GE Standard and High-Unit Templates

The following sets of GE requirements apply to students who are catalogs beginning in AY 2020-21. For details on prior templates, please click here.

For a list of current classes in each area, visit the Cal Poly Catalog. All GE courses are 4 units unless otherwise indicated.

In order to afford students the most flexibility, Cal Poly’s GE program includes two templates: the Standard Template and the High-Unit Template. Students may follow the high-template if their degree is an ABET-accredited program, namely those programs within the College of Engineering along with the other ABET-accredited programs of Architectural Engineering and BioResource and Agricultural Engineering.

Only these programs are considered high-unit degree programs and, as such, only students within those degrees will follow the High-Unit Template. All other students will follow the Standard Template.

Included in the tables that follow are links to the curriculum guidelines for each area, which further define the intent, learning objectives, and design components for GE courses. Faculty and students are encouraged to review these guidelines to better understand the expectations and requirements for each area.

Template Definitions

High-Unit: ARCE, BRAE, and College of Engineering majors (ABET-accredited programs)
Standard: All other majors
X = non-unit requirement

Printable Templates

AREA A: ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMMUNICATION AND CRITICAL THINKING

AREA A CURRICULUM GUIDELINES CAN BE FOUND HERE.


subarea	standard	High-Unit
A1^¹: Oral Communication	4	4
A2^¹: Written Communication Writing Intensive	4	4
A3^¹: Critical Thinking Writing Intensive	4	4
Area A Unit Subtotal:	12	12

^¹ This course is part of the Golden Four sequence. As such, for students admitted in Fall 2016 or later, a grade of C- or better is required in one course in this GE subarea.

Click here to see a list of currently approved courses for Area A.

AREA B: SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AND QUANTITATIVE REASONING

AREA B CURRICULUM GUIDELINES


subarea	standard	high-unit
B1: Physical Science	4	4
B2: Life Science	4	4
B3: Laboratory Activity	(in B1 or B2)	(in B1 or B2)
B4^¹: Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning	4	8
Upper-Division B	4	4
Area B Electives²	X	8
Area B Unit Subtotal	16	28

^¹ This course is part of the Golden Four sequence. As such, for students admitted in Fall 2016 or later, a grade of C- or better is required in one course in this GE subarea.

^² For students on the Standard Template, see GE electives in Area B, C, and D section below. An Area B course may be taken in partial fulfillment of GE Electives.

Click here to see a list of currently approved courses for Area B.

AREA C: ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Lower-division courses in Area C must come from three different prefixes.

area c curriculum guidelines


SUBAREA	standard	high-unit
C1: Arts — Arts, Cinema, Dance, Music, Theatre	4	4
C2: Humanities — Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English Writing Intensive	4	4
Lower-Division C Elective Select a course from either C1 or C2	4	4
Upper-Division C Writing Intensive	4	4
Area C Unit Subtotal	16	16

Click here to see a list of currently approved courses for Area C.

AREA D: SOCIAL SCIENCES

AREA D CURRICULUM GUIDELINES

This template and set of prefix requirements apply to students on the AY 2020-2021 catalog.

SUBAREA	STANDARD AY 2020-2021 Catalog	HIGH-UNIT AY 2020-2021 Catalog
D1: American Institutions Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement	4	4
D2³: Lower-Division	8	4
Upper-Division D Writing Intensive	4	X
Area D Elective^*	X	4
Area D Unit Subtotal	16	12

³ Students on the Standard Template must choose courses from two different prefixes.

* Students on the High-Unit Template must select either an additional lower-division D2 or an Upper-Division D course.

This template and set of prefix requirements apply to students on AY 2021-2022 and subsequent catalogs.

SUBAREA	STANDARD¹	High-Unit
D1: American Institutions Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement	4	4
D2: Lower-Division	4	x
Upper-Division D Writing Intensive	4	x
Area D Elective^²	x	4
Area D Unit Subtotal	12	8

¹ Students on the Standard Template must choose courses from at least two different prefixes.

^² Students on the High-Unit Template may select either a lower-division D2 or an upper-division D course for their Area D elective.

Click here to see a list of currently approved courses for Area D.

AREA E: LIFELONG LEARNING AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT

AREA E CURRICULUM GUIDELINES

SUBAREA	STANDARD	HIGH-UNIT
Lower-Division (E)	4	4

Click here to see a list of currently approved courses for Area E.

AREA F: ETHNIC STUDIES

AREA F CURRICULUM GUIDELINES

The Area F requirement begins with students on the AY 2021-2022 catalog and continues with subsequent catalogs.

SUBAREA	STANDARD	HIGH-UNIT
Area F	4	4

Click here to see a list of currently approved courses for Area F.

GE ELECTIVES IN AREAS B, C, AND D

Select courses from two different areas; courses may be in either lower-division or upper-division levels.


Subarea	Standard	High-Unit
GE Electives	8	X

TOTAL UNITS IN GENERAL EDUCATION

	standard	high-unit
	72	72

For students on the AY 2020-2021 catalog —

Source: AS-873-19 "Resolution on Template for General Education 2020" (pdf). 16 April 2019.

For students on AY 2021-2022 and subsequent catalogs —

Source: AS-913-21 "Resolution to Establish Area F in the General Education 2020 Template" (pdf). 2 March 2021.

General Education

Template and Curriculum