NEW Requirements at SWC

New Course Names! New Course Numbers!

The California Community College system has adopted a naming and numbering system that all colleges in the state will use for the most common general education courses. The Common Course Numbering (CCN) system will ensure that students take the correct classes they need for an associate degree or to transfer no matter what community college they attend. The CCN system will result in a smoother transfer process by reducing confusion over how courses transfer or meet degree requirements, making it easier for students to choose courses that align with their goals. The courses list in the table below have been renumbered and renamed. Look for new names and numbers in Fall 2026 as well as recently changed course names and numbers.

Current Course Number & Name Prior to Fall 2026	New Course Number & Name Beginning in Fall 2026
ART 150 Art History Survey - Stone Age to the Ages of Faith	ART C1100 Survey of Western Art for Prehistory through the Middle Ages
ART 151 Art History-Renaissance to Contemporary	ART C1200 Survey of Western Art from Renaissance to Contemporary
ENGL 220 Introduction to Literature	ENGL C1002 Introduction to Literature
ECON 101 Principles of Economics I	ECON C2002 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 102 Principles of Economics II	ECON C2001 Principles of Microeconomics
HIST 100 American Civilization I	HIST C1001 United States History to 1877
HIST 101 American Civilization II	HIST C1002 United States History from 1865
MATH 250 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I	MATH C2210 Calculus I: Early Transcendentals
MATH 251 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II	MATH C2220 Calculus II: Early Transcendentals
Current Course Number & Name Prior to Fall 2025	New Course Number & Name Beginning in Fall 2025
COMM 104 Public Speaking	COMM C1000 Introduction to Public Speaking
ENGL 115 College Composition: Reading and Writing Anallyticaly	ENGL C1000 Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL 116 Critical Thinking and Argument	ENGL C1001 Critical Thinking and Writing
MATH 119 Elementary Statistics	STAT C1000 Introduction to Statistic
PS 102 Introduction to American Government and Politics	POLS C1000 American Government and Politics
PSYC 101 General Psychology	PSYC C1000 Introduction to Psychology

Learn more about the Common Course Numbering Initiative below!

Changes Are Coming in Fall 2025!

Whether you're a continuous student at SWC or a new student who has never taken a SWC course, changes are coming in Fall 2025 you'll want to know about.

New Requirements To Earn an Associate Degree

Recent changes in state and local requirements for students to earn an associate degree will take effect in Fall 2025. If you're a student who has not taken an SWC course before Fall 2025, you will meet these requirements. For continous students who have taken a course prior to Fall 2025, your catalog rights will determine what requirements you have to earn your associates degree. See the FAQ below for more information. For detailed course information, visit the 2025-2026 Southwestern College Catalog.

I am a new student in Fall 2025. What do I need to know about associate degree requirements?

I am required to complete 60 units, including at least 21 units of general education, to earn my associate degree.
I will follow the Cal-GETC General Education Pattern and complete at least 60 units in order to transfer.
I will complete three units of coursework that fulfills the Lifelong Learning and Wellness Graduation Requirement.
I will complete an Ethnic Studies course to meet the Ethnic Studies General Education Area. I may use this course to fulfill one general education area or a major requirement.
I need to earn a grade of C or better in all Cal-GETC and/or associate degree general education classes.

I have taken classes before Fall 2025. What do I need to know about associate degree requirements?

I am required to complete 60 units, including at least 18 units of general education, to earn my associate degree.
I may choose to follow the Cal-GETC General Education Pattern or complete the IGETC or CSU Breadth pattern I've already begun.
I am not required to complete three units of coursework to fulfill the Lifelong Learning and Wellness Graduation Requirement.
I will complete an Ethnic Studies course to meet the Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement. I may use this course to fulfill more than one general education area or a major requirement.

Meet Cal-GETC

The University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges systems have created a single, general education pattern for students who plan to transfer to a CSU or UC. The California General Education Transfer Curriculum, or Cal-GETC, takes the place of the CSU Breadth and IGETC patterns beginning in Fall 2025. Here are the Cal-GETC general education areas.

AREA 1 - ENGLISH COMMUNICATION

Students must take three courses: one English Composition, one Critical Thinking and Composition, and one Oral Communication (at least 9 units)

1A: ENGLISH COMPOSITION: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
1B: CRITICAL THINKING AND COMPOSITION: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
1C: ORAL COMMUNICATION: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)

AREA 2 - MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS AND QUANTITATIVE REASONING

Students must take one course (at least 3 units)

AREA 3 - ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Students must take two courses: one Arts and one Humanities (at least 6 units)

3A: ARTS: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
3B: HUMANITIES: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)

AREA 4 - SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Students must take two courses in two differnt academic disciplines (at least 6 units)

AREA 5 - PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Students must take two courses: one Physical Science and one Biological Science. One of the two courses must be associated with a one-semester laboratory (at least 7 units)

5A: PHYSICAL SCIENCE: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
5B: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE: Students must take one course (at least 3 units)
5C: LABORATORY: Students must take one course (at least 1 unit)

AREA 6 – ETHNIC STUDIES