Despite having a disoriented house atop an engineering building or being in close proximity to a nude beach, of UC San Diego’s many quirks, the college placement system is undoubtedly one of the more confusing ones. As a Triton, your college’s specialized general education requirements will likely have you taking classes you never thought you would need — hello TDAC 105: Rehearsing Shakespeare — to graduate. Having taken our fair share of GE classes, the Lifestyle section is here to show you that these classes have the potential to be personally engaging and academically rewarding! Here is a list straight from Lifestyle staff of tried-and-true class recommendations for each college!
Revelle College — PHIL 10: Introduction to Logic
Instructor and quarter: Professor Jennifer Carr, Winter 2025
College requirement: Math
Student: Ashley Djunaedi, media industries & communication major
Fun fact: This class is nonmath major friendly!
If you’ve already completed the statistics portion of Revelle’s math requirement but don’t want to continue the MATH 10 or MATH 20 series, look no further than PHIL 10. This class has math’s analytical reasoning and computations but delves into philosophical proofs grounded in the laws of logic instead of conventional numbers and formulas. For anyone who wants to learn about validity in a different field of study — or those who just struggle with math — PHIL 10 is perfect!
John Muir College — LATI 10: Reading North by South: Latin American Studies and the US Liberation Movements
Instructor and quarter: Professor Amy Kennemore, Fall 2025
College requirement: Humanities
Student: Fatima Cabrales Villanueva, political science major
Fun fact: You get free reign to design your final project however you like!
This course is perfect for those seeking a flexible humanities class for Muir that will boost your critical-thinking skills without taking too much time away from your major classes. LATI 10 provides stimulating material on sociopolitical movements in Latin America which you later get to apply to a personalized final project. On top of that, attendance is optional, with a once-a-week lecture offered both in person or over Zoom!
Thurgood Marshall College — SIO 12: History of the Earth and Evolution
Instructor and quarter: Professor Cheryl Peach, Fall 2023
College requirement: Natural Science
Student: Hannah Jang, literature/writing major
Fun fact: For one homework assignment, you are encouraged to take a trip to Birch Aquarium!
Take a break from traditional physics, biology, and chemistry classes and consider taking SIO 12! This class explores the geological evolution of Earth and encourages a deeper appreciation for our planet. You’ll come across concepts reminiscent of middle school science class, only now with the depth of a college course!
Earl Warren College — WCWP 10B: Writing Toward Balance: Exploring Big Questions of Our Time
Instructor and quarter: Professor Emily Windham, Spring 2026
College requirement: Writing program
Student: Santana Karno Garcia, literary arts major
Fun fact: This course’s theme questions what it means to appreciate the beauty of everyday life — you may even find yourself taking nature walks during class!
Are you a burnt out Warren STEM major looking for a break? This course might be your saving grace! As you look at what it means to find merit in the mundane, you will additionally practice the art of slowing down. From exploring big philosophical texts of Immanuel Kant and Plato to discussing modern beauty standards, your critical thinking and writing skills are bound to improve.
Eleanor Roosevelt College — LATI 166: Latin Food Culture: Culinary Ethnography of the Americas
Instructor and quarter: Professor Troy Kokinis, Spring 2026
College requirement: Regional specialization
Student: Czarina Datiles, global health major
Fun fact: You get to create a Latin American dish as part of a final project!
ERC GEs are known to prioritize an international learning experience — so why not find one with a specialization on food? In LATI 166, you will learn about political movements and cultural phenomena through curious and interactive methods. Don’t be shocked if your professor brings out a shaker and starts teaching the class how to make mimosas or if your conversation on social movements in Latin America revolves around the discussion of a tortilla. You even get opportunities to partake in culinary field trips to eat Latin American food across San Diego!
Sixth College — TMC 120: Partnership Schools Program Service-Learning Experience
Instructor and quarter: Professor Tsekani Browne, Winter 2026
College requirement: Experiential Learning
Student: Roux Reilly, literatures in english major
Fun fact: This class partners with the Preuss School, where you can volunteer as a tutor or teacher’s aide in your choice of their 6th through 12th grade classrooms!
Just like the many experimental learning courses in Sixth’s GE requirements, TMC 120 is a two-part interactive course that offers students a traditional classroom setting with an additional volunteer opportunity. Although under the Marshall requirements, this immersive class also counts for you lucky Sixth students! Delve deep into sociopolitical topics, including the model minority myth or the history of Black Americans. Best of all, get involved with a classroom to understand the value of education in real time!
Seventh College — MUS 17: Hip-Hop
Instructor and quarter: Professor Anthony Burr, Fall 2025
College requirement: Arts
Student: Sophie Sedano, media industries & communication and business psychology major
Fun fact: If you want to test out your skills in song identification, this class’ midterm and final exam is the perfect opportunity!
You’re in Seventh, you like music, you need a class to fulfill the art requirement, so why not explore the history of hip-hop in MUS 17? The 6 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. time slot might look intimidating, but attendance is optional and the slides are posted on Canvas. But you likely won’t be skipping classes, as all the assignments and course materials are surprisingly fun — what do you mean you can write a three-page paper on a Kanye West song?
Eighth College — CCE 2: Cultivating Community-Informed Practices
Instructor and quarter: Professor Kathryn Garcia, Winter 2025
College requirement: Critical Community Engagement
Student: Erin Yabut, international studies and political science major
Fun fact: This is the ideal course to make more friends in your college!
In line with Eighth’s emphasis on community engagement, CCE 2 helps you learn what it means to make an impact on the world. With themes of social justice and community care, you will reflect on your positionality in the world, alongside how you can contribute to the betterment of society. Through the writing assignments, revisions, and peer reviews that are graded in a complete or incomplete format, you will be able to reflect deeply and think more intentionally about the substance of the assignment instead of focusing on the grade!
We hope you keep these GE courses in mind as you continue to expand your academic horizons. Give these classes a chance — there is always joy to be found in learning something new!
