Executive Orders

• Executive Order 595
  Cal Poly follows the GE-Breadth guidelines set up by the CSU
  
  
• 40404 Requirements
  Cal Poly follows the 40404 requirements set up the the CSU
  

GE Policies

Course/Area Policies

1. English 149 POLICY  

College of Engineering majors who have passed English 149, and who change majors to another college, may count English 149 as fulfilling their GE A3 requirement. They do not have to take English 145 or 148.

Policy approved by GE Director, Evaluations, Advising Staff and GE Committee in Spring 2004.

2. BIO/ENGR 213 Policy

College of Engineering majors who have passed BIO 213 and ENGR 213, and who change majors to another college, may count BIO/ENGR 213 as fulfilling their GE B2 requirement. They do not have to take another B2 class.

Policy approved Spring 2005 (GE Director and Evaluations Staff)

3. Area D1/40404

Refer to the American Institutions Transitions Guidelines for detailed information on how credit will be applied by the OAR Evaluations staff.

This policy approved by David Conn, Vice Provost Academic Programs in May, 2001 and updated on in April 2002.

Any student who, PRIOR to Fall 2001, has satisfactorily completed a single Cal Poly or transfer course (including AP credit) which qualifies for credit under the "old" GE D1a or D1b will be excused from taking a further course to satisfy the CSU American History/Government requirement contained in Title V, section 40404. Other GE requirements (such as minimum total units and minimum units in D) will still apply.

Double Counting Policies

The following policy governs double-counting for upper-division courses. Courses from a student's major department MAY NOT BE USED to fulfill upper-division electives in Areas C4 or D5.

Clarifications and Exceptions to Double Counting Policy
Policies updated by GE Committee in May 2005

1. Subject to the approval of the GE committee, departments that have more than one major may request exemption from this policy to allow students from one major to be able to use coursework from another major within the department to fulfill an upper-division GE requirement. Such exemptions may be allowed if departments can establish that courses have significant emphasis and breadth beyond the student's major.

Department Exceptions - April 21, 2004
PHIL - RELS department exception approved by GE Committee.
PHIL majors can take RELS for C4 credit.

2. Cross-listed courses may count for upper-division GE credit by majors from any of the departments offering the cross-listed courses, subject to the approval of the GE Committee. Faculty are encouraged to make the request for double-counting of these courses when they are first proposed. The courses will be reviewed by the GE Committee to determine if they have sufficient breadth and are interdisciplinary. If approval is granted, it will be on an "all or nothing" basis: either all the courses in the cross-listing are approved for double- counting, or none of them is.

3. Courses with a college prefix (e.g., SCM, AG, EDES, ENGR) may count for upper-division GE credit for majors in that college, subject to the approval of the GE Committee. Faculty are encouraged to make the request for double-counting of college-prefix courses when they are first proposed. The courses will be reviewed by the GE Committee to determine if they have sufficient breadth and are interdisciplinary.

Double Majors - Engineering and another Major

Students with a double major in an ABET-accredited Engineering major (on the Engineering GE template) and in another major (on the regular GE template) may use a Petition for Special Consideration to request exemption from the Area F requirement in the other major. To be approved, this petition needs the endorsement signatures of the other major’s department chair/head and college dean. If the student does not complete the other major, then the terms of the petition have not been fulfilled (since the student is no longer a double major) and the student will be required to satisfy the Area F requirement.

Policy approved July 2006 (GE Director)

Foreign Language Policies (Cal Poly, Transfer, Study Abroad)

• Cal Poly Students

C1 credit for Cal Poly students is given in the following GE courses taught at Cal Poly.

• FR 233	Critical Readings in French Literature	C1
  GER 233	Critical Reading in German Literature	C1
  HNRS 251	Great Books I: Great Books I: Introduction to Classical Literature	C1
  SPAN 233	Introduction to Hispanic Readings	C1

C4 credit for Cal Poly students is given in the following GE courses taught at Cal Poly.

• FR 305	Significant Writers in French	C4
  FR 350	French Literature in English Translation	C4
  GER 305	Significant Writers in German	C4
  GER 350	German Literature - English Translation	C4

• SPAN 305	Significant Writers in Spanish	C4
  SPAN 340	Chicano/a Authors (USCP)	C4
  SPAN 350	Hispanic Literature in English Translation	C4
  SPAN 351	Latino/a Writers in U.S. (USCP)	C4

Early stages of learning a foreign language require concentrating on the acquisition of basic skills and that General Education Area C credit is awarded for coursework that builds upon basic skills with a significant cultural and literary component. 

GE credit should not be awarded for coursework focused primarily on acquiring the basic skills provided in introductory language study--skills usually acquired in high school and required for CSU and UC admission. 

Cal Poly students will earn Area C1 credit with an AP score of 5 or above on the French and/or Spanish Literature Exam

• Study Abroad

First-term (and later) foreign language courses that are non-Cal Poly courses taken abroad may count as transfer credit toward GE C1or C2 at Cal Poly because of the value-added component of these study abroad courses.

Policy updated in January 2007 (GE Director)

• Incoming Transfer Students

Up to FOUR quarter units of any foreign-language coursework approved under CSU transfer agreements and completed prior to a student's matriculation at Cal Poly will be accepted for Area C credit. (CSU-approved first-year coursework will be accepted for students transferring to Cal Poly.)

Policy approved by GE Committee in Spring, 2001

GE Flex - Completing Minimums /Course Requirements for GE

Students who have fulfilled all course requirements in each GE sub area, but who are below the minimum number of required units in some GE areas, may move a total of two units of extra GE units to areas in which they are needed to make up the difference. These movable units may come from other GE areas, transfer credit, or AP credit. The one restriction is that extra LOWER-division GE units may NOT be used to count for UPPER-division GE unit requirements.

Clarifications

Area B Elective (for CLA students only)
CLA majors are required to take 4 extra units in Area B. They may choose courses in GE Areas B1 - B5. This area does not have a specified COURSE requirement. Therefore, students do not have to fulfill any "minimum course requirements" before GE units or GE Flex units can be moved into this Area B elective area.

Area C Elective (for most majors) ~ College of Agriculture, Architecture and Environmental Design, Business, and Science and Mathematics)
Most majors are required to take 4 extra units in Area C. They may choose courses in GE Areas C1 - C4. This area does not have a specified COURSE requirement. Therefore, students do not have to fulfill any "minimum course requirements" before GE units or GE Flex units can be moved into this Area C elective area.

Clarifications approved by GE Director and Evaluations staff in April 2006

Second Baccalaureate Non-Engineering Students

Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree must take a minimum of 12 GE units in residence at Cal Poly and must meet the following General Education requirements (either in a previous degree program or at Cal Poly):

• U.S. history and government (40404)
  
  
• One upper-division course each in Areas C4, D5, and F
  
  
• Students who have met the upper-division GE requirement in a previous degree program and who need specific lower-division foundation courses for the second degree may petition to take those courses in place of upper-division area coursework.  All requests to substitute lower- for upper-division coursework must be approved by the Director of the General Education Program based on the recommendation of the Evaluations office.
  
• Students may not repeat coursework taken previously, nor may they take courses at a lower level than has already been completed.

Second Baccalaureate for ABET Engineering Students

Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree in engineering must take a minimum of 12 GE units in residence at Cal Poly and must meet the following General Education requirements (either in a previous degree program or at Cal Poly)

• U.S. history and government (40404)
  
  
• One upper-division course each in Areas B6 and C4
  
  
• Additional coursework (if required) may be taken in any area except F
  
  
• Students who need specific lower-division foundation courses as support courses for the second degree may petition to take those courses in place of upper-division area coursework if approved upper-division coursework has been taken elsewhere.  All requests to substitute non-support, lower-division coursework for upper-division coursework must be approved by the Director of the General Education Program based on the recommendation of the Evaluations office.
  
• Students may not repeat coursework taken previously, nor may they take courses at a lower level than has already been completed.

Definitions

• Definition of Engineering Program

Cal Poly's General Education Engineering Template applies to all engineering programs which are accredited by ABET. Any engineering program which has applied, but not been approved, for ABET accreditation may request interim approval to use the Engineering Template pending ABET's decision on accreditation. (Requests for interim approval should be accompanied with a clear status report and projected timetable for ABET's decision.)

• Upper-Division Coursework for Engineers

• Students in accredited ABET engineering programs will meet the 12-unit upper-division General Education and 8-unit upper-division Writing Intensive requirements through

  1. Four upper-division units in Area C (providing four writing-intensive units).
  2. Four upper-division units in Area B.
  3. Four specified upper-division units in engineering which are writing intensive.

  Programs on the engineering template will identify four units of writing-intensive coursework that will complement the writing-intensive coursework taken as a part of the GE 2001 curriculum. These units may be from a single class or from a series of classes or labs. Each program will send to the GE Committee a plan for establishing writing-intensive coursework within the program's curriculum. The plan should make clear the amount and kind of writing which will be included in the identified coursework. Faculty teaching the writing-intensive courses will be strongly encouraged to participate in the WINGED workshops, and specific workshops will be presented which address the needs of faculty and students in engineering programs

• Definition - Lab Experience

(1) must be based on the use of the scientific method or on the application of basic scientific principles in a laboratory environment or in a field experience.
(2) must involve observation and analysis or data collection and analysis.
(3) must contain an appropriate writing component.
(4) must require concurrent or previous enrollment in a course that satisfies the Area B life science or physical science requirements.

GE Area B4 courses are generally taught in the lab format, but activity courses will count as a lab experience if they satisfy the criteria listed in 1-4 (above). ~Clarification updated May 02, 2006

• Definition - Life Sciences Learning Objectives

Students may fulfill the general education requirement for the Life Sciences with either a broad overview of a number of the many disciplines within the life sciences, or by a narrower but more in-depth focus on a smaller set of disciplines. Upon completion of a broad overview of the life sciences, students will have achieved at least four of the learning objectives listed below at a basic level. Upon completion of a narrower study of the life sciences, students will have achieved at least two of the learning objectives in depth.

Students will:

Understand the chemical and physical bases of life processes.
Understand the patterns and processes of evolution and the resulting diversity of life.
Understand the process of reproduction and patterns of inheritance.
Understand structure, function, and development at the molecular, cellular, and/or organism levels.
Understand the interactions of organisms with each other and with their environment.
Understand the impact of humans on world ecological systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where can I get GE transfer information for California Community Colleges, including CSU, IGETC and UC requirements?

See Assist.org
This is an online resource for transfer credit for all California Community Colleges. You will also find information relative to CSU, IGETC and UC requirements

2. Are Cal Poly's GE Areas the same as the GE Areas listed on GE CSU spread on Assist?

No, Cal Poly's GE areas are different from the GE CSU spread. See the GE requirements/areas at Cal Poly

3. What does it mean to be GE certified at a community college?

Area Certification:  This means you have completed all required CSU lower-division coursework in a specific GE area. (For example, if you have completed one approved course in expository writing, one in critical thinking, and one in speech, you have earned Area A certification.) Note: Area D1 may be a special case. Please check with the Evaluations Office to make sure that you have completed all required components of the Area D1 requirement.

Lower-division GE certification:  This means you have completed all required CSU lower-division GE coursework.

Upper-division certification:  This means you have completed all required CSU upper-division GE coursework.  Community colleges do not offer upper-division courses; you will most likely complete upper-division GE coursework at Cal Poly.

4. What will I need to take at Cal Poly if I come if with a lower-division GE certification?

GE certification means that you have completed all of the lower-division courses in the General Education block.  At Cal Poly you will need to earn 12 upper-division units by taking one four-unit GE course in each of the following three areas: 

Area C4: (Arts and Humanities/upper-division elective);
Area D5: (Society and the Individual/Upper-division elective)
Area F: (Technology)

Note: Some majors at Cal Poly require specific GE "support" courses. It is best to check with your advisor in this area. Also Note: Area D1 may be a special case. Please check with the Evaluations Office to make sure that you have completed all required components of the Area D1 requirement.

5. I have been GE-certified in some areas. How will my area certifications count?

Cal Poly accepts all area certifications from California community colleges, CSU, and UC campuses.  If a community college certifies you in an area (e.g. Area A, Communication), that means you have satisfied the requirement for lower-division GE courses in that area.  You may be certified in any (or all) of the following lower-division GE areas:

Area A:          Communication
Area B:          Science and Mathematics
Area C:          Arts and Humanities
Area D/E:      Society and the Individual

Note: Area D1 may be a special case. Please check with the Evaluations Office to make sure that you have completed all required components of the Area D1 requirement.

6. I am not GE certified, but I took some GE courses. How will these count?

As long as a GE course appears in the GE area spread for the CSU, UC, or California Community college, the course will transfer as GE into Cal Poly. Check Assist for Community college information, or check the GE spread in the UC or CSU college catalog for more information. Cal Poly’s evaluators will look at your transcript to determine how your courses will count for Cal Poly’s GE requirements. The evaluators try to find the best way to apply any CSU or UC approved transfer courses that you have taken.

7. Can someone at Cal Poly answer a question about transfer coursework?

For Admitted students - If you have already been admitted to Cal Poly, you can send an email to the records office at records@calpoly.edu

For Prospective students - If you HAVE NOT been admitted, you should refer to the Cal Poly web site at:  http://www.calpoly.edu/student/prospective.html

8. What is the policy for transferring foreign language credit from a community college?

Up to FOUR quarter units of any foreign-language coursework approved under CSU transfer agreements and completed prior to a student's matriculation at Cal Poly will be accepted for Area C credit. (CSU-approved first-year coursework will be accepted for students transferring to Cal Poly.)

9. What is the policy for transferring upper-division coursework to Cal Poly?

CSU/UC - You may take a GE upper-division course at another CSU or UC campus and earn credit in the same GE area in which the course would earn credit at Cal Poly.  Before you decide to take an upper-division course at another campus, please check with your advisor.

10. Where can I find catalogs and course description for courses than are not listed on Assist?

UC/CSU - Refer to the UC or CSU web site for the College. Generally, you can type in a search for General Education requirements, or look for the course descriptions from their on-line catalog.

Outside California - See  www.collegesource.org

11. Where can I get information on other types of academic credit? (AP, IB, Military Credit etc.)

The Cal Poly Records office updates the AP credit information each year. Refer to the following link for more information.

For AP Credit for 2008 - See http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_records/Degree_Progress/articdoc/apcred2008.pdf

For AP Credit for previous years - See
http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_records/Degree_Progress/other_ac_credit.htm

12. I have been admitted to Cal Poly. Is there an advisor I can see?

There are many advising resources on campus. For more information, refer to Advising.calpoly.edu