The GE office keeps an archive of GE policies that may affect students on various catalogs. A list of GE policies is highlighted below by SUBJECT and YEAR.

The weekly update is used to alert advisors and evaluators of major policy/procedural changes in the General Education Program.

If you need further information, please check these other links for more information. If you need additional assistanct, contact the GE office.

Advising Policies - New April 14, 2008

2007-08 UPDATES

4/14/08

• GE Program has removed reference on web page for Charts 2 and 3.
• New Advising Policies consolidates FAQ, GE Policies
• New UNIV course 391 has been added for Area D5.

12/17/07

• GE course offerings (A-F) have been updated. They no longer show Chart 1, 2 and 3. If students are still on Chart 2 or Chart 1, they can refer to the conversion charts listed on chart2.htm or chart 1.htm

8/10/07

• GE Course approval for subtopic GER 350 for C4 Winter 2008
• Rubric - German Literature in English Translation
• Subtopic " Talking bout My Generation" -

7/18/07

• GE Course approval for subtopic ARCH 320 C4 Fall 2007
  Rubric - Topics in Architectural History
  Subtopic - Subtopic: The Architecture andUrbanism of Japan

2006 UPDATES

• Two policies added 7/25/06
• STUDY-ABROAD FOREIGN LANGUAGE COURSES AND GE CREDIT

First-term (and later) foreign language courses that are non-Cal Poly courses taken abroad may count as transfer credit toward GE C1 at Cal Poly because of the value-added component of these study abroad courses.

• DOUBLE MAJORS AND GE

  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.

• GE FLex - added clarification for Area B elective for CLA students, added clarification for Area C clarification for most majors. The same language is used for Chart 1, Chart 2, and Chart 3.

2005 UPDATES

• Sample petition forms for GE, GE/Major, Study Abroad available for students
• See Petition Procedures for colleges available on GE web link
• See sample instructions/forms for student petitions available on GE web link
• BIO/BRAE Policy for Enginees

• Computer Science becomes part of ENGR template
• Area F Double-Counting - change in policy
• ENGL 149 - new policy
• GE Flex - new policy
  

2003 UPDATES

• 1st version of ENGL 149 policy goes into effect (October 20, 2005) This older policy was replaced by a newer version May 3, 2004. See ENGL 149 above for reference/information.
• Substituting Upper-Division for Lower-Divison Courses
• Blanket substitutions for BUS 391 and D5 for Chart 1 Students
• Double Counting for C4 and D5 - Language added in catalog
  

• Retroactive Credit for WS 301, PSY 311, and PSY 318 - 2002
• American Institutions Chart/Area D1 created for students- 2002
• Area D chart - language change for Chart 1 students - 2002

• In 2001, many editorial changes were made to charts. See entire list.

College of Engineering majors who have passed both BIO 213 and ENG/BRAE 213 to fulfill their life science requirement and who change majors to another college, may count this as having fulfilled their B2 requirement. (policy approved Spring 2005)

Student petition forms have changed. There are three new forms.
1) GE Course Substitution /Exception forms
2) Substitution for Major/Support Courses forms (that involve GE)
3) Substitution for Study Abroad forms
Refer to the GE web site for college procedures and student instructions.

Area F Changes: Refer to new policy for Area F (sent out to Departments)
Changes have been made on GE Requirements Chart 2 and Chart 3:

What the Area F policy means to students:
Not all majors are required to complete a GE Area F course, but for those that do, the GE Committee has changed the policy. Students on all catalogs may fulfill GE Area F with a course offered by the major. This does not affect the policy on GE Areas C4 and D5.

Students on the 2001/05 catalogs may not fulfill GE Areas C4 and D5 with a course offered by the major department.

This policy revision does not alter the total number of units needed to graduate. (Policy updated 10/25/04)

The move of Computer Science students to the GE Engineering template has been approved as retroactive, which means that students on the 2001-03 catalog will follow the GE Engineering template. (updated Oct 4, 2004)

English 149 policy update - for Chart 1, Chart 2, and Chart 3
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 updated (Policy updated May 3, 2004)

Note: An earlier version of this policy was in effect from October 20, 2003 through May 3, 2004. The policy below is no longer in effect, but is on the record for information only. <Engineering majors who change major to another college and who want to count English 149 for A3 can do so IF they have taken at least one Engineering course in their Engineering major at the 200 level or higher. If they have not taken this course, then they must take English 148 to get A3 credit.>

Substituting Upper for Lower Division - 2003

Q: Under the pre-GE 2001 Program, some upper-division course courses were allowed to meet lower-division requirements. Will that policy be in effect for GE 2001?

A: No. In GE 2001 upper-division courses are built on the foundations of the lower-division courses. You must take the lower-division courses first.

Students on Chart 1 (catalogs prior to 2001) will continue to be allowed to take an upper-division literature for C1 credit, as is currently being done by means of a blanket substitution. (October 2003)

Students on Chart 2 (changing to the 2001 catalog) will be allowed to have an upper-division literature course count for C1 credit IF that course is taken prior to Fall 2004. (This should allow sufficient time to advise Chart 2 students) (October 2003)

Students on Chart 3 (starting on the 2001 catalog) WILL NOT be allowed to substitute upper-division for lower-division courses. (October 2003)

BUS 391 has been added to the Area F1 list of GE courses for pre 2001 (Chart 1) Policy Approved Oct 13, 2003

Two D5 Courses approved for Chart 1 Students: Area D Blanket substitution approved for pre 2001 (Chart 1) students only. In the old GE requirement, students had to take a history D5 and a non-history D5. Instead, students may take any two D5 courses.

Statements that reinforce the double-counting policy were added to all C4, D5, and Area F course descriptions in the 03-05 catalog. (For example in ENGL 334, a C4 class, the statement was added: English majors will not receive GE C4 credit.) These statements were added to help students make the correct choices in GE.  

Existing courses WS 301, PSY 311, and PSY 318 in D5 have been approved for retroactive GE credit. (Changes made to all charts) Math 304 and Math 408 have been added to Area B6 on all charts. (Policy updated May 6, 2002)

American Institutions Transitions Guidelines (PDF chart) This chart explains in detail how OAR Evaluations staff will apply credit for D1 depending on circumstances of student. (PDF chart updated April 15, 2002)

Chart 1 change - clarification notation added to Area D. Language changed to read " Take three courses from Area D2, D3, D4a, D4b." Language removed from Area E that stated "No more than any one course in any Area E category." (Policy updated April 15, 2002)

Chart of course number changes updated 
ANT 444 11/09 Sex, Death, and Human Nature = ANT 344 D5
ANT 425 11/15 Pre columbian Esoteric = ANT 325 D5 (November 12, 2001)

Change to Chart 1 (Catalogs Prior to 2001-03)
Once a student completes a C3 and D4b outside the major, the third upper-division GE course may be a C3 or D4b offered by the student's major.   Also, if a student completes a C3 and D2, the third upper-division GE may be a D4b offered by the student's major.  (August 24, 2001)

Change to Chart 2 (Changing to 2001-03) Area E2, prior credit; Credit for FSN 210 will be for E2 (not B5) if taken prior to Fall 2001 (June 25, 2001)

Chart 2 - Upper Division Courses Required - 01

Policy clarification of upper-division units to Chart 2 (Changing to the 2001-03); See Advising Policies- Upper division. (June 4, 2001)

Summer Schedule: Students taking Area F1 or F2 (3 or 4 unit) courses prior to fall 2001 will receive Area F credit in GE 2001 program (June 4, 2001)

Change to Chart 1 (Catalogs Prior to 2001-03) See HIST 215/315 under Advising Policies. Area D- Credit for D4a only; HNRS 215- Credit for D4a only
(May 28, 2001)

Chart 1 (Catalogs Prior to 2001-03) has been modified for for Area D.
"Take a minimum of one course from either D1a or D1b". (May 21, 2001)

Correction to Chart 1(Catalogs Prior to 2001-03)
Area B5: PSY 304 has a new course number 340 (May 21, 2001)

Change: Chart 1(Catalogs Prior to 2001-03)
Area D5: ES 320, 322, and 323- credit changed to only D4b instead of both D4a and D4b. This is due to Degree Works automation. (May 21, 2001)

Change to Chart 2 (Changing ot the 2001-03 Catalog)
Area D4a-ES 330 credit changed to only D5 instead of D3/D5. This is due to Degree Works automation. (May 21, 2001)

Change: Chart 2 (Changing ot the 2001-03 Catalog). Policy change states that students must take prior GE courses before Fall 2001, instead of before Summer 2001. (May 21, 2001)

Modification: Chart 1 Area A (Catalogs Prior to 2001-03)
Take one course from A1:Expository Writing and one course from A3: Speech
Take one course from A2: Critical Thinking OR A4: Argumentative Writing
Minimum 11 units from Area A (no change in this line) (May 14, 2001)

Correction to Chart 1 Area B (Catalogs Prior to 2001-03)
Area B: Area B1 Physical Science (GE 2001-Changed to Area B3)
B1b Life Science (GE 2001-Changed to Area B2) (May 14, 2001)

Change to Chart 1 Credit Change (Catalogs Prior to 2001-03)
ES 320, 322, and 323 credit changed to D4a/D4b (May 14, 2001)

Change to Chart 2 Credit Change (Changing to the 2001-03 Catalog)
Area D4a-ES 330 credit changed to D3/D5 (May 14, 2001)

"GE Courses for Summer 2001"  
Correction: PHIL X230 and X231 - Changed to C2 credit for GE 2001.
       added course: SCOM 126 for GE 2001 A2 credit/Prior GE A2/A4 credit.
(May 7, 2001)

Clarification: Chart 2 (Changing to 2001-2003 Catalog)
Prior Area D1a&b  See Advising Policies
     One course from prior area D1a OR D1b fulfills GE 2001 Area D1. 
(May 7, 2001)

Correction: Chart 1 (Catalogs Prior to 2001-2003)
LS 211, 212 see Prior Courses, Areas C & D removed reference to Area C credit. (May 7, 2001)

Correction: Chart 1 (Catalogs Prior to 2001- 2003) 
HNRS 215 and HIST 215 GE 2001 credit:  Changed to D4a/D2 credit
(May 7, 2001)

Policy Change: Chart 2: (Changing to the 2001-03 catalog)
Template Area F/Technology:  
Most majors and CLA: Changed from minimum of 4 units to 3 units; removed "upper- division" course.   (April 16, 2001)