General Education

Overview

General Education is one large component required for graduation at SJSU. Each section of the General Educaton requirement involves specific content incorporating the humanities, arts, and sciences as examples.

To fulfill most specific GE categories, students can take one course can be taken to fulfill the respective GE section. There are several courses that can fulfill more than GE section.

This information is not meant to be a substitute to official stated policies by official University offices and CSU statues of governance  which manage these policies. For questions, please visit an academic advisor at the H&A SSC.

 

The General Education Sequence is as follows:

Core General Education

Area A (A1, A2, A3): English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

Area B (B1, B2, B3, B4): Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning

Area C (C1, C2, Additional C): Arts and Letters

Area D (9 Units of Area D): Social Sciences

Area E: Human Understanding and Development

 

SJSU Studies

Area R: Earth and Environment

Area S: Self, Society, and Equality in the US

Area V: Culture, Civilization, & Global Understanding

Area Z: 100W

 

Core General Education

To fulfill core General Education Requirements, all areas of GE should be fulfilled before beginning upper division SJSU Studies coursework. Unless otherwise noted, all courses require a minimum of "D-" or better to be considered as satisfying general education requirements.

Students may take general education courses at another institution with which SJSU has a general education breadth requirement. See SJSU Articulation GE Breadth for the specific list of institutions with an agreement and applicable transferrable courses.

 

Area A (A1, A2, A3): English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

  • All areas require a "C- or better" in each individual GE section
  • A2 must be completed before the conclusion of a student's first year

Area B (B1, B2, B3, B4): Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning

  • B4 must be completed before the conclusion of a student's first year, and requires a "C- or better"

Area C (C1, C2, Additional C): Arts and Letters

  • Minimum of 9 units

Area D (9 Units of Area D): Social Sciences

  • Minimum of 9 units from a minimum of two different disciplines

Area E: Human Understanding and Development

 

SJSU Studies

SJSU Studies are upper division general education requirements that all must be fulfilled as a requirement towards graduation. In order to graduate, Areas R, S, and V must be completed with a cumulative GPA (combined GPA) of at least "2.0 or better."

 

Area R: Earth and Environment

Area S: Self, Society, and Equality in the US

Area V: Culture, Civilization, & Global Understanding

Area Z: 100W

  • Must have passed WST or LLD 100A with a "C or better" prior to taking 100W

  • Requires a grade of "C or better" (C- is not accepted)