Graduation credit requirements, outlined in detail below, include the following: a minimum of 120 credits, 42 of which need to be upper-division. Thirty of the 42 upper-division need to be taken "in residence" at CSU. And, 15 of the last 30 credits need to be taken "in residence".
Students wishing to graduate must complete the requirements for a major and the All-University Core Curriculum. A major is a sequence of courses in a subject-matter area or discipline which, when accompanied by appropriate supporting courses, leads to a degree. A minimum of 27 semester credits constitutes a major. Completion of a major is shown on both the student’s diploma and academic record (transcript). Students may elect to complete the requirements for two or more majors. Students must complete degree requirements for the first (primary) major before they can graduate. Students who have declared two majors must complete all degree requirements for the second (secondary) major, with exception to the AUCC Category 4C, in order to graduate. Common requirements may count in meeting the curriculum requirements for each major, but each major must have a minimum of 27 unique credits. Also see requirements for multiple degrees.
Some majors have concentrations (or specialization areas). A concentration is a sequence of at least 12 unique semester credits of designated courses within a major designed to accommodate specific interests of students. Completion of a concentration is shown on a student’s academic record (transcript) if completed in conjunction with a degree program, but is not noted on the diploma.
Some majors have options which are a sequence of courses within a major or concentration of either guided electives or electives selected from areas of interest as approved by the student’s advisor. Options do not appear on diplomas or a student’s academic record. (Courses taken to complete an option do appear on the student’s transcript.)
Minor programs of study are optional and are offered by certain departments. A minor consists of a minimum of 21 specified credits of course work outside the major. A minimum of 12 of the 21 credits must be course work at the upper-division level (300-400 level) and a minimum of 12 credits must be from course work within the department offering the minor. Minors are noted on the student’s academic record (transcript) if completed in conjunction with a degree program, but not on the diploma. If a student does not intend to complete the requirements of the minor then that minor must be dropped before the degree can be conferred for the primary major. Minors must be awarded in conjunction with the major, they cannot be awarded post graduation.
Undergraduate Certificates are small-scale credit-bearing credentials that help prepare students for the workforce and/or further academic study by building students’ capacity in specific skills, competencies, and/or knowledge areas. Undergraduate Certificates are optional and may be offered by any academic unit. An Undergraduate Certificate consists of a minimum of 9 specified credits. A student must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or better in the courses required in the Undergraduate Certificate to receive the certificate.
An Undergraduate Certificate may include courses from one or more academic units. For certificates involving courses from two or more academic units, the coordinating department academic unit is indicated in Programs A-Z.
Students must apply for admission into the Undergraduate Certificate program and for the conferral of the certificate. Students must be enrolled at CSU to complete the certificate requirements and receive the certificate. Undergraduate Certificates by title are noted on the student's academic record (transcript); they are not noted on the diploma. (Faculty Council approved minutes March 5, 2024)
If both of the completed majors are of the same degree type (e.g., B.A., B.S., B.M., B.F.A.) and the student has fewer than 150 credits, the student will be awarded a single degree which displays all majors earned on one diploma.
If the completed majors are of a different degree type and the student has fewer than 150 credits, the student will be given the following choices at the time they file their graduation contract:
Students must complete degree requirements for the first (primary) major before they can graduate. Students who have declared two majors must complete all degree requirements for the second (secondary) major, with exception to the AUCC Category 4C, in order to graduate. If a student does not intend to complete the requirements of the second major then that major must be dropped before the degree can be conferred for the primary major.
Students pursuing more than one major, who have successfully completed a minimum of 150 credits, completed a minimum of 27 unique credits for each major, completed major and AUCC category 1-3 requirements, and completed AUCC category 4A-C requirements for each major, will be conferred separate baccalaureate degrees resulting in separate diplomas.
A student enrolling at CSU after previously graduating with one or more baccalaureate degree(s) or a student who has already earned one baccalaureate degree at CSU may earn an additional undergraduate degree in a different major if the following requirements are met:
The first or subsequent baccalaureate degree(s) may be from CSU or from another institution accredited by a regional institution accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or equivalent. Regionally accredited accepted coursework will fulfill the All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) requirements with the exception of AUCC courses in category 4 that are required in the major. Baccalaureate degrees earned at an International Institution may lack components of the AUCC which could result in additional coursework beyond the major requirements to complete the degree.