General Education Requirements
- Humanities Requirement
- Mathematics Requirement
- Natural Science Requirement
- Social Science
- Fine Arts
- Language Requirement
- Transfer Courses
Natural Science Requirement
Science, Engineering, and Mathematics majors are advised to take this requirement for a Letter Grade (unless not required by major).
Arts, Humanities, and Social Science majors may take the requirement Pass/Not Pass.
The Remote (R) version of an approved course will also be accepted.
Labs: labs are not required for General Education requirements for Revelle College, but they may be required by the department or your major. Check UCSD General Catalog for majors requiring specific labs.
*Course offerings are subject to change
Requirement for Students Admitted as FRESHMEN
Five courses to include:
- Biology - 1 course
- Chemistry - 1 course
- Physics - 1 course
- Natural Science - 2 additional courses from the approved list below
Requirement for Students Admitted as TRANSFER
Transfer students admitted prior to Fall 2024 had the same requirement as students admitted as Freshmen (5 courses – see above)
Transfer students admitted Fall 2024 and after:
Four courses to include:
- Biology/Chemistry/Physics: 2 courses from the approved list below from different disciplines in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
- Natural Science - 2 additional courses from the approved list below
Approved Courses
Biology
See projected schedule on the Biology website
| Course No. | Course Title |
|---|---|
| For Majors that Do Not Require Biology: | |
| BILD 7 | The Beginning of Life |
| BILD 10 | Fundamental Concepts of Modern Biology (No credit after BILD 1) |
| BILD 12/COGS 17 | Neurobiology and Behavior |
| BILD X13 | Human Anatomy (UCSD Extended Studies Course) |
| BILD 18 | Human Impact on the Environment |
| BILD 20 | Human Genetics in Modern Society |
| BILD 22 | Human Nutrition |
| BILD 26 | Human Physiology |
| BILD 28 | Immunology, Vaccines, and Immunotherapy |
| BILD 30 | Biology of Plagues: Past & Present |
| BILD 32 | Biology of Cancer |
| BILD 36 | AIDS Science and Society |
| BILD 38 | Dementia, Science, and Society |
| BILD 42 | Our Sustainable Future |
| BILD 44 | Scientific Perspectives for a Changing World |
| BILD 46 | Ecology of a Changing Planet |
| BILD 61 | Biology, Race and Society |
| For Majors that Require Biology: | |
| BILD 1 | The Cell (High school chemistry recommended) |
| BILD 2 | Multicellular Life (Prerequisite: BILD 1) |
| BILD 3 | Organismic and Evolutionary Biology |
| BILD 5 | Data Analysis and Design for Biologists |
| BILD 51 | Quantitative Biology Project Lab |
| BILD 60 | Exploring Issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Relation to Human Biology |
Chemistry
See projected schedule on the Chemistry website
| Course No. | Course Title |
|---|---|
| For Majors that Do Not Require Chemistry: | |
| CHEM 11 | The Periodic Table (No credit after CHEM 4; May be taken after CHEM 6A) |
| For Science Majors (with insufficient preparation): | |
| CHEM 4 |
Chemical Thinking - prep for CHEM 6A, no credit after CHEM 11 Restricted to first-year and sophomore enrollment |
| For Majors that Require Chemistry: | |
| CHEM 6A | General Chemistry (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| CHEM 6B | General Chemistry (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| CHEM 6C | General Chemistry (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| CHEM 6AH | Honors General Chemistry (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| CHEM 6BH | Honors General Chemistry (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| CHEM 6CH | Honors General Chemistry (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
Physics
See projected schedule on the Physics website and Astronomy website
| Course No. | Course Title |
|---|---|
| For Majors that Do Not Require Physics: | |
| ASTR 1 |
Stars and Black Holes Prior to FA24, offered as PHYS 5. GE approval given for either PHYS 5 or ASTR 1 (not both) |
| ASTR 2 |
Galaxies and the Universe Prior to FA24, offered as PHYS 7. GE approval given for either PHYS 7 or ASTR 2 (not both) |
| ASTR 3 |
Planetary Systems Near and Far Prior to FA24, offered as PHYS 9. GE approval given for either PHYS 9 or ASTR 3 (not both) |
| ASTR 4 |
Life in the Universe Prior to FA24, offered as PHYS 13. GE approval given for either PHYS 13 or ASTR 4 (not both) |
| PHYS 8 | Physics of Everyday Life |
| PHYS 10 | Concepts in Physics (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 11 | Survey of Physics (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 12 | Energy and the Environment |
| Acceptable for Biology Majors:
(Course and lab must be taken concurrently) |
|
| PHYS 1A PHYS 1AL |
Mechanics (3 Units) Mechanics Lab (2 Units) (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 1B PHYS 1BL |
Electricity and Magnetism (3 Units) Electricity and Magnetism Lab (2 Units) (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 1C PHYS 1CL |
Waves, Optics, and Modern Physics (3 Units) Waves, Optics, and Modern Physics Lab (2 Units) (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| For Some Engineering Majors (check with department), Physical Science Majors, and recommended for Molecular Biology Majors: | |
| PHYS 2A | Physics - Mechanics (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 2B | Physics - Electricity and Magnetism (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 2C | Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, Optics (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 2D | Physics - Relativity and Quantum Physics (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| ASTR 20A | Introduction to Astrophysics I (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| ASTR 20B | Introduction to Astrophysics II (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| For Physics Majors (and students with a strong interest in physics): | |
| PHYS 4A | Physics for Physics Majors - Mechanics (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 4B | Mechanics, Fluids, Waves & Heat (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 4C | Electricity and Magnetism (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 4D | Electromagnetic Waves, Optics, and Special Relativity (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
| PHYS 4E | Quantum Physics (Prerequisite: See Course Catalog) |
Environmental Sciences
See projected schedule on the SIO website
| Course No. | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ESYS 10 | Introduction to Environmental Systems |
| SIO 1 | The Planets |
| SIO 3 | Life in the Oceans |
| SIO 10 | The Earth |
| SIO 12 | History of the Earth and Evolution |
| SIO 15 | Natural Disasters |
| SIO 16 | Geology of the National Parks |
| SIO 20 | The Atmosphere |
| SIO 25 | Climate Change and Society |
| SIO 30 | The Oceans |
| SIO 35 | Water |
| SIO 40 | Life and Climate on Earth |
| SIO 45 | Volcanoes |
| SIO 46GS | Global Volcanism |
| SIO 50 | Introduction to Physical Geology |
| SIO 60 | Experiences in Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences |
| SIO 121GS | Geology of the Alps |
Philosophy
See projected schedule on the Philosophy website
| Course No. | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHIL 12 | Scientific Reasoning |
AP/IB Tests
