Academic Skills & General Education (FA23)

Students should consult an advisor upon entry to the university and every semester thereafter. For information on G.E. and other University undergraduate degree requirements (GWAR, units, academic status), as well as students with declared majors and minors also need to consult the appropriate department(s).

Academic Skills Requirements for Undergraduate Students

Students Admitted to CSUDH Fall 1998 and After

New students enrolled at the University, fall 2018 and after are subject to the revisions to E.O. 665 contained in E.O. 1110 (2017). Effective with this executive order, the English Placement Test (EPT) and the Entry- Level Mathematics (ELM) Test shall not be offered, and the EPT and ELM committees are discontinued.

Freshman skills assessment and placement for general education written communication and mathematics/quantitative reasoning shall be based on systemwide skills assessment standards that include the Early Assessment Program/ Smarter Balanced Achievement Levels, ACT scores and/or SAT scores, high school coursework, high school GPA and math GPA.

Skills assessments are not a condition for admission to the CSU; they are a condition of enrollment. These skills assessments are designed to inform entering freshmen of placement in appropriate baccalaureate-level courses based on their skills and needs.

First-time freshmen in need of support as determined by the skills assessment will be placed in supported instruction. Supported instruction is designed to assist students in credit bearing courses. Students may also be required to participate in the Early Start Program. The Early Start Program gives students the opportunity to earn college credit in written communication and mathematics/ quantitative reasoning the summer before their first term.

Students are no longer subject to Academic Skills Assessment Plan (ASAP) "probation" or "disqualification”.

New students enrolled at the University between fall 1998 and spring 2018, are subject to System-wide Placement Test and remedial English and mathematics class requirements (E.O. 665). Non-exempt students must take the English Placement Test (EPT) and the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) examination before registering for classes. If test results show that remedial courses in English or mathematics are needed, students must:

  • Enroll in required remedial classes the first semester of attendance and thereafter;
  • Pass all remedial classes in two semesters.

After two semesters, students cannot register or continue to attend classes at CSU, Dominguez Hills if all required remedial classes (ENG 88 /ENG 99 and MAT 3 /MAT 9 ) are not passed.

Furthermore, students are subject to Academic Skills Assessment Plan (ASAP) "probation" if they do not pass General Education level English (ENG 110 Freshman Composition Accelerated and ENG 111 Freshman Composition II) and mathematics (MAT 105 Finite Mathematics or equivalent) in four semesters.

Finally, students are subject to ASAP "disqualification" from the University if they do not pass General Education level English (ENG 110 Freshman Composition Accelerated and ENG 111 Freshman Composition II) and mathematics (MAT 105 Finite Mathematics or equivalent) classes in six semesters.

 For additional information and support, students should contact the Student Success Center that houses their major or minor department. Please consult the undergraduate catalog entry for undergraduate academic advisement at CSUDH for a list of these centers with contact details. Students Admitted to CSUDH before Fall 1998

Non-exempt students admitted and enrolled before fall 1998 are subject to Academic Skills Assessment Plan (ASAP) guidelines for completion of the English Placement Test (EPT), the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) examination, required remedial English and math classes, and General Education level English and math classes.

Students are subject to ASAP "probation" if they do not take the EPT and ELM and pass all required remedial English classes (ENG 88 and ENG 99 ) and mathematics classes (MAT 3 and MAT 9 ) within two semesters.  Students may be ASAP "disqualified" from the University if they do not meet these requirements and classes in four semesters.

Additionally, students are subject to ASAP "probation" if they do not pass General Education level classes in English (ENG 110 Freshman Composition Accelerated and ENG 111 Freshman Composition II) and mathematics (MAT 105 Finite Mathematics or equivalent) in four semesters.  Students may be ASAP "disqualified" from the University if they do not pass the General Education level classes in six semesters.

For additional information and support, students should contact the Student Success Center that houses their major or minor department. Please consult the undergraduate catalog entry for undergraduate academic advisement at CSUDH for a list of these centers with contact details.

The GWAR can be met through one of the following options:

General Education Requirements for Undergraduate Students

Students must follow the appropriate General Education (G.E.) pattern.

Students who have maintained continuous attendance at any combination of CSU, UC, or California community college under an earlier catalog may elect to complete the G.E. pattern in effect at the time of:

  1. entrance into CSUDH;
  2. graduation or;
  3. entrance into a California community college or state university.

For additional information and support, students should contact the Student Success Center that houses their major or minor department. Please consult the undergraduate catalog entry for undergraduate academic advisement at CSUDH for a list of these centers with contact details. The General Education1 program is divided into the following areas and includes 55-65 total semester units:

Area A - English Language Communication and Critical Thinking  (9 units) all courses in this area require a grade of "C-" or higher

Area B - Natural Sciences & Quantitative Reasoning (13 units) math courses in this area require a grade of “C-” or higher

Area C - Arts and Humanities (12 units)

Area D - Social Sciences (9 units)

Area E - Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)

Area F - Ethnic Studies (3 units)

1

Students must take nine units of G.E. courses in residence at CSUDH.

Requirements (49 units) 

General Education Residence Requirement: The California State University System requires all students to complete 9 semester units in general education at the campus from which they graduate. Following is the list of courses that are offered in the General Education program. These courses fulfill the objectives stated in the program description. For complete course descriptions, refer to those sections of the University Catalog that describe the programs offering the courses. All Area A courses and the Quantitative Reasoning requirement in Area B must be passed with a grade of "C-" or higher. A grade point average of 2.0 calculated at graduation is required for the entire General Education Pattern.

Area A. English Language Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units required)

Complete one course from each of the following categories (A1, A2, A3): 1

A1. Oral Communication (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
THE 120Fundamentals of Speech3

A2. Written Communication (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
ENG 108ENG 109Freshman Composition I: Stretch 1 and Freshman Composition I: Stretch 2 *6
ENG 110Freshman Composition Accelerated3
ENG 112Freshman Composition Supported3

* If stretch course option is selected, completion of both ENG 108 and 109 is required to satisfy A2. Both courses must be completed with a grade of "C-" or higher.

A3. Logical/Critical Reasoning (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
MAT 271Foundations Of Higher Math3
PHI 120Critical Reasoning3
PSY 110Critical Thinking and Problem Solving3

1

To satisfy an area A or B4 requirement, the course must be passed with a grade of "C-" or higher.

Area B. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (13 units required)

Complete one course from each of the categories (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5):2

B1. Physical Science (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
CHE 102Chemistry For The Citizen3
EAR 100Physical Geology3
GEO 200Physical Geography3
PHY 100Patterns In Nature3

B2. Natural Sciences in Life Science (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
ANT 101Intro to Biological Anthro3
BIO 102General Biology3

B3. Natural Sciences in Science Laboratory (1 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
BIO 103General Biology Laboratory 31
CHE 103Chemistry Lab for the Citizen1
EAR 101Physical Geology Laboratory 41

B4. Quantitative Reasoning and Problem Solving (3 units): 1

Course List
CodeTitleHours
MAT 105Finite Mathematics3
MAT 131Elementary Statistics and Probability3
MAT 132Statistics and Probability with Support4
MAT 134Statistics & Probability - Supported4
MAT 151College Algebra and Trigonometry4
MAT 153Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry with Lab4
MAT 155Pre-Calculus4
MAT 171Survey of Calculus for Management and Life Sciences4
MAT 191Calculus I5
MAT 193Calculus II5

B5. Integrative Studies in the Natural Sciences (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
BIO 336Environmental Biology3
BIO 340Genetics3
CSC 301Computers And Society3
EAR 312Natural Disasters3
EAR 416Earth Sciences for Teachers3
HEA 466Environmental Health Problems3
IDS 310Global Climate Change3
LBS 380Blended Science Methods4
SMT 310Science and Technology3
SMT 314Introduction to Cosmology3
SMT 410Development of Scientific Thinking and Theories3
SMT 416Earth Science For Teacher3

1

Courses in area A and area B4 must be passed with a grade of "C-" or higher.

2

Students majoring or minoring in one of the natural sciences may substitute more advanced science courses. These students should see a faculty advisor.

3

Concurrent enrollment in BIO 102 General Biology or prior life science course recommended.

4

Concurrent enrollment in EAR 100 Physical Geology or prior earth science course recommended.

Area C. Arts and Humanities (12 units required)

Complete one course from each of the following categories (C1, C2, C3) and one additional lower division course from area C1 or C2 (4 courses total):

C1. Arts Courses (3 - 6 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
AFS 205Introduction to Hip Hop3
APP 225Pacific Islander Culture in Oceania and the U.S.3
ART 100Looking At Art3
ART 101Experiencing Creative Art3
COM 130Introduction to Film3
DAN 130Global Dance Perspectives3
ENG 271Introduction to Creative Writing3
MUS 101Introducing Music3
MUS 110Music Fundamentals3
MUS 201Music in Film: From the Silent Era to The Lord of the Rings3
MUS 250History of Rock3
THE 100Television Film & Theatre3
THE 160Acting For Non-Majors3
WMS 330Queer Art and Visual Culture3

C2. Letters Courses (3 - 6 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
AFS 200Intro to Africana Studies3
APP 101Introduction To Asian Studies3
CHS 100Chicana/o Cultural Roots3
CHS 205Introduction to Chicana/o Literature3
COM 100Media & Society3
ENG 230Literature and Popular Culture3
FRE 220Second Year French3
HUM 204Introduction to the Humanities3
JPN 110Beginning Japanese I3
JPN 111Beginning Japanese II3
LBR 202Class Struggles in Film and Popular Culture3
PHI 101Moral Problems3
PHI 102Humanity, Nature & God3
PHI 201The Good Life3
PHI 202The Devil You Don't Know3
SPA 151Introduction to Hispanic Culture3
SPA 221Intermediate Spanish II3
WMS 100Gender, Sex, the Body, & Politics: An Introduction3
WMS 410Queer of Color Critique3

C3. Integrative Studies in the Humanities (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
AFS 331Key Movements: African Literature and Culture3
AFS 332Key Movements: Harlem Renaissance3
AFS 333Black Movements of the Sixties3
AFS 334African Culture and Art3
APP 314Asian Americans and the Media3
APP 315Asian Pop Culture and Globalization3
APP 325Asian Pacific Art, Music, and Literature3
APP 339Asian Diaspora and Transnational Asian Religions3
APP 343Asian Pacific Film & Literature3
ARH 370Art and Social Protest3
CHS 340Native American and Chicana Women's Narrative3
CHS 345Latina/o Identities in the Americas3
ENG 308Critical Approaches to Children's Literature3
ENG 360Heroes and Antiheroes3
ENG 362Environment in Literature & Culture3
ENG 364Literary Utopia3
HIS 355American Civil Rights History3
HIS 375Pop Culture in History3
HIS 376Film As History3
HUM 300Health Humanities3
HUM 301Mind/Brain and the Arts3
HUM 302Lives of Faust: Deals with the Devil3
HUM 303All Creatures Great & Small: Animals from Sacred to Endangered3
HUM 304Vampires3
HUM 305Never Lose Infinite Hope: Imagining Justice, Cultivating Mental Wellness3
HUM 310Key Concepts3
HUM 312Key Movements3
HUM 314Key Issues3
IDS 312Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Humanities3
LBR 310Success and Values3
LBR 312Decade of the Sixties3
LBR 314Key Issues: American Dream3
MUS 302African American Music3
MUS 312The Jazz Age3
MUS 345Global Popular Music: Identity and Social Change3
MUS 486Late Romantic-20th/21st Music3
NCR 390Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding3
PHI 351Death and Dying3
PHI 352Myth as Reality3
PHI 353Age of Revolt3
PHI 383Comparative Religions3
SPA 310Romantic Love in the Western Tradition3
SPA 312Hispanic Literature, Art, and Culture3
SPA 313Encountering the Other3
THE 313Voices of Contemporary Women Playwrights3
THE 315Key Concepts: The American Musical3
THE 317Theatre of Revolt3
THE 319The Power of Masks3
WMS 310The Witch in Literature3
WMS 311Comedy, Sex and Gender3
WMS 314Feminism and Film3
WMS 315Literary Topics in Gender Studies and Sexuality Studies3
WMS 380Gender and Sexuality in Popular Culture3

Area D. Area of the Social Sciences (9 units required)

Complete one course from each of the following categories (D1, D2, D3). Courses must be taken from more than one department (e.g., if you satisfy D1 and D2 with anthropology courses, then D3 category cannot be satisfied with an anthropology course. At least one area D course must be from a different department).

D1. Perspectives on Individuals, Groups and Society (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
AFS 220African World Peoples & Soc.3
ANT 100Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
ECO 200Contemporary Econ Issues3
ECO 210Economic Theory 1A Micro3
ECO 211Economic Theory 1B Macro3
IDS 210Introduction to Environmental Studies3
LAW 240Legal Environment of Business3
LBR 101Introduction to Labor Studies3
LBS 205Child and Adolescent Development3
NCR 291Psychology of Peacebuilding3
PSY 101General Education Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior3
SOC 101The Individual In Society3
SOC 102Understanding Social Relationships in a Global Perspective3
WMS 200Foundations in Queer Studies3
WMS 250Foundations in Women's Studies3

D2. Global and Historical Perspectives (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
AFS 201African World Civilizations3
ANT 102Ancient Civilizations3
CHS 200Introduction to Chicana/o and Latina/o History3
ENG 150Languages of the World3
GEO 100Human Geography3
HIS 120World History I3
HIS 121World History II3
LBR 200Labor and the Environment3
MGT 200Global Organizational Ethics and Social Responsibility3
POL 100General Education Political Science: World Perspectives3

D3. Integrative Studies in the Social Sciences (3 units):

Course List
CodeTitleHours
AFS 310The African American Experience in the US3
AFS 311Afro Latinidad & the Caribbean3
AFS 312Cultural Pluralism: Ethnic & Global Society3
ANT 312Language And Culture3
ANT 330North American Indians3
ANT 334Mesoamerica Past and Present3
ANT 336Comparative Cultures: Culture, Environment and Globalization3
ANT 337Ethnography and Film3
ANT 338Mainland Southeast Asia3
ANT 342South America3
ANT 371Historical and Cultural Perspectives in Disability Studies3
APP 311Contemporary Issues in Asian American Communities3
APP 318Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Lao Americans: Culture, History, and Identity3
APP 327Values and Communication of Asian Pacific Cultures3
APP 335Asian Pacific Culinary Culture3
APP 350Asian-Pacific Gender and Family3
CHS 323Latina/o Perspectives on U.S. Immigration and Citizenship3
CHS 330Latina/o Identities in U.S.3
CHS 335Urban Youth Gangs in Los Angeles3
GEO 318Cultural Pluralism The Human Environment: Methods of Knowledge and Truth3
HEA 468Multicultural Health3
HIS 340American West3
HIS 348Labor In American Society3
HIS 352Topics in United States Foreign Relations History3
HIS 354History of American Immigration3
HIS 380Women In History3
IDS 304Issues in Global Studies3
IDS 318Interdisciplinary Approach to Cultural Pluralism3
ITC 300Security in a Digital Society3
LBR 313The Future of Workers and Work3
LBR 316Working Class and Education3
LBR 350Research Methods for Social Change3
LBS 370Multicultural Studies5
MLG 318New Perspectives on Language and Sex3
NCR 391Restorative Justice3
SBS 318Cultural Pluralism:3
SPA 318Movements of Latin America3
WMS 318Race, Class, and Gender3
WMS 340Politics of Women's (Un)Paid Labor3
WMS 390Transnational Feminisms3

Area E. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)

Select one of the following:

Course List
CodeTitleHours
BUS 100Entrepreneurship For Everyone3
CIS 275Internet Literacy3
FIN 200Personal Finance for Non-Finance Majors3
HEA 100Health & Lifestyles3
HEA 104Food, Health, and Environment3
HEA 201Healthcare Systems and Perspectives3
KIN 235Lifetime Fitness3
LIB 151Fundamentals of Information Literacy3
LBR 201Work/Life: Purpose, Power, and Identity3
REC 100Dimensions Of Leisure3
UNV 101Personal, Social and Intellectual Development3

Area F. Ethnic Studies (3 units)

Select one of the following. May be fulfilled by approved upper division.

Course List
CodeTitleHours
AFS 100The African American Experience3
AFS 212Intro To Comp Eth & Global Soc3
AFS 231Africana Literary Traditions3
APP 201Introduction to Asian American Studies3
APP 212Introduction to Comparative Ethnic and Global Societies3
CHS 125Chicano/Latino Musical Culture3
CHS 212Introduction to Comparative Ethnic Studies3

1

Courses in area A and area B4 must be passed with a grade of "C-" or higher.

2

Students majoring or minoring in one of the natural sciences may substitute more advanced science courses. These students should see a faculty advisor.

3

Concurrent enrollment in BIO 102 General Biology or prior life science course recommended.

4

Concurrent enrollment in EAR 100 Physical Geology or prior earth science course recommended.

Statutory Requirement (6 units)

Students must satisfy requirements in U.S. history and U.S. and California government by completing the following:

Course List
CodeTitleHours
HIS 101History Of United States (or articulated course at a California Community College or examination)3
POL 100General Education Political Science: World Perspectives (or articulated course at a California Community College or examination)3
Total Hours6

General Education Certification

Accredited community colleges and public four-year colleges may sanction (certify) that all or part of General Education requirements (post 1980), have been met. Transfer students with complete certification of California State University General Education breadth requirements or the CSU version of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) requirements are not required to complete additional lower division courses in general education. Transfer students should request General Education certification from their community colleges. An additional nine semester units of upper division General Education courses must be completed at CSU Dominguez Hills.

Double Counting General Education Courses

General Education courses may be double-counted in either the major or the minor. Even though students may double-count certain General Education courses, they will not receive additional unit credit towards graduation by double-counting.  For example, a double-counted course counts three units (not six) towards graduation.  Please consult the University Catalog and/or an academic advisor for more information.