Welcome

Scenic view of Cal Poly core campus at sunset. Green hills with grass blowing in the wind in the foreground and the campus in focus in the back. White text framed by gold bar reads "General Education at Cal Poly"

Introduction

It is no secret that Cal Poly has high academic standards for its students.

From day one, our students come to campus with a deep awareness of their own skills, career ambitions, and academic goals; they recognize how Cal Poly can provide them with the knowledge and training that will sustain them through their lifetime.

With Cal Poly's General Education (GE) program, students can explore a range of subjects through courses designed to provide foundational knowledge and competencies in many disciplines. Indeed, each of the six colleges at Cal Poly offers at least one course in GE.

Most students would be surprised to learn that the General Education program comprises 40% of their academic requirements.

The breadth of this core education allows students to explore various ideas and attitudes they might not encounter in their major program. Whether a journalist or chemist, a philosopher or engineer, the General Education program asks each student to explore six key areas:

Area A: English 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
Area F: Ethnic Studies

This education links each undergraduate student, each major, in one program; it is truly interdisciplinary and an incredible opportunity to meet students from across the university. GE is one of the central ways that Cal Poly provides a truly comprehensive polytechnic education.

Welcome

Introduction

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