Areas
This area of Cal-GETC requires courses in English composition, critical thinking, and public speaking.
What is English Language Communication and Critical Thinking?
This is the minimum number of units for each course in Cal-GETC with the exception of Area 5C.
What are the three units?
This year marks the official launch of the Cal-GETC pathway, replacing IGETC for most California students.
What is 2025?
This former UC IGETC area is no longer required in Cal-GETC.
What is Area 6 – Language Other Than English?
Under Cal-GETC, this is the minimum number of semester units required to complete the entire pattern.
What is 34 semester units?
This subject area ensures students develop an understanding of fundamental mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning.
What is Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning?
This is the minimum grade required in all courses of Cal-GETC.
What is a grade of C or better?
This type of certification is required in order for a student’s Cal-GETC pattern to be officially recognized.
What is full certification?
A student who completed Cal-GETC still needs to complete these courses to be competitive for selective UC majors.
What are major prep courses?
If a student takes a transferable math course at a community college that is not on the Cal-GETC list, will it satisfy Area 2?
What is no?
Only courses approved for Cal-GETC will satisfy the requirement.
This Cal-GETC area encourages students to explore history, literature, philosophy, and languages other than English.
What is the Arts and Humanities?
True or False: Completion of Cal-GETC certifies lower division GE for both CSU and UC systems.
What is True?
True or False: Students must complete Cal-GETC in order to be admitted to a UC campus.
What is False?
This key general education area is now required under Cal-GETC, unlike UC IGETC.
What is Area 1C: Oral Communication?
Counselors need to use this website to confirm whether a course from another California community college satisfies Cal-GETC.
What is ASSIST?
Courses in this area help students understand the workings of societies and human behavior.
What is the Social and Behavioral Sciences?
This CSU-specific GE requirement is not required in Cal-GETC but is still be required for graduation at CSU campuses.
What is CSU American Institutions?
True or False: Students who lose catalog rights must complete Cal-GETC to fulfill general education requirements.
What is True?
These two external exam types may be applied toward Cal-GETC certification, depending on the score and content.
What are AP and IB exams?
Cal-GETC aligns with this legislative initiative designed to streamline the transfer process.
What is AB 928 (the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act)?
Although previously required for CSU, this area requirement for physical activity and lifelong health was not included in the Cal-GETC.
What is Lifelong Learning and Self-Development?
As of Fall 2025, Cal-GETC replaces these two separate GE patterns previously used for transfer to CSU and UC, respectively.
What are CSU GE Breadth and IGETC?
This new Cal-GETC requirement aims to address issues of systemic racism and social justice.
What is the Ethnic Studies requirement?
This internal college-level exam may be used toward Cal-GETC area certification when approved by the institution.
What is Credit by Exam?
This governing body was responsible for approving and implementing the Cal-GETC pattern.
What is the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates (ICAS)?