De Anza Local AA/AS General Education 2026–2027

Effective: Fall 2026 through Summer 2027

Graduation requirements for the A.A./A.S. degree include:

  • Demonstrated proficiency in reading and written expression (Requirement satisfied through Area A1 below).
  • Demonstrated proficiency in mathematics (Requirement satisfied through Area 2 below). May also be met by:
    • completing MATH 109 or 114 or 130 or equivalent or higher with a grade of C or better
    • an AP (Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Calculus BC/AB subscore or Statistics) exam score of 3 or higher
    • an IB Mathematics HL exam score of 4 or higher
    • a CLEP (College Algebra, College Algebra-Trigonomety, Pre-calculus or Calculus) exam score of 50 or higher
  • A passing Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam score may be used to meet certain GE Areas.
  • Completion of General Education requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Local GE Areas Overview

Complete all seven areas for a total of 29–41 quarter units.

Area 1

English Communication — 8–10 units. Select 1 course from English Communication (1A) and 1 from Oral Communication and Critical Thinking (1B).

Area 2

Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning — 4–5 units. Select 1 course.

Area 3

Arts and Humanities — 4–5 units. Select 1 course.

Area 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences — 4–6 units. Select 1 course.

Area 5

Natural Sciences — 4-6 units. Select 1 course.

Area 6

Ethnic Studies — 4 units. Select 1 course.

Area 7

Physical/Mental Wellness and Personal Development — 1-5 units. Minimum of 1 quarter unit.

Approved Courses by Area

Expand each area to view approved De Anza courses.

Courses approved for more than one area may only be used to fulfill one requirement.

Area 1: English Communication (8–10 Quarter Units)

Select 2 courses total — one course from each group below.

Group 1A — English Composition

Group 1A Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
ENGL / ESL

ENGL C1000, C1000H, ESL 5

Group 1B — Oral Communication and Critical Thinking 

Group 1B Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
COMM

C1000, C1000H, 8 9, 9H, 10, 10H, 15, 15H
EDUC

46
ENGL

C1001, C1001H
MATH

17, 44, 46
PHIL

3, 4, 7, 7H
STAT

C1000, C1000H

Area 2: Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning (4–5 Quarter Units)

Select 1 course from the list below. AP/IB Exam Credit accepted.

Area 2 Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
MATH

1A, 1AH, 1B, 1BH, 1C, 1CH, 1D, 1DH, 2A, 2AH, 2B, 2BH, 11, 11H, 12, 17, 22, 22H, 23, 31, 31H, 32, 32H, 44
POLI

20
PSYC

15
SOC

15
STAT

C1000, C1000H

Area 3: Arts and Humanities (4–5 Quarter Units)

Select 1 course from the list below.

Group 3A Arts Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
AFAM

11, 25
ARTS

1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2F, 2G, 2H, 2J, 3TC, 3TE
ASAM

20, 21, 32, 40, 41

CETH

8, 13, 19

CHLX

13, 26, 35

DANC

  • 38A

ELIT

8, 10, 10H, 11, 17, 17H, 19, 21, 22, 24, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 41H, 46A, 46AH, 46B, 46BH, 46C, 46CH, 47A, 47B, 48A, 48AH, 48B, 48BH, 48C, 48CH

E S

  • 2, 3

F/TV

1, 1H, 2A, 2AH, 2AW, 2AWH, 2B, 2BH, 2BW, 2BWH, 2C, 2CH, 2CW, 2CWH, 3A, 4, 5, 7

HNDI

1, 2, 3

HIST

3A, 3AH, 3B, 3BH, 3C, 3CH, 6A, 6AH, 6B, 6BH, 6C, 6CH, 17A, 17AH, 17B, 17BH, 17C, 17CH

HUMI

  • 1, 1H, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 9H, 10, 13,15, 16, 18, 18H, 20

ITAL

1, 2, 3

JAPN

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

KORE

1, 2, 3

LING

1

MAND

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55A, 55B, 56A, 56B

MUSI

  • 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 5

NAIS

  • 13, 14, 15, 32

PERS

1

PHIL

1, 2, 8, 8H, 11, 20A, 20B, 20C, 24, 30, 49

PHTG

  • 7, 21

READ

10

RUSS

1, 2, 3

SIGN

1, 2, 3

SPAN

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

THEA

  • 1

VIET

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

WMST

  • 3C, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 31, 49
 

Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences (4–5 Quarter Units)

Select 1 course from the list below.

Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
ADMJ
  • 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 29
AFAM
  • 10, 12A, 12B, 25
ANTH
  • 2, 2H, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 68
ARTS
  • 3TC
ASAM
  • 1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 30, 33
BUS

21
CETH
  • 8, 10, 11, 19, 29, 50
CHLX
  • 10, 11, 12, 26
C D

10G, 10H, 12
COMM
  • 7, 7H, 16, 16H, 17, 17H
CIS 2
ECON
  • C2001, C2001H, C2002, C2002H, 3, 3H, 4, 5
E S
  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 50
F/TV
  • 10, 10H
GEO
  • 4, 5, 10
HIST
  • 3A, 3AH, 3B, 3BH, 3C, 3CH, 6A, 6AH, 6B, 6BH, 6C, 6CH, 7A, 7B, 9, 9H, 10, 10H, 16A, 16B, 17A, 17AH, 17B, 17BH, 17C, 17CH, 19A, 19B
HUMA
  • 10, 10H, 30
ICS
  • 2A, 2B, 17, 17H, 19, 25, 26, 27, 27H, 36
INTL
  • 1, 5, 33
JOUR
  • 2
KNES
  • 47
NAIS
  • 11, 12, 16, 31
PARA 3
POLI

2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 17H
POLS

C1000, C1000H
PSYC
  • C1000, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10G, 10H, 11, 12, 14, 24
SOC
  • 1, 5, 14, 20, 28, 29, 35
WMST
  • 1, 3C, 8, 9, 9H, 12, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31

Area 5: Natural Sciences (4–6 Quarter Units)

Select 1 course from either of the lists below. 

Biological Sciences

Group 5A Physical Sciences Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
ANTH

1, 1H, 1/1L(1), 1H/1L(1), 7
BIOL

6A(1), 6AH(1), 6B(1), 6C(1), 6CH(1), 10(1), 10H(1), 11(1), 13(1), 40C(1)
ESCI

1, 1/1L(1), 19(1)
E S
  • 2, 50

Physical Sciences

Group 5A Physical Sciences Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
ASTR

4, 4/15L(1), 10, 10/15L(1)
CHEM

1A(1), 1AH(1), 10(1), 25(1)
GEO
  • 1
GEOL

10(1), 11(1), 20
MET

10, 10/10L(1), 10/20L(1), 12, 12/20L(1)
PHYS

2A(1), 4A(1), 10

1 Includes a lab

Area 6: Ethnic Studies (4 Quarter Units)

Select 1 course from the list below.

Area 6 Ethnic Studies Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
ADMJ
  • 29
AFAM
  • 10, 11
ASAM
  • 1, 11
CETH
  • 10, 29
CHLX
  • 10
NAIS
  • 12

Area 7: Physical/Mental Wellness & Personal Development (1 Quarter Unit)

Select 1 course from either of the lists below. 

Personal Development

Area 6 Ethnic Studies Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
ANTH
  • 2, 2H
ARTS
  • 4A, 14A, 15A, 16A, 18A, 37A 53, 54, 58A
BUS
  • 56
C D
  • 61, 64
COMM
  • 16, 16H
CIS
  • 2
CLP 5, 7
E S 2
HLT 21
HIST 9, 9H
HUMA 10, 10H, 20, 30
HUMI 16
KNES 45, 46, 47, 48, 50A, 52, 53, 54
MUSI 6A, 9A, 12A, 13A, 14A, 17, 20, 21, 31, 34, 35
NUTR 10
PHTG 1, 4
PSYC 8, 9, 11, 12, 14
READ 10
THEA 20A, 80A
WMST 1, 9, 9H, 12

Physical Activities

Area 6 Ethnic Studies Approved Courses by Department
Department Approved Courses
DANC
  • 22, 22K, 22L, 22M, 23A, 23B, 23C, 23L, 23M, 23N, 24A, 24B, 24C, 25A, 25B, 37A, 37B, 37C
KNES
  • 1A, 1B, 1C, 1CX, 1D, 1DX, 2A, 2AX, 2B, 2BX, 5A, 5AX, 5B, 5BX, 6A, 6AX, 9A, 9AX, 9B, 9BX, 11A, 11AX,12D, 12DX, 12E, 12EX, 12G, 15A, 15AX, 15C, 15CX, 15E, 15EX, 16A, 16AX, 17A, 17AX, 19A, 19AX, 19B, 19BX,19D, 19DX, 19E, 19EX, 19G, 19GX, 20A, 20AX, 22A, 22AX, 22B, 22BX, 22C, 22CX, 22D, 22DX, 22E, 22EX, 25A, 25AX, 25B, 25BX, 26A, 26AX, 26B, 26BX, 29A, 29B, 31A, 31AX, 31B, 31BX, 31C, 31CX, 31J, 31JX, 31K, 31KX, 31L, 31LX, 31M, 31MX, 32A, 32AX, 32B, 32BX, 32C, 32CX, 32D, 32DX, 36A, 36AX, 37A, 37AX, 37B, 37BX, 37C, 37CX, 37D, 37DX, 37E, 38A, 38AX, 38B, 38BX, 38C, 38CX, 38D, 38DX, 39A, 39AX, 39B, 39BX, 39C, 39CX, 39DX, 40B, 40BX, 40C, 40CX
P E
  • 32B, 32BX, 32F, 32G, 32HX, 32I, 32IX, 32J, 32JX, 32K, 32L, 32LX, 32M, 32MX, 32N, 32P, 32S, 32SX, 32V, 32VX, 37, 37X, 37Y, 38W, 38WX, 38WY, 39M, 39MX, 39MY, 39W, 39WX, 39WY, 40, 40X, 41, 41X, 41Y, 42W, 42WX, 42WY, 43, 43X, 43Y, 44M, 44MX, 44MY, 44W, 44WX, 44WY, 45, 45X, 45Y, 46, 46X, 46Y, 47M, 47MX, 47MY
PEA
  • 1, 1X, 2, 2X, 4, 4X, 5, 5X, 15, 15X, 15Y, 15Z

Ready to complete your degree?

Meet with a counselor to plan your coursework, confirm your pathway, and submit graduation application.

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