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MiraCosta
Plan A
Plan A
MiraCosta College General Education Requirements 2024–2025
Plan A will satisfy general education requirements at MiraCosta College but will not satisfy all general education requirements for transfer to a CSU or UC campus and is not intended for students transferring to a four-year institution.
Area 1—English Composition, Oral Communication, & Critical Thinking
1A. English Composition
A minimum of 3 semester units is required.
| Required courses: | ||
| ENGL 100 | Composition and Reading | 4 |
| or ENGL 100H | Composition and Reading (Honors) | |
1B. Oral Communication & Critical Thinking
A minimum of 3 semester units is required. Select one course from any discipline.
| Required courses: | ||
| COMM 101 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 106 | Group Communication | 3 |
| COMM 190 | Introduction to Persuasion | 3 |
| COMM 207 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 212 | Argumentation | 3 |
| ENGL 201 | Critical Thinking, Composition, and Literature | 4 |
| or ENGL 201H | Critical Thinking, Composition, and Literature (Honors) | |
| ENGL 202 | Critical Thinking and Composition | 4 |
| or ENGL 202H | Critical Thinking and Composition (Honors) | |
| PHIL 100 | Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
| PHIL 110 | Introduction to Logic | 3 |
| or PHIL 110H | Introduction to Logic (Honors) | |
| PSYC 105 | Critical Thinking in Psychology | 3 |
| READ 100 | Critical Reading and Thinking | 3 |
Area 2—Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning
A minimum of 3 semester units is required. Select one course from any discipline.
| Required courses: | ||
| BUS 147 | Personal Finance | 3 |
| BUS 204 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| or BUS 204H | Business Statistics (Honors) | |
| BTEC 180 | Biostatistics | 4 |
| or BTEC 180H | Biostatistics (Honors) | |
| CSIT 123 | Introduction to Data Analytics | 3 |
| MATH 102 | Math Fundamentals: Mathematics for Life | 3 |
| MATH 103 | Statistics | 4 |
| or MATH 103H | Statistics (Honors) | |
| or MATH 103S | Statistics with Integrated Support | |
| MATH 105 | Concepts and Structures of Elementary Mathematics I | 3 |
| MATH 106 | Concepts and Structures of Elementary Mathematics II | 3 |
| MATH 112 | Algebraic Concepts for Problem Solving | 3 |
| MATH 115 | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH 126 | Pre-Calculus I: College Algebra | 4 |
| or MATH 126S | Pre-Calculus I: College Algebra with Integrated Support | |
| MATH 131 | Pre-Calculus II: Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry | 4 |
| or MATH 131H | Pre-Calculus II: Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry (Honors) | |
| MATH 135 | Pre-Calculus Mathematics | 6 |
| MATH 150 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 5 |
| or MATH 150H | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (Honors) | |
| or MATH 150S | Calculus and Analytical Geometry I with Integrated Support | |
| MATH 155 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| or MATH 155H | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (Honors) | |
| MATH 260 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry III | 4 |
| or MATH 260H | Calculus and Analytic Geometry III (Honors) | |
| PHAR 201 | Pharmacology Essentials for Nursing Practice | 3 |
| PSYC 104 | Statistics for Behavioral Science | 4 |
| or PSYC 104H | Statistics for Behavioral Science (Honors) | |
| SOC 125 | Introduction to Statistics in Sociology | 4 |
Area 3—Arts & Humanities
These courses study the cultural activities and artistic expressions of human beings and develop the following:
- An awareness of how people throughout the ages and in different cultures respond to themselves and the world around them in artistic and cultural creation.
- Aesthetic understandings.
- An ability to make value judgments.
A minimum of 3 semester units is required. Select one course from any discipline.
| Required courses: | ||
| ART 100 | Drawing and Composition | 3 |
| ART 101 | Design and Color | 3 |
| ART 103 | 3D Design | 3 |
| ART 104 | Artists & Designers Now | 3 |
| ART 157 | Art Orientation | 3 |
| ART 158 | Traditional Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas | 3 |
| ART 159 | Pre-Columbian Art | 3 |
| or ART 159H | Pre-Columbian Art (Honors) | |
| ART 201 | Objects and Ideas in Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ART 232 | Video Art | 3 |
| ART 244 | Digital Media for the Visual Artist | 3 |
| ART 254 | Understanding and Appreciating the Photographic Image | 3 |
| ART 258 | Ancient to Gothic Art | 3 |
| ART 259 | History of Renaissance to Modern Art | 3 |
| ART 260 | History of Modern Art | 3 |
| or ART 260H | History of Modern Art (Honors) | |
| ART 290 | Landmarks of Art | 3 |
| AUTO 110 | History of the Automobile | 3 |
| CCS 100 | Introduction to Chicana/o Studies | 3 |
| CCS 232 | Critical Issues in Chicana and Latina Studies | 3 |
| COMM 111 | Narrative Performance | 3 |
| COMM 150 | Communication, Culture, and Leadership | 3 |
| COMM 215 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| DESN 107 | History of Western Architecture-A Sustainable Perspective | 3 |
| DESN 108 | World Architecture | 3 |
| DNCE 100 | Dance Appreciation | 3 |
| or DNCE 100H | Dance Appreciation (Honors) | |
| DNCE 101 | Dance History | 3 |
| or DNCE 101H | Dance History (Honors) | |
| DNCE 104 | Dance on Film | 3 |
| or DNCE 104H | Dance on Film (Honors) | |
| DNCE 105 | Dance Cultures of the World | 3 |
| or DNCE 105H | Dance Cultures of the World (Honors) | |
| DRAM 105 | Introduction to Theatre | 3 |
| DRAM 130 | Acting I | 3 |
| DRAM 134 | Introduction to Performance | 3 |
| DRAM 222 | Introduction to Black Theater | 3 |
| ETHN 100 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| FILM 101 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
| or FILM 101H | Introduction to Film (Honors) | |
| FILM 106 | Study of Cinematic Adaptation | 3 |
| FILM 111 | Film History I: 1880-1948 | 3 |
| or FILM 111H | Film History I: 1880-1948 (Honors) | |
| FILM 112 | Film History II: 1948-Present | 3 |
| or FILM 112H | Film History II: 1948-Present (Honors) | |
| FILM 211 | Identity and Film: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality | 3 |
| or FILM 211H | Identity and Film: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality (Honors) | |
| FILM 212 | Women and Film: Representation and Impact | 3 |
| or FILM 212H | Women and Film: Representation and Impact (Honors) | |
| FREN 101 | Elementary French (First Semester) | 4 |
| FREN 102 | Elementary French (Second Semester) | 4 |
| FREN 121 | Introduction to French Culture | 3 |
| FREN 201 | Intermediate French (Third Semester) | 4 |
| FREN 202 | Intermediate French (Fourth Semester) | 4 |
| GRMN 101 | Elementary German (First Semester) | 4 |
| GRMN 102 | Elementary German (Second Semester) | 4 |
| GRMN 121 | Introduction to German Culture | 3 |
| GRMN 201 | Intermediate German (Third Semester) | 4 |
| HIST 103 | Early European History and Culture | 3 |
| or HIST 103H | Early European History and Culture (Honors) | |
| HIST 104 | Modern European History and Culture | 3 |
| or HIST 104H | Modern European History and Culture (Honors) | |
| HUMN 101 | Introduction to the Arts | 3 |
| or HUMN 101H | Introduction to the Arts (Honors) | |
| HUMN 201 | Cultural Eras in the Humanities: Prehistory to 1600 | 3 |
| HUMN 202 | Humanities of the Western World: The Renaissance to the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| HUMN 205 | Women in Western Art and Literature | 3 |
| ITAL 101 | Elementary Italian (First Semester) | 4 |
| ITAL 102 | Elementary Italian (Second Semester) | 4 |
| ITAL 121 | Introduction to Italian Culture | 3 |
| ITAL 201 | Intermediate Italian (Third Semester) | 4 |
| ITAL 202 | Intermediate Italian (Fourth Semester) | 4 |
| JAPN 101 | Elementary Japanese (First Semester) | 4 |
| or JAPN 101H | Elementary Japanese (First Semester) (Honors) | |
| JAPN 102 | Elementary Japanese (Second Semester) | 4 |
| JAPN 121 | Introduction to Japanese Culture | 3 |
| JAPN 123 | Japanese Anime and Manga | 3 |
| or JAPN 123H | Japanese Anime and Manga (Honors) | |
| JAPN 201 | Intermediate Japanese (Third Semester) | 4 |
| JAPN 202 | Intermediate Japanese (Fourth Semester) | 4 |
| LIT 100 | Introduction to Chicano Chicana Literature | 3 |
| LIT 101 | Introduction to Asian American Literature | 3 |
| LIT 120 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| LIT 122 | Introduction to African American Literature | 3 |
| LIT 250 | American Literature: First Contact Through the Civil War | 3 |
| or LIT 250H | American Literature: First Contact Through the Civil War (Honors) | |
| LIT 251 | American Literature: Mid-1800s to the Present | 3 |
| or LIT 251H | American Literature: Mid-1800s to the Present (Honors) | |
| LIT 260 | English Literature Through the 18th Century | 3 |
| or LIT 260H | English Literature Through the 18th Century (Honors) | |
| LIT 261 | English Literature: Romantic to Contemporary | 3 |
| or LIT 261H | English Literature: Romantic to Contemporary (Honors) | |
| LIT 265 | Shakespeare Studies | 3 |
| or LIT 265H | Shakespeare Studies (Honors) | |
| LIT 270 | World Literature to 1600 | 3 |
| or LIT 270H | World Literature to 1600 (Honors) | |
| LIT 271 | World Literature Since 1600 | 3 |
| MAT 105 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Introduction to Music Theory | 3 |
| MUS 112 | American Popular Music | 3 |
| MUS 113 | The Music of America | 3 |
| MUS 114 | History of Rock and Roll | 3 |
| MUS 115 | History of Classical Music | 3 |
| MUS 116 | A Survey of World Music | 3 |
| MUS 119 | Jazz History | 3 |
| or MUS 119H | Jazz History (Honors) | |
| NAIS 100 | Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies | 3 |
| PACS 100 | Introduction to Pacific Islander and Oceania Studies | 3 |
| PHIL 101 | Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality | 3 |
| or PHIL 101H | Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality (Honors) | |
| PHIL 102 | Contemporary Moral Problems | 3 |
| PHIL 221 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| RELG 101 | World Religions | 3 |
| or RELG 101H | World Religions (Honors) | |
| RELG 103 | Religion in America | 3 |
| RELG 105 | Eastern Religions | 3 |
| SOC 232 | Critical Issues in Chicana and Latina Studies | 3 |
| SPAN 101 | Elementary Spanish (First Semester) | 4 |
| SPAN 102 | Elementary Spanish (Second Semester) | 4 |
| SPAN 201 | Intermediate Spanish (Third Semester) | 4 |
| SPAN 202 | Intermediate Spanish (Fourth Semester) | 4 |
| SPAN 205 | Hispanic Film, Literature, and Composition | 3 |
| SPAN 221 | Spanish for Native Speakers | 4 |
| SPAN 222 | Spanish for Native Speakers II | 4 |
Area 4—Social & Behavioral Sciences
These courses focus on people as members of society and accomplish the following:
- Develop awareness of the methods of inquiry used by the social and behavioral sciences.
- Stimulate critical thinking about the ways people act and have acted in response to their societies.
- Promote appreciation of how societies and social subgroups operate.
A minimum of 3 semester units is required. Select one course from any discipline.
| Required courses: | ||
| ADM 100 | Introduction to the Administration of Justice | 3 |
| ADM 200 | Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
| ANTH 102 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| or ANTH 102H | Cultural Anthropology (Honors) | |
| ANTH 103 | Introduction to Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 104 | Native American Cultures | 3 |
| ANTH 105 | Evolution of Human Behavior | 3 |
| or ANTH 105H | Evolution of Human Behavior (Honors) | |
| ANTH 107 | Gender, Sex, and Sexuality | 3 |
| ANTH 120 | Global Health | 3 |
| ANTH 190 | Primate Behavior and Ecology | 3 |
| AUTO 111 | Car Culture | 3 |
| CCS 100 | Introduction to Chicana/o Studies | 3 |
| CCS 232 | Critical Issues in Chicana and Latina Studies | 3 |
| CHLD 113 | Child and Adolescent Growth and Development | 3 |
| CHLD 235 | Children in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| COMM 120 | Principles of Human Communication | 3 |
| COMM 135 | Gender Studies in Communication | 3 |
| COMM 220 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3 |
| CSIT 160 | Technology, the Individual, and Society | 3 |
| ECON 100 | Survey of Economics | 3 |
| ECON 101 | Principles of Economics: MACRO | 3 |
| ECON 102 | Principles of Economics: MICRO | 3 |
| ETHN 100 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| GEOG 102 | People, Place, and Time: Introduction to Human Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 104 | World Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 108 | Environmental Sustainability and Society | 3 |
| GERO 101 | Introduction to Aging | 3 |
| GERO 250 | Intergenerational Issues | 3 |
| HIST 100 | World History to 1500 | 3 |
| or HIST 100H | World History to 1500 (Honors) | |
| HIST 101 | World History Since 1500 | 3 |
| or HIST 101H | World History Since 1500 (Honors) | |
| HIST 102 | History of the Modern Middle East | 3 |
| or HIST 102H | History of the Modern Middle East (Honors) | |
| HIST 105 | History of England | 3 |
| or HIST 105H | History of England (Honors) | |
| HIST 107 | East Asian Societies | 3 |
| HIST 110 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| or HIST 110H | United States History to 1877 (Honors) | |
| HIST 111 | United States History Since 1877 | 3 |
| or HIST 111H | United States History Since 1877 (Honors) | |
| HIST 113 | American Military History | 3 |
| or HIST 113H | American Military History (Honors) | |
| HIST 115 | Women in American History | 3 |
| or HIST 115H | Women in American History (Honors) | |
| HIST 116 | History of the Americas to 1830 | 3 |
| or HIST 116H | History of the Americas to 1830 (Honors) | |
| HIST 117 | History of the Americas Since 1830 | 3 |
| or HIST 117H | History of the Americas Since 1830 (Honors) | |
| HIST 141 | Mexican American History Through 1877 | 3 |
| or HIST 141H | Mexican American History Through 1877 (Honors) | |
| HIST 142 | Mexican American History Since 1877 | 3 |
| or HIST 142H | Mexican American History Since 1877 (Honors) | |
| HIST 145 | African American History to 1877 | 3 |
| or HIST 145H | African American History to 1877 (Honors) | |
| HIST 146 | African American History Since 1877 | 3 |
| or HIST 146H | African American History Since 1877 (Honors) | |
| HIST 165 | California History | 3 |
| NAIS 100 | Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies | 3 |
| PACS 100 | Introduction to Pacific Islander and Oceania Studies | 3 |
| PLSC 101 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| or PLSC 101H | Introduction to Political Science (Honors) | |
| PLSC 102 | American Institutions and History | 4 |
| PLSC 103 | Comparative Government | 3 |
| PLSC 150 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PSYC 100 | Psychology of Personal Growth | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| or PSYC 101H | General Psychology (Honors) | |
| PSYC 103 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 114 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 115 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSYC 121 | Human Development | 3 |
| or PSYC 121H | Human Development (Honors) | |
| PSYC 125 | Psychology of Women | 3 |
| PSYC 170 | Psychology of Aging: Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| PSYC 211 | Learning and Behavior Modification | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or SOC 101H | Introduction to Sociology (Honors) | |
| SOC 102 | Contemporary Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 103 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 105 | Introduction to Justice Studies | 3 |
| SOC 120 | Introduction to Women's Studies | 3 |
| SOC 130 | Introduction to Gender Studies | 3 |
| SOC 140 | Introduction to LGBT Studies | 3 |
| SOC 232 | Critical Issues in Chicana and Latina Studies | 3 |
| SOC 250 | Introduction to Pacific Studies | 3 |
Area 5—Natural Sciences
These courses examine the physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena. They help students appreciate and understand the scientific method and the relationships between science and other human activities.
A minimum of 3 semester units is required. Select one course from any discipline. Courses with a laboratory component are identified with a #.
| Required courses: | ||
| ANTH 101 | Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| or ANTH 101H | Biological Anthropology (Honors) | |
| ANTH 101L | Biological Anthropology Laboratory # | 1 |
| or ANTH 101LH | Biological Anthropology Lab (Honors) | |
| ANTH 105 | Evolution of Human Behavior | 3 |
| or ANTH 105H | Evolution of Human Behavior (Honors) | |
| ANTH 190 | Primate Behavior and Ecology | 3 |
| ASTR 101 | Descriptive Astronomy | 3 |
| ASTR 101L | Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory # | 1 |
| ASTR 120 | Life in the Universe | 3 |
| BIO 102 | Introductory Biology: Ecology and Environmental Biology # | 4 |
| BIO 103 | Introductory Biology: Animal Diversity | 3 |
| BIO 104 | Introductory Biology: Botany (Plant Life) # | 4 |
| BIO 105 | Introductory Biology: Biotechnology in Society | 3 |
| BIO 107 | Introductory Biology: Marine Biology # | 4 |
| BIO 108 | Introductory Biology: Ocean Ecology and Sustainability | 3 |
| BIO 108L | Introductory Biology: Ocean Ecology and Sustainability Lab # | 1 |
| BIO 110 | Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lecture/Lab) # | 4 |
| BIO 111 | Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lecture) | 3 |
| BIO 111L | Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lab) # | 1 |
| BIO 202 | Foundations of Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity, and Organismal Biology # | 4 |
| BIO 204 | Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology # | 4 |
| or BIO 204H | Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology (Honors) | |
| BIO 220 | Human Physiology # | 4 |
| BTEC 108 | Biomanufacturing: From Gene to Product | 3 |
| or BTEC 108H | Biomanufacturing: From Gene to Product (Honors) | |
| CHEM 103 | Chemistry and Society: For Non-Science Majors | 3 |
| CHEM 103L | Chemistry and Society: For Non-Science Majors (Lab) # | 1 |
| CHEM 112 | Introductory General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: For Allied Health Majors # | 5 |
| CHEM 115 | Introductory General Chemistry: For Allied Health Majors # | 4 |
| or CHEM 115H | Introductory General Chemistry: For Allied Health Majors (Honors) | |
| CHEM 116 | Introductory Organic and Biological Chemistry: For Allied Health Majors # | 4 |
| CHEM 140 | Preparation for General Chemistry: For Science Majors # | 4 |
| CHEM 150 | General Chemistry I: For Science Majors # | 5 |
| or CHEM 150H | General Chemistry I: For Science Majors (Honors) | |
| CHEM 151 | General Chemistry II: For Science Majors # | 5 |
| or CHEM 151H | General Chemistry II: For Science Majors (Honors) | |
| EART 106 | Earth and Space Science | 3 |
| or EART 106H | Earth and Space Science (Honors) | |
| GEOG 101 | Earth's Dynamic Environment: Introduction to Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 101L | Earth's Dynamic Environment: Introduction to Physical Geography Lab # | 1 |
| GEOG 155 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Techniques with Lab # | 4 |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology | 3 |
| or GEOL 101H | Physical Geology (Honors) | |
| GEOL 101L | Physical Geology Laboratory # | 1 |
| HORT 115 | Soil Science # | 3 |
| HORT 116 | Plant Science # | 4 |
| NURS 153 | Pathophysiology for Health Professions | 3 |
| NUTR 100 | Nutrition Today | 3 |
| or NUTR 100H | Nutrition Today (Honors) | |
| NUTR 120 | Principles of Food Science with Lab # | 3 |
| OCEA 101 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| or OCEA 101H | Introduction to Oceanography (Honors) | |
| OCEA 101L | Introductory Oceanography Laboratory # | 1 |
| PHSN 106 | Introduction to Physical Science: Physics and Chemistry | 3 |
| PHSN 108 | Introduction to Climate Change | 3 |
| or PHSN 108H | Introduction to Climate Change (Honors) | |
| PHYS 111 | Introductory Physics I # | 4 |
| or PHYS 111H | Introductory Physics I (Honors) | |
| PHYS 112 | Introductory Physics II # | 4 |
| or PHYS 112H | Introductory Physics II (Honors) | |
| PHYS 151 | Principles of Physics I # | 4 |
| or PHYS 151H | Principles of Physics I (Honors) | |
| PHYS 152 | Principles of Physics II # | 4 |
| or PHYS 152H | Principles of Physics II (Honors) | |
| PHYS 253 | Principles of Physics III # | 4 |
| or PHYS 253H | Principles of Physics III (Honors) | |
| PSYC 260 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
Area 6—Ethnic Studies
A minimum of 3 semester units is required. Select one course from any discipline.
| Required courses: | ||
| CCS 100 | Introduction to Chicana/o Studies | 3 |
| CCS 232 | Critical Issues in Chicana and Latina Studies | 3 |
| ETHN 100 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| ETHN 207 | Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOC 207 | Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOC 232 | Critical Issues in Chicana and Latina Studies | 3 |
Important Information
- This general education pattern is subject to change year by year, but students are assured that courses taken to meet this requirement will be honored if they are approved for the academic year that the course is completed. Courses on this list are approved effective fall 2024 and are valid through summer 2025.
- Credit will not be awarded for both the honors and the non-honors version of a course.
- Courses may be used to satisfy a general education and a major requirement.
- Courses listed in two different areas may be used in either area but not both.
Campus Locations
1831 Mission Avenue
Oceanside, CA 92058
760.795.8710
888.201.8480
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1 Barnard Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056
760.757.2121
888.201.8480
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3333 Manchester Avenue
Cardiff, CA 92007
760.944.4449
888.201.8480
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2075 Las Palmas Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92011
760.795.6820
888.201.8480
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