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Transfer Course Criteria for

History


Along with the general selection criteria, every major has required and recommended coursework for transfer students to have completed in order to be considered competitive during the selection process.

Required Courses

Before applying to a major, you should successfully complete or be in the process of completing the required courses to maximize (but not guarantee) your chance of selection. You must complete these units by the spring of the term before your intended fall enrollment to receive consideration during the selection process.

Desired Courses

Because Cal Poly is highly impacted and selection to all majors is very competitive, desired courses should also be successfully completed or in progress when you apply for admission.

Evaluating Your Courses

All the courses listed are Cal Poly Courses. You can use www.assist.org to identify the course equivalencies between Cal Poly and the California Community Colleges. Be sure to use the corresponding academic year in which you completed the course. If you are out-of-state or a transfer student from another four-year institution, you may have to compare your catalog course descriptions with Cal Poly’s catalog to identify the equivalent courses. Cal Poly is unable to evaluate transcripts for you prior to selection.

Course Listings

Fall 2024

Required Courses

English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication/English Composition
  • Critical Thinking

Mathematics

  • MATH 112/The Nature of Modern Mathematics
    or any CSU GE Area B4 Mathematics or Statistics course​​​​

Desired Courses

Arts, Literature, Philosophy, and Foreign Languages

  • Any CSU GE Area C course

Literature/Philosophy course strongly encouraged as preparation for the analytical reading that typifies upper-division major and GE courses in the College of Liberal Arts.

Major Related 

  • HIST 110/Western Civilization: Ancient to Renaissance
  • HIST 111/Western Civilization: Reformation to the Present
  • HIST 201/United States History to 1865 or any US History to 1865
  • HIST 202/United States History Since 1865 or any US History Since 1865 
  • HIST 221/World History: Beginnings to 1000
    or HIST 222/World History: 1000-1800
    or HIST 223/World History: 1800-Present
  • CHIN 201/Intermediate Mandarin Chinese I
    or FR 201/Intermediate French I
    or GER 201/Intermediate German I
    or JPNS 201/Intermediate Japanese I
    or ITAL 201/Intermediate Italian I
    or MLL 201/Intermediate Modern Language I
    or SPAN 201/Intermediate Spanish I
    or equivalent course

American Sign Language is not considered equivalent for this requirement

Fall 2025

Required Courses

English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication/English Composition
  • Critical Thinking

Mathematics

  • MATH 112/The Nature of Modern Mathematics
    or any CSU GE Area B4 Mathematics or Statistics course​​​​

Desired Courses

Arts, Literature, Philosophy, and Foreign Languages

  • Any CSU GE Area C course

Literature/Philosophy course strongly encouraged as preparation for the analytical reading that typifies upper-division major and GE courses in the College of Liberal Arts.

Major Related 

  • HIST 110/Western Civilization: Ancient to Renaissance
  • HIST 111/Western Civilization: Reformation to the Present
  • HIST 201/United States History to 1865 or any US History to 1865
  • HIST 202/United States History Since 1865 or any US History Since 1865
    (Must fully satisfy the CSU American Institutions requirement in order to receive US History credit) 
  • HIST 210/World History to 1800
    or HIST 221/World History: Beginnings to 1000
    or HIST 222/World History: 1000-1800
    or HIST 223/World History: 1800-Present
  • CHIN 201/Intermediate Mandarin Chinese I
    or FR 201/Intermediate French I
    or GER 201/Intermediate German I
    or JPNS 201/Intermediate Japanese I
    or ITAL 201/Intermediate Italian I
    or MLL 201/Intermediate Modern Language I
    or SPAN 201/Intermediate Spanish I
    or equivalent course

American Sign Language is not considered equivalent for this requirement

All information is subject to change without prior notice.