Students must demonstrate quantitative reasoning and writing proficiency to earn a bachelor's degree. To demonstrate these skills, students must complete General Education Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (Area 2), English Composition (Area 1A), and other Writing (W) courses and fulfill the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) specific to their academic program. These foundational skills are detailed in the Chico State General Education (EM 25-002) and California State University General Education (EO 1100) policies. 

First-time college students must enroll in a GE English Communication (1A) and Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (2) course within their first academic year unless the requirement has been fulfilled. For more information and guiding principles, visit the CSU Academic Preparation, Placement, and Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students program. Please direct any questions about GE requirements to Academic Advising Programs or Graduation Advising.

GE English Composition (1A)

First-time college students must enroll in an English Composition (1A) course within their first academic year unless the requirement has been fulfilled. Multiple measures defined by the CSU Chancellor's Office are utilized to determine an appropriate placement level. Placement is categorized into three levels: 

• Fulfilled: The student has completed a GE English Composition (1A) course. 
  • The student has fulfilled the GE Area 1A requirement by completing college-level transferable coursework or test credit from Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations.
• Ready: The student is ready for a GE English Composition (1A) course.
  • The student has met one or more multiple measures and is ready to enroll in a GE Area 1A course.
  • To complete GE Area 1A, the student must take ENGL 130W or JOUR 130W. A grade of C- or higher is required. 
• Ready with Support: The student is ready for a GE English Composition (1A) course with a paired support activity.
  • Based on multiple measures, the student has been placed into a GE Area 1A with Support course and can benefit from academic support while enrolled in an Area 1A course.
  • The student must enroll in ENGL 130W and ENGL 131 to complete GE Area 1A. A grade of C- or higher is required. 
  • ENGL 131 is a credit/no credit, one-unit support course that may be repeated.

Writing Across the Curriculum (W)

Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) integrates writing instruction into a coherent sequence, starting with introductory concepts in General Education and advancing to specialized courses within every major.  

First-time college students will complete a minimum of four Writing (W) courses: 

1. A GE English Composition (1A) course with a grade of C- or higher. (See above for placement and completion options.)
2. A lower- or upper-division Writing (W) course.
3. An upper-division Writing (W) course completed as an additional W course when specified by the major or within the Upper-Division General Education Pathway requirements.
4. A Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) course is an upper-division W course that integrates writing instruction with discipline-specific subject matter. The GWAR course is specific to each major and requires a grade of C- or higher and GE Area 1A as a prerequisite.

Transfer students will complete a minimum of three Writing (W) courses:  

1. GE English Composition Area (1A) completed before transferring to Chico State as a requirement for admission.
2. An upper-division Writing (W) course completed as an additional W course when specified by the major or within the Upper-Division General Education Pathway requirements.
3. A Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) course is an upper-division W course that integrates writing instruction with discipline-specific subject matter. The GWAR course is specific to each major and requires a grade of C- or higher and GE Area 1A as a prerequisite.

GE Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (2)

First-time college students must enroll in a GE Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (2) course within their first academic year unless the requirement has been fulfilled. Declared major and multiple measures defined by the CSU Chancellor's Office are used to determine an appropriate placement level. Placement is categorized into three levels: 

• Area 2 Fulfilled: The student has completed a GE Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (2) course. 
  • The student has completed the GE Area 2 requirement by completing college-level transferable coursework or test credit from Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations.
  • Students may still need mathematics courses to complete major requirements. Review Area 2 for My Major, academic programs, utilize e-advising tools, and connect with advisors for appropriate planning. 
• Area 2 Ready: The student is ready for a GE Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (2) course.
  • The student has met one or more multiple measures and is ready to enroll in a GE Area 2 course.
  • The student can enroll in major-related or GE courses requiring Area 2 Ready as a prerequisite. 
  • A grade of C- or higher is required. See the chart below and review Area 2 for My Major for advice specific to each program.
  • Area 2 courses are often paired lecture and discussion components and have designated class schedule sections.
• Area 2 Ready with Support: The student is ready for a GE Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (2) course with a paired support lab.
  • Based on multiple measures, the student has been placed into a GE Area 2 with Support course and can benefit from academic support while enrolled in the Area 2 course.
  • A grade of C- or higher is required. See the chart below and review Area 2 for My Major for advice specific to each program. 
  • Area 2 with Support courses are paired lecture, discussion, and lab courses with designated class schedule sections. The support lab utilizes credit/no credit grading and is nonbaccalaureate level, so it is not counted toward overall degree units completed; however, it does count for financial aid credit.
  • After completing an Area 2 Ready with Support course, the student will be cleared as Area 2 Ready, allowing enrollment into major-related or GE courses requiring Area 2 Ready as a prerequisite.

Important Information

• ALEKS PPL is a software product used to study and practice math concepts and as an assessment tool. At Chico State, ALEKS PPL is utilized for placement into calculus, boosting into a higher Area 2 placement level, or preparing for Area 2 courses.
• To assess with ALEKS PPL, students must complete three steps: an initial knowledge check (unproctored), study hours in personalized learning modules, and a proctored assessment. 
• For Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors, assessing with ALEKS PPL is critical. To enroll in MATH 120 or MATH 109, students must have course prerequisites, test credits, or a qualifying ALEKS PPL assessment. Starting the assessment process early and investing time in studying may reduce the courses needed to prepare for calculus and strengthen mathematical abilities. 
• For students with an Area 2 Ready with Support placement level who believe their multiple measures-informed placement level does not accurately reflect their abilities, an ALEKS PPL assessment can boost placement to Area 2 Ready.
• Review the Mathematics & Statistics Department website for information and direct questions regarding Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning placement and ALEKS PPL to the department. 

Course List

Course	Title	Units
GE Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (2)
Students must earn a C- or higher to meet the GE Area 2 requirement
BSIS 111	Data Literacy	3
FINA 101	Personal Financial Literacy	3
MATH 101	Patterns of Mathematical Thought	3
MATH 105	Introduction to Statistics	3
MATH 107	Finite Mathematics for Business	3
MATH 108	Statistics of Business and Economics	3
MATH 109	Survey of Calculus	4
MATH 110	Concepts and Structures of Mathematics	3
MATH 116	College Algebra	4
MATH 118	Trigonometry	3
MATH 119	Precalculus Mathematics	4
MATH 120	Analytic Geometry and Calculus	4
Area 2 Ready with Support students must enroll in the paired support lab when taking an Area 2 course.
MATH 1L	Support Course for MATH 101 (Paired with MATH 101)	1
MATH 5L	Support Course for MATH 105 (Paired with MATH 105)	1
MATH 7L	Support Course for MATH 107 (Paired with MATH 107)	1
MATH 10L	Support Course for MATH 110 (Paired with MATH 110)	1
MATH 16L	Support Course for MATH 116 (Paired with MATH 116)	1