Graduation Requirements

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

All baccalaureate degrees require completion of the requirements listed below. Degree requirements fall into three categories: general education requirements, major/minor requirements and other University requirements.

Total Units

A minimum of 120 units is required. No more than 70 units taken at a community college or another two-year college may be applied to this total, excluding military credit and credit by examination. Except for International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement Tests, no more than 30 semester units of credit shall be applied to the baccalaureate degree on the basis of passing externally developed tests. Credit for Military Basic Training is excluded from this total. A quarter unit is equivalent to two-thirds of a semester unit.

Upper Division Units

At least 40 of the total required units for graduation must be in courses numbered 300-499.

Major

Completion of a specific number and pattern of courses in one or more academic departments is defined as a major and is required for graduation.

Minor

1. A grade point average of at least 2.0 overall is required across all courses taken to complete the minor program (including transfer courses).
2. Programs may impose additional grade requirements (e.g., a program may require a minimum grade of “C” in all courses applied to the minor.)

(SP 12-01)

General Education

All students must complete General Education requirements. General Education requirements can be found in the General Education section of the catalog. A minimum of nine upper division, interdisciplinary units must be completed in residence at CSU Channel Islands (CI). Students transferring to CSU Channel Islands (CI) following completion of the entire CSU GE pattern will not be held to additional lower division General Education coursework. 

*Recent changes to section EO 1100 (GE Breadth Requirements and/or EO 1084 (Systemwide Nursing Policy): Second Baccalaureate students who earned a degree from a regionally accredited institution will not be held to General Education coursework outside their subsequent baccalaureate degree.  See Article 1.1.2 of EO 1100 and 3.3.2 of EO 1084. 

Residence

At least 30 of the total units must be taken at CI excluding Open University and Extension units. At least 24 of these 30 units must be upper division coursework, and 12 of the 30 units must be in the major. At least 9 units of upper division interdisciplinary General Education courses (numbered in the 330-349 or 430-449 ranges) of the required 48 General Education units must be completed in residence at CI.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

An overall GPA of 2.0 is required in:

1. Total courses attempted
2. CI courses attempted; and
3. Courses in the major
4. Courses in the minor (if applicable)

Title V, Section 40404: Graduation Requirements in United States History, Constitution and American Ideals (American Institutions Requirement)

Students are required to demonstrate competencies in U.S. History, U.S. Constitution and California State and local government for graduation.(*) Competencies can be met by enrollment in 6 units as follows:

1. Choose from one of the following: 

• HIST 270 - The United States to 1877  
• HIST 271 - The United States Since 1877  
• HIST 272 - Constitutional History of the U.S.  
• HIST 275 - The United States to 1900  
• HIST 350 - Chicana/o History and Culture (Cross-listed as CHS 350)  

2. Choose from one of the following:
   • POLS 150 - American Political Institutions 
     
     Students who have AP credit for American Government or have taken American Government without coverage of California government may take the following:
      
   • POLS 140 - California Government and Politics  (1)
   • POLS 316 - State and Local Politics and Policy  (3)

*Recent changes to section 40404 & EO 1061: Second Baccalaureate students who earned a degree from a regionally accredited institution will not be held to these requirements. The Chancellor may grant exceptions to these requirements for some California Community College transfer students. Please contact Office of the Registrar for more details.

Language and Multicultural Requirement

1. The language requirement can be met by satisfying General Education category C3a with a grade of “C” or better. Students who are G.E. certified in Section C must still meet the language requirement for graduation and may do so either by passing a C3a course with a grade of “C” or better or by demonstrating proficiency through examination. Students will also receive credit for having advanced proficiency in a language other than English. This proficiency can be demonstrated by taking and earning a grade of “C” or better in an upper-division language (e.g. Spanish) class or via an examination that assesses the student’s language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) on a variety of informal and formal topics. By taking and earning a grade of “C” or better in an upper-division language course or by passing an examination, students fulfill the graduation exit requirement for language. For purposes of the General Education requirement, however, students passing by examination receive content credit but not unit credit.
2. The multicultural requirement can be met by satisfying General Education category C3b with a grade of “C” or better.

(SP 08-11)

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)

The Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement will be satisfied through the completion of 9 units of Upper-Division Interdisciplinary General Education (UDIGE) courses, which are writing intensive, with a grade of “C” or better.

Each UDIGE course must include a student learning outcome that specifically addresses writing, such as the General Education written communication outcome, “Write effectively in various forms” (SP 06-06). Student evidence of accomplishment towards the written communication learning outcome may be used in University-wide assessment efforts.

(SP 11-07)

Graduation

Graduation Information and Application Process for the Bachelor’s Degree

To qualify for graduation students must complete all requirements for the bachelor’s degree by the official graduation date listed in the schedule of classes. Graduation is not automatic upon the completion of requirements. Students who intend to graduate must take the initiative and should follow the steps listed below. While students are ultimately responsible for completing all degree requirements, assistance is available through faculty advisement, the Advising Center and Graduation Evaluations in the Office of the Registrar. It is important that students meet regularly with an advisor to avoid graduation problems and delays.

Application for Graduation

The Application for Degree and Diploma and filing fee are required for students expecting to graduate. Commencement participation does not constitute proof of the successful completion of degree requirements. The application for degree is available on the Office of the Registrar web page. Application deadlines are published in the Schedule of Classes and on the CI Web site. Failure to meet the deadline for the term in which you wish to graduate will delay your graduation.

Graduation Application Process

• Submit the completed Application for Degree and Diploma, any approved course substitutions and final transcripts from all transfer institutions to Student Business Services (Sage Hall) and pay the appropriate fees for graduation application by the published deadline for the term in which you wish to graduate. (The graduation fee covers the cost of the final degree review, the diploma, and participation in the annual commencement ceremony.) Student Business Services sends the Application for Degree and Diploma, and certification of payment to Graduation Evaluations in the Office of the Registrar.
• The CI Academic Requirements Report (CARR) will display your Graduation Status:
  - Applied for Graduation indicates that your Application for Degree and Diploma has been received
• Participate in the commencement ceremony held at the end of the spring semester if eligible (see policy on Commencement Participation).
• Students not completing the requirements by expected date of graduation must submit a change of graduation term form to the Student Business Service and pay the fee.
• After Graduation Evaluators verify completion of all degree requirements, a diploma is normally available within four months of final clearance. Proof of graduation is available by requesting official transcripts from the Office of the Registrar.
• Students may visit the Office of the Registrar website for more information regarding graduation at: http://www.csuci.edu/records-registration/GradFAQ.htm.

CI Academic Requirements Report

The CI Academic Requirements Report (CARR) - contains customized degree progress information, which can assist you in planning your course of study. The CARR outlines general education, graduation, major and minor (if applicable) requirements. It is student specific and will display requirements you have met and requirements you have yet to meet using internal credit (CI courses) and external credit (transfer, military and test credit). When you have not met a requirement, the report will list course options that will meet the requirement. To ensure timely graduation, always work with your academic advisor. Review your transfer credit report for accuracy. Several tutorials and the How to View Your CI Academic Requirements Report (CARR) documents are available. These documents will guide you through the steps to access your report, as well as allow you to request updates to your CARR. For more information about the CI Academic Requirements Report visit. http://www.csuci.edu/records-registration/carr.htm.

Commencement and Honors Convocation

Commencement and Honors Convocation are held each year in the spring, bringing together local community members to celebrate the accomplishment of our students.

University Honors

To receive honors at graduation at CI, a student must:

1. Complete a minimum 30 units of courses taken at CI for a letter grade.
2. Earn a grade point average of 3.50 or above in all work taken at CI.
3. Earn the following cumulative grade point average in all undergraduate courses, including transfer work:

Summa Cum Laude - This honor is awarded to all students who earn a grade point average of 3.90 - 4.0.

Magna Cum Laude - This honor is awarded to all students who earn a grade point average of 3.75 - 3.89

Cum Laude - This honor is awarded to all students who earn a grade point average of 3.50 - 3.74.
(SP 03-24)

Commencement Participation

Commencement is held annually at the end of the spring semester. Students who have completed degree or credential requirements the previous summer or fall terms are eligible to participate in the ceremony along with those who plan to complete their work in the spring or subsequent summer ending August 31, and have filed an Application for Degree and Diploma.  Names of graduates and degree candidates who have applied for graduation by the published deadline will be published in the Commencement Program.  Students who do not wish to have their names published in the Commencement Program may opt out by filing a Request to Withhold Directory Information form with the Office of the Registrar.

 (SP09-10)

Graduate Student Degree Requirements:

Refer to Graduate Studies  Section of the catalog for details.