Catalog 2024-2025

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CSU General Education Requirements 2024-2025

 

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The CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE-B) is a 39-unit general education program that allows California Community College students to fulfill lower-division GE requirements for the CSU. At least 60 TRANSFERABLE UNITS of Major and General Education courses are required to transfer. Transfer students should: (1) meet with a counselor to create an EDUCATIONAL PLAN that will assist in identifying appropriate major and GE requirements; (2) request a CSU GE-B CERTIFICATION (when final transcripts are requested) to be sent to the transfer institution; and (3) with a counselor’s assistance, determine eligibility for an Associate’s Degree and/or an Associate’s Degree for Transfer. FULL CERTIFICATION (completion of all areas), PARTIAL CERTIFICATION (completion of all but 2 courses), and CSU GE-B FOR STEM CERTIFICATION (for BIO AS-T only) are available. Completion of the pattern also satisfies requirements for Certificate of Achievement. All courses are 3 units unless otherwise noted.

Golden Four: Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4 must be completed with a letter grade of “C” or better. Completion of the Golden Four and 60 transferable units with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 are required for admission.

**Note: Courses indicated by (**) may be used to meet one area requirement only.

Area A: English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

Requirement: 3 courses 9 semester/12-15 quarter units

Complete 1 course from each section (3 courses total). All courses from Area A must be completed with a “C” or better.

Area A1: Oral Communication

Course Number Course Title
COMM 001 Public Speaking
COMM 001H Honors Public Speaking
COMM 007 Survey of Communication: Career
COMM 010 Introduction to Persuasion
COMM 010H Honors Introduction to Persuasion
COMM 020 Argumentation & Debate

Area A2: Written Communication

Course Number Course Title
ENGL 001A English Composition

Area A3: Critical Thinking

Course Number Course Title
COMM 004 Small Group Discussion
COMM 010 Introduction to Persuasion
COMM 010H Honors Introduction to Persuasion
COMM 020  Argumentation and Debate
ENGL 001B Critical Thinking through Literature
ENGL 001C Critical Thinking & Writing
ENGL 001CH Honors Critical Thinking & Writing
PHIL 002 Introduction to Logic
PHIL 003 Introduction to Ethics
PHIL 017 Logic & Critical Reasoning

 

Area B: Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning

Requirement: 9 Semester/12 Quarter Units

Complete at least one course from Biological Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics area.

Area B1: Physical Sciences

Course Number Course Title Lab
ASTR 010 Solar System Astronomy  
ASTR 011 Stellar Astronomy  
ASTR 014 Life in the Universe  
ASTR 020 Family of the Sun (4) X
ASTR 020H Honors Family of the Sun (4) X
ASTR 021 Lifestyles of the Stars (4) X
ASTR 021H Honors Lifestyles of the Stars (4) X
ASTR 022 From Big Bang to Black Holes  
BIOL 013 Natural History of California X
CHEM 001A, 001B General Chemistry (5/ea) X
CHEM 001AH, 001BH Honors General Chemistry (5/ea) X
CHEM 002 Introductory Chemistry (4) X
CHEM 012A, 012B Organic Chemistry (5/ea) X
CHEM 030A, 030B Fundamentals of Chemistry (4/ea) X
CHEM 060 Survey of General, Organic, & Biochemistry (4) X
GEOG 001 Intro Physical Geography  
GEOL 001A Physical Geology (4) X
GEOL 001B Historical Geology (4) X
GEOL 012 Earth Science with Lab (4) X
GEOL 015 Geology of California  
GEOL 020 Field Geology X
OCEA 010 Introduction to Oceanography (4) X
PHYS 001 Introduction to Physics Problem Solving  
PHYS 002A General Physics – Mechanics (5) X
PHYS 002B General Physics – Electricity & Magnetism (5) X
PHYS 004A Engineering Physics – Mechanics (5) X
PHYS 004B Engineering Physics – Electricity & Magnetism (5) X
PHYS 004C Engineering Physics – Light, Heat, and Waves (5) X
PHYS 005 Advanced Topics in Modern Physics  
PHYS 010 Conceptual Introduction to Physics (4) X
PSCI 010 Physical Science Survey  
PSCI 020 Weather and Climate  

Area B2: Life Sciences

Course Number Course Title Lab
ANTH 001 Introduction to Physical Anthropology  
BIOL 002 Environmental Biology  
BIOL 010 + 010L Introduction to Biology + Laboratory (4) X
BIOL 011 Human Biology (4) X
BIOL 012 Introduction to Ecology and Wildlife (4) X
BIOL 013 Natural History of California X
BIOL 014 California Plants and Animals (4) X
BIOL 018 Marine Biology (4) X
BIOL 022 Genetics (4) X
BIOL 023 Introduction to Infectious Diseases  
BIOL 024 Bio in the News  
BIOL 035 Biology of Birds (4) X
BIOL 036 Animal Behavior  
BIOL 037 Evolution – Life on Earth  
BIOL 038 Biodiversity and Extinction: Hotspots, Crisis and Conservation  
BIOL 040 Organismal Biology (4) X
BIOL 041 Principles of Animal Biology (5) X
BIOL 042 Principles of Plant Biology (5) X
BIOL 043 Principles of Cell Biology (5) X
BIOL 045 Microbiology (5) X
BIOL 047 Human Anatomy (5) X
BIOL 048 Human Physiology (5) X
BIOL 055 Biology of Sex  
BIOL 056 Ecology of the Sierra Nevada X
BIOL 058 Field Ecology  
BIOL 059 Climate Change  
PSYC 002 Experimental Psychophysiology (4) X
PSYC 002H Honors Experimental Psychophysiology (4) X
PSYC 007 Physiological Psychology  

Area B3: Laboratory Activity

BIOL 002L, BIOL 050, GEOL 012 or one of the selected science courses from B1 or B2 above must be a laboratory course.

Area B4: Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning

Course Number Course Title
MATH 000D Trigonometry
MATH 000G Mathematics for the Liberal Arts Student
MATH 001 Pre-Calculus Algebra (4)
MATH 002 Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trigonometry (6)
MATH 003A Calculus and Analytical Geometry (5)
MATH 003AH Honors Calculus and Analytical Geometry (5)
MATH 003B Calculus and Analytical Geometry (5)
MATH 003BH Honors Calculus and Analytical Geometry (5)
MATH 004A Intermediate Calculus (5)
MATH 004B Differential Equations (4)
MATH 004C Linear Algebra (4)
MATH 010 Elementary Statistics (4)
MATH 010H Honors Elementary Statistics (4)
MATH 012 Applied Calculus (4)
MATH 014 Math for Elementary School Teachers (Number Systems)
MATH 019 Discrete Mathematics (4)
MATH 080 Foundations in Data Science

 

Area C: Arts and Humanities

Requirement: 9 semester/12-15 quarter units

Complete three (3) courses with at least one course in Arts and one course in Humanities.

Area C1: Arts Courses

Course Number Course Title
ARCH 046 History of Architecture
ARCH 047 History of Modern Architecture
ARCH 072 History of Landscape Architecture
ARTS 001A Survey of Western Art I
ARTS 001AH Honors Survey of Western Art I
ARTS 001B Survey of Western Art II
ARTS 001BH Honors Survey of Western Art II
ARTS 001D Survey of Modern Art
ARTS 001DH Honors Art of the 20th Century
ARTS 001E Design in Society
ARTS 001G History of Photography
ARTS 001J Survey of Non-Western Art: Africa, Oceania, and Indigenous North America
ARTS 004 Art Appreciation
ARTS 007 The Art of Asia
ARTS 010 American Art: A Multi-Cultural Approach
ARTS 012A Art of Pre-Hispanic Mexico
ARTS 012B Art of Colonial & Modern Mexico
ARTS 013 African-American Art History
ARTS 014 Women in Art History
ARTS 095 New Media and Social Change
DANC 061 Dance in America: A Cultural Perspective
DANC 061H Honors Dance in America: A Cultural Perspective
FDAT 032 History of Fashion
FDAT 088 Fashion and Race in America
MUSC 001 Music History: Medieval, Renaissance, & Baroque Periods
MUSC 001H Honors Music History: Medieval, Renaissance, & Baroque
MUSC 002 Music History: Classical, Romantic & Contemporary Periods
MUSC 002H Honors Music History: Classical, Romantic & Contemporary
MUSC 003A Music Theory Level 1
MUSC 003B Music Theory Level 2
MUSC 004A Music Theory Level 3
MUSC 004B Music Theory Level 4
MUSC 005 Fundamentals of Music
MUSC 007 Film Music Appreciation
MUSC 009 Jazz Music History
MUSC 010 Music Appreciation
MUSC 054 History of Rock and Roll Music
MUSC 055 World Music
THEA 010 Introduction to Theater
THEA 010H Honors Introduction to Theater
THEA 011A Script Analysis: Classical
THEA 011B Script Analysis: Modern Realism
THEA 011C Script Analysis: Contemporary / Absurdist
THEA 012 Survey of Musical Theater
THEA 013 Multicultural Theater
THEA 014A Survey of Film: Horror & Science Fiction
THEA 014B Survey of Film: Westerns and Musicals
THEA 014C Survey of Film: Gangster & Detective Films
THEA 014D Survey of Film: Superhero Cinema
THEA 014E Survey of Film: The Star Wars Trilogies
THEA 015 Introduction to Film Studies
THEA 016 American Cinema
WGQS 002 Women in the Arts: Multicultural Perspectives**

Area C2: Humanities Courses

Course Number Course Title
ARTS 095 New Media and Social Change
ASLA 060A American Sign Language I (5)
ASLA 060B American Sign Language II (5)
ENGL 005A Survey of English Literature
ENGL 005B Survey of English Literature 2
ENGL 006A World Literature
ENGL 006AH Honors World Literature
ENGL 006B World Literature 2
ENGL 006BH Honors World Literature 2
ENGL 007A American Literature 1
ENGL 007B American Literature 2
ENGL 010 Children’s Literature
ENGL 012 African American Literature (Same as ETHN 012)**
ENGL 012H Honors African American Literature (Same as ETHN 012H)**
ENGL 013 U.S. Latino Literature  (Same as ETHN 013)**
ENGL 013H Honors U.S. Latino Literature  (Same as ETHN 013H)** 
ENGL 014 Native American Literature
ENGL 018 Asian American Literature  (Same as ETHN 018)**
ENGL 018H Honors Asian American Literature
ENGL 021 Gender and Sexuality in Literature
ENGL 021H  Honors Gender and Sexuality in Literature
ENGL 041 Literature & Film
ENGL 041H Honors Literature & Film
ENGL 043 Classical Mythology
ENGL 043H Honors Classical Mythology
ENGL 044 The Bible as Literature
ENGL 046 Contemporary American Multi-Cultural Literature
ENGL 046H Honors Contemporary American Multi-Cultural Literature
ENGL 047 Introduction to Poetry
ENGL 047H Honors Introduction to Poetry
ENGL 048 Introduction to Shakespeare
ENGL 048H Honors Introduction to Shakespeare
ENGL 049 Modern Fiction
ENGL 049H Honors Modern Fiction
ENGL 071 Writing Fiction
ENGL 072 Writing Poetry
ETHN 001 Social Justice Studies (Same as SJST 001)**
ETHN 012 African American Literature (Same as ENGL 012)**
ETHN 012H Honors African Am. Lit. (Same as ENGL 012H)**
ETHN 013 U.S. Latino Literature (Same as ENGL 013)**
ETHN 013H Honors U.S. Latino Literature (Same as ENGL 013H)**
ETNH 018 Asian American Literature (Same as ENGL 018)**
FRNC 001A Beginning French (5)
FRNC 001B Beginning French (5)
FRNC 002A Intermediate French (5)
FRNC 002B Intermediate French (5)
FRNC 003A Advanced French Oral & Written Composition (5)
FRNC 003B Advanced French Oral & Written Composition (5)
FRNC 051B Intermediate French Conversation & Culture
GERM 001A Beginning German (5)
GERM 001B Beginning German (5)
GERM 002A Intermediate German (5)
GERM 002B Intermediate German (5)
HIST 004A Western Civilizations I: Prehistory to 1500 CE**
HIST 004B Western Civilizations II: 1500 CE to Present**
HIST 005A World History I: Prehistory to 1500**
HIST 005B World History from 1500**
HIST 012 African American History**
HIST 014 History of the Native North Americans**
HIST 016 Mexican-American History**
HIST 017A United States History**
HIST 017B United States History**
HIST 017BH Honors United States History**
HIST 020 History & Geography of California**
HUMN 001 A World of Ideas: From the Ancient world to the Modern Age
HUMN 001A Human Values in & from the Arts – the Ancient World to the Early Renaissance
HUMN 001B Human Values in and from the Arts – the Renaissance to the Modern Age
ITAL 001A Beginning Italian (5)
ITAL 001B Beginning Italian (5)
ITAL 002A Intermediate Italian (5)
ITAL 050A Basic Italian Conversation and Culture
ITAL 050B Basic Italian Conversation and Culture
JPNS 001A Beginning Japanese (5)
JPNS 001B Beginning Japanese (5)
PHIL 001 Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 004 Comparative Religions
PHIL 005 Introduction to Social & Political Philosophy
PHIL 021 World Philosophers on Death & the Good Life
PHIL 022 Philosophy of Religion
SJST 001 Introduction to Ethnic and Social Justice Studies (Same as ETHN 001)**
SPAN 001A Beginning Spanish (5)
SPAN 001B Beginning Spanish (5)
SPAN 002A Intermediate Spanish (5)
SPAN 002B Intermediate Spanish (5)
SPAN 003A Advanced Spanish Oral & Written Composition (5)
SPAN 003B Advanced Spanish Oral & Written Composition (5)
SPAN 051A Intermediate Spanish Converstion & Culture
THEA 013 Multicultural Theater
WGQS 002 Women in the Arts: Multicultural Perspectives**
WGQS 003 Introduction to Gender & Queer Studies**
WGQS 004A Women in World Cultures**

Area C3 Additional C1 or C2 Course

One additional course from either C1 or C2. (Biology AS-T majors can defer Area C3 until after transfer).

 

Area D: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Requirement: 2 courses, 6 semester/8 quarter units

Note: Biology AS-T majors can defer 1 course until after transfer.

Area D Courses

Course Number Course Title
ADMJ 001 Introduction to Administration of Justice
ADMJ 026 Organized Crime
ADMJ 051 Race, Class & Gender in Criminal Justice
ANTH 002 Introduction to Archaeology
ANTH 003 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 003H Honors Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 004 Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology
ANTH 055 Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion
BUSN 061 Business, Government, and Society
CHST 002 Child Growth and Development**
CHST 005 Diversity – Childhood and Culture 
CHST 063 Child, Family and Community**
COMM 012 Intercultural Communication**
COUN 050 Cross-Cultural Perspectives: Study of Ehnicity and Race**
ECON 001A Principles of Macroeconomics (4)
ECON 001AH Honors Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 001B Principles of Microeconomics (4)
ECON 001BH Honors Principles of Microeconomics
ETHN 001  Introduction to Ethnic and Social Justice Studies (Same as SJST 001)**
GEOG 002 Introduction to Cultural Geography
GEOG 006 World Regional Geography
HIST 004A Western Civilizations I: Prehistory to 1500 CE**
HIST 004B Western Civilizations II: 1500 CE to Present**
HIST 005A World History I: Prehistory to 1500**
HIST 005B World History from 1500**
HIST 012 African American History**
HIST 014 History of the Native North Americans**
HIST 016 Mexican-American History**
HIST 017A United States History**
HIST 017B United States History**
HIST 017BH Honors United States History**
HIST 020 History and Geography of California**
HSCI 008 Contemporary Health**
HSCI 010 Human Sexuality**
HSCI 014 Concepts of Public Health and Society**
KINT 031 Psychological Foundations of Sports
KINT 033 Women in Sports
KINT 034 Sport in Society
POLI 001 American Government
POLI 001H Honors American Government
POLI 002 Comparative Governments
POLI 003 Introduction to Political Science
POLI 003H Honors Introduction to Political Science
POLI 004 International Relations
POLI 006 American Experience: A Multiethic Perspective
PSYC 001 General Psychology
PSYC 001H Honors General Psychology
PSYC 017 Introduction to Social Psychology
PSYC 025 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
SJST 001 Introduction to Ethnic Social Justice Studies  (Same as ETHN 001)**
SOCI 001 Introduction to Sociology**
SOCI 002 Social Problems**
SOCI 002H Honors Social Problems
SOCI 003 Social Psychology: A Sociological Perspective**
SOCI 012 Introduction to Research Methods
SOCI 020 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity**
SOCI 028 Sociology of Gender**
SOCI 040 Marriage and Family Sociology**
SOCI 045 Sociology of Human Sexuality**
WGQS 001 Introduction to Women’s Studies
WGQS 001H Honors Introduction to Women's Studies 
WGSQ 002 Women in the Arts: Multicultural Perspectives**
WGQS 003 Introduction to Gender and Queer Studies**
WGQS 004A Women in World Cultures**

Courses indicated by (**) may be used to meet one area requirement only.

CSU Graduation Requirements: It is not required by all CSU’s to complete American Institutions requirements prior to transfer but it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to complete one of the following sequences to meet these requirements prior to transfer.
Note: These courses meet their respective GE area requirement (i.e., Area C2 or D) as well as the American Institution requirement.

American Institutions Requirement Options

HIST 012 + POLI 001 or 001H

HIST 014 + POLI 001 or 001H

HIST 016 + POLI 001 or 001H

HIST 017A + HIST 020

HIST 017A + POLI 001 or 001H

HIST 017B or 017BH + POLI 001 or 001H

 

Area E: Lifelong Learning and Self-Development

Requirement: 3 units minimum

Choose courses from the following to total at least three (3) semester units.

Area E Courses

Course Number Course Title
CHST 002 Child Growth and Development**
CHST 063 Child, Family and Community**
COMM 004 Small Group Discussion
COMM 008 Interpersonal Communication
COMM 012 Intercultural Communication**
COUN 005 College Success
COUN 012 Careers and Lifestyles
COUN 012C Careers and Lifestyles (1)
COUN 024 Personal Growth
COUN 050 Cross-Cultural Perspectives**
HSCI 008 Contemporary Health**
HSCI 010 Human Sexuality**
HSCI 012 Understanding Stress - A Multidisciplinary Perspective
HSCI 014 Concepts of Public Health and Society**
KINS/KINA/DANC (Up to 2 units allowed)
KINT 033 Women in Sports
KINT 044 Lifetime Fitness
LIBR 004 Information Competency (1)
LRSV 001 Learning Strategies for College and Careers
NUTR 015 Human Nutrition
PSYC 009 Psychology of Women: A Multicultural Perspective
PSYC 012 Human Growth and Development
PSYC 030 Psychology of Addiction and Substance Abuse
SOCI 003 Social Psychology: Sociological Perspective**
SOCI 020 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity**
SOCI 040 Marriage and Family Sociology**
SOCI 045 Sociology of Human Sexuality**

 

Area F: Ethnic Studies

Requirement: 3 units minimum

Choose a course of course from the following to total at least three (3) semester units.

Area F Courses

Course Number
 Course Title
SJST 001
 Introduction to Ethnic and Social Justice Studies (Same as ETHN 001)**
ENGL 012
 African American Literature (Same as ETHN 012)**
ENGL 012H
 Honors African Am. Lit. (Same as ETHN 012H)**
ENGL 013
 U.S. Latino Literature (Same as ETHN 013)**
ENGL 013H
 Honors U.S. Latino Lit. (Same as ETHN 013H)**
ENGL 018
 Asian American Literature (Same as ETHN 018)**
ETHN 001
 Introduction to Ethnic and Social Justice Studies (Same as SJST 001)**
ETHN 012
 African American Literature (Same as ENGL 012)**
ETHN 012H
 Honors African American Literature (Same as ENGL 012H)**
ETHN 013
 U.S. Latino Literature (Same as ENGL 013)**
ETHN 013H
 Honors U.S. Latino Literature (Same as ENGL 013H)**
ETHN 018
 Asian American Literature (Same as ENGL 018)**

Important Note to Students

Area F is a new CSU General Education requirement for students who started college at a California Community College (CCC) or California State University (CSU) in Fall 2021 or later. Students who have maintained continuous enrollment at a CCC or CSU prior to Fall 2021 may exercise their catalog rights to not be held to this requirement upon transfer to the CSU system. Exercising one’s catalog rights can allow students to defer to the previous CSU GE-B requirements (i.e., needing 3 courses/9 units in Social Sciences/Area D). 

For clarification, please schedule a meeting with a counselor.

Catalog Rights Definition:
(as outlined in the Academic Programs section of the West Valley College Catalog): Students who maintain continuous enrollment, meaning they attended at least one semester or summer session during the academic year, may choose to graduate under the catalog in effect at the time they first enrolled at West Valley College or any catalog up to the time of graduation. Students who are considered returning students, meaning those who did not attend for a year or more before returning to college, must follow the catalog requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment. Documented military, not exceeding two years, will not be considered an interruption of continuous enrollment. For catalog rights, the academic year begins each fall and ends with the subsequent summer session

Last Updated 6/28/24