American Institutions Requirement

CSU graduates are expected to have knowledge of: significant events in U.S. history; the role of major ethnic and social groups in these events; the political, economic, social, and geographic context of these events; the U.S. Constitution, U.S. political institutions and processes; the rights and obligations of U.S. citizens; the California Constitution; federal-state relations; and California state and local government, and political processes.

Students demonstrate their competence in these fields by either:

(a) Passing the CLEP exam in History of the United States I or II, CLEP exam in American Government, and the California State and Local Government exam administered by the Cal State East Bay Testing Office.

(b) Passing the Advanced Placement United States History with a score of 3 or above, the Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics with a score of 3 or above, and the California State and Local Government exam administered by the Cal State East Bay Testing Office.

(c) Passing two courses which cover all three topics (while some courses cover all 3 topics, students are required to take two courses):

US-1:

• ECON 101 US Economic History and Institutions  
• ​ES 120 The People’s History I  
• HIST 110 The United States to 1877  
• HIST 111 The United States Since 1877  
• POSC 101 American Political Institutions   

US-2:

• ECON 101 US Economic History and Institutions  
• ​ES 120 The People’s History I  
• ES 121 The People’s History II  
• HIST 110 The United States to 1877   
• HIST 200 Writing California Political Histories   
• POSC 101 American Political Institutions  
• POSC 102 Public Policy/California Politics   
• POSC 316 Politics of California     

US-3:​ 

• ES 121 The People’s History II  
• HIST 111 The United States Since 1877  
• HIST 200 Writing California Political Histories     
• HIST 382 California and the World  
• POSC 102 Public Policy/California Politics  
• POSC 316 Politics of California     

Note: Be aware that receiving credit for any courses applicable to this requirement through a national test such as Advanced Placement, CLEP, or at an out-of-state institution will not satisfy the California state and local government (US-3) part of this requirement. Please contact the History or Political Science Departments for further information. Students who have completed part of the Code Requirement at a California Community College should also consult the corresponding departments to avoid duplicating coursework.