I'm currently planning my courses at Fullerton College and want to make sure I meet the general education requirements to transfer to a CSU. What's the best strategy to ensure a smooth transfer?
As a student at Fullerton College aiming to transfer into CSU, you will want to follow the "CSU General Education Breadth pattern" or obtain the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), which guarantees admission to a CSU in a similar major.
The CSU General Education Breadth pattern requires completion of at least 39 units within five areas: English language communication and critical thinking (Area A), scientific inquiry and quantitative reasoning (Area B), arts and humanities (Area C), social sciences (Area D), and lifelong learning and self-development (Area E).
This breakdown follows:
- Area A: Take one course in oral communication, one in written communication, and one in critical thinking.
- Area B: Take one physical science course, one life science course, one lab course (which can be paired with the physical or life science course), one course in math/quantitative reasoning, and one additional course from B1-B4.
- Area C: Take one arts course (from arts, cinema, dance, music, or theater), one humanities course (literature, philosophy, foreign language, and so forth), and an additional course from either C1 or C2.
- Area D: You have to take four courses from at least two different disciplines.
- Area E: Take one course on lifelong learning and self-development.
Your school's counseling office will have resources to help you plan this out, or you can use planning tools online like the one on the Fullerton College website, which provides a comprehensive list of courses that fulfill each requirement.
Keep in mind, it's also important that you maintain a strong GPA throughout your studies, and actively involve yourself in extracurricular activities that align with your chosen field of study. This will not only satisfy CSU's academic requirements but also make your application more competitive.
Finally, plan to fulfill the "American Institutions" requirement that CSU schools have. These could be fulfilled by courses taken in high school. The requirement involves one course in U.S. History, one in U.S. Constitution, and one in California State and Local Government. However, it could also be satisfied by single integrated courses covering all three (U.S History, Constitution, CA government).
In sum, the ideal strategy for a smooth transfer is to be proactive in planning your curriculum, frequently checking your progress, keeping your GPA high, and getting involved in extracurriculars. Don't hesitate to use available resources at Fullerton College to ensure you're on the right track. Good luck!
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