General Education and Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
To fulfill General Education (GE) requirements, students must complete 43 semester units, including nine upper-division units selected from courses across six broad categories. Lower-division GE courses provide a foundation by introducing fundamental principles, methodologies, and perspectives within disciplines while building essential skills and broad knowledge. Upper-division GE courses deepen this understanding, emphasizing connections across disciplines and strengthening students’ integrative learning skills.
In addition to GE coursework, all undergraduate students must complete the full set of Baccalaureate Degree Requirements, including Upper-Division Writing Proficiency (WP), United States Constitution and California State and Local Government, Sociocultural Inquiry, Skills for Student Success, and Lifelong Learning.
For more details, refer to the Academic Catalog page (select “General Education Requirements” in the left-hand navigation). You can also use the navigation bar on the General Education Requirements site to explore First-Year and Transfer GE requirements, along with additional GE advising resources.
The Student Request to Change Catalog Year or General Education Substitution petition should be used by students who have a catalog year PRIOR to Fall 2018. Also, please note, approval has been given to waive the fee for this form only, and students requesting to change their catalog year, or to substitute their current GE for the 2018 GE requirements should use this form to facilitate the process. This petition requires signature from the following:
- Student
- Academic Advisor or Major Department Chairperson
- Academic Success Center Director/Designee (the form will be forwarded from ASC to Enrollment Services)
View Student Request to Change Catalog Year or General Education Substitution.pdf
The Stanislaus State California Promise 2-Year Graduation Pledge is a program designed to guarantee graduation within 2 years for California resident students with an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), as created by 10AS17UEPC, Campus Implementation of SB 412. Transfer students who are committed to graduating in 2 years by way of the Stanislaus State California Promise 2-Year Graduation Pledge program will be provided 1). An assigned California Promise major advisor who will assist in developing an enrollment plan, will meet at least once per semester to monitor academic progress, and who will help to modify the plan as appropriate; and 2). Priority registration in the second pass, by student classification, for each enrollment period.
Eligible Associate Degree for Transfer students recently received an email inviting them to participate in the California Promise program. Please find resources for advising California Promise students on the Faculty Advising Resource website under California Promise Advising. For questions, please contact registrar@csustan.edu or visit the Faculty Advising Resource website.
The Basics
Executive Order 1110 indicates that freshmen should enroll in their GE English (1A) and Mathematics / Quantitative Reasoning (2) courses during the first academic year. Advisors should emphasize this requirement and assist students in understanding which courses are most appropriate for them based on their major and their course placement. The lists of first year students attending orientation will indicate their Math/QR placement and English directed self-placement. This informs students about the courses they should take. If you are interested, read over the Multiple Measures section.
English (G.E. 1A)
Incoming first-time freshmen will complete a directed self-placement survey, helping them to decide which course or pair of courses is most appropriate. Information about Directed Self-Placement is online.
Mathematics / Quantitative Reasoning (G.E. 2)
The Mathematics Department made the following TWO changes:
- Effective Fall 2018, incoming students are assigned to Math Placement Category of I, II, III, or IV. The following is what each category represents:
- Category I: GE Math completed (via AP or transfer course)
- Category II: Place into GE Math (student does not require support and can take original courses)
- Category III or IV: Place into supported GE Math (must go through a supported course)
- Additionally, the Math Department has implemented an Assessment Test affecting STEM students. Information on the Assessment Test, including a flow chart to help decide if a student requires the Assessment Test and the Time/Dates may be found on the linked website.
Note: Students subject to the assessment test that enroll in a math class without results will be dropped from the class.
Multiple Measures for Enrollment
Students meeting one of the criteria below (for English or Math) may enroll directly into general education written communication and quantitative reasoning courses.
Scores Alone
- English: Level 4 Standard Exceeded CAASPP - 2682-2795
- Math: Level 4 Standard Exceeded CAASPP - 2718-2862
With Approved Course
- English: Level 3 Standard Met CAASPP - 2583-2681 AND (ERWC, AP or IB, or Honors English with a C- or better)
- Math (Stem & Non-Stem): Level 3 Standard Met CAASPP - 2683-2717 AND 12th grade course beyond Algebra II with a C- or better
- Math (Non-Stem): Level 3 Standard Met CAASPP - 2683-2717 AND 4+ years of Math or Quantitative Reasoning
Note: EAP, CAASPP, SBAC refer to one test taken in the 11th grade (Category II)
Scores Alone
English
- ACT: 22 or above OR
- SAT: 550, Old SAT: 500 and above
Math
- ACT: 23 or above OR
- SAT: 570, Old SAT: 550 and above
With Approved Course
English
- ACT: 19-21 AND (ERWC, AP or IB, or Honors English) OR
- SAT: 510-540, Old SAT: 460-490 AND (ERWC, AP or IB, or Honors English)
Math
- ACT: 20-22 AND 12th grade course with a prerequisite of Algebra II or Integrated Math III OR
- SAT: 520-560, Old SAT: 490-540 AND 12th grade course with a prerequisite of Algebra II or Integrated Math III
(Category II)
English
- Weighted HS GPA > 3.3 OR
- Weighted HS GPA > 3.0 AND completion of approved Senior year-long course with C- or better (AP, IB, ERWC, Honors) OR
- Weighted HS GPA > 3.0 AND 5+ years of English
Math (Non-Stem) Majors
- Math GPA > 3.0 AND completion of Senior year Math course OR
- Math GPA > 3.0 AND 5+ years of Math OR
- Weighted HS GPA > 3.7 OR
- Weighted HS GPA > 3.5 AND 4+ years of Math or Quantitative Reasoning
Math (Stem) Majors
- Math GPA > 3.5 AND completion of Senior year Math course OR
- Math GPA > 3.5 AND 5+ years of Math or Quantitative Reasoning OR
- Weighted HS GPA > 3.7
Note: Major makes a difference (Category II)
AP Exams
- English: AP Language/Literature Composition > 3
- Math: AP Calculus AB OR AP Calculus CD OR AP Statistics > 3
IB Exams
- Math: Mathematics HL score > 4
CLEP Exams
- Math: CLEP Calculus OR College Algebra OR College Algebra - Trig OR Pre-Calculus OR Trig (score of 50 or higher)
College Course
- Completion and transfer of college level course in English and Math with C- or better
Note: Category I students will have met one of these criteria
Updated: April 16, 2026