General education (GE) is more than a checklist of required courses. It is a program of study that reveals to students the ways that research scholars in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences create and evaluate new knowledge; introduces students to the important ideas and themes of human cultures; fosters appreciation for the many perspectives and diverse voices that may be heard in a democratic society; and develops the intellectual skills that give students the dexterity they need to function in a rapidly changing world.
This entails the ability to make critical and logical assessments of information, both traditional and digital; deliver reasoned and persuasive arguments; and identify, acquire, and use the knowledge necessary to solve problems.
General education courses are grouped into three foundational areas: Foundations of the Arts and Humanities, Foundations of Society and Culture, and Foundations of Scientific Inquiry.
Eight courses (38 units minimum) are required. A Writing II or diversity course also approved for general education may be applied toward the relevant general education foundational area.
Students who successfully complete a year-long GE cluster series fulfill the Writing II requirement and complete nearly 50 percent of their general education requirements. Students who do not complete the year-long GE cluster series must meet with an adviser in the Student Services Office to determine applicable GE credit.
Courses listed in more than one category can fulfill GE requirements in only one of the categories.
Three 5-unit courses, one from each subgroup:
Courses in this area supply perspectives and intellectual skills necessary to comprehend and think critically about our situation in the world as human beings. In particular, courses furnish the basic means to appreciate and evaluate the ongoing efforts of humans to explain, translate, and transform their diverse experiences of the world through such media as language, literature, philosophical systems, images, sounds, and performances. The courses introduce students to the historical development and fundamental intellectual and ethical issues associated with the arts and humanities and may also investigate the complex relations between artistic and humanistic expression and other facets of society and culture.
Three 5-unit courses, one from each subgroup and a third course from either subgroup:
Courses in this area introduce students to the ways in which humans organize, structure, rationalize, and govern their diverse societies and cultures over time. Courses focus on a particular historical question, societal problem, or topic of political and economic concern in an effort to demonstrate how issues are objectified for study, how data is collected and analyzed, and how new understandings of social phenomena are achieved and evaluated.
Two courses from either subgroup. If both courses are selected from the same subgroup, they must be from different departments:
Courses in this area ensure that students gain a fundamental understanding of how scientists formulate and answer questions about the operation of both the physical and biological world. Courses also deal with some of the most important issues, developments, and methodologies in contemporary science, addressing such topics as the origin of the universe, environmental degradation, and the decoding of the human genome. Through lectures, laboratory experiences, writing, and intensive discussions, students consider the important roles played by the laws of physics and chemistry in society, biology, Earth and environmental sciences, and astrophysics and cosmology.
Creating and maintaining a general education curriculum is a dynamic process; consequently, courses are frequently added to the list. For the most current list of approved courses that satisfy the Foundations of Knowledge GE plan, consult with an academic adviser in the Office of Student Services, 2200 Broad Art Center, or see the master list.
Total GE 8 courses/38 units minimum
A Writing II course also approved for general education may be applied toward the relevant general education foundational area.
Students who transfer to UCLA from other UC campuses and have met all GE requirements prior to enrolling at UCLA are not required to complete the School of the Arts and Architecture GE requirements. Written verification from the dean at the other UC campus is required. Verification letters should be sent to the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, Office of Student Services, Box 951620, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1620.
Transfer students from California community colleges have the option to fulfill UCLA lower-division GE requirements by completing the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) prior to transfer. The curriculum consists of a series of subject areas and types of courses that have been agreed on by the University of California and the California community colleges. Although GE or transfer core courses are degree requirements rather than admission requirements, students are advised to fulfill them prior to transfer. The IGETC significantly eases the transfer process, as all UCLA GE requirements are fulfilled when students complete the IGETC courses. Students who select the IGETC must complete it entirely before enrolling at UCLA. Otherwise, they must fulfill the School of the Arts and Architecture GE requirements.
