Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Links: Unit Requirement | General Education | General Requirements | Interdisciplinary Studies | | Reinstatement | Transfer Credit | GWAR (100W) | UDW-DSP
Academic Policies and Degree Unit Questions
How many total units do I need to earn a bachelors degree?
You need at to graduate with a bachelors degree.
How many units can I transfer from a community college?
A maximum of 70 units from a community college can count toward the 120-unit requirement.
At least 50 units must come from a 4-year college or university, or from AP, CLEP,
or IB exam credit.
How many upper-division units are required?
You must complete at least 40 upper-division units [pdf] total.
- Bachelor of Arts (BA): At least 12 upper-division units
- Bachelor of Science (BS): At least 18 upper-division units
What does the residency requirement mean?
You must complete at at 窪圖勛蹋厙.
Within those 30 units:
- 24 units must be upper division
- 12 units must be in your major
- 9 units must be upper-division General Education (GE)
- Only upper-division GE (Areas B, C, D) taken at 窪圖勛蹋厙 (or another CSU) can count toward the .
AP, CLEP, and IB credit do not count toward the residency requirement.
What GPA do I need to graduate?
You must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in all of the following:
- 窪圖勛蹋厙 cumulative GPA
- All college GPA
- Major GPA
Is there a limit to how many units I can use for Grade Forgiveness?
Yes. You can use Grade Forgiveness for up to 16 units total. Any repeated courses beyond that will not replace your original grade.
Do COVID-19 policy exceptions still apply?
Some requirements were temporarily suspended during Fall 2020 through Spring 2021 due to COVID-19. These exceptions do not apply outside of those terms.
How many upper-division units do I need for a minor at 窪圖勛蹋厙?
You must complete at least 6 upper-division units for a minor at 窪圖勛蹋厙.
What is the grading scale used for GPA calculations?
Grades are calculated on a 0.0 to 4.0 scale. No grade can be lower than 0.0 or higher than 4.0.
Transfer Credit
Can a lower-division course count for upper-division GE credit?
No. Upper-division GE credit must come from upper-division courses.
The course I took was articulated to a course at 窪圖勛蹋厙 that is a GE, but I did not receive GE credit for it. Why was I not given GE credit?
Course-to-course articulation does not always meet GE articulation. Course equivalencies apply to major course requirements only. Students will need to file a petition to request for GE equivalency.
If a course I have taken at an out-of-state college or university is not articulated, how can I get it accepted for a particular GE area at 窪圖勛蹋厙?
Matriculated undergraduate students who have taken a non-articulated course that may satisfy requirements of a particular General Education or American Institutions area, will need file a petition with Undergraduate Education for review and acceptance of the course for a GE area.
Can I take courses at a community college or another university while attending 窪圖勛蹋厙?
Yes. Students may take courses outside of 窪圖勛蹋厙. After completing the courses, students must submit an official transcript to 窪圖勛蹋厙 to have the credits transferred.
If I fail a course at 窪圖勛蹋厙, can I retake an equivalent course at a community college?
Yes, you may retake a failed course at a community college. However, the grade will not replace your 窪圖勛蹋厙 grade. only applies to courses repeated at 窪圖勛蹋厙.
General Education Related Questions
I want to register for 窪圖勛蹋厙 Studies and/or 100W courses, but My窪圖勛蹋厙 says I dont meet the requirements. How can I register for these courses?
Students who have been matriculated at 窪圖勛蹋厙 for at least one semester, who have fewer than 60 units earned at the time of registration, and would like to register for 窪圖勛蹋厙 Studies and 100W courses that require upper division standing, will need to file a petition. Students must complete the Enroll in 窪圖勛蹋厙 Studies and 100W with Less than 60 Units Petition. If approved, students are eligible to enroll on the first day of instruction with an add code.
What are 窪圖勛蹋厙 Studies courses?
窪圖勛蹋厙 Studies are the upper division GE areas: UD 2/5 (R), UD 3 (V), and UD 4 (S). Students must have earned at least 60 units in order to take the upper division GE courses.
Can I waive the 100W course (formerly Z)?
The GWAR requirement may be satisfied (not waived) at another CSU campus or by approval of a Writing in the Discipline (100W) Petition. The 100W course can be waived if a student scored an 11 or 12 on their Writing Skills Test (WST) and if the student's major permits a waiver.
Please note: WST exam is no longer offered at 窪圖勛蹋厙.
Can I substitute Area 6 (formerly F)?
No, waivers or substitutions allowed for Area 6 (F) courses (per ). Courses need to be passed with a "C- or better" at 窪圖勛蹋厙.
Students who took Area 6 (F) outside of 窪圖勛蹋厙 and received a grade below a "C-" can petitioned to use the grade by emailing undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu.
Do all college courses automatically count for GE credit?
No. Courses must be officially certified for GE and match 窪圖勛蹋厙s GE area requirements.
Courses from 窪圖勛蹋厙, another CSU, or a California Community College may not count if they are:
- Not GE-certified, or
- Certified in a different GE area than 窪圖勛蹋厙s
Graduation Requirements and General Related Questions
Can I get requirements waived because Im a graduating senior?
No. Graduating senior status alone is not a valid reason to waive academic or graduation requirements.
My request to change and/or add a major and/or minor was denied, what can I do?
Students can submit a petition to appeal such decisions under Presidential Directive 2009-05 [pdf]. Please see the for more information.
I walked in the ceremony. Does that mean I graduated?
Not necessarily. Participating in the ceremony does not mean you have completed all degree requirements. You officially graduate only when your degree is posted to your student record.
Please visit the Registrar's website for more information.
How will I be notified if I have officially graduated?
Students may check if their degree has been awarded by logging onto My窪圖勛蹋厙 to . If your degree has been awarded, it will say "Requirements completed for Degree of BS/BA/BFA".
Official proof of graduation is the student's official transcript stating that the degree has been conferred, which can be requested as soon as the degree is posted on the unofficial transcript.
Can undergraduate students apply for graduation while in Open University (OU) status?
Yes, but it is not recommended. Students may apply for graduation and finish degree requirements through Open University if they are in Good Standing or on Academic Notice. In some cases, students who have already completed all degree requirements may submit a graduation application as a matriculated student (check with the Registrars Office).
However, students are not eligible to apply for graduation through Open University if they:
- Need to take supervised courses (OU students cannot enroll in these)
- Have a major, 窪圖勛蹋厙, or overall GPA below 2.0
- Are in Disqualified academic standing (reinstatement is required first)
- Have never been matriculated at 窪圖勛蹋厙 (must be formally admitted and attend at least one semester as a matriculated student)
- Are not ready to graduate (reapplying for admission is recommended)
If youre unsure whether Open University is right for your situation, its best to check with the Registrars Office or an academic advisor.
I have earned more than 24 Open University (OU) units, what can I do to have them count towards my degree requirements?
CSU rules allow a maximum of 24 OU units to count toward the minimum 120 units needed for a baccalaureate degree without the need for a petition.
Students will need to submit the Open University Coursework to Satisfy Graduation Requirements Petition to have excess units (over 24) be counted towards a baccalaureate degree. There is no limit on the number of OU units that can be approved via the petition. If all other requirements for graduation have been met, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education or the University Registrar can approve excess units needed to satisfy residency, baccalaureate requirements, or upper division credits.
Can I apply grade forgiveness to a second attempt if the course was taken outside of 窪圖勛蹋厙?
No, Grade Forgiveness only applies to courses for which both attempts were taken at 窪圖勛蹋厙. For more information, please visit the Grade Forgiveness page in the .
Does grade forgiveness apply to CSU Fully Online?
Yes, if the course is articulated with (equivalent to) our 窪圖勛蹋厙 course, it will be given grade forgiveness; otherwise, the grades will be averaged. For more information, please see
What is California Promise?
California Promise is a program to help freshmen graduate in four years and transfers graduate in two years. For more information, please visit the .
Can I return to Earlier GE Pattern?
Yes, if core GE requirements were completed before breaking continuous enrollment, you can petition to return to the earlier GE pattern. It's best to do this when you apply for graduation.
- GE Pattern Fall 2021-Spring 2025,
- Fall 2020 term is use for GE pattern Fall 2019-Spring 2021,
- GE Pattern Fall 2018-Spring 2019 - catalog term of when GE was completed will be used,
- for GE Pattern Spring 2018 & Earlier - catalog term of when GE was completed will be used.
If you have been continuously enrolled from a community college, you can also ask your advisor to update your University Requirements catalog rights via "Advisor Request.
Can a department require a grade higher than a C to meet graduation requirements?
No. Departments cannot require a grade higher than a C for university or graduation requirements.
Interdisciplinary Studies Major (BA/BS) Related Questions
What is a Interdisciplinary Studies?
The Interdisciplinary Studies BA/BS is designed for situations in which an existing 窪圖勛蹋厙 undergraduate degree major does not adequately accommodate academic professional aims.
In consultation with the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, a student may create an individually designed, interdisciplinary course of study leading to a BA or BS Interdisciplinary Studies degree. The Interdisciplinary Studies allows a student to fulfill specific educational objectives when existing majors do not exist for the accomplishment of those goals.
The Interdisciplinary Studies Guidelines provide specific information about how to apply for the program.
How will my Interdisciplinary Studies degree appear on my diploma?
The diploma and transcript will contain the title, "Interdisciplinary Studies", followed by the exact title of the major listed on the Change of Major Form.
Reinstatement and Readmissions to 窪圖勛蹋厙 Related Questions
Do I have to reapply to 窪圖勛蹋厙 after I have been disqualified?
The answer depends on your circumstances:
A) If you are planning to return to 窪圖勛蹋厙 as a regularly enrolled student, the answer is yes. Students will need to submit an application for admission through after their disqualification has been cleared. Detailed information and links to the relevant petition can be found on the .
B) If all requirements for graduation have been completed, it's not necessary to reapply for admissions to 窪圖勛蹋厙. However, if you have been disqualified, you must be reinstated in Good Standing prior to submitting your application for graduation.
C) If you are not planning to complete a degree at 窪圖勛蹋厙, students are not required to reapply for admissions.
Do I need to complete a Reinstatement Petition even though I was not disqualified from 窪圖勛蹋厙?
Students who "stopped-out/stopped attending for more than two consecutive semester" (on academic notice or good standing) at 窪圖勛蹋厙 and wishing to be matriculated back to 窪圖勛蹋厙, and are otherwise eligible for admissions as an upper division student, need to apply for admissions through .
Reinstatement petitions are only for those students that were disqualified from 窪圖勛蹋厙.
Do I need to be reinstated to the major that I was disqualified from?
Students who are eligible for reinstatement should petition for their intended major, which may or may not be the major when they were disqualified from 窪圖勛蹋厙. Students do not have to be reinstated back to their original major unless it remains their intended major. Reinstatement petitions require signatures and recommendations from the major department, and the College Associate Dean of the intended major. The Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education signature is only required when then the student's GPA is below a 2.0 or the student selected one of the categories that require their signature.
What should I do if my reinstatement was denied (not recommended) by the major department?
Departments and/or colleges may have their own criteria for Academic Notice and Disqualification
for their majors (though many do not). Many departments will give a student a "To-Do
List" to complete, with specific steps that a student needs to take in order to be
(re)accepted into the original major or a new intended major.
We encourage these students to contact us at undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu
I completed my Reinstatement petition and will be applying for admissions, is there any other form I need to complete?
No other form is required to be completed.
When do I need to reapply for admissions to 窪圖勛蹋厙?
Students need to reapply for admissions to 窪圖勛蹋厙 if they stopped attending 窪圖勛蹋厙 for two or more consecutive semesters or following an approved reinstatement (after disqualification).
Please note that 窪圖勛蹋厙 is currently not accepting lower division transfer students and upper-division students as Undeclared. Reinstated students need to complete a minimum of 60 semester units (90 quarter units) before they can re-apply for admissions. Please visit the 窪圖勛蹋厙 Admissions website for more information.
My Reinstatement form was approved. I have over 60 units, but have not completed my basic four skills requirement. Am I eligible to apply for admissions?
In order to be eligible for readmission after a two or more consecutive semester "stopped-out" or being disqualified, students must:
- have an all college GPA that is 2.0 or better; and
- have earned 60 or more semester units (90 quarter units); and
- satisfied the or better in each.
- Oral Communication I
- Written Communication
- Critical Thinking and Writing
- Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
What grade point average (GPA) determines my Academic Standing at 窪圖勛蹋厙?
窪圖勛蹋厙 cumulative GPA (窪圖勛蹋厙 CUM GPA) determines Academic Standing (e.g., Good Standing, Academic Notice (formerly Probation), or Disqualification status). All College GPA determines admissions and/or (re)admissions to 窪圖勛蹋厙.
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) Requirement
Do I have to take the Writing Skills Test (WST)?
Writing Skills Test (WST) is no longer required.
For first baccalaureate students at 窪圖勛蹋厙, successful completion of the GWAR means: passing a 100W course with a grade of "C or better".
Students are encourage to take the Online WST Directed Self-Placement (WST-DSP)
What happens if I don't pass the WST?
Writing Skills Test (WST) is no longer required.
When should I take the WST?
Writing Skills Test (WST) is no longer required.
Upper-Division Writing Directed Self Placement (UDW-DSP)
What is the UDW-DSP?
The Upper-Division Writing Directed Self Placement (UDW-DSP) is an online exercise designed to help you place yourself in the upper-division writing course that is appropriate for you. The UDW-DSP is NOT a test. In the exercise, you will learn about the two upper-division writing courses available to you 100A and 100W and will answer questions to help you determine which course is right for you. The exercise only takes about 10-15 minutes. More information can be found on the Upper-Division Writing Directed Self Placement page.
Do I have to take the UDW-DSP?
No, the UDW-DSP is only highly recommended to help students identify which upper-division writing course fits best with their writing level. More information can be found on the Upper-Division Writing Directed Self Placement page.
How do I take the UDW-DSP?
All the information about the online UDW-DSP, and the link to complete it, can be found on the UDW-DSP page. After completion, processing will take approximately 1-2 business days to appear on your My窪圖勛蹋厙 Portal.
Im applying to transfer to 窪圖勛蹋厙; is the UDW-DSP an admissions requirement?
No, the UDW-DSP is not an admissions requirement. It is simply a tool to help you identify which upper-division writing course fits best with your writing level. More information can be found on the Upper-Division Writing Directed Self Placement page.
I dont remember if I completed the UDW-DSP or not. How can I check?
Log into your My窪圖勛蹋厙 Portal. Select the "General Info" tab located next to the "Student Center" tab on the top bar. If you have completed the UDW-DSP, you should be able to see it under "Student Groups". If you still have questions, send an email to the Undergraduate Education Office at undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu. You must include your student ID number.
Ive started the UDW-DSP, but Im still not sure if I should choose 100A or 100W; can someone help me?
Yes! Please contact the Undergraduate Education Office at undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu and we can help you make the best choice for you.
Ive started the UDW-DSP, but Im not sure which 100W course I should select at the end because Im not sure which 100W course I need for my major; how do I know which 100W course to select?
A good place to start is the . Look up the catalog page for your major or the roadmap for your major. Either of these should tell you which 100W course is appropriate. If you cant find the information in the catalog, run your MyProgress, which should list the approved 100W courses for your major. If you still cant find the information, an can tell you which 100W course you need for your major.
That said, if you are under a time-crunch to complete the UDW-DSP because your enrollment date is here or almost here, then you may select a 100W course from the drop-down list (at the end of the exercise) that most closely relates to your major. That way, you can complete the UDW-DSP and enroll in your courses for the next semester. If it turns out that you need a different 100W course than the one you selected in the exercise, thats OK. Your course selection in the UDW-DSP does not determine which 100W course you are eligible to enroll in. In other words, you are free to enroll in any 100W course you like, regardless of which course you selected in the UDW-DSP.
I completed the UDW-DSP last year, do I have to do it again?
No, if you decide to participate in the UDW-DSP, you only need to complete the exercise one time.
Where is my UDW-DSP score/results?
The UDW-DSP is not a test and there is no score or result to receive. It is an exercise designed to help students place themselves in the appropriate writing course (100A or 100W). At the end of the UDW-DSP, you were asked to choose the writing course that you felt was right for you. That is the "result" and the course you enroll in.
I dont have any research papers to upload in the UDW-DSP. What should I do?
The paper you upload in the UDW-DSP does not have to be a research paper in genre; it can be any paper you wrote at any college that simply uses sources. It can be from any course, on any subject. If you do not have a single paper that meets these criteria, you will need to write a short one to upload in the UDW-DSP.
Ive decided I want to take a different course than the one I selected at the end of the UDW-DSP. What should I do?
You are free to enroll in any 100W course you like, or 100A, regardless of which course you selected in the UDW-DSP. In other words, your course selection at the end of the UDW-DSP does not determine your enrollment for the upcoming semester.
I completed the UDW-DSP and am trying to enroll in a 100W or 窪圖勛蹋厙 Studies, but it says I havent met the requisites for the course. What should I do?
This could mean that you still have yet to complete 60 units to put you at Upper-Division Standing. You could submit an Enroll in 窪圖勛蹋厙 Studies and 100W with less than 60 Units Petition if you're eligible. More information on this petition can be found on the Undergraduate Education Petitions page. If you still have questions, contact the Undergraduate Education Office at undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu (make sure to include your student ID #).
Concurrently, . Chances are, if youve completed the UDW-DSP and you are getting a requisite error message, then you have not met one (or more) of the other prerequisites for the course. An academic advisor can help you determine what prerequisite/s you are missing.