Frequently Asked Questions

Go to: Articulation | General Education | General | Graduation Requirements | Interdisciplinary Studies | MyPlanner | Reinstatement and Readmission to SJSU | Study Abroad | Transfer Credit | WST and GWAR

More student resources for 4-Year Students or Transfer Students is also available on this website.

Articulation

• How do I find out if the courses I am taking at another institution in California are transferable to SJSU?

  • Students can the visit the SJSU Articulation website for complete listings of current articulations from California public colleges or universities (CCC, CSU, or UC). In addition, students may also visit assist.org for articulation of classes from prior academic years that were taken at a CCC, CSU, or UC campus.

• Is there a website that I can use to find classes from other CSUs or community colleges that fulfill GE requirements at SJSU?

  • Use the California State University - Quottly website to find and register for online GE courses offered by California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) campuses that count for CSU transfer credit at SJSU. Easily search and filter over 70,000 online course offerings from both the CSU and CCC to find the right class for you - one that fits your schedule and helps you graduate faster.

    In addition, CSU Fully Online offers a wide range of courses that SJSU students can take.

• If a course I have taken at an out-of-state college or university is not articulated, how can I get it accepted for a particular GE area at SJSU?

  • Matriculated undergraduate students who have taken a non-articulated course that may satisfy requirements of a particular General Education or American Institutions area, will need file a petition with Undergraduate Education for review and acceptance of the course for a GE area.

• I took an upper division GE or a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) course at another CSU, but the course did not articulate when I transferred to SJSU. Can I petition for the course to be accepted at SJSU?

  • Yes, students may file a petition to get course(s) approved for SJSU Studies and 100W equivalency. Depending on the course taken, students may complete the SJSU Studies Equivalent Petition or Written Communication II (100W) Petition. 

• The course I took was articulated to a course at SJSU that is a GE, but I did not receive GE credit for it. Why was I not given GE credit?

  • Course-to-course articulation does not always meet GE articulation. Course equivalencies apply to major course requirements only. Students will need to file a petition to request for GE equivalency.

• Where can I find more information about Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT)?

  • Please visit the SJSU Catalog page for more information on ADTs.

General Education Requirements

• I completed all of my lower division GE and I have fulfilled the WST requirement. I currently have FEWER than 60 units completed and I would like to register for SJSU Studies (Areas R, S, V) and/or Written Communications II (100W) courses requiring upper division standing, but MySJSU says I do not meet the requirements. How do I register for these courses?

  • Students who have been matriculated at SJSU for at least one semester, who have fewer than 60 units earned at the time of registration, and would like to register for SJSU Studies and 100W courses that require upper division standing, will need to file a petition. Students must complete the Enroll in SJSU Studies and 100W with Less than 60 Units Petition. If approved, students are eligible to enroll on the first day of instruction with an add code.

    Open University (OU) students need to complete a different petition specific for OU students. 

• What are SJSU Studies courses?

  • SJSU Studies courses consist of upper division GE (Area R, S, V) and an upper division Written Communication II (100W) course (prior to Fall 2021). Passing the Writing Skills Test (WST)/LLD/ENGL 100A or taking the WST Directed Self Placement (WST-DSP) are prerequisites to any SJSU Studies course. Students must have at least 60 units earned in order to take SJSU Studies courses.

• Can I waive the 100W course (Area Z)?

  • The 100W course can be waived if a student scored an 11 or 12 on their Writing Skills Test (WST) and if the student's major permits a waiver. The GWAR requirement may be satisfied (not waived) at another CSU campus or by approval of a Written Communication II Petition. 

General Undergraduate Education

• Can I apply grade forgiveness to a second attempt if the course was taken outside of SJSU?

  • No, Grade Forgiveness only applies to courses for which both attempts were taken at SJSU. For more information, please visit the Grade Forgiveness page in the SJSU catalog. 

• Does grade forgiveness apply to CSU Fully Online?

  • Yes, if the course is articulated with (equivalent to) our SJSU course, it will be given grade forgiveness; otherwise, the grades will be averaged. For more information, please see CSU Fully Online.

• What is California Promise?

  • California Promise is a program to help freshmen graduate in four years and transfers graduate in two years. For more information, please visit the California Promise webpage. 

Graduation Requirements

• What is a Minor?

  • A minor is like a “mini-major,” a grouping of classes around a specific subject matter, typically between 18-30 credits. A minor must be combined with a major/degree program and adds another layer of professional knowledge to your degree, enhancing your résumé and prospects in today’s competitive job market.

• How do I change and/or add a new major, second major and/or minor? 

  • Students will need to complete and file a request for a Change of Major and/or Minor from the Registrar’s Office. Note, this form is can also be used for undeclared students and undeclared pre-nursing students to add a major/minor. 

    Please visit the Registrar's website for more information.

• How do I drop a minor?

  • If you wish to drop a minor, please complete the Drop Minor form. Send the completed form directly to your graduation evaluator. If you do not formally drop the minor, you will be held to those requirements. Similarly, if you currently have a double major and wish to drop one major, use the Drop Major form.

    Please visit the Registrar's website for more information.

• My request to change and/or add a major and/or minor was denied, what can I do?

  • Students can submit a petition to appeal such decisions under Presidential Directive 2009-05 [pdf]. Please see the Appeal a Presidential Directive 2009-05 Decision Petition for more information. 

• I walked, does that mean I graduated?

  • Participating in a graduation convocation does not mean that you have completed all requirements to graduate with your degree from SJSU. Only when a degree is posted on your student record have you officially graduated from SJSU. 

    Please visit the Registrar's website for more information.

• How will I be notified if I have officially graduated?

  • Students may check if their degree has been awarded by logging onto MySJSU to view their unofficial transcript. If your degree has been awarded, it will say "Requirements completed for Degree of BS/BA".

    Official proof of graduation is the student's official transcript stating that the degree has been conferred, which can be requested as soon as the degree is posted on the unofficial transcript.  

    Please visit the Transcript webpage for more information on how to order an official transcript. 

• Can undergraduate students apply for graduation and graduate from Open University status?

  • Yes, it is possible to apply for graduation and complete degree requirements through Open University (OU) without having to reapply for admissions. Applications for graduation are only accepted from students on Probation or in Good Standing. 

    Students that meet one of the following are not eligible:

    1. Need to take supervised courses because OU students may not enroll in supervised courses.
    2. Are in "Disqualified" academic standing; student must be reinstated first before applying for graduation and/or graduating. 
    3. Never matriculated at SJSU; student must apply for formal admissions and attend SJSU for at least one semester as a matriculated student.
    4. Are not ready to graduate; students are recommended to reapply for admission. 
• I have earned more than 24 Open University (OU) units, what can I do to have them count towards my degree requirements?

  • CSU rules allow a maximum of 24 OU units to count toward the minimum 120 units needed for a baccalaureate degree without the need for a petition. 

    Students will need to submit the Open University Coursework to Satisfy Graduation Requirements Petition to have excess units (over 24) be counted towards a baccalaureate degree. There is no limit on the number of OU units that can be approved via the petition. If all other requirements for graduation have been met, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education or the Registrar's Office can approve excess units needed to satisfy residency, baccalaureate requirements, or upper division credits. 

    Note: Starting Spring 2021, OU students that were disqualified and/or have reached the 24-units limit will need to meet with an advisor before they can enroll.
    

• What is the earned units (UE) requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree?

  • A minimum of 120 Earned Units (EU) is required for any undergraduate baccalaureate degree. At least 50 of those 120 UE must be from a 4-year college or university, or from units earned through AP, CLEP, & IB exams. In other words, maximum of 70 Earned Units from community college may count towards the 120 UE required for any undergraduate degree.

    A minimum of 40 UE must be earned at the upper division. For a BA degree, a minimum of 12 UE must be earned at the upper division.  For a BS degree, a minimum of 18 UE must be earned at the upper division.

    A minimum of 30 units must be earned in residence. Within the 30 units taken in residence, at least 24 units must be earned in upper division, at least 12 units must be in the major and at least 9 units must be earned in upper division general education courses. Only SJSU Studies or upper division GE from another CSU count towards these 9 units of upper division GE residency. Units earned through AP, CLEP, & IB exams may NOT count towards the residence requirement.

    Minimum GPAs of 2.00 in all relevant categories is required for completion of an SJSU degree. These are the SJSU Cumulative GPA, the All College GPA, and all Major(s) or Minor(s) degree programs GPAs.

Reinstatement and Readmissions to SJSU

• Do I have to reapply to SJSU after I have been disqualified?

  • The answer depends on your circumstances:

    If you are planning to return to SJSU as a regularly enrolled undergraduate student, the answer is yes. Students will need to submit an application for admission through Cal State Apply after their disqualification has been cleared. Detailed information and links to the relevant petition can be found on the Registrar's Reinstatement web page. 

    Returning students should also file a Readmission Petition as a Former Student Returning to SJSU (FSR). Note, this petition has specific due dates and requirements, please read instructions carefully. 

    If all requirements for graduation have been completed, it's not necessary to reapply for admissions to SJSU. However, if you have been disqualified, you must be reinstated in Good Standing prior to submitting your application for graduation.

• Do I need to complete a Reinstatement Petition even though I was not disqualified from SJSU?

  • Students wishing to be matriculated back to SJSU, who "stopped-out" on Probation or in Good Academic Standing and are otherwise eligible for admissions as an upper division student, should complete the Readmission Petition as a Former Student Returning to SJSU (FSR) and apply for admissions through Cal State Apply. Reinstatement petitions are only for those students that were disqualified from SJSU.

• Do I need to be reinstated to the major that I was disqualified from?

  • Students who are eligible for reinstatement should petition for their intended major, which may or may not be the major when they were disqualified from SJSU. Students do not have to be reinstated back to their original major unless it remains their intended major. Reinstatement petitions require signatures and recommendations from the major department and the College Associate Dean of the intended major. The Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education will make the final decision to approve reinstatement (or not).

• What should I do if my reinstatement was denied (not recommended) by the major department?

  • Departments and/or colleges may have their own criteria for Probation and Disqualification for their majors (though many do not). Many departments will give a student a "To-Do List" to complete, with specific steps that a student needs to take in order to be (re)accepted into the original major or a new intended major. 

• I completed my Reinstatement petition and will be applying for admissions, is there any other form I need to complete?

  • An approved Reinstatement petition is a prerequisite for submitting an approved Readmission Petition as a Former Student Returning (FSR).

• When do I need to reapply for admissions to SJSU?

  • Students need to reapply for admissions to SJSU if they stopped attending SJSU for two or more consecutive semesters or following an approved reinstatement (after disqualification).

    Please note that SJSU is currently not accepting lower division transfer students. Reinstated students need to complete a minimum of 60 semester units (90 quarter units) before they can re-apply for admissions. Please visit the SJSU Admissions website for more information.

• My Reinstatement and FSR form were both approved. I have over 60 units, but have not completed my basic four skills (Area A1, A2, A3, or B4) requirement. Am I eligible to apply for admissions?

  • In order to be eligible for readmission after being disqualified or "stopped-out", students must:

    1. have an all college GPA that is 2.0 or better; and
    2. have earned 60 or more semester units (90 quarter units); and
    3. have satisfied the 4 basic four skill courses (Area A1, A2, A3, and B4) with grades of "C-" or better in each.

     

    Students will need to submit an approved FSR form by the appropriate deadline (Jan 15th for next Fall (re)admissions and Sept 30th for next Spring (re)admissions).

• What GPA determines my Academic Standing?

  • SJSU cumulative GPA (SJSU CUM GPA) determines Academic Standing (e.g., Good Standing, Probation, or DQ status). All College GPA determines (re)admissions. 

Interdisciplinary Studies

• What is a Interdisciplinary Studies?

  • The Interdisciplinary Studies BA/BS is designed for situations in which an existing SJSU undergraduate degree major does not adequately accommodate academic professional aims.

    In consultation with the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, a student may create an individually designed, interdisciplinary course of study leading to a BA or BS Interdisciplinary Studies degree. The Interdisciplinary Studies allows a student to fulfill specific educational objectives when existing majors do not exist for the accomplishment of those goals. 

    The Interdisciplinary Studies Guidelines provide specific information about how to apply for the program. 

• How will my Interdisciplinary Studies degree appear on my diploma?

  • The diploma and transcript will contain the title, "Interdisciplinary Studies", followed by the exact title of the major listed on the Change of Major Form.

Study Abroad

• How do I get a study abroad course approved for Core GE, American Institution (US 1, 2, 3), or PE credit?

  • Students will need to attach a course description (or syllabus) to their study abroad Academic Planning Form (AAF) [DocuSign] and submit the completed form to Undergraduate Education for approval. If a GE course is fewer than 3 units, students may need an additional course approved to fully clear the GE area. 

    Due to campus closure, please email material to undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu for review.  

• How do I get a study abroad course approved for SJSU Studies (R, S, V) or Written Communication II (100W) credit?

  • To get a study abroad course approved for upper division GE courses, the Writing Skills Test (WST) must be fulfilled before submitting the petition. Submit a completed study abroad Academic Approval Form (AAF) with a course description/syllabus to Undergraduate Education. If a course is less than 3 units, students will need an additional course approved to fully clear a GE area. 
    
    Upper division GE courses must have significant writing requirements. Area V courses should primarily have a humanities perspective and be non-US centric. Area S courses should have a focus on the United States. Area R courses should focus on the scientific method. Written Communications II (100W) courses should have a focus in writing.
    
    All SJSU upper division GE courses (R, S, V) require a minimum of 3000 words of writing and Written Communications II require a minimum of 8000 words.

• Why was my study abroad course assigned 092/192?

  • All study abroad courses (CSU IP, ISEP, or Bilateral) are assigned the following course numbers: 92 for lower division courses, 192 for upper division courses, and 292 for graduate level courses.

Transfer Credit

• How do I transfer credit from another university or college to SJSU?

  • To transfer credit from another university or college to SJSU, students should request official transcripts to be sent to the SJSU Admissions Office for processing. Transcripts may be submitted electronically, mailed, or dropped off in person at the Admissions Office (located on the first floor of the Student Services Center (SSC)). If submitting in person, please make sure that the official transcript is unopened and fully sealed. Official transcripts will not be accepted if the seal is broken and envelope has been opened. 

• Can I take courses at a community college or 4-year school while attending SJSU?

  • Yes, students are permitted to take courses outside of SJSU. Once the course are complete, it is the student's responsibility to submit an official transcript from those schools to SJSU to transfer credits over.

• I failed a course at SJSU, can I retake it at a community college?

  • Yes, students can repeat failed courses at a community college;  however, students will not benefit from receiving Grade Forgiveness. Grade forgiveness only applies to courses taken at SJSU. 

Writing Skills Test (WST) & Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) Requirements

• Do I have to take the Writing Skills Test (WST)?

  • SJSU is temporarily suspending the Writing Skills Test (WST), please review Online WST Directed Self-Placement (WST-DSP) for additional information.

    ---

    All CSU students must meet the CSU Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) as part of their degree requirements. For first baccalaureate students at SJSU, successful completion of the GWAR generally means: 1) passing the WST and 2) passing a 100W course. The WST is a prerequisite for 100W and SJSU Studies (GE Areas R, S, V) courses.

    Starting in Spring 2010, SJSU will offer courses—LLD 100A and ENGL 100A (formerly LLD 96S and ENGL 96S)—that satisfy the WST requirement. For more information, please visit the Testing Office.

• What happens if I don't pass the WST?

  • You may retake the WST as many times as needed to get a passing score. Alternatively, if you do not pass the WST after multiple attempts, you may enroll in either LLD 100A or ENGL 100A; a passing grade of "C" or better in either of these 100A courses satisfies the WST requirement.

    Failure to pass the WST will delay your graduation. Workshops on the WST can be found at Peer Connections. You can only take your required 100W course after you pass the WST or 100A course. Some majors require the successful completion of a 100W course prior to taking any upper division coursework in the major.

• When should I take the WST?

  • You should take the WST as soon as possible - after successfully completing GE Area A3 or another second semester composition course.