CSU General Education Certification
Students who plan to transfer to the CSU system only, should follow the CSU GE-Breadth pattern to complete their general education requirements. Completion of this pattern while at the community college will ensure that you have completed all lower division, general education requirements prior to transfer at any of the 23 CSU campuses. A minimum of 9 additional upper division general education requirements will still need to be completed at the CSU campus.
Important points for certification:
- All "Golden Four" GE Areas: A1, A2, A3, and B4 must be complete.
- If a student completes a course in a year it did not appear on the CSU General Education 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 ENGL 101.0 English Composition and Reading or ENGL 101H Honors Composition and Reading, 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.
- VVC awards full or partial certification by subject area for completion of the lower-division, general education requirements and students will not be held to any additional lower division, general education requirements in the certified areas. However, students may be held to other lower division graduation requirements.
Certification
For full certification submit an application for certificate to Admission & Records Office prior to your final semester at VVC.
Full Certification - All areas completed with a minimum of 39 units. Full Certification after transfer is subject to the particular rules of the receiving university.
For partial certification submit the CSU and UC General Education Certification request form to the VVC Transfer Center prior to your final semester at VVC.
Partial GE Certification - Completion of any of the A-E general education areas.
If not fully certified before transfer, students may be required to complete the general education pattern of the specific campus to which they transfer and this may result in additional coursework.
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 CSU-GE 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 use 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.