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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
GENERAL EDUCATION PATTERN
Click here to download the GE PDF.
College of San Mateo |
2025 - 2026 |
| To verify historical GE course approvals visit: www.assist.org. |
Area 1: English Communication and Critical Thinking |
| 9 semester units or 12 quarter units required with at least one course from each area 1A, 1B and 1C. All courses must be completed with a grade of "C-" or better. |
| 9 units minimum |
1A: Written Communication |
| ENGL C1000, C1000E. |
1B: Critical Thinking and Writing |
| ENGL 110, C1001; PHIL 103, 210. |
1C: Oral Communication |
| COMM C1000. |
Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning |
| 3 semester units or 4 quarter units. Course must be completed with a grade of "C-" or better. |
| 3 units minimum |
| BUS 123; CIS 262; MATH 125, 145, 222, 225, 241, 242, 251, 252, 253, 268, 270, 275, 280; PSYC 121; STAT C1000. |
Area 3: Arts and Humanities |
| 6 semester units or 8 quarter units with at least one course in 3A-Arts and 3B-Humanities. |
| 6 units minimum |
3A: Arts (Visual Arts, Architecture, Music, Dance, Theater, and Film) |
| ARCH 100; ART 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 124, 347; DANC 100; DGME 215; ETHN 288, 585; FILM 100, 120, 121, 122, 123, 130, 135, 140, 145, 200, 215; MUS 100, 131, 202, 210, 250, 275, 280. |
3B: Humanities (Literature, Philosophy, Languages Other Than English) |
| ASL 110; CHIN 131, 132; ENGL 110; ESL 401; ETHN 104, 105, 106, 107, 265; HIST 100, 101, 104, 106, 260, 261, 262, 310, C1001, C1002; LIT. 101, 105, 113, 115, 150, 151, 154, 155, 156, 201, 202, 220, 221, 231, 232, 266, 430; PHIL 100, 160, 175, 244, 300; SPAN 131, 132, 140. |
Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| 6 semester units or 8 quarter units from two different academic disciplines. |
| 6 units minimum |
| ADMJ 100; ANTH 110, 180, 350; BUS. 125; COMM 130; DGME 100, 102; ECON C2001, C2002; ETHN 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 300; GBST 101, 102; GEOG 110, 150; HIST 100, 101, 104, 106, 260, 261, 262, 310, C1001, C1002; KINE 103, 107; POLS 100, 110, 130, 150, 210, 310, C1000; PSYC 105, 106, 110, 120, 200, 201, 220, 225, 230, 300, 301, 320, 330, 410, C1000; SOCI 100, 105, 110, 121, 141, 160. |
Area 5: Physical/Biological Sciences |
| 7 semester units or 9 quarter units required with at least one course from Physical Science and one course from Biological Science. One Physical or Biological Science course must include a laboratory (underlined). |
| 7 units minimum |
5A: Physical Science |
| ASTR 100, 101, 103, 115, 125, 210; CHEM 192, 210, 220, 231, 232, 410, 420; GEOG 100; GEOL 100, 101; OCEN 100, 101; PALN 110, 111; PHYS 100, 210, 220, 250, 260, 270. |
5B: Life Science |
| ANTH 125, 127; BIOL 100, 102, 110, 130, 132, 145, 184, 195, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260; PALN 110, 111; PSYC 220. |
5C: Science Lab |
| Students must select at least one laboratory (see underlined courses in areas 5A and 5B). |
Area 6: Ethnic Studies |
| 3 semester units or 4 quarter units required. |
| 3 units minimum |
| ETHN 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 265, 288, 585. |
American Institutions (US-1-2-3) |
| To verify historical American Institutions course approvals visit: www.assist.org |
| ETHN 101 - US 3 |
| ETHN 103 - US 1 & 2 |
| ETHN 105 - US 1 |
| ETHN 107 - US 1 |
| HIST 201 - US 1 & US 2 |
| HIST 202 - US 1 & US 2 |
| HIST 260 - US 1 & US 2 |
| HIST 261 - US 1 |
| HIST 262 - US 1 & US 2 |
| HIST 310 - US 3 |
| PLSC 200 - US 2 & US 3 |
| PLSC 210 - US 1 & US 2 |
| PLSC 215 - US 2 |
| PLSC 310 - US 3 |
(page last modified: 02/11/2026)
