American Institutions
The California State University (CSU) system requires that all graduates demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of American institutions and ideals, the Constitution of the United States, the operation of representative democratic government under that Constitution, and the processes of California's state and local governments.
Transfer students from other California institutions may complete the U.S. History and Government Requirement prior to transfer. However, transfer students from colleges and universities outside of California or from private institutions within California or students who have AP or CLEP credit in U.S. government usually have not studied California government and will need to take a course to complete the requirement. Students should consult their Degree Progress Report (DPR) to verify completion of the entire requirement.
U.S. History
As mandated by Title 5 and explained in CSU Executive Order 1060, the US History component of the American Institutions requirement may be met either by examination (AP, CLEP, or SF State competency exam) or by taking a course meeting the following content requirements and their corresponding student learning outcomes. All courses approved for the US History requirement must cover:
- significant events occurring in the entire area now included in the United States of America during a period of “a minimum time-space of approximately 100 years,” including the relationships among regions within that area and with external regions and states;
- the role of major ethnic and social groups in such events and the contexts in which the events have occurred, with attention to the multiple heritages of US culture, including Native American peoples and cultures;
- the events presented within a framework which illustrates the continuity of American experience and its derivation from other cultures including consideration of three or more of the following: politics, economics, social movements, and geography; and
- basic American values and ideals, including freedom; equality of opportunity, equality before the law, equality of moral regard for each other; and social fairness.
Satisfying the U.S. History and Government Requirement by Examination
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
A score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement examination in U.S. History will satisfy the U.S. History requirement. Students who have achieved a score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement examination in U.S. Government and Politics will satisfy the U.S. government component of the requirement. See Advanced Placement Test Scores page. No AP examination will satisfy the requirement in California state and local government.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Examinations
A passing score (50) on the CLEP exam in either U.S. History I or U.S. History II will satisfy the U.S. History requirement. A passing score (50) on the CLEP exam in American Government will satisfy the U.S. government component of this requirement. See College-level Examination Program Test Scores page. No CLEP examination will satisfy the requirement in California state and local government.
Satisfying the U.S. History and Government Requirement by Taking Courses
Students who begin at SF State as first-time college students will satisfy US History by completing Area 4 with USH portion of the General Education program. Transfer students who have not completed these requirements prior to admission can see the list of courses below that satisfy this requirement. Please note, multiple classes fulfill both the upper-division GE requirement and American Institution Requirements. Transfer students who need to fulfill ONLY the California Government component of the requirement may take a course from the CSLG list below.
U.S. History Requirement Courses (USH)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AA S 210 | History of Asians in the United States (Area 4, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| AFRS 208 | Introduction to African American History (Area 4, AERM, GP, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| AFRS 375 | Law and the Black Community (AERM, SJ, USH, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| AFRS 376 | Government, the Constitution, and Black Citizens (AERM, SJ, USH, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| AIS 103 | Introduction to Pacific Islander Studies (Area 4, AERM, GP, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| AIS 150 | American Indian History in the United States (Area 4, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| AIS 460 | Power and Politics in American Indian History (Area 4UD, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| AIS 550 | American Indians in Contemporary U.S. History (AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| AMST 265 | Christmas and Hanukkah in the United States (Area 4, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| ETHS 241 | Health and Social Movements in the United States in the 20th Century (Area 4, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 120 | History of the U.S. through Reconstruction (Area 4, USH, AERM) | 3 |
| HIST 121 | History of the U.S. Since Reconstruction (Area 4, USH, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| HIST 130 | U.S. History for International Students (Area 4, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 201 | History of Struggles for Equity and Justice (Area 4, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 265 | Christmas and Hanukkah in the United States (Area 4, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 278 | History of Latinos in the U.S. (Area 4, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 418 | Society and Politics in American History (AERM, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 420 | American Colonial History (USH) | 3 |
| HIST 421 | Food Fights: The Politics of American Jewish Consumption from 1654 to the Present (Area 3UD, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 449 | American Jewish History (Area 3UD, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 460 | The United States and the World Before 1913 (Area 4UD, GP, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 465 | American Ethnic and Racial Relations II: 1890-Present (Area 3UD, AERM, GP, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 466 | History of People of Color in the U.S. (Area 6, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 467 | Women in the U.S. to 1890 (Area 3UD, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 470 | The U.S. Constitution to 1896 (Area 3UD, AERM, SJ, SUH, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| HIST 471 | The U.S. Constitution Since 1896 (Area 3UD, AERM, SJ, USH, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| HIST 473 | Slavery and Antislavery in the United States (Area 4UD, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 475 | History of Sexuality in the United States Before 1900 (SJ, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 478 | American Popular Culture History: Barnum to Reality TV (Area 3UD, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 482 | Religion in America (USH) | 3 |
| HIST 484 | Disability and Culture in the U.S. (Area 3UD, USH) | 3 |
| HIST 485 | History of Sexuality in the United States Since 1900 (SJ, USH) | 3 |
| JS 265 | Christmas and Hanukkah in the United States (Area 4, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| JS 421 | Food Fights: The Politics of American Jewish Consumption from 1654 to the Present (Area 3UD, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| JS 449 | American Jewish History (Area 3UD, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| LABR 473 | Slavery and Antislavery in the United States (Area 4UD, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| LTNS 278 | History of Latinos in the U.S. (Area 4, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| MUS 506 | Survey of Jazz (Area 3UD, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| MUS 559 | Women in Jazz (Area 3UD, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| PH 241 | Health and Social Movements in the United States in the 20th Century (Area 4, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| PH 305 | Critical History of Public Health in the United States (SJ, USH) | 3 |
| RELS 265 | Christmas and Hanukkah in the United States (Area 4, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| RELS 482 | Religion in America (USH) | 3 |
| RRS 103 | Introduction to Pacific Islander Studies (Area 4, AERM, GP, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| RRS 240 | All Power to the People: Comparative Freedom Movements of the "Sixties" (Area 4, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| RRS 252 | Beyond Bars and Borders: Race and the Carceral State (Area 4, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| RRS 473 | Slavery and Antislavery in the United States (Area 4UD, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| RRS 600 | History of People of Color in the U.S. (Area 6, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| TH A 559 | Women in Jazz (Area 3UD, AERM, USH) | 3 |
| WGS 150 | Women and Gender in U.S. History and Society (Area 4, AERM, USH) | 3 |
U.S. and California Government (USG and CSLG)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AA S 213 | Asian Americans and American Ideals and Institutions (AERM, SJ, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| AFRS 375 | Law and the Black Community (AERM, SJ, USH, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| AFRS 376 | Government, the Constitution, and Black Citizens (AERM, SJ, USH, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| AIS 205 | American Indians and U.S. Laws (AERM, SJ, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| HIST 308 | Engaging Democracy: Participating in Historical Debates (Area 4UD, GP, SJ, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| HIST 470 | The U.S. Constitution to 1896 (Area 3UD, AERM, SJ, USH, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| HIST 471 | The U.S. Constitution Since 1896 (Area 3UD, AERM, USH, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| LTNS 276 | Latina/o, U.S. Government, and Constitutional Ideals (AERM, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| PLSI 200 | Introduction to American Politics (USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| PLSI 451 | Engaging Democracy: Participating in Historical Debates (Area 4UD, GP, SJ, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| RRS 250 | Race, Ethnicity and Power in America (AERM, SJ, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
| WGS 160 | Gender, Politics, and Citizenship (AERM, USG/CSLG) | 3 |
California State and Local Government Requirement (CSLG)
This course satisfies ONLY the California State and Local Government component of the U.S. History and Government requirement. Students whose degree progress report indicates that they have not met this component of the requirement should either take a US and California Government course from the list above or the following course to fulfill the California State and Local Government component of this requirement.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 450 | History of California (Area 4UD, CSLG) | 3 |
| PLSI 373 | Essentials of California Politics (CSLG) | 1 |
| PLSI 473 | California Politics and Government (SJ, CSLG) | 4 |
Visit our General Education Table of Contents or review the Overview of General Education from the beginning of Undergraduate Education.