General Education Tier One and Tier Two

11/30/16 Update:  Content clarified by the University-wide General Education Committee – Number of required units added to study areas, effective for the 2017-2018 Academic Year.

Both Tier One and Tier Two courses offer breadth of knowledge and methods of inquiry. By exposing students to various areas of study, these courses are designed to foster independent, creative, and interactive learning, prompting students to think about themselves, others, and social organizations in new and insightful ways. Tier One and Tier Two courses are writing intensive, as writing is a basic way of learning, as well as a means of ordering and communicating knowledge.

Tier Structure:

Tier One Requirements:

Tier One courses introduce students to fundamental issues and concepts pertinent to three study areas. Courses in each study area have a department prefix but the same number, as shown below. To complete all study areas, students must take any two 150 courses, any two 160 courses, and any two 170 courses.  

The first two courses taken in a study area  (e.g., ARC 160D1 and DNC160B1) will count toward the Tier One requirement; a third course taken in the same study area - identical course number (e.g., JUS 160D1) - will count as general elective credit. Tier One courses cannot apply toward the major or minor.

Students entering the University as freshmen will be expected to complete Tier One requirements by the end of the midpoint of their degree (e.g., for a four-year 120-unit degree program, by the end of the second year of full-time work, or the completion of 60 units).

A complete list of Tier One courses with descriptions is provided by the General Education Committee. Note: Students with a major in one of the sciences can satisfy their Natural Sciences requirement with their core laboratory science courses. Students with a non-science-intensive major may substitute designated laboratory science courses for their Natural Sciences requirements if they wish.

Tier Two Requirements:

To be completed after Tier One, Tier Two courses offer more in-depth examination of particular disciplines. The Tier Two study areas are broadly defined and include a wide range of courses to meet students' varied interests. Tier Two courses are organized into four study areas:

(1) Transfer students with quarter system credits may satisfy Tier One requirements with 5.34 units in each study area, and Tier Two requirements with 2.67 units in each study area.

(2) One study area (one course or 3 units in Arts) may be satisfied by courses taken for the major.  Each major identifies which study area is exempt—that is, completed with major course work.  Students must complete Tier Two requirements by the conclusion of their undergraduate degree. 

A complete list of Tier Two courses with descriptions is provided by the General Education Committee.

Diversity Emphasis Requirement:

One course (or 3 units) in a student’s degree program must focus on one of the following areas: Gender, Race, Class, Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, or Non-Western Studies.  Courses that satisfy the Diversity Emphasis Requirement are identified in the course descriptions provided by the General Education Committee.

This requirement may be filled by a designated Tier One or Tier Two course, or by a designated course taken in the student’s major or minor. 

Honors Option for Tier One/Tier Two:

Students in the Honors College may complete the Tier One and Tier Two requirements using the Honors Option, which pertains to the three Study Areas of (1) Traditions and Cultures/Humanities, (2) Individuals and Societies, and (3) Natural Sciences. In addition, Honors students must complete the Arts and Diversity Emphasis Requirements as described above.

Students who select the Honors Option must complete three courses in each study area as follows: one Tier One course and one Tier Two course in each study area, in accordance with their degree program. The third required course in each study area is to be selected either from Tier One (a course with the same number) or from Tier Two (a course with a different prefix than the first Tier Two course). For example, in the Traditions and Cultures/Humanities Study Area, students must complete one Traditions/Cultures course and one Humanities course; their third course in this Study Area may be a Traditions/Cultures course or a Humanities course with a different prefix (cross-listed courses with a second department are acceptable). At the Tier Two level, students have a one-course exemption from the study area corresponding to their major.

Your Specific Requirements:

To see the requirements and courses specific to your major and degree program, consult the general Academic Advisement Reports or your personal Advisement Report in UAccess Student.  Please direct questions to your academic advisor.