General Education (G.E.) is a program of courses in the arts and sciences that provides a broad educational experience.  Courses are usually introductory in nature and provide students with fundamental skills and knowledge in English, arts, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, physical and biological sciences.

Both Associate and Bachelor degrees require some amount of General Education.  Each institution has its own requirements and these requirements can vary within the institution according to the major.  For example, engineering and science majors may have less general education to complete at some universities.  For students who are undecided about a major and undecided about a transfer school, the IGETC or the CSU General Education pattern may be a good pattern with which to start.  The General Education required for the Associate Degree is a separate pattern. There are many similarities and differences among each of these patterns.  

Associate Degree General Education - A general education plan that is similar to, but less extensive than the CSU or IGETC plans.  Every community college has its own general education requirements.  At IVC it takes a minimum of 18 units to complete this requirement. (Link to PDF)

IGETC - The Intersegmental General Education Transfer curriculum (IGETC) is a general education plan which community college transfer students can use to fulfill lower-division general education requirements to either the UC, CSU system, private and out of -state institution. IGETC can also be used for students who are undecided as to where they will transfer and want to keep their options open.  It is not advisable for all majors (especially those with extensive lower-division major preparation, i.e. engineering). (Link to PDF)

CSU GE Pattern - A general education plan which community college transfer students can use to fulfill lower-division general education requirements to the CSU campuses (but not the UC campuses). Imperial Valley College can officially certify that a student has completed 39 units of lower-division general education by completing this pattern of courses. (Link to PDF)