GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

BULLETIN RIGHTS. Graduation requirements are determined by the ``Bulletin year'' assigned to the student. Once assigned a Bulletin year, a student has ``Bulletin rights'' that can be maintained even though there may be changes in university graduation requirements. Below are some definitions and answers to frequently asked questions about Bulletin rights.

Where are students' Bulletin rights listed?

Letter of Admission: When a student is admitted to SFSU, he/she receives a letter of admission. The earliest Bulletin to which the student has rights is highlighted in the upper right hand corner of this letter.

Advanced Standing Evaluation (ASE) Form: Transfer students who enroll at SFSU are issued an ASE by the end of their first semester of attendance. The earliest Bulletin to which transfers have rights is listed on this document. Copies can be obtained from the Student Services Center in HSS 127.

How are Bulletin rights defined for purposes of meeting General Education and other university graduation requirements? If the student maintains continuous attendance in regular sessions at campuses of the California community colleges or the California State University or a combination of the two, s/he may elect to meet the graduation requirements for San Francisco State University in effect: (1) at the time the student began his/her studies, (2) at the time the student entered SFSU, or (3) at the time the student graduates from SFSU. In other words, if a student maintains continuous attendance according to this policy, s/he has a choice of Bulletins.

Continuous attendance for purposes of Bulletin requirements is defined as matriculated attendance in at least one semester or two quarters each calendar year.

How are Bulletin rights defined for purposes of meeting major requirements? Students admitted after Fall, 1986, who change the major after being admitted to SFSU or who declare a major after being admitted with an undeclared major, must meet the major requirements in effect at the time the major changed or was declared.

ENTRY LEVEL REQUIREMENTS

The ELM and EPT tests must be taken before the first semester of enrollment at SFSU.

Information bulletins and registration materials for the EPT and ELM will be mailed to all students subject to the requirements. The materials may also be obtained from the Registrar's Office or the Testing Center.

ENTRY LEVEL MATHEMATICS (ELM) EXAMINATION

What is the ELM? The ELM examination tests for entry level mathematics skills acquired through three years of rigorous college preparatory mathematics course work (normally Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry). ELM is not an admission requirement; results will not affect admission eligibility.

Who is required to complete the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Examination? Students who do not have an ELM exemption are required to take the ELM examination before their FIRST semester at SFSU.

Students who register for a GE quantitative reasoning course at SFSU must: (1) have passed the ELM examination with a total score of 550 or above; or (2) have obtained one of the approved ELM exemptions listed below; or (3) after taking the ELM, have passed Algebra II at SFSU (MATH 70) or an equivalent course elsewhere with a grade of credit (CR) or C- or better. Students who fail ELM may elect to: (1) take appropriate remedial mathematics courses at SFSU (see below); or (2) retake it, if they scored between 480 and 540; or (3) take appropriate remedial course work at a California community college, or (4) take and pass a course that is certified by a California community college as meeting the CSU Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Students who scored lower than 550 on the ELM examination, but passed Algebra II or a higher level college mathematics course with a grade of credit (CR) or C- or better may be eligible to enroll in an SFSU quantitative reasoning course. Students who passed an intermediate algebra course, but who did not take the ELM examination will not be permitted to take a GE quantitative reasoning course until they take the ELM examination. No exceptions will be granted. Students who have questions about ELM exemptions should contact the Testing Center.

San Francisco State University offers several remedial mathematics courses. Students who score lower than 550 on the ELM examination must enroll in one or more of these courses during their first semester of enrollment at SFSU. Students who score 370 or below on the ELM must enroll in ETHS 50 and MATH 60 before attempting MATH 70 in preparation for quantitative reasoning. Contact the Intensive Learning Program, ADM 227, for assistance. Remediation must begin during the first semester of enrollment at SFSU.

ETHS 50	Pre-Algebra Mathematics Skills 
Development (ELM score 370
or below) 3
MATH 60	Algebra I (ELM score 380-470)		3
MATH 70	Algebra II (ELM score 480-540)		3

Who is exempt from ELM? Students who have one or more of the scores listed below qualify for an ELM exemption.

ELM Course Exemption

Transfer students are exempt from ELM if they completed and transferred to the CSU a course in college mathematics above the level of Algebra II with a grade of C or better that was certified by the transferring institution as meeting the General Education-Breadth Requirement or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum requirement in Quantitative Reasoning.

ENGLISH PLACEMENT TEST (EPT)

What is the EPT? The EPT measures the reading and writing ability of entering SFSU students. The results of EPT will be used to place students in English composition and, in some cases, reading courses appropriate to their needs. EPT is not an admission requirement; results will not affect admission eligibility. The EPT, however, must be taken prior to placement in appropriate university English course work.

Who must take the EPT? Students who do not have an EPT exemption are required to take the EPT before their first semester of attendance at SFSU. It is not necessary to pass EPT since the results will be used to place students in appropriate English composition courses. Students admitted with 56 or more transferable semester units and who are subject to a Bulletin earlier than 1986-87 are not required to complete the EPT.

Who is exempt from the EPT? Students who have one of the scores that follow qualify for an EPT exemption.

EPT Course Exemption

Transfer students are exempt from EPT if they completed and transferred an acceptable college course that satisfies the General Education-Breadth Requirement or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum requirement in English composition of four quarter or three semester units with a grade of C or better.

English as a Second Language Placement Test (ESLPT)

In addition to the CSU English Placement Test (EPT), all non-native speakers of English (see Written English Requirements below) must take the SFSU English as a Second Language Placement Test (ESLPT) before they can enroll in ESL courses. Placement in ESL courses is determined by the ESL Coordinator solely on the basis of ESLPT scores and not on any course work or tests taken at other institutions.

COMPETENCY/SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS

Written English Requirements for Native Speakers of English: Summary

Remedial Written English Instruction for Native Speakers

Students who score between 150 and 142 on the English Placement Test (EPT) will be required to take ENG 50, Writing Skills Workshop, or an equivalent course elsewhere.

Students who score 141 or below on the English Placement Test will be required to take both ENG 49 and 50, a special two-semester sequence of composition instruction.

Units and grades earned in these courses will not count towards meeting graduation requirements. Successful completion of ENG 49 and/or 50 by students needing them is a prerequisite for enrollment in ENG 114. Remediation must begin during the first semester of enrollment at SFSU.

Lower Division Written English Proficiency Requirements

ENG 114 should be taken prior to the completion of 30-semester units of course work by all students who have not received credit for an equivalent test or course. ENG 214 or an approved alternate should be taken after completion of 24-semester units and prior to completion of 60-semester units by all students who have not received credit for an equivalent test or course. Successful completion of ENG 114 is a prerequisite to ENG 214, or one of the approved ENG 214 alternatives. ENG 114 and 214 may not be taken concurrently. ABC/NC grading is used for both courses. Consult the current Class Schedule for approved ENG 214 alternatives.

Students who have passed for credit the CSU English Equivalency Examination or who have received scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination will receive six units of credit and are exempted from the ENG 114 and 214 requirements.

Upper Division Written English Proficiency Requirements

Undergraduate students must complete the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement by taking the Junior English Proficiency Essay Test (JEPET) after completing 48-semester units, and before completing 80-semester units. Students must pass ENG 114 and 214 or their equivalents before they are eligible to take JEPET. Those who pass the JEPET examination will have satisfactorily met the upper division written English requirement. Those who do not pass JEPET must enroll in ENG 414 before completing 90 semester units. All undergraduate degree objective students on this campus must complete JEPET (pass or fail) before enrolling in ENG 414. Passing ENG 414 satisfies the upper division written English requirement for those who did not pass JEPET. Consult the Examination Calendar in the Class Schedule for JEPET examination dates.

Students who transfer to this university with 80 or more semester units and an equivalent to ENG 214 completed should take the JEPET examination during their first semester of enrollment at San Francisco State. Students who have taken and passed an upper division expository writing course at another institution may apply for a waiver of the JEPET/ENG 414 requirement.

Students who do not complete this requirement in accordance with the above stipulated provisions may not be able to graduate in the term planned. Questions regarding this requirement can be directed to the Composition Office, HUM 209, or to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, ADM 447.

Written English Proficiency Requirements for Non-Native Speakers of English

Non-native speakers of English must take the English Placement Test (CSU-EPT) during their first semester of attendance at SFSU. Non-native speakers of English must also take the SFSU English as a Second Language Placement Test (ESLPT) before they can enroll in ESL courses. The ESLPT is an SFSU requirement for placement in any ESL English course. Placement in ESL courses is determined by the ESL Coordinator solely on the basis of ESLPT scores, not on the basis of any course work or examinations taken at other campuses. Please consult the Testing Center Examination Calendar in the Class Schedule for ESLPT and EPT examination times and dates

Non-native speakers of English who are eligible to take English as a Second Language (ESL) courses must complete the sequence of ESL courses listed below as substitutes for the English 114, 214, and JEPET requirements. In order to enroll in an ESL course, students must first take the English as a Second Language Placement Test (ESLPT) and receive a qualifying score for that course. A student who satisfactorily completes an ESL course may proceed to the next level ESL course without retaking the ESLPT. The sequence of ESL courses is: ENG 204 and 208, 212 and 209, 310, 411 or 410.

Students on foreign visas and permanent residents who have been in the United States less than six years may substitute the following courses for the ENG 114, ENG 214, and JEPET requirements:.

In order to use ENG 411 or 410 to meet the JEPET requirement, students must take ENG 411 or 410 after they have completed 48 semester units and before completing 80 semester units.

Non-native speakers of English who have lived in the United States more than six years and whose previous education was not predominantly in English may be eligible to make the above ESL course substitutions for the ENG 114, 214, and JEPET requirements. If they wish to do so, they should take the English as a Second Language Placement Test (ESLPT) and then consult the ESL Coordinator in the English Department.

Students with bilingual backgrounds who have completed all or most of their previous education in the United States may substitute ENG 410 for ENG 414 only if they qualify for ENG 410 on the basis of their ESLPT scores.

NOTE: Non-native speakers of English must also complete the oral communication requirement (General Education-Segment I: Basic Subjects). Students may meet this requirement by taking ENG 210 (instead of SPCH 150), if they qualify for this course on the basis of their ESLPT scores.

U.S. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENT

Why is U.S. History and Government a requirement for the baccalaureate degree? Intelligent citizenship demands an understanding of the nation's history and government. The California State University system has specified that students must develop an informed understanding of the historical development of American institutions and ideals, the Constitution of the United States, the operation of representative democratic government under that Constitution, and the processes of California state and local government.

What is the U.S. History and Government Requirement? It is usually satisfied by taking two three-unit courses, the government half of the requirement actually includes two parts--U.S. government and California state and local government. Public colleges and universities in California almost always cover both parts in one course. Not surprisingly, however, schools outside of California do not include California state and local government features in their U.S. government course. Students may have to take a third course to satisfy all of the U.S. history and government requirement, even if that means they have to take more than the minimum possible six units. The best choice in this situation is to take a special course which meets only the California state and local government requirement. An alternative is to take a course which covers both U.S. and the California state and local government requirements (listed below).

Who must complete the six-unit U.S. History and Government requirement? Students who are under the 1985-86 Bulletin, or later Bulletins, must complete this six-unit requirement. It can be fulfilled at SFSU by taking a three-unit course in U.S. history and a three-unit course in U.S. government.

Are there any exceptions to the six-unit U.S. History and Government requirement? Students who are admitted under the 1984-85 Bulletin, or earlier Bulletins, may complete a three-unit U.S. History and Government Requirement course. Students should consult their Bulletin to determine the acceptable courses that satisfy the three-unit requirement. Students with waiver or equivalency requests should direct their questions to:

What courses satisfy the six-unit U.S. History and Government requirement? The following courses fulfill the six-unit U.S. History and Government requirement as well as the California state and local government component, as indicated.

U.S. History Requirement Courses (3 units)

AIS 460	Power and Politics in American Indian 
History
AAS 200	History of Asian Americans
BLS 304	Black People and the American Experience
ECON 400	Economic and Social History of the United 
States
HIST 120	History of the United States to 1865
HIST 121	History of the United States since 1865
HIST 130	Survey of United States History for Foreign 
Students
HIST 418	Society and Politics in American History
LARA 376	History of La Raza in the United States
SS 200	Development of American Institutions, 
Values, and Ideals
WOMS150	Women in American History and Society

U.S. Government Requirement Courses (3 units)

In addition to fulfilling the U.S. Government requirement, the courses listed below also satisfy the California State and Local Government requirement.

AIS 205	American Indians and U.S. Laws
AAS 205	Asian Americans and American Ideals and 
Institutions
BLS 376	Government, the Constitution, and Black 
Citizen
LARA 276	La Raza, Government, Ideals, and 
Constitution
PLSI 200	American Politics
SS 201	Governance in Urban-Industrial America
WOMS160	Women, Politics, and Citizenship

California State and Local Government Requirement (3 units, if required)

Students who have met all of the requirement (either by units completed at another institution or by examination) except for the California state and local government component may meet that part of the requirement by examination or by completing one of the following three-unit courses:

HIST 450	History of California
PLSI 473	California Government and Politics

Can the six-unit U.S. History and Government requirement be met by examination? YES. This requirement may be met by achieving a passing score on three examinations. These exams may be taken only once. For information about these examinations and the challenge procedures, contact the Testing Center, ADM 152. Units of academic credit are not awarded for successful completion of this requirement by examination.

Can courses completed in fulfillment of this requirement also be used for my major? Students majoring in any department which offers courses satisfying the U.S. History and Government requirement should consult with their major advisers regarding appropriate means of integrating this requirement with their major.

Can courses completed in satisfying this requirement be used for General Education credit? NO. Units taken to meet this requirement at SFSU cannot be used to fulfill the university's General Education requirements. Engineering majors should consult the Engineering GE adviser for GE Program exceptions.

LIBRARY REQUIREMENT

What is the Library Requirement? The Library Requirement is designed to assure that all undergraduate students can utilize basic library resources and methods as preparation for future course work.

How can the Library Requirement be met? The Library Requirement can be met by completing Library Resources: A Self-Paced Workbook or comparable library instruction or experience.

Who must complete the Library Requirement? Undergraduate students entering SFSU should complete the Library Requirement during their first semester of attendance, and must complete it before graduation.

UNIT REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Units Required for Graduation

For award of the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), students are required to complete a minimum of 124 semester units. For award of the Bachelor of Science (B.S.), students must complete a minimum of 124-132 semester units depending on the specific requirements of the individual B.S. degrees.

Residence Units Requirement

Thirty (30) units must be earned in residence at SFSU. Twenty-four (24) of these units must be upper division courses and twelve (12) of these units (upper division or lower division) must be in the major.

Upper Division Units Requirement

For award of the baccalaureate degree, all students are required to complete a minimum of 40 upper division units (courses numbered 300-699 at SFSU). Twenty-four (24) of these units must be completed at SFSU, nine (9) of which must be completed in General Education, Segment III.

Maximum Units in One Subject Field

Students who complete 60 or more semester units in one discipline (e.g., Chemistry) or, if transfer work, in the same subject area (e.g., Biochemistry) must complete a minimum of 64 semester units outside that discipline in order to earn a B.A. or B.S. degree at SFSU.

Maximum Credit for Community College Work

The university will accept a maximum of 70 semester units for work completed at a community college.

Maximum Credit for Extension and Correspondence Work

The university will accept a maximum of 24 semester units of extension credit and correspondence courses towards award of a baccalaureate degree. Courses taken through Open University earn extension units and are included in this limitation, as are courses taken through military programs, such as MCI or Dantes. The university does not offer correspondence courses, but will accept correspondence credits transferred from another accredited institution as part of the 24 units maximum for extension and correspondence work. Credit earned through SFSU's Winter and Summer Sessions is excluded from the 24 semester unit maximum. The College of Extended Learning also offers Special Sessions courses in the Fall and Spring semesters which are not included in the 24-unit limitation.

Maximum Credit by Examination or Evaluation

Matriculated students may obtain credit by examination for specific courses as determined by each department and approved by the course instructor and department chair. Interested students should inquire with each department about its credit by examination policy. Credit by examination forms are available in departmental offices.

The examination will be comprehensive and searching. A grade and appropriate grade points will be recorded on the student's permanent record, except for the U.S. History and the U.S. Government requirements, if they are completed by exam. Credit by examination may not be counted towards the residence requirement of the university. A student who registers as an auditor may not earn credit by examination in that course.

Matriculated students may also earn credit towards meeting the university's General Education requirements through the Credit by Evaluation for Experiential Learning (CEEL) Program. This program is designed to meet the needs of students who have university-level prior learning experiences that can be evaluated for credit. Credit is offered only after a comprehensive and searching evaluation by a faculty member in the area for which credit is sought. A maximum of six units of residence CEEL credit may be earned towards the baccalaureate degree at SFSU for any combination of the following courses: CEEL 300, CHS 350, and BSS 250. For further information, contact the Advising Center, ADM 212.

A maximum of thirty (30) semester units of credit for prior learning, knowledge, or skills-based experience may be earned toward award of the baccalaureate degree including any units for experiential learning which may be accepted as a result of California State University policy from other institutions. The faculty in any academic program may set additional limits on the number of experiential learning units accepted, or required, for majors or minors in that program.

Maximum Units of Credit (CR) Grades

No more than 30% of the units earned at SFSU, and applied towards completion of the baccalaureate degree, may be taken for credit (CR) grades. Students should consult with their major departments for further restrictions on the 30% limitation on credit (CR) grades.

Maximum Units in One Semester

Fifteen units (15) is the average semester course load for full-time undergraduate students. Students may enroll in up to nineteen (19) units in one semester without official approval. Undergraduate students who enroll in 20-24 units in one semester:

Undeclared, Liberal Studies, and Special Majors must receive the approval of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (ADM 447). All other majors must receive the approval of their adviser and the dean of the college in which they are a major.

Requests to take 20 or more units will not be permitted until: (1) approval from the appropriate dean has been received, and (2) this approval has been properly recorded by the Undergraduate Studies Office (ADM 447). The Student Services Center staff will not accept course add forms in excess of 19 units until permission to exceed the maximum unit policy has been recorded on the student's official university records.

Students who wish to enroll in 25 or more units in one semester must receive the written approval of their adviser and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Course work taken at another university or through SFSU's College of Extended Learning must be included on the Petition to Exceed the Undergraduate Maximum Unit Policy.

Nursing majors who participate in the Advanced Placement Option for Registered Nurses are required to file a Petition to Exceed the Maximum Unit Policy, if their total unit load for any given semester exceeds nineteen (19) units, including all units earned through the advanced placement credit by examination option. Students in this program should consult with their Nursing Department adviser to ensure that they follow the appropriate procedures.

Questions concerning the undergraduate maximum unit policy should be directed to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, ADM 447.

Double Counting Between GE and the Major

A maximum of twelve (12) units used to meet General Education requirements may also be used to fulfill major requirements. Although these courses fulfill both GE and major requirements, they are counted only once in satisfying the minimum 124 units required for the baccalaureate degree (i.e., 12 units, not 24 units).

In GE Segment III, students may only double count two courses required for fulfillment of Segment III requirements with their major, except Liberal Studies majors who may double count all three courses.

NOTE: Cross-counting between General Education Segments, Areas, and Categories is not permitted. Students cannot use the same course to satisfy both the Segment II and Segment III requirements of the General Education Program. For example, BIOL 330 is an approved course in both Segments II and III. Students may use this course to satisfy either Segment II or Segment III requirements, but not both.

MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE

For award of the baccalaureate degree, all undergraduate students must maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average in all college course work, in all SFSU course work, and in all major course work. The grade point average is calculated by dividing the total grade points earned by the total units attempted. CR and NC grades are not included in the calculation of the grade point average. Remedial course work can only be taken CR/NC. Students who do not meet the 2.0 GPA requirement for all college course work or SFSU course work will be subject to mandatory probation advising.

ACADEMIC RENEWAL

Removal of one or more semesters of undergraduate course work. Under certain circumstances, the campus may disregard up to two semesters or three quarters of previous undergraduate course work taken at any college from all consideration associated with requirements for the baccalaureate degree. These circumstances are:

Requests should be referred to the Senior Director for Enrollment Services. Final determination that one or more terms shall be disregarded in determination of eligibility for graduation shall be based upon a careful review of evidence by a committee consisting of at least three members. Such final determination shall be made only when:

When such action is taken, the student's permanent academic record shall be annotated so that it is readily evident to all users of the record, that no work taken during the disregarded term(s), even if satisfactory, may apply toward baccalaureate requirements. However, all work must remain legible on the record ensuring a true and complete academic history.

Repetition of an individual undergraduate course. Another special provision of Academic Renewal allows the student to repeat a course and to have the previous attempt excluded in the calculation of the grade point average. This provision is applicable only if it enables the student to meet the minimum grade point average required for graduation. Requests should be directed to theStudent Services Center. The following conditions apply:

Successful repetition of a course originally passed carries no additional unit credit toward a degree or credential except for certain courses such as independent study, practicum, or other courses specified in this Bulletin as ``may be repeated for credit.''

MAJOR AND MINOR

MAJOR: Completion of an approved major is a graduation requirement for award of the baccalaureate. The following rules apply to all undergraduate majors:

NOTE: When two majors for the same degree (e.g., History and French) are completed in the same semester, two separate applications must be filed simultaneously. No additional fee is required for the second application. However, if one major is for a B.A. degree (e.g., French) and the second major is for a B.S. degree (e.g., Business Administration), the two degrees cannot be awarded on the same graduation date (e.g., May), even if they were completed in the same semester. The student must apply for the second degree for a subsequent graduation date (e.g., August) and pay a separate fee.
MINOR: Completion of an approved minor is optional. The following policies apply to completion of an approved minor:

SECOND BACCALAUREATE DEGREE

A student who already holds a bachelor's degree may file a petition with the Office of Admissions to request permission to work toward a second baccalaureate degree. If approved, the student will be admitted to the undergraduate program typically at the senior level. Whether or not the second baccalaureate degree is ever completed, none of the credits earned may later be considered for post-baccalaureate status at this university. The only possible exception is in the last semester before the award of the degree as provided for under the section Courses in Excess of Bachelor Degree Requirements.