APM 218

APM 218-1

American and California Government Graduation Requirement

It is the policy of the California State University that all students learn and acquire knowledge and skills that will help them to comprehend the workings of American democracy and of the society in which they live to enable them to contribute to that society as responsible and constructive citizens. To this end, each campus shall provide for comprehensive study of American and California government, including the development of American institutions and ideals, the Constitution of the United States, and the operation of representative democratic government under that Constitution, and the processes of state and local government. Consequently, all undergraduate students are required to complete the American Government and Institutions course to fulfill the American Government requirement under Section 40404, Article 5, Sub-chapter 2, Chapter 1, Division 5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.

This graduation requirement cannot be waived, but may be fulfilled by an approved course from a California community college. As per EO 1061, “on a program-by-program basis, for high-unit professional degree major programs, the chancellor may authorize campus-approved proposed exceptions to the requirements specified herein. ”The course fulfilling this requirement must be approved by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee in consultation with faculty from the academic discipline recognized as having expertise in American and Californian government and politics.

General Course Requirements

The course fulfilling this requirement must meet the following learning outcomes:

  1. Explain the structure of the governments of the United States of America and the State of California, as laid out in the US and California Constitutions.
  2. Recognize the major political philosophies regarding the role of government articulated by the authors of the US Constitution and how they are reflected in current political discourse.
  3. Assess the rights and obligations of citizens in a democratic system of government as established under the US Constitution and the pathways by which citizens may seek representation.
  4. Articulate the contemporary relationships between federal, state, and local governments, including how they compete and cooperate with each other.

The course:

  1. must be lower-division
  2. must be worth 3 credit semester units
  3. should be taken prior to completing 60 units of coursework
  4. must include a writing requirement of at least 1,000 words. Faculty are free to meet this writing requirement in whatever manner they believe best suits the class (including the possibility of multiple assignments totaling at least 1,000 words).

Recommended by Academic Senate Approved by the President
April 27, 2021 July 16, 2021

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