Course Planning - GE

IS THE COURSE ALREADY PRE-APPROVED ON THE PROGRAM'S ABROAD.CALPOLY.EDU BROCHURE PAGE?	If Yes,	You do not need to take any action! If you complete the course abroad/away, it will fulfill the specific GE requirement listed on the pre-approved page.* Pre-approved courses are listed on each program’s brochure, under the “Academics” tab. *NOTE: Check the expiration date! If course approval will expire before your study abroad/away transcript is sent to Cal Poly, you will need to submit a GE Course Substitution Form.
	If No,	Submit a GE Substitution Form for the GE requirement you want the course to count towards. Instructions on how to complete the form are listed below.

Note for Cal Poly Global Programs and First Year GO (Global Opportunities) Programs: Students participating in a Cal Poly Global Program or First Year GO program do not need to submit GE course substitution forms to have their GE courses pre-approved.

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GE COURSE SUBSTITUTION FORM INSTRUCTIONS

Before beginning your GE Course Substitution Form, be prepared with all of the documents to support your request such as course descriptions or syllabi, URLs, etc.

1. Review the GE requirements in your specific Cal Poly Catalog and refer to the GE 2026 Comprehensive Guide for more detailed guidance. Consult your college advising center if you have any questions.
2. Determine which GEs you need to complete. Refer to your Degree Progress Report or check with your academic advisor. 
3. Review the Course Pre-Approvals for your program (under the “Academics” tab on your program's brochure page). DO NOT include pre-approved classes that will not expire before your study abroad/away transcript is sent to Cal Poly on the GE Course Substitution Form: they are already approved and do not need to be reviewed.
4. List up to 3 classes per GE area that have not been pre-approved. Include the prefix and number associated with the class abroad/away, indicate whether it is upper or lower division, and provide the number of semester units each class is worth. You may need to convert host university units into Cal Poly units (e.g. 1 ECTS credit = .5 semester units).  Do not round the credits up or down.
5. Attach the course description or syllabus for each class to your form.
6. Sign and date the form. 
7. Click the "Send" button. 
8. See GE Course Substitution Form PDF example for more guidance.
   

ACCESS THE GE COURSE SUBSTITUTION FORM     

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AFTER SUBMITTING A FORM

The International Center staff will review the form to verify the accuracy of the information you entered and will contact you by email if they have any questions. After the International Center signs the form, it is forwarded to the Evaluations Unit in the Office of the Registrar, which reviews the courses for possible approval. Once Evaluations has made a decision, you will receive an email from evaluations@calpoly.edu. Please note that the process can take 6-8 weeks, so submit your forms early!

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GE COURSE SUBSTITUTION WORKSHOPS

Need to petition a class for GE credit and want some step-by-step guidance on the process? Keep a lookout for a GE Course Substitution Workshop during the academic year! Have a question or issue now about your GE petition or the petition process? Email studyabroad@calpoly.edu.

Fall Semester GE Course Substitution Workshops

Virtual	Thursday, September 10	2:00 - 2:50pm	REGISTER
In-Person	Tuesday, October 20	11:00 - 11:50am	REGISTER
Virtual	Wednesday, December 2	12:00 - 12:50pm	REGISTER

Can't make it to a GE Course Substitution Workshop? Review the slides here:

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IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• DO NOT include major courses or support courses. See the Course Planning - Major & Minor webpage for information on completing the Major/Support Course Substitution Form. 
• If you end up taking classes that are not pre-approved or not on your initial GE Course Substitution Form, you can submit a GE Course Substitution Form using the process explained above at any point. 
• Enter the correct number of units for each class. If applicable, divide ECTS credits by 2 (Ex. A 6 ECTS course is worth 3 semester units).
• GE Course Substitution Forms are valid only after receipt of official transcripts and verification of the educational institution, courses, course levels, and units. 

International Center staff may return the form to the students for revision if: 

• Any classes on the form are already pre-approved
• Course descriptions or syllabi are not attached
• The units are incorrect
• The form is not completed in its entirety

International Center staff will review the form and forward on to Evaluations typically 1-2 weeks after complete and accurate submissions are received. Once Evaluations has reviewed the information and made a decision, you will receive an email from evaluations@calpoly.edu. Please allow 6-8 weeks for review.

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