OBSERVANCE OF BULLETIN REQUIREMENTS
- A student, except a classified graduate student, who remains in continuous attendance
in regular sessions and continuing in the same curriculum at any campus, in any of the
California community colleges or in any combination of California community colleges
and campus of the California State University, may, for purposes of meeting graduation
requirements, elect to meet the graduation requirements for San Francisco State
University in effect (1) at the time they began their study, (2) at the time they entered the
CSU campus from which they graduate, or (3) at the time they graduate from the CSU.
Substitutions for discontinued courses may be authorized or required by the appropriate
campus authority. Beginning Fall, 1986, students who change their major after being
admitted to San Francisco State University, or who declare a major after being admitted
with an undeclared major, must meet the major requirements in effect at the time they
change or declare their major.
A student, except a classified graduate student, not in a period of continuous
attendance at the time of filing for a degree and/or credential must meet the Bulletin
requirements in effect at the time of filing. Continuous attendance for purposes of Bulletin
requirements is defined as matriculated attendance in at least one semester or two
quarters each calendar year.
- All students may be required to meet new requirements imposed by the Trustees of the
California State University or by the California State Legislature.
- A classified graduate student must meet all requirements as stated on the Graduate
Approved Program and the program must reflect the Bulletin requirements in effect at
the time the student was officially admitted to classified status in the major department
or those requirements in effect at the time the program is filed and approved by the
Dean of the Graduate Division.
REGISTRATION POLICIES
- All students who register at San Francisco State University in resident study for either the
fall or spring semester must first be admitted to the university by the Admissions Office.
- Registration is complete only when all fees, deposits, and charges are paid. Students are
required to make all payments by the regularly announced deadlines. Students must pay
for added units on their own initiative at the time they add additional units; the university
is not responsible for billing students.
- Students are granted credit only for those courses in which they are formally registered.
Students are responsible for completing all courses entered on their official Program
Verification (mailed after the second week of instruction). A change after receipt of
Program Verification can be made by following the procedures outlined in the Class
Schedule.
- Registration procedures are mailed to all students and published in the Class Schedule.
CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS FOR REGISTRATION
Newly Admitted
Students who have never enrolled at San Francisco State University in a fall or spring
semester and who have been admitted to the university for a specific semester, or
students who have previously attended San Francisco State University and are returning
to begin a new degree objective (e.g., a new graduate student who received a B.A.
from SFSU).
Continuing
Students who were previously enrolled in this university in a regular semester and who
have not been absent from the university for more than one complete semester
(excluding summer sessions) and who have not attended another college or university
during their absence from San Francisco State University.
Per immigration regulations, foreign students are required to be continuously enrolled
every semester. Undergraduates must carry a minimum of twelve units and graduate
students must carry a minimum of nine units.
In order to be considered in attendance for any semester, the student must be reported
as enrolled in at least one class on the 20th day of instruction.
Readmitted
Students who have been absent from San Francisco State University for two full semesters
(excluding summer session), or who have attended another college or university during
their absence, have applied and been readmitted to the university by the Admissions
Office.
USE OF UNIVERSITY RESOURCES
A graduate student must be officially enrolled with the university during any term in which
s/he is utilizing university resources which are determined to be more than incidental by
the major department and, if appropriate, by other units of the university. A student who
was admitted to a graduate program at this campus before Fall 1990, and who
maintains continuing registration eligibility, will not be subject to this requirement. S/he
should follow the Bulletin in effect for the term s/he was admitted to the graduate
program.
CLASS LEVEL OF STUDENTS
The class level of students is determined according to units completed (earned units) as
follows:
Class Level Units Completed
Lower Division:
Freshmen 0-29
Sophomore 29-59
Upper Division:
Junior 60-89
Senior 90 or more
Graduate:
Holding a baccalaureate or master's degree
from an accredited university or college.
ENROLLMENT LIMITATIONS
This university and the State of California are very supportive of individuals completing
course work for degrees, credentials, and certificates offered by the university, as well as
for professional growth, and for personal enrichment within reasonable limits. With the
limitation of physical and personnel resources available, the university reserves the right
to limit, or terminate, the enrollment of any individual it feels has been fairly served by
educational opportunities at this institution or elsewhere, and where the enrollment
needs of other individuals must be given higher priority in the context of the resources
available.
LIMITATION OF TOTAL UNITS
The Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services reviews the records of students who
have earned sufficient units of credit to graduate, but have not applied for graduation.
When the student has met all requirements for graduation, the Associate Vice President,
after conference with the student, may take the necessary action to have the student
graduated. In those cases where the requirements for graduation can be completed in
one additional semester, the Associate Vice President, after conference with the student,
the appropriate department chair, and either the Dean of Undergraduate Studies or the
Dean of the Graduate Division, may notify the student that he has only one additional
semester in which to complete the graduation requirements. If graduation requirements
are not completed in the time designated, future registration in the university may not be
permitted or may be subject to conditions mutually agreed upon by the student and the
Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services.
TOUCH TONE REGISTRATION
Registration for all students is by telephone, using a Touch Tone Registration system. Touch
Tone appointments and fee payment instructions are sent to all eligible students prior to
the first available touch tone date. Registration fees must be paid prior to using the touch
tone system. Please refer to the Class Schedule for specific dates and details.
Adding Courses after Initial Touch Tone
If the student has paid sufficient fees and has instructor approval, s/he may submit a
signed add form to the Admissions and Records Counter. Add forms are available at the
Admissions and Records forms table on the second floor of the Administration Building.
Dropping Courses after Initial Touch Tone
The student must use the Touch Tone system to drop individual classes until the 20th day
of instruction. After that point, s/he may withdraw from a course or courses only for serious
and compelling reasons. Petitions for withdrawal are available at the Admissions and
Records Counter, and must be signed by the instructor and department chair. (College
dean approval is required if withdrawal is in the last three weeks of the semester.)
Touch Tone Enrollment Verification
A student may verify his/her enrollment via the Touch Tone Registration system through
the 20th day of instruction. A Touch Tone program verification will be mailed prior to the
first day of classes, and a second verification will be sent at the end of the second week
of the semester.
AUDITING COURSES
A student who wishes to audit a course instead of enrolling for credit must be admitted to
the university, register and pay fees in the same manner as s/he would for credit courses.
A student registers as an auditor by receiving permission from the instructor during the first
two weeks of instruction on an Add/Drop form which is available from and must be
turned in to the Registrar's Office prior to the end of the second week of instruction.
Any student admitted to a class as an auditor will not be permitted to obtain credit by
examination for that class. A student registered as an auditor may be required to
participate in any or all classroom activities at the discretion of the instructor.
A student may change his/her status from audit to credit or from credit to audit during
the first two weeks of instruction, if the change is approved by the course instructor.
ACADEMIC LOAD
The normal academic load for undergraduates is fifteen units per semester. For
graduates, the normal load is from nine to twelve units per semester. Two hours of
preparation for each hour of regular class work should be expected. For foreign students,
immigration regulations require a minimum academic load of twelve units for
undergraduates and nine units for graduates.
In planning programs, students should observe Veterans Administration regulations
concerning minimum academic loads. For certification under the Veterans
Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-358), undergraduates must register for
twelve or more semester units of credit to receive maximum benefits. Graduate students
must register and complete eight or more upper division or graduate-level semester units
of credit each term to receive maximum benefits. Additional information may be
obtained from the Registrar's Office.
All students requesting and accepting financial aid through San Francisco State
University must register for and complete twelve or more semester units as an
undergraduate and eight or more semester units as a graduate. Some financial aid
programs allow a reduced unit requirement.
Students who wish to enroll in extension work with this university and/or to enroll in courses
at other institutions at the same time as they are registered for courses at this university,
should plan the combined program with their major adviser. Under no circumstances is
the total unit load for all course registrations in all institutions being attended to exceed
the maximum unit load restrictions for this institution without written approval in advance
from either the Dean of Undergraduate Studies or the Dean of the Graduate Division.
Failure to obtain such approval in advance will subject the student to possible loss of
units taken here and/or a restriction of units for transfer from the other institutions.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend classes regularly because classroom work is one of the
necessary and important means of learning and of attaining the educational objectives
of the institution.
Students should not miss classes except for valid reasons, such as illness, accidents, or
participation in officially approved university activities. When a student is absent from
classes, it is his/her responsibility to inform his/her instructors of the reason for the absence
and to arrange to make up missed assignments and class work insofar as this is possible.
The instructor may consider regular attendance when assigning grades. In that case, the
requirement for regular attendance must be stated in writing as part of the course
requirements and distributed to students at the beginning of the semester.
PLANNED EDUCATIONAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Continuing students who have been officially admitted to, and who are actively
pursuing, a degree and/or credential program may qualify to absent themselves from
enrollment in the institution for periods up to two academic years and still maintain the
option of continuing student status. As a consequence of a leave of absence, it is
expected that a student will improve his/her ability to complete the degree program. A
petition for the leave must clearly demonstrate that during the absence from the
university the student will be doing something significantly relevant to his/her program.
Requests for health, financial, or other personal reasons are not recognized for the
purpose of granting a leave of absence. In the latter instances, students would need to
reapply for admission when they are ready to resume their studies in the university.
Undergraduate students should contact the Registrar's Office, ADM 253, for more
information.
To be eligible for an educational leave of absence, a graduate student must: (a) be a
U.S. citizen or resident alien (foreign students ineligible); (b) have been officially admitted
to a master's and/or credential program offered by the university; (c) have a Graduate
Approved Program (GAP) on file in the Graduate Division Office or Credential Approved
Program (CAP) on file in the Credentials Office in the College of Education; (d) be in
good academic standing; and (e) have completed acceptable course work (at least
nine units) toward the identified objective prior to the effective date of the leave. Such a
planned academic leave does not change the beginning or ending dates of the seven-
year completion of degree requirements for master's degree candidates. For further
information contact the Graduate Division Office, ADM 254.
TRANSCRIPTS
Official transcripts of courses taken at the university are issued only with the written
permission of the student concerned. Partial transcripts are not issued. A fee of $4.00 for a
single transcript must be received before the request can be processed. Additional
transcripts prepared at the same time up to ten (10) transcripts are $2.00 each.
Additional transcripts prepared at the same time which exceed the first ten (10)
transcripts cost $1.00 each.
Transcripts show all San Francisco State University work completed as of the date of
application for the transcript. Work in progress accompanies the transcript only if
specifically requested by the student on the application for transcript form. Requests for
transcripts to show end of current semester's work are held until all grades are recorded.
Transcript requests are processed in accordance with the date of filing.
Transcripts from other institutions, which have been presented for admission or
evaluation, become a part of the student's permanent academic file and are not
returned or copied for distribution. Students desiring transcripts covering work attempted
elsewhere should request them from the appropriate institutions.