As part of the general education requirements for a bachelor's degree, all CSU students must meet the minimum of forty-eighty (48) semester units of general education breadth requirement. The general education requirement includes thirty-nine (39) semester units of lower-division (GE-Breadth) and at least nine units (9) of upper-division courses.

The CSU GE-Breadth Requirements is a lower division 39 semester (58.5 quarter) unit pattern with specified courses in the areas of:

• Area A — English Language Communication and Critical Thinking
• Area B — Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning
• Area C — Arts and Humanities
• Area D — Social Sciences
• Area E — Lifelong Learning and Self-Development

Each California Community College has a list of courses that can be used in each of the areas. The list is also available at degrees.calstate.edu. Each of the areas has a minimum number of units or courses. See the Transfer Student Planner for more information about each of the areas.

California Community College or other certifying institution can certify up to 39 lower-division GE-Breadth units. Students who are certified with 39 semester units of lower-division GE-Breadth units will only be required to complete a minimum of 9 semester units of upper division general education work after transfer just like other students attending your CSU campus.

It is important that you request that your California Community College certify completion of California Community College coursework that meets CSU general education requirements. Certification means that CSU will accept these courses to meet the CSU GE-Breadth areas designated by your California Community College.

California Community Colleges can certify each subject area (Area A, B, C, D, E) or the whole pattern.