California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)

Cal-GETC STANDARDS Version 1.3

Overview of Cal-GETC Standards

  • Version 1.3 is an updated and corrected revision of version 1.0, instituted in response to legislative mandates.
  • Objective: Establishes a singular lower-division general education pathway for transfer admission to California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) in accordance with AB 928 (Berman, 2021).
  • The document is designed to be self-contained and accessible, outlining current practices, policies, and new procedures for California Community Colleges (CCC), CSU, and UC.
  • Cal-GETC standards and procedures are distinct from previous General Education requirements.

Table of Contents

  1. History
    • 1.1 Purpose
    • 1.2 Background
  2. Areas of Distribution for Cal-GETC
  3. Students Who May Use Cal-GETC
    • 3.1 Cal-GETC and Other Lower-Division General Education Options
    • 3.2 Students Who Are Eligible to Use Cal-GETC
    • 3.3 Restrictions for Returning Students
  4. Cal-GETC Course Database and Certification
  5. Cal-GETC Course Eligibility
    • 5.1 Course Submission and Review Process
    • 5.2 Courses and Certification
    • 5.3 Courses Appropriate for Cal-GETC
    • 5.4 Courses Not Appropriate for Cal-GETC
  6. Credit by External Exams
    • 6.1 Advanced Placement (AP)
    • 6.2 International Baccalaureate (IB)
    • 6.3 College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  7. Unit Value
    • 7.1 Combining Quarter and Semester Units
  8. Grades
    • 8.1 Minimum Grade Requirements
    • 8.2 Credit/No Credit-Pass/No Pass Courses
  9. Subject Areas and Course Guidelines
  10. Certification Processes
  11. Revision History
  12. Cal-GETC Standards Committee
  13. Cal-GETC Standards Ongoing Governance

1. History

1.1 Purpose
  • Cal-GETC serves as the singular general education pathway for CCC students fulfilling lower-division general education requirements for transfer to CSU and UC.
  • Oversight is provided by the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates (ICAS).
1.2 Background
  • Aimed to address transfer ease, a concern since the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education in California.
  • In 1981, CCC students began using the CSU General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE) for CSU requirements.
  • The development of IGETC arose from AB 1725 (1988), aiming for a standardized transfer curriculum applicable to all CCC students.
  • AB 928 mandates a streamlined lower-division general education pathway effective by May 31, 2023, leading to Cal-GETC's establishment.

2. Areas of Distribution for Cal-GETC

  • Distribution areas comprise a series of required courses approved under Cal-GETC, facilitating transfer from CCC to CSU or UC.

3. Students Who May Use Cal-GETC

  • Completion allows students to transfer from a CCC to a CSU or UC without needing additional general education courses after transfer. Completion is strongly recommended before transfer for benefits such as flexibility and timely graduation.
3.1 Cal-GETC and Other Lower-Division General Education Options
  • Cal-GETC is not the sole method to fulfill lower-division education requirements and may not be universally accepted due to specific program requirements.
3.2 Students Who Are Eligible to Use Cal-GETC
  • Any student is eligible for Cal-GETC certification upon completion of eligible courses regardless of their current enrollment status or accrued units.
3.3 Restrictions for Returning Students
  • UC readmits from CCC cannot use Cal-GETC; CSU has no specific policy barring such students from utilizing Cal-GETC.

4. Cal-GETC Course Database and Certification

  • After approval, courses become part of the Cal-GETC course list on ASSIST (assist.org).
  • This facilitates certification and ensures accurate information for students and counselors.

5. Cal-GETC Course Eligibility

5.1 Course Submission and Review Process
  • Joint annual reviews conducted by CSU and UC; decisions announced each Spring and updated on ASSIST.
5.1.1 Effective Date
  • Approved courses will start carrying Cal-GETC certification effective the following Fall semester after approval.
5.1.2 Re-evaluation of Existing Approvals
  • Regular reviews to ensure compliance with Cal-GETC standards, allowing two years for course modification post-review.
5.1.3 Textbooks
  • Current textbooks (within 7 years) or designated classics must be identified in course outlines, including lab manuals for science courses.
5.1.4 Cross-Listed Courses
  • Courses must have approved curriculum and identical course outlines before submission for cross-listing.
5.2 Cal-GETC Courses and Cal-GETC Certification
5.2.1 Intra- and Inter-Segmental Transfer of Cal-GETC Courses
  • Coursework from different CCCs must apply according to their respective certification lists; cross-institution recognition is governed by established protocols.
5.2.2 California Community College Course Application Rights
  • Courses certified based on completion timing relative to the Cal-GETC certified list are honored for transfer.
5.3 Courses Appropriate for Cal-GETC
  • Must be transferable to CSU and UC.
5.4 Courses Not Appropriate for Cal-GETC
  • Exclusions include those heavily focusing on personal skills, practical applications, or introductory courses to professional programs (e.g., legal problems, career-related introductory classes).
5.4.1 Courses That Focus on Personal, Practical, or Applied Aspects
  • Courses that lack theoretical depth and focus on practical skills do not meet criteria (e.g., Everyday Legal Problems, Physical Education).
5.4.2 Introductory Courses to Professional Programs
  • Foundational courses for careers (e.g., Introduction to Business) are not suitable for Cal-GETC.
5.4.3 Independent Study or Topics Courses
  • These are excluded due to variability in content and difficulty in determining applicability.

6. Credit by External Exams

  • No limit on the number of external exams for Cal-GETC credit such as AP, IB, and others, but certain exams are explicitly excluded (e.g., CLEP).
6.1 Advanced Placement (AP)
  • Minimum scores (3-5) required for applicable credit. Specifics on qualifying areas outlined.
6.2 International Baccalaureate (IB)
  • Similar to AP requirements; scores of 5-7 grant credit for Cal-GETC certification following similar validation methods.
6.3 College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • CLEP is not permitted for Cal-GETC recognition.
6.4 Other Exams
  • Non-qualifying exams listed (e.g., SAT I, SAT II).

7. Unit Value

7.1 Combining Quarter and Semester Units
  • Mixing units must comply with conversion standards for meeting minimum standards, ensuring that total unit count is applicable.

8. Grades

8.1 Minimum Grade Requirements
  • A minimum of "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) is needed for each course; a "C-" does not qualify.
8.2 Credit/No Credit-Pass/No Pass
  • These designations can count towards Cal-GETC certification if the community college policy equates to a "C" grade or higher.

9. Subject Areas and Course Guidelines

General Course Requirements
  • Must be baccalaureate level and focus on the human experience across various cultures and social structures.
9.1 Subject Area 1: English Communication (3 courses)

-Required Courses:

  • 1A: English Composition (3 semester or 4 quarter units)
  • 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition (3 semester or 4 quarter units)
  • 1C: Oral Communication (3 semester or 4 quarter units)
9.1.1 Subject Area 1A: English Composition
  • Objectives: Development of academic writing skills, recursive writing processes, and effective strategies for audience engagement.
9.1.1.A Course Content
  • Focus on varied strategies for writing across genres; students to produce a minimum of 5,000 words, including revision feedback.
9.1.2 Subject Area 1B: Critical Thinking and Composition
  • Prerequisite: Completion of Area 1A; emphasis on argumentative writing and critical analysis.
9.1.3 Subject Area 1C: Oral Communication
  • Must teach foundational public speaking in a variety of contexts, addressing ethical and diverse communication practices.
9.2 Subject Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
  • Requires a single transfer-level mathematics course (3 semester or 4 quarter units) with a focus on quantitative reasoning.
9.3 Subject Area 3: Arts and Humanities
  • At least one course from the Arts and one from Humanities, focusing on appreciation and analysis of cultural contributions.
9.4 Subject Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Two courses required (6 semester or 8 quarter units), understanding individual and societal interactions.
9.5 Subject Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences
  • At least two courses including one lab course associated with a physical or biological science discipline (minimum 7 semester or 9 quarter units).
9.6 Ethnic Studies
  • One course required in ethnic studies (3 semester or 4 quarter units) reflecting approved core competencies.
9.7 Requirements outside of Cal-GETC
  • Specification of non-Cal-GETC requirements such as the U.S. History and Language requirements.

10. Certification Processes

  • Students must request certification; each CCC may have its own procedures, with a strong recommendation to complete Cal-GETC before transfer.
10.1 Who Certifies Cal-GETC?
  • Certification typically conducted by the student's last attended CCC; includes guidelines for submitting transcripts directly to CSU or UC.

11. Revision History

  • Documentation of changes and dates for previous versions of Cal-GETC standards.

12. Cal-GETC Standards Committee

  • Comprised of faculty representatives from CCC, CSU, and UC, overseeing the implementation and revisions of the Cal-GETC standards.

13. Cal-GETC Standards Ongoing Governance

  • Maintained by ICAS representatives, with a focus on intersegmental alignment and updates per legislative requirements.