Frequently Asked Questions

  • Guided Pathways is a whole-college redesign model designed to help all students explore, choose, plan, and complete programs aligned with their career and education goals efficiently and affordably. It is an equity-focused framework that allows us to forge clear paths for students and remove systemic obstacles to their success. The Student Equity and Achievement (SEA) Program requires colleges to implement the Guided Pathways framework.

  • The key elements of Guided Pathways include clear program maps, proactive academic counseling, a structured onboarding process, integrated student support, and an equity-focused approach.

  • Program Maps are available on each department’s website alongside their degree or certificate offerings. These maps provide department-recommended course sequences for both major and general education requirements. Students should refer to these maps before creating their educational plans.

  • A CAP (Career Academic Pathway) is a grouping of related majors designed to provide structured academic support and guidance. This campus has six CAPs:

    Arts, Communication, and Design
    Business, Information Technology, and Hospitality
    Health, Wellness, and Athletics
    Manufacturing, Industry, and Transportation
    Public Service, Culture, and Society
    SEM – Science, Engineering, and Math
    These groups offer proactive academic advising, structured onboarding, student support, and equity-focused resources. Strong examples on campus include the Nursing program and the Film Department’s Institute of Media Arts.

    All Maps and CAPS

  • Yes, AB 705 and AB 1705 are key California laws related to Guided Pathways.

    California Assembly Bill 705 requires that students complete transfer-level English (e.g., English C1000) and transfer-level math (e.g., Stat C1000) within their first academic year.

    California Assembly Bill 1705 mandates that students must enroll in transfer-level English and math courses required for their program within one year of their first attempt in the subject.

  • Lightcast is a labor market analytics company that provides data on job trends, pay rates, and workforce insights. It helps businesses, educators, and policymakers understand employment trends, salary benchmarks, and in-demand skills by analyzing real-time labor market data from job postings, government sources, and other industry reports.

  • The Cal-GETC (California General Education Transfer Curriculum) is a new standardized general education pathway for students transferring to both CSU and UC systems, replacing IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) by Fall 2025. While IGETC allowed students to complete lower-division GE requirements separately for CSU or UC, Cal-GETC unifies these requirements, making transfers between systems more seamless.