NEW Requirements at SWC
Changes Are Coming in Fall 2025!
Whether you're a continuous student at SWC or a new student who has never taken a SWC course, changes are coming in Fall 2025 you'll want to know about.
Meet Cal-GETC
The University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges systems have created a single, general education pattern for students who plan to transfer to a CSU or UC. The California General Education Transfer Curriculum, or Cal-GETC, takes the place of the CSU Breadth and IGETC patterns beginning in Fall 2025. Here are the Cal-GETC general education areas.
AREA 1 - ENGLISH COMMUNICATION
Students must take three courses: one English Composition, one Critical Thinking and Composition, and one Oral Communication (at least 9 units)
- 1A: ENGLISH COMPOSITION: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
- 1B: CRITICAL THINKING AND COMPOSITION: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
- 1C: ORAL COMMUNICATION: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
AREA 2 - MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS AND QUANTITATIVE REASONING
Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
AREA 3 - ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Students must take two courses: one Arts and one Humanities (at least 6 units)
- 3A: ARTS: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
- 3B: HUMANITIES: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
AREA 4 - SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Students must take two courses in two differnt academic disciplines (at least 6 units)
AREA 5 - PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Students must take two courses: one Physical Science and one Biological Science. One of the two courses must be associated with a one-semester laboratory (at least 7 units)
- 5A: PHYSICAL SCIENCE: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
- 5B: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
- 5C: LABORATORY: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
AREA 6 鈥� ETHNIC STUDIES
Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
New Requirements To Earn an Associate Degree
Recent changes in state and local requirements for students to earn an associate degree will take effect in Fall 2025. If you're a student who has not taken an SWC course before Fall 2025, you will meet these requirements. For continous students who have taken a course prior to Fall 2025, your catalog rights will determine what requirements you have to earn your associates degree. See the FAQ below for more information.
For detailed course information, visit the 2025-2026 色界吧 Catalog.
I am a new student in Fall 2025. What do I need to know about associate degree requirements?
- I am required to complete 60 units, including at least 21 units of general education, to earn my associate degree.
- I will follow the Cal-GETC General Education Pattern and complete at least 60 units in order to transfer.
- I will complete three units of coursework that fulfills the Lifelong Learning and Wellness Graduation Requirement.
- I will complete an Ethnic Studies course to meet the Ethnic Studies General Education Area. I may use this course to fulfill one general education area or a major requirement.
- I need to earn a grade of C or better in all Cal-GETC and/or associate degree general education classes.
I have taken classes before Fall 2025. What do I need to know about associate degree requirements?
- I am required to complete 60 units, including at least 18 units of general education, to earn my associate degree.
- I may choose to follow the Cal-GETC General Education Pattern or complete the IGETC or CSU Breadth pattern I've already begun.
- I am not required to complete three units of coursework to fulfill the Lifelong Learning and Wellness Graduation Requirement.
- I will complete an Ethnic Studies course to meet the Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement. I may use this course to fulfill more than one general education area or a major requirement.
New Course Names! New Course Numbers!
Beginning in Fall 2025 some of the college's most popular courses will have new numbers and names. The California Community College system has adopted a naming and numbering system that all colleges in the state will use for the most common general education courses. The Common Course Numbering (CCN) system will ensure that students take the correct classes they need for an associate degree or to transfer no matter what community college they attend. The CCN system will result in a smoother transfer process by reducing confusion over how courses transfer or meet degree requirements, making it easier for students to choose courses that align with their goals. The six courses below will appear in the Fall 2025 catalog with their new names.
| Current Course Number & Name Prior to Fall 2025 |
New Course Number & Name Beginning in Fall 2025 |
|---|---|
| COMM 104 Public Speaking |
COMM C1000 Introduction to Public Speaking |
| ENGL 115 College Composition: Reading and Writing Analytically |
ENGL C1000 Academic Reading and Writing |
| ENGL 116 Critical Thinking and Argument |
ENGL C1001 Critical Thinking and Writing |
| MATH 119 Elementary Statistics |
STAT C1000 Introduction to Statistics |
| PS 102 Introduction to American Government and Politics |
POLS C1000 American Government and Politics |
| PSYC 101 General Psychology |
PSYC C1000 Introduction to Psychology |
New Requirements FAQs
More FAQs will be posted soon. Check back periodically for new information.
Have more questions? Contact an academic counselor for further guidance. For detailed course information, view the 2025-2026 色界吧 online catalog (available Summer 2025).