 001Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 002Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 011International Economics3
ECON 012Understanding Econ Principles & Applications3
GEOG 002Cultural Geography3
GEOG 007Regional Geography3
GEOG 010Geography of California3
GS 010Global Studies3
GS 011Global Issues3
HIST 003History of World Civilization I3
HIST 004History of World Civilization II3
HIST 005History of Western Civilization I3
HIST 006History of Western Civilization II3
HIST 017US History through Reconstruction3
HIST 018US History from Reconstruction to Present3
HIST 021California History3
HIST 023Latin American History3
HIST 050American Popular Culture3
MC 001Introduction to Mass Media3
PHIL 003Introduction to Political Theory3
PS 001Introduction to Government3
PS 002Introduction to Comparative Governments3
PS 003Introduction to Political Theory3
PS 004Introduction to International Relations3
PS 006Latinx Politics3
PS 009Race and Ethnic Politics3
PSY 001General Psychology3
PSY 003Developmental Psychology3
PSY 009Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination3
PSY 010Psychological Aspects/Marriage & Family3
PSY 012Human Sexuality3
PSY 020Adolescent Psychology3
PSY 023Psychology of Women and Gender3
PSY 027Biological Psychology3
PSY 029Abnormal Psychology3
PSY 030Social Psychology3
PSY 033Personal & Social Adjustment3
SJS 020Introduction to Social Justice Studies3
SJS 021Introduction to LGBTQIA Studies3
SOC 001Introductory Sociology3
SOC 002Social Problems3
SOC 005Sociology of Gender and Sexuality3
SOC 006Introduction to Criminology3
SOC 009Sociology of Sport3
SOC 014Introduction to Race & Ethnicity3
SOC 015Mexican American Culture & Society3
SPAN 0203
SPAN 022Spanish for Heritage Speakers II5

E. Lifelong Understanding & Self-Development

Three (3) units minimum

Course Code Title Units
CDE 101 (Fall 2011)3
CDE 102Child, Family, & Community (Fall 2011)3
COLL 001First Year Seminar3
COUN 1013
EDUC 001Introduction to Elementary Classroom Teaching3
HS 013General Nutrition3
HS 073Introduction to Public Health3
HSAD 001Introduction to Alcohol & Drug Studies (Fall 2015)3
KINE 006Women's Self Defense, Health & Fitness3
KINE 008Introduction to Kinesiology3
KINE 010Personal & Community Health3
KINE 011Men's Self Defense, Health & Fitness3
PHIL 013Perspectives on Death & Dying3
PSY 003Developmental Psychology3
PSY 007Positive Psychology (Fall 2014)3
PSY 010Psychological Aspects/Marriage & Family3
PSY 012Human Sexuality3
PSY 020Adolescent Psychology3
PSY 023Psychology of Women and Gender3
PSY 033Personal & Social Adjustment3

F. Ethnic Studies

Three (3) units minimum

Course Code Title Units
ETHN 001Introduction to Ethnic Studies3
ETHN 002Introduction to Chicanx & Latinx Studies3
ETHN 003Introduction to Black Studies3
ETHN 004Introduction to Native American Studies3
ETHN 005Introduction to Asian American Studies3