Revisions to the CSU GE
On March 27, 2024, the CSU Board of Trustees approved changes to Title 5 CSU General Education that modify CSU GE Breadth to mirror the Cal-GETC pattern and units. Stanislaus State will need to implement the new GE pattern starting Fall 2025.
The update to CSU GE removes five units from the GE pattern. It does this by:
- Adding one unit to the laboratory for Biological or Physical Sciences (+1 unit)
- Removing one 3-unit Arts or Humanities course (in Area C) (-3 units)
- Removing Area E, Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (-3 units)
GE Faculty Workgroup
In Spring 2024 open forums were hosted by Academic Affairs to discuss the new GE pattern and gather feedback from faculty.
A GE workgroup was formed, including the Faculty Director of GE, the Chair and Chair-Elect of the University Educational Policies Committee (UEPC) and the Chair and members of the GE Sub-Committee. The workgroup will provide recommendations for the implementation process, increase knowledge about the change, explore how to best utilize the 5 units no longer required for General Education, and provide analysis of proposed solutions. The workgroup will begin the work over the summer of 2024 in preparation for Fall 2025 implementation. All curricular decision-making will occur in the fall to support full faculty involvement.
The meeting minutes are shared below:
GE Workgroup Meeting Notes 5.21.24
GE Workgroup Meeting Notes 7.08.24
GE Workgroup Meeting Notes 7.30.24
GE Workgroup Meeting Notes 8.6.24
GE Workgroup Meeting Notes 8.19.24
Side-by-Side GE Pattern Comparison
| Current CSU GE Breadth | Units | Revised CSU GE starting 2025-26 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 – Oral Communication | 3 | 1C - Oral Communication | 3 |
| A2 – Written Communication | 3 | 1A - English Composition | 3 |
| A3 – Critical Thinking | 3 | 1B - Critical Thinking and Composition | 3 |
| B1 – Physical Sciences | 3 | 5A - Physical Sciences | 3 |
| B2 – Life Sciences | 3 | 5B - Biological Sciences | 3 |
| B3 – Laboratory (included in B1/B2 units) | — | 5C - Laboratory (for Bio/Physical Sciences course) | 1 |
| B4 – Mathematics/QR | 3 | 2 - Mathematical Concepts/QR | 3 |
| C1 – Arts | 3 | 3A - Arts | 3 |
| C2 – Humanities | 3 | 3B - Humanities | 3 |
| C3 – Additional course from C1 or C2 | 3 | — | — |
| D1 – Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | 4A - Social and Behavioral Sciences, History | 3 |
| D2 – Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | 4B - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Cultural | 3 |
| E – Lifelong Learning and Self-Development | 3 | — | — |
| F – Ethnic Studies | 3 | 6 - Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| LOWER-DIVISION UNIT TOTALS | 39 | 34 |
Additional Resources:
Frequently asked questions
More than 50% of CSU students are transfer students, arriving primarily from the California Community Colleges system. In an effort to simplify their pathway to a four-year degree, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (AB 928) creates a singular, lower-division General Education (GE) pattern for both California State University and University of California transfer admissions. This pattern, called Cal-GETC, was approved by all three higher education intersegmental partners via the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates in spring 2023. When Cal-GETC is implemented in fall 2025, it will become the only transfer GE pattern offered by California community colleges.
Academic Program staff and the Faculty Director of General Education will review current G.E. courses and align them with the revised areas. These changes will be reflected in the 2025-26 catalog. Department Chairs will be notified in early Fall 2024. No recertification of courses will be necessary, as the GE area descriptions and outcomes have not changed.
The GE Workgroup canvassed other campuses and collected responses here:
Updated: September 20, 2024