Unit Requirements

Two types of unit requirements exist at SDSU: unit minimums and unit maximums. The unit minimums outline the minimum number of units you need to graduate. The unit maximums indicate the maximum number of units you can take that will count toward your units for graduation.

UNIT MINIMUMS

A. Overall Unit Requirement

The minimum number of units necessary for a bachelor's degree is 120 (excluding courses numbered 99 and below, and courses numbered 397). Many majors and degrees have requirements that extend beyond the minimum number of units, as listed below: The degree that applies to a particular student is determined by the student's choice of major.

1. Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, 120-124
2. Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, 120-124
3. Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, 120-128
4. Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, 128-138
5. Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Sciences, 124-132
6. Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Science, 130
7. Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance, 132
8. Bachelor of Music degree, 132
9. Bachelor of Vocational Education degree, 120

B. Upper division Unit Requirement

The total number of upper division units necessary for a bachelor's degree is as follows:

1. Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, 40
2. Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, 40
3. Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, 45
4. Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, 41
5. Bachelor of Music degree, 37 - 45
6. Bachelor of Vocational Education degree, 40

Courses offering upper division credit are those numbered 300 through 599. All units from upper division courses (except those numbered 397 in any department) are applicable to the upper division unit requirement, including units from courses in the major and the minor, and from courses used to satisfy the American Institutions and General Education requirements.

UNIT MAXIMUMS

C. Unit Limit Totals

The maximum number of special units accepted for a bachelor's degree is as follows:

1. From transferable community and junior college courses, 70
2. From credit by examination (excluding AP credit), 30
3. From extension, Open University, and correspondence courses, 24
4. * From courses graded Credit (Cr), 15
5. From topics courses numbered 296, 496, 596, 9
6. From General Studies courses numbered 200 and 400, 6
7. From courses numbered below 100 (99 and below), and courses numbered 397, 0
8. From Special Study courses numbered 299, 499, 599, 9
9. From courses numbered 499 from one department (except Geological Sciences 499), 6
10. From Aerospace Studies, Military Science, and Naval Science courses, 24
11. From Music 170-189, 369-389, 569-589,
    (for non-major and music major for B.A. degree), 14
12. From Music 170-189, 369-389, 569-589,
    (for music major for B.M. degree in General Music and Music Education) ,14
13. From Music 170-189, 369-389, 569-589,
    (for music major for B.M. degree in Performance, Composition, and Jazz Studies), 18

*Upper division courses in the major and minor must be taken for a letter grade unless they only are offered credit/no credit.

D. Units in One Department

1. Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Arts and Sciences

The maximum number of units in any one department, lower and upper division combined, that can be applied toward the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences is 48, except in those majors outlined below:

1. For students majoring in communicative disorders, 68
2. For students majoring in English (courses in Comparative Literature, English, Rhetoric and Writing Studies), 54
3. For students majoring in French or Spanish, 49
4. For students majoring in Japanese, 56
5. For students majoring in psychology, 50
6. For students majoring in social work, 51
7. For students completing the single subject teaching credential program in Spanish, 52
8. For students completing the single subject teaching credential program in Russian, 54
9. For students majoring in art with an emphasis in studio arts, 57

2. Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance degree. The maximum number of units in upper division dance courses acceptable toward the Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance degree is 70.
3. Bachelor of Music Degree. The maximum number of units in upper division music courses acceptable toward the Bachelor of Music degree is 70.
4. Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. The minimum number of units required outside of business administration, economics, and statistics is 60.