The following sections include important graduation requirements for undergraduate students.
The ELM and EPT tests must be taken before the first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU.
NOTE: Beginning with the March 22, 2002 administration, the Entry Level Mathematics Examination (ELM) has been modified. The ELM is now scored on a scale of 00-80. A scaled score of 50 or above represents demonstrated entry-level mathematics proficiency. Students who score 50 or above on the ELM examination are eligible to enroll in a GE Quantitative Reasoning course. Students who score below 50 must complete appropriate remedial mathematics courses before enrolling in a GE Quantitative Reasoning course (see remedial courses below).
For ELM test dates beginning with the March 22, 2002 ELM examination and all subsequent test dates, the new ELM cut scores are:
| 50 or higher | Students may enroll in a GE Quantitative Reasoning course. Consult an adviser for placement in an appropriate level course. |
| 48-42 | Students must take and complete MATH 70 with a grade of C- or better during their first semester of enrollment. |
| 40-30 | Students must take and complete MATH 60 with a grade of C or better during their first semester of enrollment, and take and complete MATH 70 with a grade of C- or better during their second semester of enrollment. |
| 28 and below | Students must take and complete MATH 59 in their first semester of enrollment with a grade of C or better, and must take and complete MATH 70 with a grade of C- or better during their second semester of enrollment. |
Students who took the ELM examination prior to March 22, 2002, should contact the Testing Center, HSS 206 for equivalent ELM scores and appropriate remedial courses. Students may also consult the following web sites for new and/or additional ELM information: www.sfsu.edu/~advising or www.sfsu.edu/~testing.
The California State University (CSU) ELM examination is designed to assess the skill levels of entering CSU students in the areas of mathematics typically covered in three years of rigorous college preparatory mathematics courses in high school (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry). The CSU ELM examination must be completed by all entering undergraduates, with the exception of those who present proof of one or more of the ELM exemptions listed below. Students who do not have an acceptable ELM exemption are required to take the ELM examination before their first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU.
Consult the Academic Calendar on the web for ELM examination times and dates.
Questions about ELM exemptions should be referred to the Testing Center.
| ACCEPTABLE ELM EXEMPTIONS | SCORE/GRADE |
|---|---|
| Augmented Mathematics CST (CSU EAP—Early Assessment Program) [taken in grade 11] | Exempt |
| College Board SAT I Reasoning Test (mathematics section) or College Board SAT II Mathematics Tests Level I, IC (calculator), II, or IIC (calculator) | 550 or above |
| American College Testing Mathematics Test | 23 or above |
| College Board Advanced Placement Mathematics Examination (AB or BC) or Statistics Examination | 3 or above |
| Completion and transfer of a course that satisfies the General Education Breadth or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) quantitative reasoning requirement | Grade of CR or C or better |
Students who register for a GE Quantitative Reasoning course at SFSU must: (1) have passed the ELM examination with a total score of 50 or above; or (2) have obtained one of the approved ELM exemptions listed above; or (3) after taking and failing the ELM, have passed MATH 70, Algebra II, at SFSU, or an equivalent course elsewhere with a grade of credit (CR) or C- or better.
San Francisco State University offers several remedial mathematics courses. Students who score lower than 50 on the ELM examination must enroll in a remedial course during their first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU (see below). Grades and units earned in MATH 59, 60, and 70 are not applied toward the student’s GPA or the number of units required for graduation. However, they do count for financial aid purposes.
Newly admitted undergraduate students who fail the ELM examination must begin remediation of their mathematics deficiencies during the first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU. All required remedial course work must be completed within one year from the time of admission to SFSU. Students who do NOT complete their remedial mathematics course work within one year from the time of admission are subject to disenrollment from the university. For further information, contact the Advising Center, ADM 212.
| MATH 59 | Algebra I with Pre-calculus (4) |
| MATH 60 | Algebra I (3) |
| MATH 70 | Algebra II (3) |
The CSU English Placement Test (EPT) is designed to assess the level of reading and writing skills of entering undergraduate students so that they can be placed in appropriate baccalaureate-level writing courses or remedial writing courses. The CSU EPT must be completed by all entering undergraduates, with the exception of those who present proof of one of the exemptions listed below.
Students who do not have an EPT exemption are required to take the EPT before their first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU.
Students may enroll in ENG 114 who score 151 or above on the EPT.
Test Exemptions: Students who present proof of one of the following qualify for an EPT exemption.
| ACCEPTABLE EPT EXEMPTIONS | SCORE/GRADE |
|---|---|
| Augmented English CST (CSU EAP—Early Assessment Program ) [taken in grade 11] | Exempt |
| College Board SAT I Reasoning Test (verbal) [taken April 1995 or later] | 550 or above |
| Enhanced ACT English Test [taken October 1989 or later] | 24 or above |
| College Board SAT II: Writing Test [taken May 1998 or later] | 680 or above |
| College Board Scholastic Advanced Placement—Language and Composition or Composition and Literature Examination | 3, 4, or 5 |
| Completion and transfer of a course that satisfies the CSU General Education Breadth or the CSU Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) written communication requirement | Grade of CR or C or better |
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 CMS courses. Placement in CMS courses is determined by the CMS coordinator solely on the basis of ESLPT scores and not on any course work or tests taken at other institutions.
All students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. The following information lists the ways available to meet this graduation requirement.
Students who score between 150 and 142 on the English Placement Test (EPT) are required to take ENG 51, Introduction to College Writing II, and ENG 121, Effective College Reading I I.
Students who score 141 or below on the English Placement Test are required to take ENG 48, Introduction to College Writing I, together with ENG 118, Effective College Reading I; and ENG 51, Introduction to College Writing II, together with ENG 121, Effective College Reading II.
Grades and units earned in ENG 48 and/or ENG 51 do not apply toward the student’s GPA or the number of units required for graduation. However, units earned in ENG 118 and ENG 121 shall apply toward the calculation of the GPA and the number of units required for graduation. However, units earned in ENG 48 and/or ENG 50 count for financial aid purposes. Successful completion of ENG 48 and/or ENG 51 by students needing them are prerequisites for enrollment in ENG 114.
Remediation of writing deficiencies must begin during the first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU. All required remedial course work must be completed within one calendar year from the time of admission to SFSU. Students who do NOT complete their remedial English course work within one year from the time of admission will be subject to disenrollment from the university. For further information, contact the Advising Center.
Consult the current Class Schedule for the complete list of approved ENG 214 alternate courses. They are listed at the end of the listing of English courses in the section entitled, “English Composition Requirement, Second Year.”
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 in English will receive six units of college credit and are exempted from the ENG 114 and ENG 214 course requirements.
Undergraduate students must complete the CSU Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) by taking the SFSU Junior English Proficiency Essay Test (JEPET) after completing 48 semester units, and before completing 80 semester units.
Consult the Testing Center Examination Calendar for JEPET examination times and dates.
Students who transfer to SFSU with 80 or more semester units and who have completed a course equivalent to ENG 214 should take the JEPET examination during their first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU. Students who do not pass JEPET must enroll in ENG 414 in the semester immediately following the semester in which they failed JEPET, or they will lose their course registration priority date for all subsequent semesters until they complete ENG 414. 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.
The ESLPT is a SFSU requirement for placement in all CMS English courses. Placement in CMS courses is determined by the CMS coordinator solely on the basis of ESLPT scores, not on the basis of any course work or examinations taken at other colleges or universities. Consult the Testing Center Examination Calendar for ESLPT and EPT examination times and dates.
Non-native speakers of English who are eligible to take Composition for Multilingual Students (CMS) courses must complete the sequence of CMS courses listed below as substitutes for the English 114, 214, and JEPET requirements. In order to enroll in an CMS course, students must first take the SFSU English as a Second Language Placement Test (ESLPT) and receive a qualifying score for that course. A student who satisfactorily completes an CMS course may proceed to the next level CMS course without retaking the ESLPT.
Students on foreign visas and permanent residents may substitute the following courses for the ENG 114, ENG 214, and JEPET requirements.
In order to use ENG 410 or ENG 411 to meet the JEPET requirement, students must take ENG 410 or ENG 411 after they have completed 48 semester units and before completing 80 semester units.
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 or receive permission from the CMS coordinator.
Non-native speakers of English may complete the GE Oral Communication requirement by taking ENG 210, Oral Communication-Multilingual, if they qualify for this course on the basis of their ESLPT scores.
The faculty at San Francisco State University has long recognized the value of good research skills. Students are expected to be able to find and use information sources effectively. With the fast-paced changes in information technology and the expanding numbers of more powerful, but complex information sources, it is increasingly important for students to be able to effectively navigate in this information environment.
The Basic Information Competence Requirement is a graduation requirement for all SFSU undergraduates.The intent of this requirement is to insure that SFSU students have a solid foundation in information compethnce skills early in their academic careers. Most students will fulfill the Basic Information Competence Requirement by completing OASIS (On-line Advancement of Student Information Skills), a self-paced tutorial on the web (http://oasis.sfsu.edu). First-time freshmen are expected to complete the requirement by the end of their second semester and new transfer students by the end of their first semester at SFSU
For more information about the Basic Information Competence Requirement, the OASIS tutorial, and links to CSU and SFSU policies about information competence, please visit the library's web site and select the link to “Information Competence/ Library Requirement.”
The California State University (CSU) system requires that all graduates demonstrate an 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's state and local governments. Because this is a competency requirement, it may be satisfied by passing examinations, or by taking courses, or by a combination of examinations and courses. In unusual circumstances, students may be able to demonstrate competency in other ways as well.
Transfer students from other California institutions should complete the U.S. History and Government Requirement prior to transfer. Public colleges and universities in California typically cover the entire requirement, often called American Institutions, in two courses in the same way as SFSU. However, transfer students from colleges and universities outside of California or from private institutions within California or students who have AP or CLEP credit in U.S. government usually have not studied California government and will therefore need either to pass the California state and local government examination (see below) or to take a course to complete the California State and Local Government component of the U.S. History and Government requirement. Consult your Advanced Standing Evaluation form (ASE) or your Degree Audit Report System form (DARS) to verify completion of the entire requirement.Students who believe that they can demonstrate a proficient understanding of any part of this requirement based on other courses they have taken or on their experience (e.g., in state and local government) should consult with one of the following:
Units taken to meet the U.S. History and Government requirement at SFSU cannot be used to satisfy the university's General Education requirements. Engineering majors should consult the Engineering GE adviser for engineering GE program exceptions.
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations A score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement examination in U.S. history will satisfy the U.S. history requirement. Students who have achieved a score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement examination in Government and Politics: United States will satisfy the U.S. government component of the requirement. For more information, go to the College Board website. Satisfactory completion of AP examinations also carries college credit. No AP examination will satisfy the requirement in California state and local government.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Examinations A passing score (50) on the CLEP exam in either U.S. History I or U.S. History II will satisfy the U.S. history requirement. A passing score (50) on the CLEP exam in American Government will satisfy the U.S. government component of this requirement. For more information, go to the College Board website. Satisfactory completion of CLEP examinations will also carry college credit. No CLEP examination will satisfy the requirement in California state and local government.
SFSU Equivalency Examination in California State and Local Goverment This requirement may be met by achieving a passing score on an SFSU equivalency examinations. This examination may be taken only once. For information about this examination and preparation for it, contact the Political Science Department.
Students may submit any combination of examinations and courses to satisfy this requirement.
Taking two three-unit courses at SFSU satisfies this requirement. List A presents courses that satisfy the U.S. History requirement. List B presents courses that satisfy the requirement in U.S., state, and local government. All courses in List B fulfill BOTH the U.S. government and the California state and local government components of this requirement. Courses in List C fulfill ONLY the California state and local government components of this requirement.
Select one course:
| AIS 460 | Power and Politics in American Indian History |
| AAS 200 | History of Asian Americans |
| AFRS 304 | Black People and the American Experience |
| ECON 400 | Economic and Social History of the U.S. |
| ETHS 600/HIST 466 | History of U.S. People of Color: Comparative Analysis |
| HIST 120 | History of the U.S. through Reconstruction |
| HIST 121 | History of the U.S. since Reconstruction |
| HIST 130 | Survey of U.S. History for Foreign Students |
| HIST 418 | Society and Politics in American History |
| HIST 463/RAZA 376 | History of La Raza in the U.S. |
| S S 200 | Development of American Institutions, Values, and Ideals |
| WOMS 150 | Women in American History and Society |
NOTE: In addition to fulfilling the U.S. Government requirement, the courses listed below also satisfy the California State and Local Government component of this requirement.
Select one course:
| AIS 205 | American Indians and U.S. Laws |
| AAS 205 | Asian Americans and American Ideals and Institutions |
| AFRS 376 | Government, the Constitution, and Black Citizens |
| ETHS 250 | Race, Ethnicity, and Power in America |
| PLSI 200 | American Politics |
| RAZA 276 | La Raza, Government, Ideals, and Constitution |
| WOMS 160 | Women, Politics, and Citizenship |
These courses satisfy ONLY the California State and Local Government component of the U.S. History and Government requirement. Students whose ASE or DARS report indicates that they have not met this component of the requirement should either take the examination in state and local government (contact the Political Science Department) or take one of the following courses to fulfill the California State and Local Government component of this requirement.
| HIST 450 | History of California |
| PLSI 473 | California Government and Politics (4) |
The SFSU Bulletin describes the requirements in effect for the current year. Refer to the Bulletin Rights section of the university Bulletin for additional information about GE Program requirements and other important graduation requirements.
For detailed information on the GE Program, go to General Education Program.
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.
If a 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, the student 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, he/she 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.
Students 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 is changed or declared. Bulletin rights do not apply to course requirements concerning specific prerequisites; consult the department for applicability of course prerequisites.
An undergraduate student who has completed all of the requirements for graduation and has a total of 120 semester units is eligible to graduate with a baccalaureate degree..
For award of the baccalaureate degree, all students are required to complete a minimum of 30 units in residence at SFSU. Of the 30-unit residence requirement, 24 units must be upper division courses and twelve units, upper division or lower division, must be in the major. Nine of these residence units must be earned in Segment III of the GE Program. Units earned for courses awarding extension credit or credit by examination or evaluation do not carry residence credit.
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 of these upper division units must be completed at SFSU, and nine of these upper division units must be completed in General Education Segment III.
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 60 semester units outside that discipline in order to earn a B.A. or B.S. degree.
The university accepts a maximum of 70 semester units for work completed at a community college.
The university accepts a maximum of 24 semester units of extension credit and correspondence courses towards award of a baccalaureate degree. Courses taken through Open University which earn extension units 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 accepts correspondence credits transferred from another accredited institution as part of the 24-unit maximum for extension and correspondence work. Credit earned through SFSU's Winter Session and Special Session is not included in the 24-unit limitation.
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.
The examination is comprehensive and searching. A grade and appropriate grade points are recorded on the student's permanent record, except for the U.S. History and the U.S. Government requirements, if they are completed by examination. 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 academic credit through the Credit by Evaluation for Experiential Learning (CEEL) Program. This program is an alternative method for students to earn academic credit for college-level learning experiences that occurred prior to their matriculation and for which no academic credit has been awarded. Typical experiences include research projects, significant work and/or life experiences, volunteer activities, and structured internships. Only undergraduate credit may be earned with a maximum limit of 30 units, six of which can be earned for residence credit. Units are usually applied towards general education or elective areas; but in certain instances, units may be used to fulfill major or minor requirements. An important requirement for earning CEEL credit is to create a learning portfolio documenting and describing the college-level learning that was achieved through these experiences. The portfolio is thoroughly evaluated by a faculty member from an academic area for which the credit is being sought. For further information, contact the Advising Center at (415) 338-2948.
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 use of CR grades.
Fifteen units is considered an average semester course load for full-time undergraduate students. During priority registration, students may register for a maximum of sixteen units of enrolled and wait-listed courses. During the open registration period, students may add an additional three units of enrolled and wait-listed course work up to a maximum of nineteen units. After instruction begins, students may add units above the nineteen-unit maximum, provided they have received prior written approval of their college dean for their major. Students who want to take a unit overload must submit a signed Petition to Exceed the Maximum Unit Policy for Undergraduate Students to the Office of Undergraduate Studies, ADM 447, before the end of the fourth week of instruction. They should also have obtained assigned permit number(s) from course instructors.
Undergraduate students who want to enroll in more than nineteen units in one semester must:
Undeclared, liberal studies, and special majors must receive the approval of the dean of Undergraduate Studies. 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 a signed petition from the student’s dean has been submitted to and recorded by the Office of Undergraduate Studies, ADM 447.
Students who wish to enroll in 25 or more units in one semester must receive the written approval of their adviser, their college dean, and the dean of Undergraduate Studies. Course work taken in auditor status, or at another university or through SFSU's College of Extended Learning must be included on the Petition to Exceed the Maximum Unit Policy for Undergraduate Students.
Nursing majors who participate in the Advanced Placement Option for Registered Nurses are required to file a Petition to Exceed the Maximum Unit Policy for Undergraduate Students, if their total unit load for any given semester exceeds nineteen units, including all units earned through the advanced placement credit by examination option for that semester.
Undergraduate students may enroll in a maximum of seven units in a five-week summer session, eleven units in the eight-week summer session, and fourteen units in any combination of summer semester sessions (R1, R2, and R3).
Registration will not permit students to enroll in more than the above unit maximums without prior approval of their college dean.
Summer semester petition procedures:
The Registrar’s Office will not accept course permit numbers to add courses until a petition has been approved by the appropriate college dean, or the dean of Undergraduate Studies, and entered into the university's academic records system.
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. Students who do not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement for SFSU course work will be subject to mandatory probationary advising.
Academic Renewal may be used for the purpose of disregarding some undergraduate course work from graduation requirements. According to Title 5 (Section 40402), "When, in the opinion of the appropriate campus authority, work completed during a previous enrollment at the campus or at another institution of higher education is substandard and not reflective of the student’s present scholastic ability and level of performance, all work completed during one or two semesters, as the appropriate campus authority shall decide, may be disregarded in the computation of grade point averages and other requirements for graduation." The conditions for approval noted below must be met for academic renewal to be invoked. These conditions are:
If approved for Academic Renewal, 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 (Executive Order 213).
Repeated course work. 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. Requests should be directed to the Student Services Center. The following conditions apply: