2023-2024 Cal Poly Humboldt Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Cal Poly Humboldt Catalog

General Education & All-University Requirements


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GEAR Planning Worksheet  [pdf]


General Education

Students must complete a minimum of 48 units in approved GE courses with the subject area distribution described below. Some of these units may simultaneously satisfy major, minor, or Diversity & Common Ground (DCG) requirements. General Education (GE) courses meet CSU breadth requirements and help students meet the goals of the bachelor’s degree program. The following GE requirements are in effect for students entering Cal Poly Humboldt​ with a catalog year of 2021-22 or later.

Some majors have received approval for one or more general education requirements to be met by the completion of the major. See Approved General Education Modifications by Major  for information.

Lower Division GE Area A: English Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units | 3 units each subarea)

Area A courses must be completed with a C- or better. Written Communication is recommended for the freshman year. The Area A requirement must be completed by the time a student earns 60 units. Transfer students who come to Cal Poly Humboldt with more than 30 units must complete these courses by the time they earn 30 units at Cal Poly Humboldt.

Lower Division GE Area B: Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (9 units | 3 units in each subarea)

One course in Physical Science (B1) or Life Science (B2) must include a laboratory activity (B3).

The mathematics requirement (B4)  must be completed with a C- or better. It is recommended for the student’s freshman year and must be completed no later than the junior year (before reaching 60 units).

Lower Division GE Area C: Arts and Humanities (9 Units)

Complete at least one course in each of the two subareas Arts (C1) and Humanities (C2).

Lower Division GE Area D: Social Sciences (6 units)

Complete courses in two different disciplines. One institutions course can be used to satisfy one GE Area D discipline requirement. See American Institutions for details.

Lower Division GE Area E: Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)

GE Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 units)

Complete 3 semester units at the lower or upper division level. 

Upper Division GE (9 units)

Complete 3 units in each area.

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All University Requirements

American Institutions (6 units)

The California State University requires every student receiving a baccalaureate degree to be knowledgeable about the Constitution of the United States, American history, and California state and local government. Students must complete 6 units, with one course (3 units) in each subarea: U.S. History and U.S. and California Government.

The American Institutions requirement is separate from GE; however one American Institutions course may be used to fulfill one GE area D discipline requirement. Students who take NAS 200 may choose to fulfill  one course requirement in either GE area D or GE area F, but not both. A maximum of one American Institutions course at Cal Poly Humboldt may count in lower division GE. Regardless of whether a lower or upper division American Institutions course is applied to GE, it will count for lower division GE, not upper division.

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Diversity and Common Ground (6 units)

Students must complete at least two DCG courses (6 units); one of these courses must be designated domestic (focused within the boundaries of the United States); the second course may either be domestic or international/transnational (non-domestic) in focus.

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Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)

All CSU undergraduate students with catalog years 2023-2024 and beyond must demonstrate competency in writing skills at the upper division level as a requirement for graduation*. At Cal Poly Humboldt, students fulfill this requirement by the successful completion (grade of C- or better) of a GWAR certified writing intensive course.

*Cal Poly Humboldt suspended the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (Graduation Writing Proficiency Examination) for undergraduate students with catalog years prior to Fall 2023.

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