General Education

So, you’d like to take general education classes?

There are different general education patterns, and the one you follow depends on the specifics of your long-term educational goals. Listed below are the primary general education patterns available to you. Picking the right pattern is an important decision that should be discussed with a counselor. The specifics of your degree goal, transfer institution (for those going on to a four-year university), and major will be important in making the right choice:

AS Degree GE pattern

This pattern is designed for students seeking an AS degree from Cabrillo. Most often, this pattern is followed by students in occupational programs (horticulture, culinary arts, early childhood education, etc.) but occasionally will be followed by transfer students pursuing science-based majors.

AA (non-transfer) Degree GE pattern

This pattern is designed for students seeking an AA degree from Cabrillo. Most often, this pattern is followed by students seeking a broad-based associate degree (liberal arts & sciences, history, anthropology, etc.), whose immediate goal does not include transfer to a four-year university.

CSU GE pattern

This pattern is designed for students planning on transfer to colleges in the California State University (CSU) system. Students seeking a BA/BS degree in high unit majors (biology, engineering, etc.) should meet with a counselor to discuss the need to include courses required by your major in your education plan. This GE pattern can be used to get an AA degree, or in some cases an AS degree.

IGETC GE pattern

This pattern is designed for students planning on transfer to colleges in either the University of California (UC) system or to colleges in the California State University (CSU) system. Students seeking a BA/BS degree in high unit majors (biology, engineering, etc.) should meet with a counselor to discuss the need to include courses required by your major in your education plan. This GE pattern can be used to get an AA degree, or in some cases an AS degree.

UCSC/Cabrillo GE pattern

This pattern is designed for students planning on transfer specifically and only to UCSC. It lists Cabrillo classes that will meet areas on the UCSC campus-specific GE pattern.