Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Links: Articulation | General Education | General Requirements | Interdisciplinary Studies | MyPlanner | Reinstatement and Readmission to SJSU | Transfer Credit | GWAR (100W) | UDW-DSP

• How do I find out if the courses I am taking at another institution in California are transferable to SJSU?

  • Students can the visit the SJSU Articulation website for complete listings of current articulations from California public colleges or universities (CCC, CSU, or UC). In addition, students may also visit assist.org for articulation of classes from prior academic years that were taken at a CCC, CSU, or UC campus.

• Is there a website that I can use to find classes from other CSUs or community colleges that fulfill GE requirements at SJSU?

  • Use the California State University - Quottly website to find and register for online GE courses offered by California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) campuses that count for CSU transfer credit at SJSU. Easily search and filter over 70,000 online course offerings from both the CSU and CCC to find the right class for you - one that fits your schedule and helps you graduate faster.

    In addition, CSU Fully Online offers a wide range of courses that SJSU students can take.

• If a course I have taken at an out-of-state college or university is not articulated, how can I get it accepted for a particular GE area at SJSU?

  • Matriculated undergraduate students who have taken a non-articulated course that may satisfy requirements of a particular General Education or American Institutions area, will need file a petition with Undergraduate Education for review and acceptance of the course for a GE area.

• I took an upper division GE or a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) course at another CSU, but the course did not articulate when I transferred to SJSU. Can I petition for the course to be accepted at SJSU?

  • Yes, students may file a petition to get course(s) approved for SJSU Studies and 100W equivalency. Depending on the course taken, students may complete the SJSU Studies Petition or Writing in the Discipline (100W) Petition. 

• The course I took was articulated to a course at SJSU that is a GE, but I did not receive GE credit for it. Why was I not given GE credit?

  • Course-to-course articulation does not always meet GE articulation. Course equivalencies apply to major course requirements only. Students will need to file a petition to request for GE equivalency.

• Where can I find more information about Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT)?

  • Please visit the SJSU Catalog page for more information on ADTs.

• I would like to register for SJSU Studies (Areas R, S, V) and/or 100W course(s), but MySJSU says I do not meet the requirements. How do I register for these courses?

  • Students who have been matriculated at SJSU for at least one semester, who have fewer than 60 units earned at the time of registration, and would like to register for SJSU Studies and 100W courses that require upper division standing, will need to file a petition. Students must complete the Enroll in SJSU Studies and 100W with Less than 60 Units Petition. If approved, students are eligible to enroll on the first day of instruction with an add code.

    Open University (OU) students need to complete a different petition specific for OU students. 

• What are SJSU Studies courses?

  • SJSU Studies are SJSU upper division GE Area R, Area S,  Area V.  Students must have earned at least 60 units in order to take SJSU Studies courses.

• Can I waive the 100W course (formerly Area Z)?

  • The 100W course can be waived if a student scored an 11 or 12 on their Writing Skills Test (WST) and if the student's major permits a waiver. The GWAR requirement may be satisfied (not waived) at another CSU campus or by approval of a Writing in the Discipline (100W) Petition. 

    Please note: WST exam is no longer offered at SJSU.

• Can I substitute Area F?

  • No, waivers or substitutions allowed for Area F courses (per CSU General Education Breadth Requirements).  Courses need to be passed with a "C- or better" at SJSU. 

• My request to change and/or add a major and/or minor was denied, what can I do?

  • Students can submit a petition to appeal such decisions under Presidential Directive 2009-05 [pdf]. Please see the Appeal a Presidential Directive 2009-05 Decision Petition for more information. 

• I walked, does that mean I graduated?

  • Participating in a graduation convocation does not mean that you have completed all requirements to graduate with your degree from SJSU. Only when a degree is posted on your student record have you officially graduated from SJSU. 

    Please visit the Registrar's website for more information.

• How will I be notified if I have officially graduated?

  • Students may check if their degree has been awarded by logging onto MySJSU to view their unofficial transcript. If your degree has been awarded, it will say "Requirements completed for Degree of BS/BA/BFA".

    Official proof of graduation is the student's official transcript stating that the degree has been conferred, which can be requested as soon as the degree is posted on the unofficial transcript.  

    Please visit the Transcript webpage for more information on how to order an official transcript. 

• Can undergraduate students apply for graduation and graduate from Open University status?

  • Yes, it is possible to apply for graduation and complete degree requirements through Open University (OU)[BROKEN LINK] (not recommended). Graduation application are only accepted from students on academic notice or in Good Standing. Student's who completed all graduation requirements, but need to submit a graduation application can graduate as a matriculated student (please check with the Registrar's Office). 

    Students that meet one of the following are NOT eligible:

    1. Need to take supervised courses because OU students may not enroll in supervised courses.
    2. Major, SJSU, or all college GPA is below a 2.0
    3. Are in "Disqualified" academic standing; student must be reinstated first before applying for graduation and/or graduating. 
    4. Never matriculated at SJSU; student must apply for formal admissions and attend SJSU for at least one semester as a matriculated student.
    5. Are not ready to graduate; students are recommended to reapply for admission. 
• I have earned more than 24 Open University (OU) units, what can I do to have them count towards my degree requirements?

  • CSU rules allow a maximum of 24 OU units to count toward the minimum 120 units needed for a baccalaureate degree without the need for a petition. 

    Students will need to submit the Open University Coursework to Satisfy Graduation Requirements Petition to have excess units (over 24) be counted towards a baccalaureate degree. There is no limit on the number of OU units that can be approved via the petition. If all other requirements for graduation have been met, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education or the University Registrar can approve excess units needed to satisfy residency, baccalaureate requirements, or upper division credits. 

    Note: Starting Spring 2021, OU students that were disqualified and/or have reached the 24-units limit will need to meet with an advisor before they can enroll in courses.
    

• What is the earned units (UE) requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree?

  • A minimum of 120 Earned Units (EU) is required for any undergraduate baccalaureate degree. At least 50 units of those 120 earned units must be from a 4-year college or university, or from units earned through Advance Placement (AP), College Level Exam Program (CLEP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. In other words, maximum of 70 earned nits from community college may count towards the 120 earned units required for any undergraduate degree.

    A minimum of 40 earned units must be earned at the upper division. For a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, a minimum of 12 earned units must be earned at the upper division.  For a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, a minimum of 18 earned units must be earned at the upper division.

    A minimum of 30 units must be earned in residence (taken at SJSU). Within the 30 units taken in residence, at least 24 units must be earned in upper division, at least 12 units must be in the major and at least 9 units must be earned in upper division general education courses. Only SJSU Studies (area R, S, & V) or upper division general education ( area B, C, & D) from another California State University (CSU) count towards these 9 units of upper division GE residency. Units earned through AP, CLEP, & IB exams may NOT count towards the residence requirement.

    Minimum GPA of 2.00 in all relevant categories are required for complete a degree at SJSU. These are the SJSU Cumulative GPA, the All College GPA, and Major(s) degree programs GPA.

• Can I apply grade forgiveness to a second attempt if the course was taken outside of SJSU?

  • No, Grade Forgiveness only applies to courses for which both attempts were taken at SJSU. For more information, please visit the Grade Forgiveness page in the SJSU catalog. 

• Does grade forgiveness apply to CSU Fully Online?

  • Yes, if the course is articulated with (equivalent to) our SJSU course, it will be given grade forgiveness; otherwise, the grades will be averaged. For more information, please see CSU Fully Online.

• What is California Promise?

  • California Promise is a program to help freshmen graduate in four years and transfers graduate in two years. For more information, please visit the California Promise webpage. 

• Can I return to Earlier GE Pattern?

  • If you are a transfer or FSR student and enrolled before Fall 2023, you can submit the "Return to Earlier GE Pattern Petition" form. It's best to do this when you apply for graduation.

    If you have been continuously enrolled at a community college, you can also ask your advisor to update your University Requirements catalog rights  via "Advisor Request.

• Do I have to reapply to SJSU after I have been disqualified?

  • The answer depends on your circumstances:

    If you are planning to return to SJSU as a regularly enrolled undergraduate student, the answer is yes. Students will need to submit an application for admission through Cal State Apply after their disqualification has been cleared. Detailed information and links to the relevant petition can be found on the Registrar's Reinstatement web page. 

    Returning students should also file a Readmission Petition as a Former Student Returning to SJSU (FSR). Note, this petition has specific due dates and requirements, please read instructions carefully. 

    If all requirements for graduation have been completed, it's not necessary to reapply for admissions to SJSU. However, if you have been disqualified, you must be reinstated in Good Standing prior to submitting your application for graduation.

• Do I need to complete a Reinstatement Petition even though I was not disqualified from SJSU?

  • Students who "stopped-out/stopped attending for more than two consecutive semester" (on academic notice or good standing) at SJSU and wishing to be matriculated back to SJSU, and are otherwise eligible for admissions as an upper division student, should complete the Readmission Petition as a Former Student Returning to SJSU (FSR) and apply for admissions through Cal State Apply.

    Reinstatement petitions are only for those students that were disqualified from SJSU.

• Do I need to be reinstated to the major that I was disqualified from?

  • Students who are eligible for reinstatement should petition for their intended major, which may or may not be the major when they were disqualified from SJSU. Students do not have to be reinstated back to their original major unless it remains their intended major. Reinstatement petitions require signatures and recommendations from the major department, and the College Associate Dean of the intended major. The Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education signature is only required when then the student's GPA is below a 2.0 or the student selected one of the categories that require their signature.

• What should I do if my reinstatement was denied (not recommended) by the major department?

  • Departments and/or colleges may have their own criteria for Academic Notice and Disqualification for their majors (though many do not). Many departments will give a student a "To-Do List" to complete, with specific steps that a student needs to take in order to be (re)accepted into the original major or a new intended major. 
    
    

    We encourage these students to contact us at [email protected]

• I completed my Reinstatement petition and will be applying for admissions, is there any other form I need to complete?

  • An approved Reinstatement petition is a prerequisite for submitting a Readmission Petition as a Former Student Returning (FSR).

• When do I need to reapply for admissions to SJSU?

  • Students need to reapply for admissions to SJSU if they stopped attending SJSU for two or more consecutive semesters or following an approved reinstatement (after disqualification).

    Please note that SJSU is currently not accepting lower division transfer students and upper-division students as Undeclared. Reinstated students need to complete a minimum of 60 semester units (90 quarter units) before they can re-apply for admissions. Please visit the SJSU Admissions website for more information.

• My Reinstatement and FSR form were both approved. I have over 60 units, but have not completed my basic four skills (Area A1, A2, A3, or B4) requirement. Am I eligible to apply for admissions?

  • In order to be eligible for readmission after a two or more consecutive semester "stopped-out"  or being disqualified, students must:

    1. have an all college GPA that is 2.0 or better; and
    2. have earned 60 or more semester units (90 quarter units); and
    3. satisfied the four basic skill courses with grades of "C-" or better in each.
       • Area A1: Oral Communication I
       • Area A2: Written Communication
       • Area A3: Critical Thinking and Writing
       • Area B4: Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning

    Students will need to submit an approved FSR form by the appropriate deadline.

• What grade point average (GPA) determines my Academic Standing at  SJSU?

  • SJSU cumulative GPA (SJSU CUM GPA) determines Academic Standing (e.g., Good Standing, Academic Notice (formerly Probation), or Disqualification status). All College GPA determines admissions and/or (re)admissions to SJSU. 

• What is a Interdisciplinary Studies?

  • The Interdisciplinary Studies BA/BS is designed for situations in which an existing SJSU undergraduate degree major does not adequately accommodate academic professional aims.

    In consultation with the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, a student may create an individually designed, interdisciplinary course of study leading to a BA or BS Interdisciplinary Studies degree. The Interdisciplinary Studies allows a student to fulfill specific educational objectives when existing majors do not exist for the accomplishment of those goals. 

    The Interdisciplinary Studies Guidelines provide specific information about how to apply for the program. 

• How will my Interdisciplinary Studies degree appear on my diploma?

  • The diploma and transcript will contain the title, "Interdisciplinary Studies", followed by the exact title of the major listed on the Change of Major Form.

• How do I transfer credit from another university or college to SJSU?

  • To transfer credit from another university or college to SJSU, students should request official transcripts to be sent to the SJSU Admissions Office for processing. Transcripts may be submitted electronically, mailed, or dropped off in person at the Admissions Office (located on the first floor of the Student Services Center (SSC)[BROKEN LINK]). If submitting in person, please make sure that the official transcript is unopened and fully sealed.

    Official transcripts will not be accepted if the seal is broken and envelope has been opened.

• Can I take courses at a community college or university while attending SJSU?

  • Yes, students are permitted to take courses outside of SJSU. Once the course are complete, it is the student's responsibility to submit an official transcript from those schools to SJSU to transfer the credits over.

• I failed a course at SJSU, can I retake it at a community college?

  • Yes, students can repeat failed courses at a community college;  however, students will not benefit from receiving Grade Forgiveness. Grade forgiveness only applies to courses taken at SJSU. 

• Do I have to take the Writing Skills Test (WST)?

  • SJSU is temporarily suspending the Writing Skills Test (WST), please review Online WST Directed Self-Placement (WST-DSP) for additional information.

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    All CSU students must meet the CSU Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) as part of their degree requirements.

    For first baccalaureate students at SJSU, successful completion of the GWAR generally means: 1) passing the WST and 2) passing a 100W course. Starting Fall 2020, students must take the Online WST Directed Self-Placement (WST-DSP) and pass a 100W course to fulfill GWAR. 

    Starting in Spring 2010, SJSU will offer courses—LLD 100A and ENGL 100A (formerly LLD 96S and ENGL 96S)—that satisfy the WST requirement. For more information, please visit the Testing Office.

• What happens if I don't pass the WST?

  • SJSU is temporarily suspending the Writing Skills Test (WST), please review Online WST Directed Self-Placement (WST-DSP) for additional information.

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    You may retake the WST as many times as needed to get a passing score. Alternatively, if you do not pass the WST after multiple attempts, you may enroll in either LLD 100A or ENGL 100A; a passing grade of "C" or better in either of these 100A courses satisfies the WST requirement.

    Failure to pass the WST will delay your graduation. Workshops on the WST can be found at Peer Connections. You can only take your required 100W course after you pass the WST or 100A course. Some majors require the successful completion of a 100W course prior to taking any upper division coursework in the major.

• When should I take the WST?

  • SJSU is temporarily suspending the Writing Skills Test (WST), please review Online WST Directed Self-Placement (WST-DSP) for additional information.

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    You should take the WST as soon as possible - after successfully completing GE Area A3 or another second semester composition course. 

• What is the UDW-DSP?

  • The Upper-Division Writing Directed Self Placement (UDW-DSP) is an online exercise designed to help you place yourself in the upper-division writing course that is appropriate for you. The UDW-DSP is NOT a test. In the exercise, you will learn about the two upper-division writing courses available to you – 100A and 100W – and will answer questions to help you determine which course is right for you. The exercise only takes about 10-15 minutes. More information can be found on the Upper-Division Writing Directed Self Placement page.

• Do I have to take the UDW-DSP?

  • No, the UDW-DSP is only highly recommended to help students identify which upper-division writing course fits best with their writing level. More information can be found on the Upper-Division Writing Directed Self Placement page.

• How do I take the UDW-DSP? 

  • All the information about the online UDW-DSP, and the link to complete it, can be found on the UDW-DSP page. After completion, processing will take approximately 1-2 business days to appear on your MySJSU Portal.

• I’m applying to transfer to SJSU; is the UDW-DSP an admissions requirement? 

  • No, the UDW-DSP is not an admissions requirement. It is simply a tool to help you identify which upper-division writing course fits best with your writing level. More information can be found on the Upper-Division Writing Directed Self Placement page.

• I don’t remember if I completed the UDW-DSP or not. How can I check? 

  • Log into your MySJSU Portal. Select the "General Info" tab located next to the "Student Center" tab on the top bar. If you have completed the UDW-DSP, you should be able to see it under "Student Groups". If you still have questions, send an email to the Undergraduate Education Office at [email protected]. You must include your student ID number. 

• I’ve started the UDW-DSP, but I’m still not sure if I should choose 100A or 100W; can someone help me? 

  • Yes! Please contact the Undergraduate Education Office at [email protected] and we can help you make the best choice for you. 

• I’ve started the UDW-DSP, but I’m not sure which 100W course I should select at the end because I’m not sure which 100W course I need for my major; how do I know which 100W course to select? 

  • A good place to start is the SJSU catalog. Look up the catalog page for your major or the roadmap for your major. Either of these should tell you which 100W course is appropriate. If you can’t find the information in the catalog, run your MyProgress, which should list the approved 100W courses for your major. If you still can’t find the information, an academic advisor in your college or department can tell you which 100W course you need for your major.

    That said, if you are under a time-crunch to complete the UDW-DSP because your enrollment date is here or almost here, then you may select a 100W course from the drop-down list (at the end of the exercise) that most closely relates to your major. That way, you can complete the UDW-DSP and enroll in your courses for the next semester. If it turns out that you need a different 100W course than the one you selected in the exercise, that’s OK.  Your course selection in the UDW-DSP does not determine which 100W course you are eligible to enroll in. In other words, you are free to enroll in any 100W course you like, regardless of which course you selected in the UDW-DSP. 

• I completed the UDW-DSP last year, do I have to do it again?

  • No, if you decide to participate in the UDW-DSP, you only need to complete the exercise one time. 

• Where is my UDW-DSP score/results? 

  • The UDW-DSP is not a test and there is no score or result to receive. It is an exercise designed to help students place themselves in the appropriate writing course (100A or 100W). At the end of the UDW-DSP, you were asked to choose the writing course that you felt was right for you. That is the "result" and the course you enroll in. 

• I don’t have any research papers to upload in the UDW-DSP. What should I do?

  • The paper you upload in the UDW-DSP does not have to be a research paper in genre; it can be any paper you wrote at any college that simply uses sources. It can be from any course, on any subject. If you do not have a single paper that meets these criteria, you will need to write a short one to upload in the UDW-DSP. 

• I’ve decided I want to take a different course than the one I selected at the end of the UDW-DSP. What should I do?

  • You are free to enroll in any 100W course you like, or 100A, regardless of which course you selected in the UDW-DSP. In other words, your course selection at the end of the UDW-DSP does not determine your enrollment for the upcoming semester.

• I completed the UDW-DSP and am trying to enroll in a 100W or SJSU Studies, but it says I haven’t met the requisites for the course. What should I do?

  • This could mean that you still have yet to complete 60 units to put you at Upper-Division Standing. You could submit an Enroll in SJSU Studies and 100W with less than 60 Units Petition if you're eligible. More information on this petition can be found on the Undergraduate Education Petitions page. If you still have questions, contact the Undergraduate Education Office at [email protected] (make sure to include your student ID #).

    Concurrently, contact an academic advisor in your department or college. Chances are, if you’ve completed the UDW-DSP and you are getting a requisite error message, then you have not met one (or more) of the other prerequisites for the course. An academic advisor can help you determine what prerequisite/s you are missing.