General Education
Segment II
Advising Note: Of the 12-16 units you take in your first semester, 6-9 units (especially your math and English) should be Basic Subjects, and the remainder can be pre-major and/or additional General Education courses. These are split into 3 sets.
As you choose courses in Segment II, remember to consider:
- new areas and ideas you would like to explore
- multicultural perspectives you will gain
- possible major choice you will make
As you recall, your General Education courses can include basic skills courses. But they will also provide the way you will acquire a broad perspective about many different subject areas. These are the set of courses people refer to when they think about a "well-rounded college education."
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Physical and Biological Sciences
As you recall, your General Education courses can include basic skills courses. But they will also provide the way you will acquire a broad perspective about many different subject areas. These are the set of courses people refer to when they think about a "well-rounded college education."
All students who start SFSU as freshmen must take at least:
- 3 units of physical sciences
- 3 units of biological sciences
- at least one lab/field study course
We suggest that you take a science course in your first semester ONLY if:
- You are skilled in taking lecture notes.
- You are comfortable in a large lecture hall.
- You can read and understand science textbooks.
- You will attend class - most material for tests is based on lecture!
- You form study groups with class members to learn the material.
- You are a Science Major!
In order to complete requirements for your major, you will want to select a science course in fall. Keep in mind, most major science courses require proficiency with math, therefore an ELM score of 50 or an ELM exemption is needed.
These are only SOME courses to choose from. View the full list here.
Category A Choices:
ASTR 115: Introduction to Astronomy (3)
^ ASTR 116: Astronomy Laboratory (1)
CHEM 101: Survey of Chemistry (3)
GEOL 100: Introduction to Geology
GEOL 110: Physical Geology (4) L/F
PHYS 111: General Physics I (3)
^ PHYS 112: General Physics I Laboratory (1)
Category B Choices:
ANTH 100: Introduction to Biological Anthropology
BIOL 100: Human Biology (3)
^ BIOL 101: Human Biology Laboratory (1)
BIOL 210: Introduction to Microbiology
BACK to TOPBehavioral and Social Sciences
Native students must take 1 of each Behavioral and Social Sciences courses to graduate:
All students who start SFSU as freshmen must take at least:
- 9 units of ANY combination of the categories we offer (A, B or C)
Advisor's Note: We suggest you add Behavioral and Social Sciences if you have some basic college skills:
- Writing- plan on at least 1-2 papers.
- Good note- taking skills
- Textbook- reading skills- treat BSS courses like science courses!
- Remember, many of these classes will be offered in larger lecture halls.
These are only SOME courses to choose from. View the full list here.
Category A Choices:
ANTH 120: Introductory Social and Cultural Anthropology (3)
ECON 101:Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis (3)
PSY 200: General Psychology (3)
REC 220: Leisure Lifestyle Development (3)
REC 230: Growth Through Adventure (3)
SS 105 Individual, Society, and Culture: Their Interaction in America (3)
Category B Choices:
ANTH/CST 320 Racism: Cross-cultural Analysis (3) [AERM, LLD]
ECON 100 Intro to Economics (3)
IR 104: International Relations: An Introduction (3)
LABR 251: Know Your Work Rights (3)
SOC 105: Sociological Perspectives (3)
Category C Choices:
ANTH 110: Introduction to Archaeology (3)
ETHS 220: Asians in America (3) [AERM]
GEOG 107: World Regions (3)
HIST 114: World History to 1500 (3)
HIST 115: World History Since 1500 (3)
BACK to TOPHumanities and Creative Arts
There are lots of choices in Humanities and Creative Arts. You get to choose any combination within the 5 Categories for 9 units minimum. Do them in your freshman/sophomore years.
Tips about taking GE Humanities courses:
- A literature-based course will obviously require both extensive reading as well as several papers. Make sure you have the writing skills - take ENG 114 first or at least be EPT exempt.
- Not all art coursework is open to all majors. Many require you to be in that particular major. For example: CAT D art courses are reserved for art majors. ID 240 is reserved for ID majors, etc.
- Some of these courses are pre-requistes for your major. You may count them as both GE and major.
Each course you choose you want to plan homework: for every 3 units, plan on 6-9 hours of homework a week.
In Humanities courses, be sure to be a strong writer. In many of the creative courses, you may need to be declared in that major to take their course(s). Foreign language can be an option in GE. You do not need them to graduate. If you choose one, don't pick a 100 level course if you have studies 2+ years in high school in that same language. What are my choices in Humanities and creative arts?
These are only SOME courses to choose from. View the full list here.
Category A Choices:
CWL 250: Fables and Tales
Category B Choices:
BECA 201: Life on TV (3)
Category C Choices:
CINE 200: Intro to Cinema
ETHS 210: Asian-American Culture
ART/HUM 205: Asian Art History (3)
HIST 110: History of Western Civilization I
^ HIST 111: History of Western Civilization II
Category D Choices:
DANC 163: Ballet I (1)
KIN 136: Hatha Yoga
KIN 145: Elementary Karate (1)
MUS 120: Basic Music I: Voice (3)
MUS 309: Singing for Self Expression
THA 130: Acting Workshop I
THA 125: Movement I: Skills
Category E Choices: