Which GE Pattern Is Right for You?

To begin with, every college has a different GE pattern. If you plan on working towards an Associate degree then you will follow De Anza's GE pattern.

Planning GE classes for transfer to CSU or UC:

If you plan on transferring to a CSU or UC, then you have to plan which GE classes to take more carefully. If you know what college you want to transfer to, then you can look up that school's GE pattern in that school's catalog. You can generally find a university's catalog online through CollegeSource.

The problem is that each school has their own course descriptors and not all classes have equivalents at De Anza. But even if you figure out another school's GE pattern, what if you are not accepted into that school? Then you might not have completed the necessary GE requirements for other campuses you might choose instead.

And what if you aren't sure which campus you want to transfer to? Then how do you know which GE classes to take?

Fortunately, you can take all the guesswork out of your planning if you do what most students do. And that is to follow either the CSU GE  pattern or the IGETC. Think of the CSU and IGETC as generic GE patterns. In other words, the CSU GE pattern is accepted at all CSUs in lieu of each individual college's GE. The IGETC GE pattern is accepted at all CSUs and at most UCs and for most majors. A counselor or academic advisor can always tell you what are the exceptions.

What if you're planning to transfer to a private or out-of-state university?

If you are planning to transfer to a private or an out-of-state university, then you must consult that school's catalog to identify what GE classes to take. This can be tricky, so please allow a counselor or advisor to assist you with your course planning. When in doubt, however, following the IGETC is a sound idea. Keep in mind that many private colleges, especially ones that focus on the arts, require less general education courses.

What about 'high-unit' majors?

For the most part, if you plan to transfer to a CSU or a UC, then follow the CSU or IGETC pattern which works best for you. But there are exceptions, especially if you are in what is called a 'high-unit' major.

A high unit major is a major in which there is an especially large number of lower division major prerequisites that must be completed. Examples of high unit majors include engineering and the sciences.