California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) Certification
Cal-GETC (usually pronounced “Cal-GET-see”) is a new general education pattern beginning Fall 2025. Assembly Bill 928 stipulated that an Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California. Cal-GETC is for all students beginning their college careers in Fall 2025 and beyond who are planning to transfer to CSU and UC campuses. Cal-GETC is also now the general education requirement for all ADTs for students beginning college in Fall 2025.
It should be noted that completing Cal-GETC alone is neither a requirement for admission to UC or CSU systems, nor is it the only way to fulfill lower-division GE requirements.
Important Points for Certification:
- All courses used for Cal-GETC must be passed with minimum "C" grade or better (a C- is not acceptable). Credit or Pass grades are acceptable, provided they are equivalent to a "C" grade.
- If a student completes a course during a year it did not appear on the Cal-GETC or IGETC course list, it cannot be used for GE certification.
- Credit is awarded for either an honors or non-honors course, not both. For example, students may receive credit for HIST 117 History of U.S to 1876 or HIST 117H Honors Us History to 1876, not both.
- A single course may not fulfill more than one general education requirement, even though it may be listed in more than one area.
- Students following the CalGETC pattern may receive full certification. Partial certification is allowed only for UC transfer and may include up to two missing courses from Areas 3, 4, 5, or 6. No courses may be missing from Areas 1A, 1B, 1C, or 2. CSU does not accept CalGETC partial certification, and students pursuing an ADT must complete full certification
Certification
For full certification submit an application for the Full Cal-GETC Certificate of Achievement to the Admissions & Records Office prior to your final semester at VVC. For partial certification, visit the VVC Transfer Center Website.
Limitations
Some UC campuses may not accept Cal-GETC. Check with your VVC counselor.
Cal-GETC is not always recommended for science, engineering, performing arts, or other high unit majors at most campuses. Students in these programs should follow the general education pattern of the specific campus they plan to attend and fulfill as many major preparation courses as possible.
Program Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are statements of the kind of learning a program hopes a student will achieve. The PLOs describe the knowledge, skills, problem-solving, communication and values that apply to all certificates and/or degrees within that program. For the IGETC program, PLOs link to the college's Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs).
Upon completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Communication: Read and write analytically including evaluation, synthesis, and research; deliver focused and coherent presentations.
- Computation: Apply complex problem-solving skills using technology, computer proficiency, decision analysis (synthesis and evaluation), applications of mathematical concepts and reasoning, and the analysis and use of numerical data.
- Creative, Critical and Analytical Thinking: Apply procedures for sound reasoning in the exercise of judgment and decision making; demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a respect for learning; solve problems through analysis, synthesis, evaluation and creativity; identify, evaluate, and appropriate use of multiple sources of information.
- Social and Personal Responsibility: Evaluate the relationship between natural, social and economic systems and the significance of sustainability; demonstrate responsible attitudes toward cultural diversity, citizenship, personal contribution to local and international communities, and the effect of human actions on the environment.
- Information Competency: Students demonstrate information competency and critical thinking skills through their ability to effectively locate, retrieve, evaluate, and utilize library and information resources within the guidelines of academic standards to meet collegiate and personal information needs.
- Health and Human Flourishing: Synthesize educational aims into a holistic approach to the many facets of human flourishing; apply principles of physical, psychological and emotional health and fitness; demonstrate scholarly skills that support intellectual virtues for life-long learning; embrace concepts of fiscal responsibility; and define goals that extend beyond oneself.