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General Education Requirements

The State of California requires completion of a 48 unit General Education Breadth program which includes a minimum of 9 upper division GE semester units taken no sooner than the term in which the student achieves upper division status (60+ units).

Lower Division

First Year Seminar

Students entering CSUMB as Freshman or Lower Division Transfer Students with fewer than 30 units are required to complete FYS. This course will also meet one of the A-E GE requirements.

American Institutions

The CSU requires each student receiving a baccalaureate degree to be knowledgeable about the Constitution of the United States, American history, and state and local government. Courses fulfilling this requirement are identified in the catalog, and will also meet an Area D GE requirement.

Lower Division Service Learning

All lower division service learning courses will integrate and fulfill both the Lower Division SL Outcomes and the outcomes from one of the A-E GE areas.

Language Proficiency requirement

Students are assumed to begin language study at the 102 level and are required to demonstrate proficiency through the 201 (intermediate) level. Four units of language will count toward Area C GE units. Students transferring into and graduating from an approved high-unit major who are either A-E Complete or who have 60+ units are exempted. Students should consult their advisor for more information.

Upper Division

Upper Division Service Learning

Courses fulfilling this requirement must be taken no sooner than the term in which the student achieves upper division status (60+ units) in order to satisfy the GE requirement. UDSL courses will help to fulfill the upper division GE in Area D, and may also offer additional units counting toward another GE area or the major.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Many courses on campus satisfy the GWAR. Students should consult with their academic advisor, as some GWAR-approved courses also meet major requirements.

Major Requirements

The State of California requires students to complete a minimum of 24 units in their major program of study (36 units for a BS). These units are earned through successful completion of required courses, outcomes, and experiences. Students should reference the University Catalog to identify specific program requirements.

Major Learning Outcomes

All CSUMB major degree programs have a set of learning outcomes that students must satisfy through aligned courses or alternate assessments, as designed by the program. The University Catalog lists the MLOs for each degree program.

Concentrations

Many degree programs require students to select a particular area of study within the major in order to attain greater depth of knowledge and understanding. The University Catalog will indicate the options available to students.

Free Electives

The State of California requires a minimum of 120 semester units to be eligible for a baccalaureate degree. Students who complete general education and major requirements in fewer than 120 semester units are able to select additional courses as needed to meet the state requirement.

Requirements & Entry Status

If you enter CSUMB as a freshman, you must fulfill all requirements while at CSUMB.

Entering as a Transfer StudentIf you transfer from a community college or another university, the specific requirements depend on your status when you enter CSUMB.

Transfer Students with Fully Certified GE Breadth Requirements

If you transfer from another California institution with fully certified GE Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), you automatically satisfy Lower Division GE Requirements. You still need to satisfy the nine (9) units of Upper Division GE, inclusive of American Institutions (D4) and GWAR (A4), the CSUMB Language Proficiency Requirement, all major requirements and the minimum semester credit requirements. No more than 39 semester credits of GE credit certified by other institutions will be applied to the GE requirements at CSUMB.

Transfer Students without Fully Certified GE Breadth Requirements

If you enter CSUMB without having fully certified all GE Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), you must complete all unmet GE Breadth Requirements through the corresponding CSUMB GE courses, with no less than nine semester credits at the upper-division level after achieving upper-division status. CSUMB Admissions certifies which GE area(s) you have met. You also need to satisfy the CSUMB Language Proficiency Requirement, all major requirements and the minimum semester credit requirements.

Entering As a Second Bachelor's Degree Student

Students who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education may be admitted to CSUMB as a post-baccalaureate student.

In order to complete a second bachelor’s degree at CSUMB you are required to:

  1. Complete a minimum of 30 units in residence at CSUMB beyond the first bachelor’s degree. Of the 30 units, 24 must be upper division in the major.
  2. Complete all Major Requirements for a CSUMB bachelor’s degree.
  3. Earn a minimum 2.0 GPA for all CSUMB, cumulative and major course work comprising the second bachelor’s degree.

Minimum Credit Requirements

The California Educational Code Title V requirements for California State University specify that you must complete a minimum number of credits in several categories. The minimum semester credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credits

  • 40 upper-division
  • 70 maximum from community college
  • 120-132 total, depending on major

Credits in Residence at CSUMB

  • 24 upper division
  • 12 upper division in major
  • 9 in General Education
  • 30 total

Credits in General Education

  • 9 upper division after achieving upper-division status
  • 48 total

Credits in Major

Bachelor of Arts

  • 12 upper division
  • 12 upper division in residence at CSUMB
  • 24 total

Bachelor of Science

  • 18 upper division
  • 12 upper division in residence at CSUMB
  • 36 total

Credits in Minor (optional)

  • 6 upper division
  • 12 total

Minimum GPA Requirement

The CSU system requires a minimum grade point average of 2.00 for courses in each of the following groupings:

  • Cumulative total credits attempted, including all transfer courses
  • All credits attempted in your major
  • All credits attempted at CSUMB