General Education

Overview

General Education is one large component required for graduation at SJSU. Each section of the General Education 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.

Students may take general education courses at another institution with which SJSU has a general education breadth requirement. Please meet with a H&A advisor for assistance.

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.

Core General Education

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

Area 1 (1C, 1A, 1B): Oral/Written Communication

  • All areas require a "C- or better" in each individual GE section
  • 1A must be completed before the conclusion of a student's first year

Area 5: (5A, 5B, 5C) Physical/Biological Sciences

Area 2: Math and Quantitative Reasoning

  • Area 2 must be completed before the conclusion of a student's first year, and requires a "C- or better"

Area 3 (3A, 3B): Arts and Humanities

Area 4 (6 Units of Area 4): Social Sciences

  • Minimum of 6 units from a minimum of two different disciplines

Area F: Ethnic Studies

  • A minimum grade of “C-” or better

 

General Education Upper Division Requirements

Upper division general education requirements must be fulfilled as a requirement towards graduation.

Area 2/5: Math or Earth, Environment, Sustainability

Area 4: Self, Society, and Equality in the US

Area 3: Culture & Global Understanding

Writing in the Disciplines: 100W

  • Minimum Prerequisite: Upper division standing; 1B or equivalent second semester composition course (with a grade of C- or better); completion of core GE. Completion of the UDW-DSP is strongly recommended. 

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