The General Studies degree with an area of emphasis is designed to give students a broad introduction to an area of knowledge represented by related disciplines and topics. This degree is intended for students who may not be intending to pursue a specific occupational major, nor are they necessarily planning to transfer. However, careful educational planning with a counselor will help to ensure that, if a student did decide at a later date to transfer to a university, they would have a foundation in the transfer planning process. Students will select an “Area of Emphasis” from the following four options based on their interests and educational goals.
These courses provide students knowledge and understanding of social behavior and self-development. This area of emphasis is designed to prepare students to use their understanding of themselves and others to communicate and collaborate more effectively. It combines knowledge of theory with attention to personal growth and purpose, as well as health and wellness.
Students learn to become citizens who care for themselves and others, ready to work with people in their communities. Participation in group activities and collaborative projects is a central focus of this emphasis, allowing students to experience group interactions in a variety of contexts. This emphasis includes lower division coursework that prepares students for potential careers in people/community-oriented professions including social, health and recreational services.
Please contact the Student Success Team for this program if you have any questions.Course | Units | Typically Offered |
1st Semester | ||
Major ElectiveM | 3.0 | |
Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
RHC GE 4 - American InstitutionsGE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: | ||
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (RHC GE 1b and 8a)GE | 3.5 | |
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (3.5 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or eligibility for college composition. This composition course enables students to generate logical, coherent essays that incorporate sources necessary for academic and professional success. Students become proficient in researching, evaluating, and incorporating sources, and in learning critical reading and thinking skills through expository and persuasive reading selections before applying these skills to creating original documented essays. The writing workshop component of the course is designed to assist students with improving and refining their writing and language skills: Students complete writing workshop activities that enhance their ability to compose logical, well-supported arguments that exhibit grammatical fluency and correct citation styles. Students meet with composition instructors through individual or small group conferences that address students’ specific writing concerns. This course is designed for students who wish to fulfill the General Education requirement for Written Communication. | ||
RHC GE 3 - Physical EducationGE | 1.0 | |
Select one: KINA or DANC activity course. | ||
ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select any course that is numbered 40 or above. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 13.5 | |
2nd Semester | ||
Major ElectiveM | 3.0 | |
Please consult with a counselor for assistance with course selection as some major elective courses can be counted toward general education requirements. See major advising sheet below for course options. | ||
Major ElectiveM | 3.0 | |
Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Select one: PSY 190 / MATH 130 / MATH 130H (RHC GE 2)*GE | 4.0 | |
Notes: The above course(s) are recommended, students may take any of the following courses to fulfill this requirement: FIN 101, MATH 060, MATH 073, MATH 130/H, MATH 140, MATH 150, MATH 160, MATH 170, MATH 175, MATH 180, MATH 190/H, PSY 190. PSY 190 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (4.0 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course. This course provides an overview of the types of statistics that are important in the behavioral sciences. It is designed to teach students majoring in psychology, sociology, political science, and anthropology how to present and interpret experimental data. The course focuses on hypothesis testing and the statistics used to analyze assumptions, with topics including basic probability, measures of central tendency, measures of variance, sampling, and inferential statistics. MATH 130 - Statistics (4.0 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course. This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to read, interpret, and present data in a well-organized way via a study of frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation, and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, students learn to make generalizations about populations, including probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests. MATH 130H - Statistics Honors (4.0 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course and ENGL 101 This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to read, interpret, and present data in a well-organized way via a study of frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation, and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, students learn to make generalizations about populations, including probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests. This course is intended for students who meet Honors Program requirements. | ||
RHC GE 7a - Fine ArtsGE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: | ||
RHC GE 3 - Physical EducationGE | 1.0 | |
Select one: KINA or DANC activity course. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 14.0 | |
Summer 1 | ||
RHC GE 7b - HumanitiesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select any course that is numbered 40 or above. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 6.0† | |
3rd Semester | ||
Major ElectiveM | 3.0 | |
Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Major ElectiveM | 3.0 | |
Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
RHC GE 5 - Natural Science with LabGE | 4.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one Natural Science with Lab: | ||
RHC GE 8b - Communication/Analytical ThinkingGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
Total Semester Units: | 13.0† | |
4th Semester | ||
Major ElectiveM | 3.0 | |
Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
RHC GE 6 - Social and Behavioral ScienceGE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: | ||
ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select any course that is numbered 40 or above. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select any course that is numbered 40 or above. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select any course that is numbered 40 or above. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 15.0 | |
Total Units for General Studies in Social Behavior and Self-Development AA program | 61.5† | |
AP exams and courses taken outside of Rio Hondo College may fulfill general education and/or major requirements. Please check with a counselor. |
*PSY 190 is the preferred course for Behavioral and Social Science majors. Please meet with a counselor to discuss major preparation requirements. |
† | Some classes may have higher units |
M | Major course; course may also meet a general education requirement |
GE | General Education course |
EL | Elective Course |
Course | Units | Typically Offered |
1st Semester | ||
Major ElectiveM | 3.0 | |
Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
CSU GE E - Lifelong Learning/Self DevelopmentM | 3.0 | |
Select one: | ||
US HISTORY (CSU C2)M | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. All CSU campuses have a graduation requirement in American Institutions. Students may choose one of the following US History courses to partially fulfill this requirement: HIST 143, 143H, 144, 144H, 156, 157, 158, 159, 159H, 170. | ||
CSU ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to CSU. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (CSU GE A2)GE | 3.5 | |
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (3.5 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or eligibility for college composition. This composition course enables students to generate logical, coherent essays that incorporate sources necessary for academic and professional success. Students become proficient in researching, evaluating, and incorporating sources, and in learning critical reading and thinking skills through expository and persuasive reading selections before applying these skills to creating original documented essays. The writing workshop component of the course is designed to assist students with improving and refining their writing and language skills: Students complete writing workshop activities that enhance their ability to compose logical, well-supported arguments that exhibit grammatical fluency and correct citation styles. Students meet with composition instructors through individual or small group conferences that address students’ specific writing concerns. This course is designed for students who wish to fulfill the General Education requirement for Written Communication. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 15.5 | |
2nd Semester | ||
Select one: POLS 110 / POLS 110H (CSU GE D)M | 3.0 | |
POLS 110 - Government of the United States (3.0 units) Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and read college-level texts. This course surveys and analyzes the origins, principles, institutions, policies, and politics of U.S. National and California State Governments, including their constitutions. Emphasis is placed on the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and an understanding of the political processes and issues involved in the workings of government. This course fulfills the American Institutions requirement for the Associate Degree. It also is suitable for students wishing to expand their knowledge of local, state and national governments. POLS 110H - Government of the United States Honors (3.0 units) Prerequisite: ENGL 101 This course surveys and analyzes the origins, principles, institutions, policies, and politics of U.S. National and California State Governments, including their constitutions. Emphasis is placed on the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and an understanding of the political processes and issues involved in the workings of government. This course fulfills the American Institutions requirement for the Associate Degree. It also is suitable for students wishing to expand their knowledge of local, state and national governments. This course is intended for students eligible for the Honors Program. | ||
Select one: PSY 190 / MATH 130 / MATH 130H (CSU GE B4)*GE | 4.0 | |
Notes: The above course(s) are recommended, students may take any of the following courses to fulfill this requirement: FIN 101, MATH 130/H, MATH 140, MATH 150, MATH 160, MATH 170, MATH 175, MATH 180, MATH 190/H, PSY 190. PSY 190 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (4.0 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course. This course provides an overview of the types of statistics that are important in the behavioral sciences. It is designed to teach students majoring in psychology, sociology, political science, and anthropology how to present and interpret experimental data. The course focuses on hypothesis testing and the statistics used to analyze assumptions, with topics including basic probability, measures of central tendency, measures of variance, sampling, and inferential statistics. MATH 130 - Statistics (4.0 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course. This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to read, interpret, and present data in a well-organized way via a study of frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation, and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, students learn to make generalizations about populations, including probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests. MATH 130H - Statistics Honors (4.0 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course and ENGL 101 This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to read, interpret, and present data in a well-organized way via a study of frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation, and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, students learn to make generalizations about populations, including probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests. This course is intended for students who meet Honors Program requirements. | ||
CSU GE C1 - ArtsGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
CSU ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to CSU. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
CSU ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to CSU. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 16.0† | |
Summer 1 | ||
CSU GE C1 or C2 - Arts or HumanitiesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Arts Humanities | ||
Total Semester Units: | 3.0† | |
3rd Semester | ||
CSU GE A1 - Oral CommunicationM | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: SPCH 100, 101, 101H, 120, 140 | ||
CSU GE B1 - Physical SciencesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
CSU GE B3 - Lab ScienceGE | 1.0 | |
Select one if lab has not been completed in CSU B1 or B2. | ||
CSU GE A3 - Critical ThinkingGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
CSU ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to CSU. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 13.0† | |
4th Semester | ||
CSU GE F - Ethnic StudiesM | 3.0 | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
CSU GE B2 - Biological SciencesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
CSU GE D - Social SciencesGE | 3.0 | |
Notes: | ||
CSU ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to CSU. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
CSU ElectiveEL | 1.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to CSU. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 13.0† | |
Total Units for General Studies in Social Behavior and Self-Development AA program (Transfer to CSU) | 60.5† | |
AP exams and courses taken outside of Rio Hondo College may fulfill general education and/or major requirements. Please check with a counselor. |
*PSY 190 is the preferred course for Behavioral and Social Science majors. Please meet with a counselor to discuss major preparation requirements. |
† | Some classes may have higher units |
M | Major course; course may also meet a general education requirement |
GE | General Education course |
EL | Elective Course |
Course | Units | Typically Offered |
1st Semester | ||
Major ElectiveM | 3.0 | |
Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Major ElectiveM | 3.0 | |
Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
US HISTORY (IGETC 3B)M | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. All CSU campuses have a graduation requirement in American Institutions. Students may choose one of the following US History courses to partially fulfill this requirement: HIST 143, 143H, 144, 144H, 156, 157, 158, 159, 159H, 170. | ||
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (IGETC 1A)GE | 3.5 | |
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (3.5 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or eligibility for college composition. This composition course enables students to generate logical, coherent essays that incorporate sources necessary for academic and professional success. Students become proficient in researching, evaluating, and incorporating sources, and in learning critical reading and thinking skills through expository and persuasive reading selections before applying these skills to creating original documented essays. The writing workshop component of the course is designed to assist students with improving and refining their writing and language skills: Students complete writing workshop activities that enhance their ability to compose logical, well-supported arguments that exhibit grammatical fluency and correct citation styles. Students meet with composition instructors through individual or small group conferences that address students’ specific writing concerns. This course is designed for students who wish to fulfill the General Education requirement for Written Communication. | ||
UC ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to UC. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 15.5 | |
2nd Semester | ||
Select one: POLS 110 / POLS 110H (IGETC 4)M | 3.0 | |
POLS 110 - Government of the United States (3.0 units) Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and read college-level texts. This course surveys and analyzes the origins, principles, institutions, policies, and politics of U.S. National and California State Governments, including their constitutions. Emphasis is placed on the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and an understanding of the political processes and issues involved in the workings of government. This course fulfills the American Institutions requirement for the Associate Degree. It also is suitable for students wishing to expand their knowledge of local, state and national governments. POLS 110H - Government of the United States Honors (3.0 units) Prerequisite: ENGL 101 This course surveys and analyzes the origins, principles, institutions, policies, and politics of U.S. National and California State Governments, including their constitutions. Emphasis is placed on the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and an understanding of the political processes and issues involved in the workings of government. This course fulfills the American Institutions requirement for the Associate Degree. It also is suitable for students wishing to expand their knowledge of local, state and national governments. This course is intended for students eligible for the Honors Program. | ||
IGETC 7 - Ethnic StudiesM | 3.0 | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
Select one: PSY 190 / MATH 130 / MATH 130H (IGETC 2A)*GE | 4.0 | |
Notes: While the above course(s) are recommended, students may take any of the following courses to fulfill this requirement: MATH 130/H, MATH 150, MATH 160, MATH 170, MATH 180, MATH 190/H, PSY 190. PSY 190 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (4.0 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course. This course provides an overview of the types of statistics that are important in the behavioral sciences. It is designed to teach students majoring in psychology, sociology, political science, and anthropology how to present and interpret experimental data. The course focuses on hypothesis testing and the statistics used to analyze assumptions, with topics including basic probability, measures of central tendency, measures of variance, sampling, and inferential statistics. MATH 130 - Statistics (4.0 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course. This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to read, interpret, and present data in a well-organized way via a study of frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation, and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, students learn to make generalizations about populations, including probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests. MATH 130H - Statistics Honors (4.0 units) Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course and ENGL 101 This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to read, interpret, and present data in a well-organized way via a study of frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation, and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, students learn to make generalizations about populations, including probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests. This course is intended for students who meet Honors Program requirements. | ||
IGETC 3A - ArtsGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
UC ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to UC. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 16.0† | |
Summer 1 | ||
IGETC 3A or 3B - Arts or HumanitiesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Arts Humanities | ||
Total Semester Units: | 3.0† | |
3rd Semester | ||
IGETC 1C - Oral Communication (CSU Only)M | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: | ||
IGETC 5A - Physical SciencesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
IGETC 5C - Lab ScienceGE | 1.0 | |
Select one if lab has not been completed in IGETC 5A or 5B. | ||
IGETC 1B - Critical Thinking and CompositionGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
UC ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to UC. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 13.0† | |
4th Semester | ||
IGETC 5B - Biological SciencesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
IGETC 6 - Foreign Language (UC ONLY)GE | 4.5 | |
Notes: Proficiency equivalent to two years of high school study in the same language or select one: | ||
UC ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to UC. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
UC ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to UC. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 13.5† | |
Total Units for General Studies in Social Behavior and Self-Development AA program (Transfer to UC/CSU) | 61.0† | |
AP exams and courses taken outside of Rio Hondo College may fulfill general education and/or major requirements. Please check with a counselor. |
*PSY 190 is the preferred course for Behavioral and Social Science majors. Please meet with a counselor to discuss major preparation requirements. |
† | Some classes may have higher units |
M | Major course; course may also meet a general education requirement |
GE | General Education course |
EL | Elective Course |
Click or tap here to open the program's advising sheet. |
Students will think critically in order to understand social issues.
Students will recognize the basic vocabulary and concepts of at least one social or behavioral science discipline verbally or in writing.
Students will compare and contrast social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
Students will recognize and explain the methods.
Rio Hondo College, serving the communities of El Monte, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, and Whittier for over 50 years.
Rio Hondo College
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
Phone: (562) 692-0921
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