Undergraduate Education at UCSB
Index:
Admission
The Offices of Admissions and Relations with Schools assist
students in preparing for, applying to, and gaining admission to the University
of California, Santa Barbara. Prospective students and their parents are
invited to visit the campus to observe firsthand the opportunities available
to them. Tour programs—which include a campus video, information about
admission, housing, and financial aid, and a walking tour of campus led
by a student guide—are offered most weekdays and occasional Saturdays.
All tours leave from the Visitor Center. Students may call (805) 893-8175
for recorded tour information, or may contact the Office of Relations with
Schools at (805) 893-2485 for application information.
Applying for Admission to
UCSB
The first step in applying for admission to UCSB is to submit
a University of California undergraduate application. The Application for
Undergraduate Admission is available from California high schools and community
colleges and from University of California campuses. The application and
nonrefundable application fee should be sent to University of California,
Undergraduate Application Processing Service, P.O. Box 23460, Oakland,
CA 94623-0460; a pre-addressed envelope is included in the application.
The application is available on-line at UC’s PATHWAYS
web site at http://www.ucop.edu/pathways.
Students may apply on-line, or download a copy of the application to mail
to the address above.
When to apply for admission. To ensure admission
consideration, students should file their application during the appropriate
filing period.
| Quarter |
Filing Periods |
| Fall 2000 |
November 1-30, 1999 |
| Winter 2001 |
July 1-31, 2000 |
| Spring 2001 |
October 1-31, 2000 |
UCSB will accept applications after the filing periods
have ended only if the number of applications received to date and the
number of enrollment spaces allow. Also, UCSB may not be open to applications
for the winter and spring quarters. Students should contact the Office
of Relations with Schools at (805) 893-2485 to inquire about the winter
and spring quarter filing status.
Application restrictions. UCSB accepts applications
from international students for fall quarter only.
The following majors accept applications for fall quarter
only:
College of Letters and Science
Computer Science (B.A.)
College of Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science (B.S.)
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
University
of California Minimum Admission Requirements
All campuses of the University of California have the same
minimum admission requirements. These requirements are used to identify
the top 12.5 percent of California high school graduates and are based
on two principles: (1) that the level of performance in previous academic
work is the best predictor of university success, and (2) that the study
of certain subjects provides sound preparation for university work.
Students who fulfill these minimum admission requirements
are UC-eligible. In the event that UCSB receives applications from more
UC-eligible applicants than can be accommodated, it admits students using
selection criteria that are more rigorous than the minimum admission requirements.
Minimum
Admission Requirements for Freshmen who are California Residents
Students are considered freshman applicants if they have
not enrolled in a regular session at any college-level institution since
graduating from high school. Enrollment in college summer session immediately
following high school graduation does not affect the status of freshman
applicants. Freshman applicants must satisfy the subject, scholarship,
and examination requirements described below. These are the university’s
minimum admission requirements; satisfying them does not ensure admission
to UCSB.
Subject Requirement
To satisfy this requirement, students must complete the
high school courses listed below with a grade point average defined by
the Scholarship Requirement. This sequence of courses is also known as
the "a-f" requirements.
Students must take 15 units of high school courses to
fulfill the Subject Requirement, and at least 7 of the 15 units must be
taken in their last two years of high school. (A unit is equal to an academic
year, or two semesters, of study.)
Applicants from California high schools: The courses students
take to fulfill the "a-f" requirements must be certified by the University
as meeting the requirements and must be included on their high school’s
UC certified course list. High school counselors or principals will have
a copy of this list. The lists are also available at the following web
site: http://www.ucop.edu/pathways/infoctr/infoctr.html.
a. History/Social Science: 2 years required
Two years of history/social science, including one year
of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics
or American government; and one year of world history, cultures, and geography.
b. English: 4 years required
Four years of college preparatory English that include
frequent and regular writing, and reading of classic and modern literature.
Not more than two semesters of ninth grade English can be used to meet
this requirement.
c. Mathematics: 3 years required, 4 years recommended
Three years of college preparatory mathematics that include
the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two and three
dimensional geometry. Approved integrated math courses may be used to fulfill
part or all of this requirement, as may math courses taken in the seventh
and eighth grades that your high school accepts as equivalent to its own
courses.
d. Laboratory Science: 2 years required, 3 recommended
Two years of laboratory science providing fundamental
knowledge in at least two of these three disciplines: biology (which includes
anatomy, physiology, marine biology, aquatic biology, etc.), chemistry,
and physics.
Laboratory courses in earth/space sciences are acceptable
if they have as prerequisites or provide basic knowledge in biology, chemistry,
or physics. The appropriate two years of an approved integrated science
program may be used to fulfill this requirement. Not more than one year
of ninth grade laboratory science can be used to meet this requirement.
e. Language Other than English: 2 years required, 3
recommended
Two years of the same language other than English. Courses
should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in
grammar, vocabulary, reading, and composition. Courses in language other
than English taken in the seventh and eighth grade may be used to fulfill
part of this requirement if your high school accepts them as equivalent
to its own courses.
f. College-Preparatory Electives: 2 years required
Two units (four semesters), in addition to those required
in "a-e" above, chosen from the following areas: visual and performing
arts, history, social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory
science, and language other than English (a third year in the language
used for the "e" requirement or two years of another language).
Scholarship Requirement
The Scholarship Requirement defines the grade point average
(GPA) students must attain in the "a-f" subjects to be eligible for admission
to the University.
If the "a-f" GPA is 3.3 or higher, the student will have
met the minimum requirement for admission to the University. If the GPA
is below 3.3 but above 2.81, the student will have met the minimum requirement
if the student achieves the necessary college entrance test score indicated
in the University of California Eligibility Index.
The University calculates the GPA in the "a-f" subjects
by assigning point values to the grades earned, totaling the points, and
dividing the total by the number of "a-f" course units. Points are assigned
as follows: A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D=1 point, and F=0 points.
Only the grades earned in "a-f" subjects in the 10th,
11th, and 12th grades are used to calculate the GPA. Courses taken in ninth
grade can be used to meet the Subject Requirement if the student earns
a grade of C or better, but they will not be used to calculate the GPA.
Honors Courses: The University assigns extra points
for up to four units of University certified honors level and advanced
placement courses taken in the last three years of high school: A=5 points,
B=4 points, C=3 points. No more than two years of certified honors level
courses taken in the tenth grade may be given extra points. A grade of
D in an honors or advanced placement course does not earn extra points.
The courses must be in the following "a-f" subjects: history,
English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, and foreign language,
and they must be certified as honors courses by the University. In these
fields, as well as in the fields of computer science, social science, and
the visual and performing arts, courses that are designed to prepare students
for an Advanced Placement Examination of the College Board or a Higher
Level Examination of the International Baccalaureate and college courses
that are transferable to the University are acceptable honors level courses.
D and F Grades: D and F grades in the "a-f" courses
must be repeated or validated. Students should consult with their counselors
to determine how these grades can be improved and how the University will
use them in evaluating their scholarship record. Grades for repeated courses
in which students initially earned a grade of C or better will not be used.
Examination Requirement
All freshman applicants must submit the following test
scores—students who do not take all the tests are not considered eligible
for admission:
Either the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) I or the
American College Test (ACT). The verbal and mathematics scores on the
SAT I must be from the same sitting. The ACT composite score must be submitted.
Three Scholastic Assessment Test II: Subject Tests
(SAT II), including Writing, Mathematics Level 1 or Level 2, and one
test in one of the following areas: English literature, foreign language,
science, or social studies.
Students applying for the fall 1999 term must take the
tests no later than the December 1998 test dates. Students should be sure
to direct the testing agencies to report their scores to each UC campus
to which they plan to apply. Students applying for the spring or winter
term should check with the Admissions Office about relevant testing deadlines.
For the SAT I and II Tests:
College Board ATP
P.O. Box 6200
Princeton, NJ 08541-6200
For the ACT:
American College Testing Program
Scoring & Reporting
P.O. Box 451
Iowa City, IA 52243-0451
Admission by Examination Alone
Freshman applicants who do not meet the Subject and Scholarship
Requirements, may be able to qualify for admission to the University by
examination. To satisfy the minimum requirements for qualifying by examination
alone, students must achieve a composite score of 31 or higher on the ACT
or a total score on the SAT I of at least 1400. In addition, students must
earn a total score of 1760 or higher on the three SAT II: Subject Tests
with a minimum score of 530 on each test.
Students cannot qualify for admission by examination alone
if they have completed 12 or more units of transferable coursework at another
college or university following high school graduation, or if they have
taken transferable college courses in any subject covered by the SAT II:
Subject Tests.
Minimum
Admission Requirements for Freshmen who are Nonresidents
The minimum freshman admission requirements for nonresidents
of California are the same as those for residents except for the following:
Scholarship Requirement: The student’s grade point
average in the "a-f" subjects must be 3.4 or higher, regardless of the
student’s college entrance examination score. The Eligibility Index is
used only for California residents.
Admission by Examination Alone: Students must earn
a composite score of 31 or higher on the ACT or a total score on the SAT
I of at least 1400. The student’s total score on the three SAT II: Subject
Tests must be at least 1850 with a minimum score of 530 on each test.
Minimum
Admission Requirements for Advanced-Standing Students who are California
Residents
There are three ways to meet the University’s minimum admission
requirements for transfer students, as described below. In all cases, students
must have at least a C (2.0) average in all transferable coursework.
-
Students who were eligible for admission to the University
when they graduated from high school—meaning they satisfied the Subject,
Scholarship, and Examination Requirements—are eligible to transfer if they
have a C (2.0) average in their transferable college coursework.
-
Students who met the Scholarship Requirement but did not
satisfy the Subject Requirement must take transferable college courses
in the subjects they are missing, earn a grade of C or better in each of
these required courses, and earn an overall C (2.0) average in all transferable
college coursework to be eligible to transfer.
Students who met the Scholarship Requirement but did
not meet the Examination Requirement must complete a minimum of 12 semester
(18 quarter) units of transferable work and earn an overall C (2.0) average
in all transferable college coursework completed.
-
Students who were not eligible for admission to the University
when they graduated from high school because they did not meet the Scholarship
Requirement must:
a. Complete 90 quarter units or 60 semester units of
transferable college credit with a grade point average of at least 2.4,
and
b. Complete the following course pattern, earning a grade
of C or better in each course: 1) two transferable college courses
(3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) in English composition; and 2) one
transferable college course (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units) in mathematical
concepts and quantitative reasoning; and 3) four transferable college courses
(3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) chosen from at least two of the
following subject areas: the arts and humanities, the social and behavioral
sciences, the physical and biological sciences. (Students who satisfy the
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum prior to transferring
to UCSB will satisfy Option 3b of the transfer admission requirements.
Minimum
Admission Requirements for Advanced-Standing Students who are Nonresidents
The minimum admission requirements for nonresident transfer
applicants are the same as those for residents except that nonresidents
must have a grade point average of 2.8 or higher in all transferable college
coursework.
Admission
Requirements for International Students
International students are governed by the same undergraduate
admission regulations that apply to nonresident U.S. students. In addition,
nonimmigrant applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate
written and oral competence in English by scoring 500 (173 on the computer-based
exam) or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For
information on testing, students should contact: TOEFL, P.O. Box 6151,
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151. Telephone: (609) 951-1963.
UCSB Selection Criteria
Each UC campus makes every effort to provide a place for
all California resident applicants who meet the minimum eligibility requirements,
and who file an application during the appropriate filing period. If the
number of applicants exceeds the spaces available—as is often the case—the
campus uses criteria that exceed the minimum requirements to select students.
Meeting the minimum requirements, therefore, may not be enough to gain
admission.
When there are more eligible applicants than spaces available,
UCSB uses academic criteria alone—academic coursework, grade point average,
SAT I or ACT results, and SAT II scores—to select between 50 and 75 percent
of those accepted. It then uses a combination of academic and supplemental
criteria to select the remaining students.
The selection criteria for the fall 1999 term are described
in this section. The criteria vary from year to year according to the number
and qualifications of applicants to each campus and program.
Freshman Criteria
College of Letters and
Science and College of Engineering
Criteria to Select Approximately 60% of Freshmen.
Students will be selected on the basis of academic preparation and performance,
as assessed by review of the following: high school GPA calculated on UC
"a-f" courses completed, performance on SAT I (or ACT) and SAT II tests,
completion of coursework beyond the "a-f" subject requirements, and the
number of UC-approved AP and honors courses completed in the junior year
and in progress/planned for the senior year.
Biological Sciences. The number of students that
can be admitted to these majors is limited. For information, refer to the
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and the Department
of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.
College of Engineering. There is additional emphasis
on preparation and test results in science and mathematics in the selection
of students for the College of Engineering. Other factors considered include
the quality of the senior year program and any additional information included
in the application which would indicate the student’s ability to succeed
in the engineering program.
Criteria to Select Remaining Freshmen. The remaining
percentage of freshmen will be selected on the basis of academic and personal
achievement, promise, and experience, as assessed through a comprehensive
review of all information provided on the application, including academic
performance as described above and academic and personal information, as
described in the admission guidelines.
College of Creative Studies
Criteria to Select 100% of Freshmen. Students
will be selected on the basis of: high school GPA calculated on UC "a-f"
courses completed, performance on SAT I (or ACT) and SAT II tests, completion
of coursework beyond the "a-f" subject requirements, and the number of
UC-approved AP and honors courses completed in the junior year and in progress/planned
for the senior year; and special talent, outstanding achievement, and capacity
for excellence in one of the eight academic areas within the College, as
assessed by faculty review. All applicants must submit work in evidence
of talent or letters of recommendation for faculty review.
Applicants must submit a College of Creative Studies application,
available directly from the College, in addition to the regular UC undergraduate
application.
Advanced-Standing
Criteria
College of Letters
and Science
Students will be selected primarily on the basis of academic
preparation and performance, as assessed by review of grades earned in
UC-transferable coursework and strength of academic preparation for the
intended major.
Some students will be selected on the basis of academic
and personal achievement, potential, and experience, as assessed through
a comprehensive review of all information provided on the application,
including academic performance as described above and academic and personal
information, as described in the admission guidelines.
Preference will be given to junior-level California community
college applicants. A very limited number of students will be admitted
in senior standing.
Biological Sciences. The number of students that
can be admitted to these majors is limited. For information, refer to the
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and the Department
of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.
College of Engineering
Students will be selected primarily on the basis of academic
preparation and performance, as assessed by review of the following: grades
earned in UC-transferable coursework, amount of engineering preparatory
coursework completed, and grades earned in preparatory coursework.
Applicants must complete all required units and prerequisites
by the end of the spring term preceding enrollment at UCSB.
Preference is given to students who have completed 90
quarter (60 semester) units and who transfer from California community
colleges.
College of Creative Studies
Students will be selected on the basis of: academic and personal
achievement, potential, and experience, as assessed through a comprehensive
review of all information provided on the application, including academic
and personal information, as described in the admission guidelines; and,
special talent, outstanding achievement, and capacity for excellence in
one of the eight academic areas within the College, as assessed by faculty
review. All applicants must submit work in evidence of talent or letters
of recommendation for faculty review.
Applicants must submit a College of Creative Studies application,
available directly from the College, in addition to the regular UC undergraduate
application.
Limited Status
Students with a bachelor’s degree who would like to complete
additional upper-division coursework to prepare for graduate study and
professional programs may qualify for admission to limited status. Students
must file the Application for Undergraduate Admission during the appropriate
filing period. Applications are subject to review and must be approved
by both the director of admissions and the dean or provost of the college
in which the student plans to enroll. Admission is selective and competitive;
if enrollment limitations allow, admission will be granted to students
whose academic records demonstrate their potential to succeed in their
proposed area of study.
Limited status students are not eligible for financial
aid or on-campus housing.
Limited status students may not enroll in graduate-level
courses or apply courses completed in limited status toward graduate programs
at UCSB.
Admission by Exception
UCSB gives special consideration to a limited number of freshman
and transfer applicants who show potential to succeed at the University
even though they do not meet the minimum admission requirements.
Intercampus Transfer
Students may apply to transfer from one UC campus to another
by submitting the Application for Undergraduate Admission to the
campus of their choice. Applications are available from the Office of Relations
with Schools. If enrollment limitations allow, admission will be granted
to students who are in good standing.
Credit from
Other Institutions
UCSB accepts transferable coursework completed with satisfactory
grades at accredited institutions, subject to the limitations described
below. Most courses in academic subjects are transferable if UC offers
a comparable course. Vocational courses and personal enrichment courses
do not qualify for transfer credit. In most cases, UCSB will not grant
credit for coursework which students complete at other institutions while
they are also enrolled at UCSB.
Community
College Limitations
Students may earn unit credit for up to 105 quarter units
(70 semester units) of UC-transferable community college coursework.
Study Abroad
Limitations
Study abroad programs sponsored by institutions and organizations
other than the University of California's Education Abroad Program (EAP)
are of varying quality. In many cases UCSB will not grant credit for completed
coursework, even to students who have been issued an official transcript.
Students should contact UCSB's Office of Admissions, as well as their department
and college advisors, prior to undertaking study abroad to determine whether
or not credit will be granted and, if so, how it will be applied.
University Bachelor's
Degree Requirements
To be eligible for a bachelor’s degree from the University
of California, Santa Barbara, students must meet the general University
of California requirements and the appropriate college and major requirements.
They must also comply with university regulations governing registration,
scholarship, examinations, and student conduct.
Catalog Years
Official degree and major requirements are listed in the
catalog. Undergraduate and graduate students are subject to requirements
based on a particular catalog, referred to as the student’s "catalog year."
The catalog year is determined for new students as the catalog in effect
at the time of their entrance to UCSB. It is campus policy to introduce
changes in graduation requirements such that students who began their careers
with UCSB before the change will not be hindered substantially in the orderly
pursuit of their degrees. Changes in requirements that increase the number
or distribution of courses required normally will not be applied to students
with earlier catalog years. For undergraduate and graduate students, the
catalog year for university and general education requirements is set as
noted above. The catalog year for major requirements is determined by the
quarter the major or pre-major is declared. Students must petition to follow
a subsequent set of requirements.
Effective for all undergraduate students admitted to the
University in fall 1997 or later, a break or breaks in enrollment totaling
9 or more quarters (excluding Summer quarters) can lead to a change in
the catalog year under which requirements will be evaluated. Upon their
return, students who leave the University will normally be required to
fulfill requirements as listed in the catalog published no earlier than
three years prior to their final return. They must follow the same catalog
year for all degree requirements, including:
-
University requirements
-
College requirements
-
Major requirements
Students transferring from other institutions may elect to
meet as graduation requirements either: (1) those in effect at the time
of transfer to UCSB; or (2) those in effect up to two years prior to matriculation
provided their transcripts from earlier schools indicated commitment to
the major within that period and they would not suffer in upper-division
coursework due to inadequate preparation.
General University
Requirements
University degree requirements include the Subject A-English
Composition requirement, the American History and Institutions requirement,
the unit requirement, the academic residence requirement, and the grade-point
average requirement.
Subject
A-English Composition Requirement
All students entering the University of California must
demonstrate an ability to write effectively by fulfilling the Subject A
requirement. The Subject A requirement may be met in one of five ways prior
to admission:
-
by achieving a score of 680 or higher on the SAT II: Subject
Test in Writing (660 if taken before May, 1998);
-
by achieving a score of 3 or higher on the College Board
Advanced Placement Examination in English Composition and Literature or
English Language and Composition;
-
by passing the University of California systemwide Subject
A Examination while in high school;
-
by achieving a score of 5 or higher on the International
Baccalaureate (higher level) English A Examination;
-
by entering the university with transcripts showing the completion
of an acceptable 3-semester unit or 4-quarter unit course in English composition
equivalent to Writing 2 at UCSB, with a grade of C or better.
Students who have not taken the UC systemwide Subject A Examination
and who have not met the Subject A requirement in one of the other ways
listed above will be required to take the examination during their first
quarter at UCSB (see the Schedule of Classes for examination time and location).
An appropriate score on the examination will satisfy the Subject A requirement.
Only one UC examination may be taken—either the systemwide Subject A Examination
while in high school or the examination given at UCSB; and neither may
be repeated.
Students who enter UCSB without having fulfilled the university’s
Subject A requirement and (if they have not previously taken the systemwide
Subject A Examination) who do not achieve an appropriate score on the examination
given on campus must enroll in Writing 1 or 1LK within their first year
at UCSB. A grade of C or higher in Writing 1 or 1LK is needed to satisfy
the Subject A requirement. Students who earn a grade of C- or lower in
Writing 1 or 1LK will be required to repeat the course in successive quarters
until the requirement is satisfied.
Once students matriculate at UCSB, they may not fulfill
the requirement by enrolling at another institution. Transfer courses equivalent
to Writing 2 or 50 will not be accepted for unit or subject credit unless
the Subject A requirement has been met. Students will only be allowed to
meet the Area A requirement of the General Education Requirements with
courses taken after satisfying the Subject A requirement. The Subject A
requirement must be completed by the end of the third quarter of matriculation.
American
History and Institutions Requirement
The American History and Institutions requirement is
based on the principle that American students enrolled at an American university
should have some knowledge of the history and government of their country.
You may meet this requirement in any one of the following ways:
-
by achieving a score of 3 or higher on the College Board
Advanced Placement Examination in American History or American Government
and Politics; or
-
by passing a non-credit examination in American history or
American institutions, offered in the Department of History during the
first week of each quarter. Consult the department for further information;
or
-
by achieving a score of 650 or higher on SAT II: Subject
Test in American History; or
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by completing one four-unit course from the following list
of courses:
Note: In this context , "course" refers to a one-quarter
offering such as History 17A or Religious Studies 151B.
Anthropology 131
Art History 121A-B-C, 136H
Asian American Studies 1, 2
Black Studies 1, 6, 60A-B, 103, 121, 137E, 169AR-BR-CR
Chicano Studies 1A-B-C, 144, 168A-B, 174, 188A-B-C, 194
Dramatic Art 155A-B
Economics 113A-B, 119
English 133AA-ZZ, 134AA-ZZ, 135, 136A-B-C, 137A-B, 138A-B-C,
191
Environmental Studies 173
German 147
History 11A, 17A-B-C, 78, 105, 159A-B-C, 160A-B, 161A-B,
162A-B, 164C, 164IA, 164PR, 165, 166A-B-C, 166LA-LB, 167A-B-C-D, 168A-B,
168L, 169AR-BR-CR-M, 171A-B, 172A-B, 173A-B-S-T, 175A-B, 176A-B, 177, 178A-B-M,
179A-B
Law and Society 100
Military Science 1A, 1C, 7, 8, 11
Note: Military Science courses are two units each.
Two acceptable Military Science courses will fulfill the American History
and Institutions requirement.
Political Science 12, 113, 115, 127, 151, 152, 153, 155,
157, 158, 161, 162, 165, 166, 167, 168, 174, 176, 180, 185
Religious Studies 7, 14, 61A-B, 114B-C, 151A-B, 152,
153, 154A
Sociology 137E, 140, 144, 155A, 157
Women’s Studies 155A, 159A-B-C
Courses used to fulfill the American History and Institutions
requirement may also be applied to General Education or major requirements,
or both where appropriate. Equivalent courses taken at other accredited
colleges or universities, in UC Extension, or in summer session may be
acceptable. Students who transfer to UCSB from another campus of the University
of California where the American History and Institutions Requirement has
been considered satisfied will automatically fulfill the requirement at
UCSB.
International students on a nonimmigrant visa may petition
for a waiver of this requirement through the Director of International
Students and Scholars.
Unit Requirement
A minimum of 180 quarter units is required for graduation.
(Some students in the College of Letters and Science will need at least
184 units to graduate; see General Education Requirements, Area B—Foreign
Language for details.) Some majors in the College of Engineering require
more than 180 units (see individual majors on the College
of Engineering section of this website.). These units must be distributed
according to the requirements set forth by the faculty of the various colleges,
as explained in the following sections of this catalog and in the publications
of the colleges.
The acceptability of transfer courses for unit credit
is determined by the Office of Admissions. The applicability of such courses
toward specific requirements is determined by the college provost or deans
and/or department chairs.
Academic
Residence Requirement
Candidates for a bachelor’s degree must be registered
in the university for at least three terms to fulfill the university’s
academic residence requirement. A term is a regular quarter in which a
student completes six or more units of resident (on-campus) courses. Each
UC summer session in which at least 2 units are completed is the equivalent
of half a term’s residence.
At least 35 of the final 45 units must be taken in the
college or school in which the degree is to be awarded. No more than 18
of the final 35 units may be completed in summer session courses at UCSB.
Courses taken in UC Extension do not satisfy residence requirements.
College of Letters and Science residence requirement.
Students in the College of Letters and Science must complete at least 27
upper-division units, of which at least 20 must be in the upper-division
major, while in residence in the college. (Students admitted prior to fall
1999 are required to complete 18 units of the upper-division major in residence.)
In the case of double majors, at least 20 upper-division units must be
completed in each major while in residence in the College of Letters and
Science. Students who are pursuing an academic minor must complete at least
12 units of the upper-division minor in residence at UCSB. Courses used
in satisfaction of residence in one major may not be applied to residence
in another major or minor. Courses taken in University Extension and those
completed in the university’s Education Abroad Program do not apply to
the residence requirement.
Education Abroad Program participants. With one
modification, students who participate in the University of California
Education Abroad program are responsible for all academic residence requirements
as explained above. For students who participate in EAP as seniors, the
rule requiring 35 of the final 45 units in the college or school in which
the degree is to be awarded is modified to 35 of the final 90 units. Students
must secure prior approval to use this modification and may graduate without
returning to UCSB provided that they have satisfied all degree requirements
by the end of their year abroad. Those who have any remaining degree requirements
must return to UCSB to complete a minimum of 12 units on campus while fulfilling
final degree requirements.
Grade-Point
Average Requirement
At the time of graduation, students in the College of
Engineering and the College of Letters and Science must have at least a
2.0 (C) grade-point average in (1) all courses undertaken at the University
of California (UC) except those graded passed/not passed; (2) all UC courses
required and acceptable for the student’s overall major program, both lower-
and upper-division; and (3) all UC courses required and acceptable for
the student’s upper-division major program.
Courses undertaken at any of the UC campuses, with the
exception of UC Extension courses, are included in the computation of the
grade-point average.
Courses appropriate for satisfying major requirements
must be used in the computation of the grade-point average even if they
are in excess of the minimum requirements of the major program. Courses
graded Incomplete, except those taken on a passed/not passed basis, will
be included as F grades in final computations. Certain courses designated
as remedial are offered for workload credit only and do not figure in calculation
of the grade-point average.
Students in the College of Creative Studies must,
at the time of graduation, have a grade-point average of at least 2.0 (C)
in all UC courses that have been undertaken for letter grades.
College Requirements
Students are required to meet requirements appropriate to
their chosen degree, and described under each Colleges’ sections in this
catalog.
Major Requirements
To be eligible for graduation, all undergraduates must complete
the requirements for a departmental or interdepartmental major in their
college with the required grade-point average. As space permits, students
may elect any approved major program for which they have met the stated
prerequisites.
Major departments and/or committees may require auditions,
placement examinations, proposals, specified courses, and/or grade-point
averages to determine whether students are qualified for specific courses
or for entrance into or continuation in a major.
Students who fail to attain a grade-point average of at
least 2.0 in work in their major may, at the option of the major department
or committee, be denied the privilege of continuing in that major.
Students in the College of Engineering and the College
of Letters and Science normally must complete the major requirements in
effect at the time they declare their major, though they may petition to
follow a subsequent set of requirements.
Changes in major requirements that increase the number
or distribution of courses required normally will not be applied to students
continuing in such majors.
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