Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Student Learning Goals	Faculty Approval
Scholarship	Graduation Honors
Catalog Year for Graduation Requirements	Multiple Majors and/or Minors
Mathematics Competency	Requirements for an Additional Baccalaureate Degree
Graduation Application	Upper Division Writing Proficiency

 

To qualify for a baccalaureate degree, a student must comply with all University regulations and satisfy specific requirements in these areas:

1. Units: A minimum of 120 semester units is required. At least 40 units must be in courses recognized for upper-division credit.
2. Residence: A student must complete a minimum of 30 semester units at Stanislaus State. At least 24 of these 30 units must be earned in upper-division courses, at least 12 must be in the major, and at least 9 must be applicable to General Education-Breadth requirements (Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Sections 40403 and 40405). Credit in summer terms or special sessions may be counted as residence credit on a unit-for-unit basis. Extension course credit or credit by examination or evaluation will not be counted as residence credit.

Student Learning Goals

These Baccalaureate Learning Goals represent the skills and competencies, knowledge, and abilities that Stanislaus State commits to developing in its students through General Education, the major, and co-curricular programs.  Students will be expected to:

1. Demonstrate expertise in a scholarly discipline and understand the discipline in relation to other disciplines and the historical context.
2. Develop the intellectual skills and competencies necessary to participate effectively in society and the world.
3. Develop broad knowledge of biological and physical sciences, humanities and creative arts, and social sciences.
4. Develop the abilities to integrate knowledge, make informed ethical decisions, and accept civic responsibility.
5. Demonstrate personal responsibility and civic engagement with respect and appreciation for diverse local and global peoples, cultures, environments, and resources.

Scholarship

Each student must complete with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better:

1. all acceptable college units attempted,
2. all units attempted in the major field of study (see the major for criteria),
3. all units required for the academic minor, and
4. all residence credit units attempted at the University.

Catalog Year for Graduation Requirements

An undergraduate matriculated student who has been in continuous enrollment in regular sessions pursuing a degree may elect to meet baccalaureate graduation requirements in effect 1) at the time of first entering a California community college or CSU campus, 2) at the time of matriculation at Stanislaus State, or 3) at the time of graduation. For the purpose of this regulation, “continuous enrollment” means attendance in at least one semester each calendar year. Attendance in summer or winter term is not applicable to this regulation. An absence for an approved leave, or for attendance not to exceed two years at another regionally accredited college, may be permitted. Students who do not enroll at least part-time for one semester each calendar year risk the loss of rights to their original catalog year for graduation requirements.

Program admission and completion requirements for a credential or an additional degree or major will be established by the catalog applicable at the time of subsequent program admission. (See Evaluation of Transfer Credit in this catalog.)

Mathematics Competency

A demonstration of mathematics skills competency is a requirement for a bachelor’s degree. Satisfactory performance on the CSU Entry-Level Mathematics (ELM) examination or an approved alternative program of mathematics course work is required. Further information regarding this examination, placement, possible exceptions, and  completion of the General Education mathematics requirement may be obtained from  the Mathematics Department. (See Entry-Level Mathematics Requirement under the Admission section of this catalog.)

Graduation Application

A prospective candidate for a baccalaureate degree should submit an application for graduation to the Enrollment Services Office when two semesters remain to complete requirements for the degree, or when a minimum of 90 units has been earned toward completion of the degree. In any case, a student should not apply later than the date indicated in the class schedule. Submission of the completed application for graduation should include any approved course substitutions and final transcripts from all transfer institutions. Students who fail to graduate in the term for which they apply for graduation must reapply for a later term in order to be eligible for continuing undergraduate enrollment.

A prospective candidate for a baccalaureate degree must apply to the Enrollment Services Office for re-admission and be admitted for a new educational objective before April or October to qualify respectively for fall or spring Priority Registration.

Faculty Approval

Approval of the major adviser, department chair, and the Director of Academic Advising is required before the University may award a degree.

Graduation Honors

Graduation honors are awarded to students earning baccalaureate degrees at commencement on the basis of both their overall and Stanislaus State grade point averages achieved in their undergraduate work. Projected or estimated grade averages for degree candidates are excluded from grade point average calculations. Honors designation for Spring and Summer candidates in the Commencement program is based on grades earned by the end of Winter Term. To receive an honor, both averages must meet the standards as follows:

Cum Laude 3.40-3.59
Magna Cum Laude 3.60-3.79
Summa Cum Laude 3.80-4.00

These are minimum grade point average requirements. Calculations are not rounded upward to qualify a student. When there is a difference between the averages, the lower of the two will be used in determining the level of honors. (See Grading System section.)

Multiple Majors and/or Minors

Second majors, minors, and/or concentrations may not be comprised essentially of courses from the same discipline or requirements of the first major, minor, or concentration. In order to earn a second major, minor, or concentration a student must complete additional units greater than one-half of the upper-division unit requirement, in the second major, minor, or concentration.

To qualify for the academic minor, students must complete the required number of units in the academic minor with a minimum GPA of 2.0 (C).

Requirements for an Additional Baccalaureate Degree

A student may earn one degree and two majors with the second major posted to the student’s academic record as an additional major.

To qualify for an additional baccalaureate degree, students must:

1. Complete a minimum of 30 semester units in residence at Stanislaus State after requirements for the last degree have been met. Specific requirements include completing:
   1. at least 24 upper-division units, and
   2. at least 12 units in the new major.
2. Comply with all Stanislaus State graduation requirements, including:
   1. the General Education requirements of the student’s current catalog year,
   2. satisfaction of the graduation mathematics and writing competency requirements, and
   3. other institutional and system requirements in effect at the time of acceptance for the second degree or at the date of completion.
3. Obtain approval of the major department chair.
4. Maintain at least a 2.0 (C) grade point average for all Stanislaus State residence coursework taken while pursuing the additional degree.
5. Complete a major in a discipline other than that in which a previous degree was earned.

Rather than complete requirements for an additional degree, a postbaccalaureate student may complete only requirements for an additional major. This program must be completed under the supervision of an academic department.

Upper Division Writing Proficiency

In addition to satisfactory completion of all General Education Communication Skills requirements, all students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. To do so, they must complete the Writing Proficiency Screening Test (WPST) with a passing score and then pass, with a minimum grade of C- or better, an upper-division writing proficiency (WP) course. Students who have not met the graduation writing requirement must achieve a passing score on the WPST before gaining admission to any of these courses. Peer tutoring to prepare for this test is available at the Writing Center. A course taken prior to the first semester in which WP status takes effect for that course may not be used to satisfy the writing competency requirement. Writing proficiency courses are designated in the Schedule of Classes with (WP). The following is a listing of the status of WP courses: