General Education
What are the GE requirements?
- You must complete 51 units in 5 areas, A-E.
- The 51 GE units must include at least 9 units of upper division GE courses. At Sac State upper division are courses numbered 100-199. (Community College courses are all lower division, regardless of the course number.)
- 9 units in GE must be taken in residence at Sacramento State.
- Every student must take 1 Writing Intensive course.
You may want to read more about the specific requirements of the General Education Policies in the Student's Registration and Advising Handbook. Please use the GE Worksheet to keep track of your progress in GE.
When should I take my 3 required upper division GE courses?
You're eligible to begin taking upper division GE courses when you're a sophomore, i.e., 30 units completed.
Do I take my GE courses in any particular order?
Yes, some sequence is required. What follows is recommended:
Highly Recommended:
- Complete Area A (Oral Communication, Composition, and Critical Thinking) and Area B4 (Quantitative Reasoning) as early as possible.
- Concentrate early on GE courses which relate to majors you may be interested in.
Required:
- You must complete 30 units, including the three courses in Area A, before you can take any upper division GE courses.
- You must pass the WPE before you can take a Writing Intensive course.
What will GE do for me?
The benefits of General Education are many – here are a few:
- GE courses introduce you to areas of interest which you might not otherwise encounter – and which may influence your choice of major and career.
- GE improves your writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills – these skills are valued by employers.
- GE courses provide knowledge and breadth which are also valued by employers.
How do I keep track of my progress in GE?
An electronic "audit" of your progress in GE is available on MySacState for freshmen as soon as they register and for most transfer students after their first or second semester. It's a good idea to use the easy-to-understand GE Worksheet to keep track of your progress in GE. Keep this important document and a printout of your electronic audit in your advising file and review them with an advisor in Lassen Hall 1012 at least once each semester.
Are there any common mistakes in GE?
There are several common mistakes which you should avoid:
- Don't take only GE courses – mix GE with courses from your major or a major you’re considering.
- There are no upper division courses at community colleges.
- The WPE is a prerequisite for your Writing Intensive course, but not for the 2 other required upper division GE courses.
- Don’t assume any course is approved for GE – check the list of approved GE classes in the Student's Registration and Advising Handbook or here.
Can I get D grades in GE courses?
It depends on the GE area. You can get D or even D- grades in GE courses – except in these four areas, which require at least C- grades:
- Area A1 – Oral Communication
- Area A2 – Written Communication
- Area A3 – Critical Thinking
- Area B4 – Quantitative Reasoning
Don't get too many Ds in the other GE areas though – you must have at least a 2.0 GPA in your GE courses to graduate.
I completed my GE at XYZ College, so I'm done, right?
No. You may have satisfied all GE area requirements at another college, but you will have to take at least three GE courses (9 units) at Sac State. The 9 units should be upper division and include a Race and Ethnicity courwse and a Writing Intensive course. For help, see an advisor in Academic Advising, Lassen 1012.
I have an "IGETC" certification from my community college . . .
An IGETC or "Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum" certification exempts students from additional lower division GE requirements. If your previous college provides you with an IGETC document, you are exempt from the English 20 requirement. However, IGETC certified students are still responsible for:
- 9 units upper division GE
- a Writing Intensive course
- a Race and Ethnicity course
- History and Government requirements
- Foreign Language requirement
Is GE different for any majors?
Two majors, Liberal Studies and Child Development (Teaching Option), incorporate all GE requirements in the major. Engineering majors are exempt from some of the area requirements – talk with an advisor in Academic Advising, Lassen Hall 1012 and check the Engineering GE Worksheet, available online at www.csus.edu/acad/faq/GE Form-Engineering_0208.pdf to learn more.
Are Race and Ethnicity courses offered at other schools?
Yes, check the list of approved Race and Ethnicity courses from other colleges.
Does US History count for Race and Ethnicity?
History 17A or 17B taken at Sac State or Sierra College meets the Race and Ethnicity Requirement because these courses cover the experiences of at least two under-represented groups in American history. Check the list of approved Race and Ethnicity courses to see if a history course from your California Community College meets this requirement.
Can a course I take for the foreign language requirement also apply to GE?
Yes, French 1B and 2A at Sac State. if you have taken a foreign language course at another school which is on that school's GE list, then YES, it will apply to both.
I've heard that there are sometimes additions in the official GE list . . .
While printed versions of the list of approved GE courses may not include courses approved recently, the online list of approved GE courses is always up to date at http://aaweb.csus.edu/catalog/current/PROGRAM/GE.asp
