CSU General Education (GE) Requirements

This policy is intended to establish a common understanding of the requirements for California State University (CSU) General Education (GE) and to provide for the certification of courses completed by transfer students at institutionally accredited colleges or universities. Reciprocity among CSU campuses for full and/or subject area completion of GE requirements is also addressed in this policy.

This policy is effective for students subject to the fall 2025 and subsequent catalog years.

This document also addresses:

• Applicability of the policy (Article 1) This link will take you to an external website in a new tab.,
• Patterns that fulfill GE requirements (Article 2) This link will take you to an external website in a new tab.,
• Premises of CSU GE (Article 3) This link will take you to an external website in a new tab.,
• Distribution of GE units (Article 4) This link will take you to an external website in a new tab.,
• Transfer and articulation (Article 5) This link will take you to an external website in a new tab., and
• Implementation and governance (Article 6) This link will take you to an external website in a new tab..

Read the complete CSU General Education (GE) Requirements This link will take you to an external website in a new tab. policy. 

1.1. Prior to Completion of CSU Lower-Division GE Requirements

The requirements, policies and procedures adopted pursuant to this policy are effective for students subject to the fall 2025 and subsequent catalog years who have not previously been enrolled continuously at a campus of the CSU or the California Community Colleges (CCC) and who have not satisfied lower-division GE requirements according to the provisions of Title 5, Section 40405.5 or 40405.3.

1.2. Subsequent to Completion of All CSU GE Requirements

Following completion of CSU GE lower-division and upper-division requirements, a student shall not be required to satisfy additional GE requirements.