FIRST-YEAR
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS You’ll have the option to rank your top four colleges on the UC application in order of preference. Use this outline of each college’s general education requirements to assist in ranking the top four colleges you feel are the best fit for you. UC San Diego’s colleges are not tied to a major or area of study. You can pursue any major within any college. Scan the QR code to the right and select “Colleges” for more information about each college’s themes, course requirements for graduation, advising, support services and more.
admissions.ucsd.edu/start
Est. 1964 | revelle.ucsd.edu
Est. 1967 | muir.ucsd.edu
Est. 1970 | marshall.ucsd.edu
Est. 1974 | warren.ucsd.edu
Est. 1988 | roosevelt.ucsd.edu
Est. 2002 | sixth.ucsd.edu
Est. 2019 | seventh.ucsd.edu
Est. 2022 | eighth.ucsd.edu
Where the sciences, arts, and humanities join to educate and inspire multidisciplinary scholars.
Celebrating the independent spirit.
Preparing students to be scholars and citizens.
Toward a life in balance.
Developing world citizens through scholarship, leadership and service.
Innovative - Interconnected Aware: Cultivating curious minds to tackle the complex challenges of our time.
Interdisciplinary explorations of our changing planet.
Engagement and community.
QUARTER COURSES
QUARTER COURSES
QUARTER COURSES
QUARTER COURSES
QUARTER COURSES
QUARTER COURSES
QUARTER COURSES
QUARTER COURSES
5
2 Muir College Writing Program
3 Dimensions of Culture
2
3
5
2 1
Humanities
5-course sequence includes intensive university-level writing.
Mathematics
3 courses in mathematics to include two courses in Calculus and one course chosen from an approved list.
Natural Science
5 courses to include 1 course in each biology, chemistry, physics and 2 additional natural science courses from an approved list. Separate sequences available for science and non-science majors.
Social Science Fine Arts
Selected from Music, Theatre & Dance or Visual Arts.
0-4 Language other than English Can be met by proficiency or coursework.
2-course sequence, MCWP 40 & 50.
3 Social Sciences 3 Mathematics or Natural Sciences
A 3-course sequence. Options are available for non-science majors.
6 Fine Arts, Language other than English or Humanities Two 3-course sequences from two of these areas.
Diversity, Justice and Imagination, includes intensive university-level writing.
3 Natural Science
1 course each in biology, chemistry and physics; choices available for non-science majors.
2 Mathematics, Statistics and Logic
2 courses chosen from an approved list. Choices available for non-science majors.
2 Humanities and Cultural Studies *Sequences must come from a defined set of courses, typically in one department or area of study.
2 courses in specified domestic and selective global cultures.
1 Fine Arts
1 appreciation-based course in music, theatre & dance or visual arts.
4 Disciplinary Breadth
4 courses outside of your major; 2 must be upper-division; 1 must be writing intensive. Public Service option may fulfill one upper-division disciplinary breadth requirement.
Warren College Writing Program 2-course sequence of intensive instruction in university-level argumentative writing.
2
Ethics and Society
2
Formal Skills
Calculus, symbolic logic, computer programming and/or statistics.
12 Programs of Concentration (PofCs) for B.A./B.S. degrees (except engineering)
2 PofCs, not related to each other and outside the major discipline. Each PofC contains courses.
6
Area Studies for B.S. degrees in engineering
2 area studies, 1 in the humanities/ fine arts and 1 in the social sciences. Each containing 3 courses. – Optional, a minor may be used in lieu of a PofC or Area Study if outside the major discipline and unrelated to the discipline of the other PofC or Area Study.
GEs are subject to change. For the most complete and up-to-date information, visit admissions.ucsd.edu/colleges
5
Making of the Modern World
5-course sequence includes 2 quarters of intensive instruction in university-level writing.
2
Quantitative and Formal Skills
Choices available for science majors and non-science majors.
2
Natural Sciences
Choices available for science majors and non-science majors.
0-4 Language other than English
1 3
1
3 Culture, Art and Technology
Includes 1 quarter of critical reading and 2 quarters of intensive instruction in university-level writing and digital literacy.
11 Breadth Requirement • 1 Information Technology Fluency (2 social science courses) • 1 Social Analysis (2 social science courses) • 2 Narrative, Aesthetic & Historical Reasoning (2 humanities courses) • 2 Analytical and Scientific Methods (2 science courses)
Can be met by proficiency or coursework.
• 1 Exploring Data
Fine Arts
• 1 Structured Reasoning
Regional Specialization
Courses must be from one geographic region and at least 2 courses must be upperdivision. Upper Division Course with Writing Component in English Can overlap with any required course listed above.
(1 statistics course) (1 math/logic course) • 2 Art Making
2 Upper-division Requirements
3 Synthesis Courses
• 2 lower-division courses of intensive instruction in university-level writing. • 1 upper-division projectbased course.
10 Breadth Requirement Courses Select two courses of interest from each of the following five areas: • Arts • Humanities • Natural Science & Engineering • Quantitative Reasoning • Social Sciences
1 High Impact Course (such as a departmental capstone, internship, practicum, mentored research, or study abroad)
4 Critical Community Engagement Courses
• 2 writing-intensive courses • 1 community-engaged work course • 1 upper-division projectbased capstone course
10 Breadth Requirement Courses Select two courses of interest from each of the following five areas:
• • • •
Arts Humanities Natural Sciences Quantitative Methods & Engineering • Social Sciences
Experiential learning course or project (can overlap with your major requirements). CAT 125: Public Rhetoric and Practical Communication.
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