2026-2028 Catalog
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UNIV Courses

UNIV 1000 University Studies (1 unit)
Term Typically Offered: F
CR/NC

Supports the successful student transition to Cal Poly. Establishes links between student needs and campus resources. Covers campus and academic resources, tips for academic success, effective learning strategies, college and campus culture, growth mindset, and career exploration. Credit/No Credit grading only. 1 lecture. Formerly UNIV 100.
UNIV 1111 First Generation College Students Group Dialogue (1 unit)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
CR/NC

Issues related to first generation college students' experiences. Students engage in dialogue and exploration of their experiences in the context of their intersecting identities. Students are encouraged to discover new strengths and potentials. Students also learn about resources. Credit/No Credit grading only. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 1 activity. Formerly UNIV 111.
UNIV 3330 Cal Poly Land: Nature, Technology, and Society (3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SP
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 2/5
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area B
Prerequisite: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 5A (GE Area B1 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of GE Area 5B (GE Area B2 for the 2020-26 catalogs).

Scientific investigation of the natural features of the Cal Poly landscape and their transformations by land management technology. Environmental, economic, social, and political effects of agriculture, resource extraction, construction technology. Educational, land-use, long term planning issues. Field trip required. 3 lectures. Crosslisted as AG/ISLA/SCM/UNIV 3330. Fulfills GE Areas Upper-Division 2 or Upper-Division 5 (GE Area Upper-Division B for students on the 2020-26 catalogs). Formerly AG/ISLA/SCM/UNIV 330.
UNIV 3350 The Global Environment (3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 2/5
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area B
Sustainability Focused
Prerequisite: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of GE Area 5 (GE Areas B1 to B3 for the 2020-26 catalogs).

Interdisciplinary investigation of how human activities impact the Earth's environment on a global scale. Examination of population, resource use, climate change, and biodiversity from scientific/technical and social/economic/ historical/political perspectives. Use of remote sensing maps. Sustainable solutions. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Crosslisted as AG/EDES/ENGR/GEOG/ISLA/SCM/UNIV 3350. Fulfills GE Areas Upper-Division 2 or Upper-Division 5 (GE Area Upper-Division B for students on the 2020-26 catalogs). Formerly AG/EDES/ENGR/GEOG/ISLA/SCM/UNIV 350.
UNIV 3391 Engaging in Sustainable Global Development (3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 4
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area D
Sustainability Focused
Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of one lower-division course in GE Area 4 (GE Areas D1 or D2 for the 2020-26 catalogs).

Examines some important perspectives on international development, studying successes and failures. Student teams address real-world problems by organizing, publicizing, learning, educating, and connecting support to needs. Collaboration with mentors from university, private sector, nonprofits provides diverse background and project mentorship. 3 lectures. Crosslisted as HNRS/PSC/UNIV 3391. Fulfills GE Upper-Division 4 (GE Area Upper-Division D for students on the 2020-26 catalogs). Formerly HNRS/PSC/UNIV 391.
UNIV 3392 Collaboratively Developing Sustainable Technologies Globally (3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SP
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 2/5
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area B
Sustainability Focused
Prerequisite: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 5 (GE Areas B1 to B3 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: PSC/UNIV 391 or PSC/UNIV 3391; and completion of GE Area 4B (GE Area D2 for the 2020-26 catalogs).

Mechanical design and international collaboration with underserved communities. We explore how to design creatively. While addressing cultural challenges, student teams solve real-world problems with a community; designing and building a prototype that is inexpensive, ecologically sustainable, and socially appropriate. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Crosslisted as HNRS/PSC/UNIV 3392. Fulfills GE Areas Upper-Division 2 or Upper-Division 5 (GE Area Upper-Division B for students on the 2020-26 catalog). Formerly HNRS/PSC/UNIV 392.
UNIV 4401 Graduation Writing Requirement Portfolio (0 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP, SU
CR/NC
GWR
Prerequisite: Junior standing and completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs).

Completion of the Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR) through submission and assessment of a writing portfolio. Credit/No Credit grading only. Course offered online only. Fulfills GWR. Formerly UNIV 401.
UNIV 4421 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (0 units)
Term Typically Offered: SU
CR/NC
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Completion of Summer Undergraduate Research Experience. Students must be participating in a mentored summer undergraduate research experience at Cal Poly during the Summer term. Credit/No Credit grading only. Course offered online only. Formerly UNIV 421.