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Your Degree: Bachelor's
The general education (GE) program meets CSU breadth requirements and helps students meet the goals of the baccalaureate degree program. The general education program educates students in three ways:
Within various disciplines, general education courses enable the student to explore fundamental knowledge, perspectives, methods of inquiry, assumptions, and values. Such exploration helps the student perceive relationships between the disciplines in preparation for lifelong commitment to scholarship and learning.
Students must complete a minimum of 36 lower division units
in approved GE courses. These break down to a minimum of nine
units in each of four areas, designated A, B, C, and D. Each area
has specific requirements and goals, described below.
Upper division GE courses build upon knowledge and abilities developed in lower division GE courses. Students must complete nine upper division units: three units each from areas B, C, and D.
In addition, all students need three units in an area E course (human integration). Humboldt State offers area E courses at an upper division level, but transfer students can sometimes meet the requirement with transferable lower division units.
Students who transfer to Humboldt from a California Community College, and who have followed the approved CSU or IGETC general education pattern, may satisfy up to 39 semester units of GE with transfer course work. Transfer students from accredited private or non-California colleges will have their transfer courses applied to GE through individual review of transcripts.
Send transcripts of all previous work to the Office of Admissions. A Degree Audit Report for Students (DARS) will be made available at the time of orientation or initial enrollment that indicates how courses taken elsewhere apply to Humboldt’s all-university requirements (general education, American institutions, diversity and common ground, unit minimums and limits, etc.) and in many cases, the major program. The DARS report also reflects HSU courses completed and in-progress, and is available to enrolled students whose first term of enrollment was fall 2003 and later.
A minimum of nine units of GE course work must be completed in residence (i.e., at Humboldt) to satisfy the residency requirement.
Go to general information
on GE
Go to area E courses
Go to upper division GE courses
*One asterisk denote courses which also meet Diversity & Common Ground requirements. **Counts as both GE and Diversity & Common Ground (Non-Domestic).
Communication in the English language to include both oral and written communication and critical thinking
Goals. Courses in area A sharpen a student's ability to think clearly and logically, to find and critically examine information, and to communicate orally and in writing. They help students write better papers, ask critical questions, and improve overall understanding of material.
Requirements. Students need a minimum of nine lower division units in area A, including a 3-unit course in each of three categories: oral communication, written com-munication, and critical thinking. It is strongly recommended that students take these classes in the first year. It is required they be completed before earning 60 units. (Students who transfer in with more than 30 units must complete these before they complete 30 units at HSU.) A minimum grade of C- is required in each course.
Everyone takes the following:
COMM
100 Fundamentals of Speech Communication (Students
with extensive background in communication may petition the Communication
Department to substitute COMM 213, 214, or 312.)
One of the following:
ENGL
100 or ENGL100A First Year Reading & Composition
ENGL 100R First Year Reading & Composition (Must be taken concurrently with GNED 109R. See “Humboldt Connections.”)
One of the following:
CIS
100 Critical Thinking with Computers
COMM
101 Critical Thinking in Small Groups
COMM
102 Introduction to Argumentation
COMM 103
Critical Listening & Thinking
ENGL
101 Critical Writing
FOR 100 Critical
Thinking and Social and Environmental Responsibility
FOR 100R Critical Thinking (Must be taken concurrently with GNED 109S. See “Humboldt Connections.”)
PHIL
100 Logic
PSYC
100 Psychology of Critical Thinking
Inquiry into the physical universe and its life forms with some immediate participation in laboratory activity and into mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning and their applications.
Goals. General education in the natural sciences and mathematics focuses on the physical universe and its life forms. This requirement helps students cope with, and participate in, the changing world. Recognizing the importance of scientific methods as investigative tools, the courses present science as a unified discipline with a major impact on the human condition.
GE science courses:
Complete a minimum of nine lower division units: at least three units in each of the three categories. One must be a laboratory course (L). Sometimes area B requirements may be met by course sequences (bearing the suffixes Y and Z) in which the total number of units taken is more than the minimum nine. Where courses or sequences exceed three units, only three units count toward GE requirements. Courses below are three units unless indicated.
BIOL
104 General Biology (L) (not for science or
NR majors)
BIOL
105 Principles of Biology (L)(4)
BIOL
109/109L General Microbiology (L)(3/1) (not for
science majors)
BOT
105 General Botany (L)(4)
Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning
Minimum grade of C- required. Must be complete by 60 units. (Students with 30 or more transfer units must complete within first 30 HSU units.)
BIOM 109 Introductory Biometrics
MATH
103 Contemporary Mathematics (not for science
or NR majors)
MATH
103i Mathematics as a Liberal Art (5) (not for
science or NR majors)
MATH
104 Finite Mathematics
MATH
105 Calculus for the Biological Sciences & Natural Resources
MATH
106 Calculus for Business & Economics
MATH
108 Critical Thinking in Mathematics (for
prospective elementary teachers)
MATH
109 Calculus I (4)
STAT
106 Introduction to Statistics for the Health Sciences
STAT
108 Elementary Statistics (4)
CHEM
104 Chemistry & Society
CHEM
107 Fundamentals of Chemistry (L)(4)
CHEM
109 General Chemistry (L)(5)
GEOG 106 Physical Geography
GEOL
106 Earthquake Country (not for geology majors)
GEOL
108 The Dynamic Earth (L) (not for geology
majors)
GEOL
109 General Geology (L)
OCN 109 General Oceanography (L)(4)
PHYX 103
Introduction to Meteorology (L)(3)
PHYX 104 Descriptive
Astronomy (L)(4)
PHYX
105 Conceptual Physics (L)(4)
PHYX
106 College Physics: Mechanics & Heat (L)(4) (not
calculus-based)
PHYX
107 College Physics: Electromagnetism & Modern Physics (L)(4)
(not calculus-based)
PHYX
109 General Physics I: Mechanics (L)(4)
Arts, literature, philosophy, modern languages
Goals. Arts and humanities courses cultivate imagination, sensibility, and sensitivity in the cognitive, physical, and emotional aspects of human experience. Students are encouraged to respond to experience subjectively and to discriminate emotional responses of integrity.
Some courses involve students in individual aesthetic and creative experiences in art, drama, and music. Others examine great works of the human imagination, thereby increasing appreciation of the subjective response to human experience as presented in literature, philosophy, and religion. All courses promote understanding of the relationships between the arts and humanities disciplines and other general education areas.
Humanities courses:
Nine units from at least three different disciplines. For example, a student with nine units in art still has to take courses offered by two other disciplines. A student with courses in three disciplines, but only seven total units, still needs two more units. Please note that Spanish, French, German and American Sign Language courses listed below all fall within the single discipline of Modern Languages.
* One asterisk denote courses which also meet Diversity & Common Ground requirements. ** Counts as both GE and Diversity & Common Ground (Non-Domestic).
# Counts in Area C or D, but not both.
ART 103 Introduction
to Art History
ART
104
(B-N) Art History (ART 104K, M, and N count as both GE and diversity & common
ground as non-domestic, Art 104J as domestic.)
ART 105
(B-C) Studio Art
ART 106
Beginning Painting
ART 107
Beginning Printmaking
ART 108
Beginning Graphic Design
ART 109
Beginning Sculpture
CD 109YZ American Sign Language (Complete both Y & Z for 3 units of GE credit)
COMM 108 Oral Interpretation
ENGL 105 Introduction to Literature
FREN
106 French Level II (4)
FREN 107
French Level III (4)**
GERM
106 German Level II (4)
GERM
107 German Level III (4)
GNED 109R Off the Beaten Path / Literature and Landscapes (Must be taken concurrently with ENGL 100R. See “Humboldt Connections.”)
IT
104 Beginning Wood
MUS 102 Jazz and America (3)
MUS
103 Listening to the Movies
MUS
104 Introduction to Music
MUS
105 The American Musical
MUS
106 (any) Musical Ensembles(1-3)
MUS
107 (any) Chamber Ensembles(1-2)
MUS
108 (any) Beginning Music(1)
MUS
109 (any) Intermediate Music(1)
PHIL 104
Asian Philosophy**
PHIL
106 Moral Controversies
PHIL
107 Introduction to Philosophy
RS 105 World Religions**
SPAN
106 Spanish Level II(4)
SPAN 107
Spanish Level III (4)**
SPAN
108 Level III, Spanish Speakers (4)
TFD
103 (any) Dance Techniques
TFD
104 Storytelling
TFD
105 Acting
TFD
106 Behind the Scenes in Theatre (2-3)
TFD
107 Dramatic Writing
TFD
108 Action: Movement & Mime
TFD
109B Introduction to Radio, TV, & Film
TFD 109C Film Comedy Around the World**
WS 107 Women Voicing Social Change*
Human social, political, and economic institutions and behavior and their historical background
Goals. These courses introduce the scholarly study of human experience: culture; ethnicity; place; time; the economy; the political community; behavioral, emotional, and cognitive processes; and human interaction and organization.
Three courses from the following, but not more than one course from any one discipline. One course from The American Institutions course list can count unless a transfer American Institutions course has already been used in this area. The American Institutions course will be regarded as a distinct discipline. (For example, a student can satisfy Area D with COMM 105, HIST 104, and HIST 110 from the American Institutions list; or with ANTH 104, PSCI 104, and PSCI 110 from the American Institutions list; or with PSYC 104, ECON 104, and ECON 323 from the American Institutions list.)
* One asterisk denote courses which also meet Diversity & Common Ground requirements. ** Counts as both GE and Diversity & Common Ground (Non-Domestic).
# Counts in Area C or D, but not both.
ANTH 104
Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 105 Archaeology
and World Prehistory
CHIN 109 / ES 109 Intro to Chinese Studies**
COMM 105 Introduction to Human Communication
ECON 104 Contemporary Topics in Economics
ES
105 Introduction to US Ethnic Studies*
ES
108 Power/Privilege: Gender & Race, Sex, Class*
ES 109 / CHIN 109 Intro to Chinese Studies**
GEOG 105
Cultural Geography**
GNED 109R Off the Beaten Path / Literature and Landscapes (Must be taken concurrently with ENGL 100R. See “Humboldt Connections.”)
GNED 109S Shake, Rattle & Roll: (Must be taken concurrently with FOR 100R. See “Humboldt Connections.”)
HIST
104 Western Civilization to 1650
HIST
105 Western Civilization, 1650 to Present
HIST 107
East Asian History to 1644
HIST 108
East Asian Civilization since 1644
HIST
109 Colonial Latin American History
HIST
109B Modern Latin America
NAS 104
Introduction to Native American Studies*
NAS 105 Introduction
to US Ethnic Studies*
NRPI 105 Natural Resource Conservation
PSCI 104 People & Politics
PSYC 104 Introduction to Psychology
SOC 104 Introductory Sociology
SW 104 Introduction to Social Work and Social Work Institutions*
WS 106 Introduction
to Women's Studies*
WS
108 Power/Privilege: Gender & Race, Sex, Class*
American Institutions course
Go to general information on GE
Go to lower division GE courses
Go to upper division GE courses
Lifelong understanding and integration of self
Area E courses focus on disciplined inquiry leading to self-discovery and self-knowledge.
Because successful completion of these courses requires a degree of knowledge and maturity usually attained by upper division students, area E courses can be taken only by students who have junior or senior status and who have completed area A general education requirements.
Requirements. Choose one course from the following list:
ANTH 400
Self, Health, & Culture
ENVS 400 /
NRPI 400 Inscape
and Landscape
FOR 400 Forestry in Modern Society
HED
400 A Sound Mind in a Sound Body: Human Integration
NRPI 400 / ENVS 400 Inscape
and Landscape
NURS
400 Stress Management Wellness & Illness
NURS
400B Complementary & Alternative Health Care: A Research-Based
Approach
PSYC
400 Health Psychology
RS
400 Paths to the Center
SOC
400 Human Integration
WS
400 Integration: Femininity & Masculinity
Go to general information on GE
Go to lower division GE courses
Go to area E courses
Select one course from the list below.
Students can also satisfy three units of upper division general education in area B by completing an approved minor in one of the disciplines in the College of Natural Resources and Sciences, excluding minors in psychology and computer information systems. Please note: a minor cannot be awarded to a student receiving a related major of the same name.
ANTH 303 Human Biology/Evolution
BIOL 301
History of Biology
BIOL 302
Human Biology**
BIOL
304 Human Genetics**
BIOL 305 Social Behavior & Biology
BIOL
306 California Natural History
BIOL 307 Evolution
BIOL
308 Environment & Culture: How People Transformed a Continent
BOT 300 Plants & Civilization
CHEM
305 Environmental Chemistry
CHEM
308 Alchemy
ENGR
305 Appropriate Technology
ENGR
308 Technology & Environment
ENVS 308 Ecotopia
FISH 300 Introduction to Fishery Biology
FOR
302 Forest Ecosystems & People
FOR
307 California's Forests & Woodlands
GEOL
300 / GEOL 300L Geology of California
GEOL
303 Earth Resources & Global Environmental Change
GEOL
305 Fossils, Life, & Evolution
GEOL
308 Natural Disasters
IT 308 Socio-Technological Thinking Processes
MATH 301
Mathematics & Culture, an Historical Perspective**
MATH
308B or MATH 308C Mathematics for Elementary Education (for prospective elementary teachers)
NURS 306 Pathophysiology & Pharmacotherapeutics in Health Care
OCN
301 Marine Ecosystems--Human Impact
OCN 304
Resources of the Sea
OCN
306 Global Environmental Issues
PHYX 300
Frontiers of Modern Physical Science
PHYX 301
Science of Sound
PHYX 302
Light & Color
PHYX 304
Cosmos
RRS 306 Rangeland Resource Principles
WLDF 300 / WLDF 300B
Wildlife Ecology & Management
WLDF 301 Principles of Wildlife Mgmt.
WLDF
306 Birds & Human Society
Any of the following Communication and Ways of Thinking
courses may be used to meet the upper division area B requirement.
Students are limited to one CWT course within the upper division
GE component.
AHSS
309 Darwin & Darwinism
CIS 309
Computers & Social Change
COMM
309B Gender & Communication*
ENVS
309 / NRPI 309 Communication in Natural Resources Conflict Resolution
NRPI 309 / ENVS
309 Communication in Natural Resources Conflict Resolution
NRPI 309B
Environmental Communication
PHIL
309 Case Studies in Environmental Ethics
PHIL
309B Perspectives: Humanities/Science/Social Science
WLDF
309 Case Studies in Environmental Ethics
WS
309B Gender & Communication*
Select one course from the list below.
ART
300 Major Monuments of Art
ART
301 The Artist
COMM 300 American Public Discourse*
ENGL 305
Postcolonial Perspectives: Literature of the Developing World**
ENGL
306 The Modern Tradition
ENGL 308B
Women in Literature*
ENGL 308C Women
in Literature**
FREN 300 African Storytelling**
FREN
306 Sex, Class & Culture: Gender & Ethnic Issues in
International Short Stories**
GERM
305 Marx, Nietzsche, Freud & German Literature
GERM 306
Sex, Class, & Culture: Gender & Ethnic Issues in International Short
Stories**
JMC 302 Mass Media/Popular Arts
MUS
301 Rock: An American Music
MUS 302
Music in World Culture**
MUS
305 Jazz: An American Art Form
PHIL
301 Reflections on the Arts
PHIL 302
Environmental Ethics
PHIL
303 Theories of Ethics
PHIL
304 Philosophy of Sex & Love
PHIL 306 Race,
Racism and Philosophy*
RS 300 Living Myths
SPAN 306 Sex, Class & Culture: Gender & Ethnic Issues in International Short Stories**
TFD
300 Image & Imagination
TFD 303
World Dance Expressions**
TFD
305 Art of Film: Beginning to 1950s
TFD
306 Art of Film: 1950s to Present
TFD
307 Theatre of the Oppressed*
WLDF 302 Environmental Ethics
WS
301 Women Artists
WS 302 Living
Myths
WS 305 Feminist Science Fiction
WS
306 Sex, Class & Culture: Gender & Ethnic Issues in
International Short Stories**
WS 308B Women
in Literature*
WS308C Women
in Literature**
Any of the following Communication and Ways of Thinking
courses may be used to meet the upper division area C requirement.
Students are limited to one CWT course within the upper division
GE component.
AHSS
309 Darwin & Darwinism
CIS 309
Computers & Social Change
COMM
309B Gender & Communication*
ENVS
309 / NRPI 309 Communication in Natural Resources Conflict Resolution
JMC
309 Analyzing Mass Media Messages
NRPI 309 / ENVS
309 Communication in Natural Resources Conflict Resolution
NRPI
309B Environmental Communication
PHIL
309 Case Studies in Environmental Ethics
PHIL
309B Perspectives: Humanities/Science/Social Science
WLDF
309 Case Studies in Environmental Ethics
WS
309B Gender & Communication*
Revolution, Reform, & Response: 20th Century Latin America
HIST
309, SPAN
309, WS
309. Taken as a group, these courses fulfill area C and D
upper division GE. Students then need a non-CWT area B
course to complete the upper division GE requirement.
Select one course from the list below.
ANTH 302
Anthropology of Religion**
ANTH 306
World Regions Cultural Studies**
ECON
305 Int'l Economics & Globalization
ECON
306 Economics of the Developing World**
ECON 308
History of Economic Thought
ENVS 301 International Environmental Issues & Globalization
ES 304 Migrations
& Mosaics*
ES 308 Multicultural
Perspectives in American Society*
GEOG 300
Global Awareness**
GEOG 301 International Environmental Issues & Globalization
GEOG 304
Migrations & Mosaics*
HIST
300 The Era of World War I
HIST
301 The Era of World War II
HIST
305 The American West, 1763-1900
NAS 306 Native Peoples of North America*
PSCI
303 Third World Politics**
PSCI
306 Environmental Politics
PSYC
300 Psychology of Women*
PSYC
301 Psychology of Creativity
PSYC
302 Psychology of Prejudice*
PSYC
303 Family Relations in Contemporary Society
SOC
302 Forests & Culture
SOC
303 Race & Inequality*
SOC
305 Sociology of the Modern World-System
SOC 306
The Changing Family*
SOC 308
Sociology of Altruism & Compassion
WS
300 Psychology of Women*
WS 303 Third
World Women's Movements**
Any of the following Communication and Ways of Thinking
courses may be used to meet the upper division area D requirement.
Students are limited to one CWT course within the upper division
GE component.
AHSS
309 Darwin & Darwinism
CIS 309
Computers & Social Change
COMM
309B Gender & Communication*
ECON
309 Economics of a Sustainable Society
ENVS 309 Environmental Conflict Resolution
GEOG 309i The Silk Road
JMC
309 Analyzing Mass Media Messages
NRPI
309 Communication in Natural Resources Conflict Resolution
NRPI
309B Environmental Communication
PHIL
309 Case Studies in Environmental Ethics
PHIL
309B Perspectives: Humanities/Science/Social Science
PSYC
309 The Thinking Consumer in a Materialistic Society
WLDF
309 Case Studies in Environmental Ethics
WS
309B Gender & Communication*
Revolution, Reform, & Response: 20th Century Latin America
HIST
309, SPAN
309, WS
309. Taken as a group, these courses fulfill area C and D
upper division GE. Students then need a non-CWT area B
course to complete the upper division GE requirement.
Go to general information on GE
Go to lower division GE courses
Go to area E courses
Go to upper division GE courses
