American Institutions Requirement

The American Institutions requirement is based on the premise that any student graduating from the CSU should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States and the State of California. This requirement, which was put in place by the State of California, is laid out in California State University Executive Order 1061. The original mandate appears in the State Education Code Title 5, Section 40404. Students may complete waiver exams or coursework to satisfy the requirements. Consult the Testing Office for information about the waiver examinations. Students should consult an academic advisor to determine which of the various course combinations are best for their undergraduate major.

Courses in American Institutions (US 123) should meet one or more of the following requirements (0-6 units):

1 U.S. History
2 U.S. Constitution
3 California Government

Students enrolled in these courses should develop civic skills, interests, and values through exposure to diverse perspectives on the historical events and political processes that have shaped the social, economic, and political systems in which they live.

Students should be able to apply their values, skills, and knowledge of the historical development of the United States, American institutions and ideals, and the processes of state and local government to multicultural, community, and environmental interests.

Courses may satisfy General Education Requirements 3B, 4, UD 3, and/or UD 4 as specified by the Course Note Abbreviations in parentheses.

US123 Sequence Courses

U.S. History + U.S. Constitution + California Government (US123)

These courses may satisfy General Education Area 4 and US123 requirements. All courses in the sequence must be completed to satisfy the requirement.

African American Studies Sequence (6 units)

AFAM 2A - African Americans and the Development of America’s History and Government 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D)
AFAM 2B - African Americans and the Development of America’s History and Government 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D, and US123)

Asian American History Sequence (6 units)

AAS 33A - Asian Americans in U.S. History I 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D)
AAS 33B - Asian Americans in U.S. History II 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D, and US123)

Chicana and Chicano Studies Sequence (6 units)

CCS 10A - Mexican Americans and the Development of U.S. History and Government 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D)
CCS 10B - Mexican Americans and the Development of U.S. History and Government 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D, and US123)

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Sequence (6 units)

WGSS 16A - Women of Color in United States History I 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D)
WGSS 16B - Women of Color in U.S. History II 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D, and US123)

US123 Courses

U.S. History (US1)

In addition to US1, these courses may also satisfy General Education Area 3B, 4, and/or UD 4 as specified by the course note abbreviations in parenthesis.

AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3B / Formerly Area C2, and US 1)
HIST 15 - Essentials of U.S. History 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D, and US 1)
HIST 20A - History of the American People 3 unit(s) (US1)
HIST 20B - History of the American People 3 unit(s) (US1)
HIST 170 - Topics in American History 3 unit(s) (US1)
HIST 170S - Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S, and US1)
HIST 188 - History of Women in the United States 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S, and US1)

U.S. Constitution + California Government (US23)

In addition to US23, these courses may also satisfy General Education Area 3B, 4, and/or UD 3 as specified by the course note abbreviations in parenthesis.

AMS 11 - Visions of Democracy 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D, and US23)
POLS 1 - American Government 3 unit(s) (US23)
POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D, and US23)
POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3B / Formerly Area C2, and US23)
POLS 170V - American Politics in Global Perspective 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V, and US23)

California Government (US3)

These courses only satisfy US3.

HIST 189A - California History to 1900 4 unit(s) (US3)
HIST 189B - California History Since 1900 4 unit(s) (US3)
POLS 102 - State Government and Politics 4 unit(s) (US3)