General Education Classes 101
Figuring out which General Education classes to take can be confusing, especially when different majors have different requirements. Below you will find answers to the most common General Education confusions, specific for public health students.
FALL 2021 AND EARLIER
Tier 1 - 150, 160, and 170, classes (INDVS, TRADS, and NATS)
- You need two 150 classes (INDVS or Individuals and Society) and two 160 classes (TRADS or Traditions and Cultures)
- For Public Health you DO NOT need to take any 170 classes (NATS or Natural Sciences)
Tier II - Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Diversity and Individuals and Societies
- You do not need to finish your Tier I classes to move on to Tier II
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Public Health students only need one Tier II Arts OR Humanities (not both!)
- Some Tier II Arts classes are only 1 credit (dance is a popular one). If you choose to take that sort of class you will have to take another 2 credits. You must have a total of 3 Tier II Arts or Humanities Credits.
- Public Health students only need one Tier II Individuals and Societies (INDIV)
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Public Health students DO NOT need to take Tier II NATS or Natural Science Classes
- Public Health students DO NOT need to take a separate Diversity Emphasis course because HPS 387 (required) fulfills that requirement.
- Because PHPM 310 and HPS 387 are required for the public health major, these courses cannot fulfill your Tier II INDIV category.
SPRING 2022 AND BEYOND
UNIV 101 - Introductions and setting Expectations
FOUNDATIONS - Math, Writing, and Second Language
- The number of units is variable depending on method of meeting writing & second language requirements.
EXPLORING PERSPECTIVES
- You need two exploring perspective classes: ARTIST & HUMANIST
- For Public Health you DO NOT need to take a NATURAL SCIENTIST course as NSC 101 (required) fulfills that requirement.
- For Public Health you DO NOT need to take a SOCIAL SCIENTIST course as HPS 178 or HPS 200 (both required) fulfill that requirement.
BUILDING CONNECTIONS
- You need two building connections classes
- For Public Health you DO NOT need to complete the third building connections course as HPS 387 (required) fulfills that requirement.
UNIV 301 - GENERAL EDUCATION PORTFOLIO
**Up to 9 units can be double dipped with general education course and required Public Health courses. However, double dipping will often leave students with additional units in order to get to the 120 needed to graduate.
**GENERAL ELECTIVES
In order to ensure that you meet the 120 credits needed to graduate with your Bachelor's Degree, Public Health you may also need to complete general elective credits. These are separate from your General Education classes.
These may be fulfilled by classes you took at a community college that transferred in, if you choose to minor in something, if you are planning to go to medical school and need to take extra science classes, or from a course that you took just because it was interesting to you. All of these course options could count toward your general elective credits.