Graduation Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees and Academic Certificate Programs
Cal State San Marcos will make every effort to preserve the following graduation requirements for students subject to this catalog.
Degree Characteristics
California State University San Marcos offers two baccalaureate, or bachelor’s, degrees:
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is designed to provide a balanced liberal arts education and general knowledge in a recognized discipline, interdisciplinary field, or in areas of professional study.
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is designed to provide a balanced liberal arts education and a scientific, technical, or professional entry level of competence.
Degree Requirements
To earn a bachelor’s degree, a student must:
Unit Requirement
Every baccalaureate degree (i.e., Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science) requires completion of a minimum of 120 semester units. Some choices of majors will require more than 120 semester units; the descriptions of each major specify how many units are required. Regardless of the major requirements, a student must complete at least forty (40) units of upper-division coursework to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
No more than seventy (70) units may be transferred from a community college.
Major Requirements
Every baccalaureate degree must include an approved major; see Degree and Program Offerings for a list of majors and whether they lead to a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. A major for a Bachelor of Arts degree must include at least twenty-four (24) units exclusive of units used to meet the General Education requirement and a major for a Bachelor of Science degree must include at least thirty-six (36) units exclusive of units used to meet the General Education requirement. For a Bachelor of Arts degree, at least twelve (12) units required in the major shall be upper-division courses, and for a Bachelor of Science degree, at least eighteen (18) units required for the major shall be upper-division. Most majors require more than these minima. Please refer to the descriptions of the majors in this catalog for specific major requirements.
Multiple Majors
It is possible for a student to complete more than one major within one degree (for example, a B.A.). Each major after the first major must consist of at least 24 semester units that are not counted toward any other major’s requirements. To be recognized as graduating with multiple majors, a student must declare the additional major(s) with the appropriate discipline or program no later than the beginning of the student’s final year of study. The completion of additional majors within one degree will be noted at the time of graduation by appropriate entries on the student’s transcript and on the diploma. Majors appear on the diploma in the order in which the student has designated them to be the first major, second major, etc.
It is also possible for a student to complete a major (or majors) in one degree concurrently with additional majors from a different degree (for example, a major in a B.S. concurrently with another major from a B.A.). Each major after the first major must consist of at least 24 semester units that are not counted toward any other major’s requirements. By declaring which major is the first major, second major, etc., the student also declares the order in which the degrees, and the majors leading to these degrees, appear on the diploma and transcript. Students must make this declaration no later than the beginning of the student’s final year of study.
Graduation Requirements for Second Bachelor’s Degree
Students who hold a bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited institutions of higher education; or students who have completed equivalent academic preparation, as determined by the appropriate campus authority, are exempt from all general education requirements (including U.S. History, Constitution and American Ideals requirement). In order to receive a second bachelor’s degree, students must complete the following:
- A minimum of thirty (30) units in residence at CSU San Marcos beyond the first bachelor’s degree.
- The major requirements for the second degree. Units from the first degree may be counted, but a minimum of twenty-four (24) upper-division units in residence in the major for the second bachelor’s degree must be earned subsequent to earning the first bachelor’s degree.
- All other CSU San Marcos graduation requirements other than general education and U.S. History, Constitution and American Ideals requirement in effect at the time of catalog selection. Exception: Second bachelor’s candidates returning for a degree in Nursing are exempt from any other CSU San Marcos requirements that are not specifically required for the Nursing major.
Second bachelor’s degree candidates are required to achieve a 2.0 grade point average each semester to maintain good academic standing.
Minors
An undergraduate student may elect to complete one or more minors; this is not a degree requirement. Unless the description of the major(s) and minor contain additional stated restrictions, there is no restriction on double-counting units in the major(s) and the first minor that a student declares. After the first minor, each subsequent minor must contain twelve units beyond those used for major requirements and other minors. Students may not declare or receive a minor in the same subject or title as the major. Minors are awarded as part of a baccalaureate degree. The completion of a minor will be noted on the student transcript, but not on the diploma.
Academic Certificates and Certificate Programs
Cal State San Marcos grants certificates to individuals who complete certificate programs that enhance major requirements or credential programs. A certificate is issued upon the successful completion of an academic certificate program. The university acknowledges the completion of a certificate by recording it on the student transcript, but not on the diploma.
Residence Requirements
A minimum of thirty (30) units must be completed in residence at Cal State San Marcos, of which twenty-four (24) units must be upper-division and twelve (12) of these must be in the major. Credit by examination and transfer credit do not fulfill the residency requirement.
Grade Point Average Requirements
The following three grade point averages, each 2.0 (C average) or higher, are required for graduation:
- A cumulative grade point average, which includes both transferred and Cal State San Marcos coursework;
- A Cal State San Marcos grade point average;
- A grade point average in the major, at Cal State San Marcos and in coursework accepted as transfer credit for the major from other institutions.
U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals Requirement (GV)
California law (Section 40404 of Title 5, Education, of the California Code of Regulations) establishes as a graduation requirement that students demonstrate competence in the fields of American history and government, the Constitution of the United States, and the processes of state and local government as established in California. This requirement is embedded in the General Education Area, Area D requirement (See Area D: Social Sciences ).
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement - Undergraduate Level (GWARBL)
All CSU undergraduate students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. At Cal State San Marcos, undergraduate students complete the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement: Baccalaureate Level (GWARBL) through their coursework, as all CSUSM undergraduate courses must meet the All-University Writing Requirement.
Graduation Writing Assessment and All-University Writing Requirements
With limited exceptions, every course carrying degree credit at CSUSM must have a writing component that can be achieved in a variety of ways depending on the course. The writing requirement for each individual student will vary by course units, as follows:
• 3 units and up = 2,500 words (approximately 10 pages)
• 2 units = 1,700 words
• 1 unit = 850 words
Thus, each student will write a minimum of 850 words for a one-unit course, a minimum of 1,700 words for a two-unit course, or a minimum of 2,500 words for courses of three units or more. All writing will be in English or a written language that meets the university’s “Language Other Than English Requirement” (LOTER).
The Dean of Graduate Studies may exempt certain graduate courses from this requirement.
Language Other Than English Requirement
Before graduating, CSUSM undergraduates must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English in any one of the following ways:
- having completed the equivalent of an intermediate-level course (excluding courses focused solely on oral conversation skills) in any language other than English at the college level, with a C grade or better or CR grade (including study abroad). One of the courses used to meet this requirement may be used to satisfy the CSUSM C-3 (Arts and/or Humanities) General Education requirement;
- demonstrating intermediate-level language proficiency according to the latest American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) guidelines, which is currently assessed via a CSUSM Proficiency Exam;
- successfully challenging the equivalent of an intermediate-level course in a language other than English at the college level;
- having successfully received a score of 3 or better on an Advanced Placement Foreign Language Examination;
- having successfully received a score of 4 or better on an International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher-Level Language A Literature Exam of Language A Language and Literature Exam;
- having taken a College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Language Examination and received the following minimum score:
French Level II: 59
German Level II: 60
Spanish Level II: 63
- having been required to take the TOEFL or other CSUSM-approved English language exam as a condition for admission into the University;
- having completed at least three years full-time at a high-school or university where English was not the principal language of instruction;
CSUSM accepts American Sign Language (ASL) in fulfillment of this requirement. Proficiency in ASL may be demonstrated by the following:
- having completed the equivalent of an intermediate-level ASL course (excluding courses focused on deaf culture or fingerspelling) at the college level, with a C grade or better;
- demonstrating the above intermediate-level ASL proficiency according to a CSUSM diagnostic;
- having completed a K-12 mainstream program using ASL interpreters;
- having completed a K-12 deaf and hard-of-hearing full-time program.
The LOTER cannot be met with computer languages.
As part of their major, some students may be required to demonstrate a level of language proficiency that is higher than the graduation requirement. By meeting that major requirement, those students also meet the graduation requirement. Students should contact their major advisor for how to meet a major’s specific language requirement.
Students are encouraged to refer to the Language Learning Center website with questions about the requirement or to arrange for proficiency testing: http://www.csusm.edu/loter/.
A fee is required for proficiency testing. Please see User Fees for fee information.
General Education Requirement
The General Education requirement is composed of forty-eight (48) units distributed in five areas of study. The required disciplinary and interdisciplinary courses reflect the values embodied in the University’s Mission Statement. The program provides education and training in the basic skills, information, knowledge, and attitudes that citizens require to make wise, informed, just, critical and moral decisions throughout their lives.
Upon completion of General Education coursework, students will be able to:
- Describe and/or apply principles and methods that are necessary to understand the physical and natural world.
- Compare and contrast relationships within and between human cultures.
- Communicate effectively in writing, using conventions appropriate to various contexts and diverse audiences.
- Use oral communication to effectively convey meaning to various audiences.
- Find, evaluate, and use authoritative and/or scholarly information to comprehend a line of inquiry.
- Think critically and analytically about an issue, idea or problem, considering alternative perspectives and re-evaluation of one’s own position.
- Apply numerical/mathematical concepts in order to illustrate fundamental concepts within fields of study.
- Describe the importance of diverse experiences, thoughts, and identities needed to be effective in working and living in diverse communities and environments.
- Apply knowledge gained from courses in different disciplines to new settings and complex problems.
Minimum Grade Requirement for Area A (Basic Skills) and Mathematics
A grade of C- or better is required in each CSUSM or transfer course in written communication in the English language (A2), oral communication in the English language (A1), critical thinking (A3), and mathematics/quantitative reasoning (B4).
Notice to Transfer Students
Students admitted to CSUSM with full General Education certification shall not be held to any additional lower-division General Education requirements. In addition, students admitted to a CSUSM with subject-area certification may not be held to any additional lower-division GE coursework in the subject areas certified.
Subject-area certification for the lower-division CSU General Education-Breadth Requirement does not include the Upper-Division General Education requirements. The Upper-Division General Education requirement must still be completed at a California State University.
LOWER-DIVISION GENERAL EDUCATION (LDGE)
Area A: Basic Skills
Area B: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Area C: Arts and Humanities
Area D: Social Sciences
Area E: Lifelong Learning and Information Literacy
UPPER-DIVISION GENERAL EDUCATION (UDGE)
Area BB: Upper-Division Mathematics or Science
Area CC: Upper-Division Arts or Humanities
Area DD: Upper-Division Social Sciences
The nine (9) required units of Upper-Division General Education (UDGE) courses assume satisfaction of lower-division General Education requirements and develop upper-division skills. Designed for non-majors, these courses make explicit the basic assumptions, principles and methods of the disciplinary or interdisciplinary area of study. These courses help students understand how disciplines, ideas, issues and knowledge are often interrelated, intersecting and interconnected. They also provide students with a classroom environment that fosters independent, active, engaged learning and a genuine curiosity about the subject matter.
The Upper-Division requirement must be completed at a California State University.
The nine (9) UDGE courses are designed to be completed after upper-division status; therefore, students are encouraged to enroll in this coursework after completing 60 units. At a minimum, students must have completed required lower-division GE courses in written communication, critical thinking, and mathematics/quantitative reasoning prior to completing an UDGE course.
Required Earned Units to Enroll in Upper-Division General Education Courses
In order to satisfy any Upper Division General Education (UDGE) requirement (BB, CC, DD) by taking an UDGE course, a student must have earned at least 60 units (total overall units to include CSUSM and transfer coursework) toward their first bachelor’s degree at CSUSM prior to taking that course.
Notice to Transfer Students
Transfer students who have subject-area certification for the lower-division CSU General Education-Breadth Requirement in Area D (Social Sciences) and have completed the American Institutions and Ideals Requirement, need to complete only the Upper-Division Social Sciences (DD) requirement.
Transfer students who have subject-area certification for the lower-division CSU General Education-Breadth Requirement in Area D (Social Sciences) but have not completed the American Institutions and Ideals Requirement, need to complete the missing parts of the American Institutions and Ideals Requirement (Dh, Dc, and/or Dg) and the Upper-Division Social Sciences (DD) requirement.
Transfer students who do not have subject-area certification for the lower-division CSU General Education-Breadth Requirement in Area D (Social Sciences) but have completed the American Institutions and Ideals Requirement with the equivalent of six semester units of coursework, must complete the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Requirement (D7), and the Upper-Division Social Sciences (DD) requirement. See an advisor to determine whether the requirements are met by any courses taken at another institution.
Transfer students who do not have subject-area certification for the lower-division CSU General Education-Breadth Requirement in Area D (Social Sciences) but have completed the American Institutions and Ideals Requirement with the equivalent of less than six semester units of coursework, must complete the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Requirement (D7) and the Upper-Division Social Sciences (DD). These students must take two courses to satisfy the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Course Requirement (D7). See an advisor to determine whether the requirements are met by any courses taken at another institution.
Transfer students who do not have subject-area certification for the lower-division CSU General Education-Breadth Requirement in Area D (Social Sciences) and have not completed the American Institutions and Ideals Requirement, must complete all Area D requirements described in section GE Area D . See an advisor to determine whether any of these requirements are met by any courses taken at another institution.
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