University Requirements

UC Entry Level Writing Requirement - ELWR (Subject A)

The University of California requires all entering undergraduate students to demonstrate a minimum proficiency in English composition by one of the following:

• University of California Analytical Writing Placement Exam with a passing essay
• SAT Reasoning Test, writing section with a score of 680 or higher
• SAT II Subject Test in writing taken prior to February 2005 with a score of 680 or higher
• ACT Combined English/Writing Test with a score of 30 or higher
• Advanced Placement (AP) exam in English with a score of 3 or higher
• International Baccalaureate (IB) higher level exam in English (Language A only) with a score of 5 or higher
• Submitting proof of completion, prior to enrolling at UCSD, of an approved community college transfer course in English composition with a grade of C or better
• Successful completion of UCSD Subject A English Composition (SDCC1) course and passing score on the exit exam by the end of your third quarter as an enrolled UCSD student

Official transcript must be on file with the UCSD Admissions Office for exam and college courses. Students must verify via written documentation, one of the above items in order to enroll in a writing course. For additional information, refer to the UCSD Basic Writing Program (http://basicwriting.ucsd.edu).

American History and Institutions

Knowledge of American history and of the principles of American institutions under the federal and state constitutions is required of all candidates for a bachelor’s degree.

• High school American history unit course or American history/American government unit course, with a grade of C or better
• SAT Subject Test in American History, with a score of 550 or higher
• Advanced Placement (AP) exam in American History, with a score of 3 or higher
• An approved transfer course in American history or American government with a grade of C or better
• An approved petition verifying proof of temporary residence in the United States, F-1 or J-1 student visas
• Completion of one of the following UCSD courses with a grade of P or C- or better: HILD 2A, 2B, 2C; HILD 7A, 7B, 7C; any HUIS course (except Colloquias); POLI 10, 100A, 100B, 100C, 102C, 102H, 104A, 110EA, 110EB, 110J, 142A; ETHN 112A, 112B, 125, 130, 131, 149, 167, 170A, 170B

Additional UC Requirements

Major: Requires twelve or more 4.0-unit, upper-division courses in addition to lower-division prerequisites for the major.

Residency: Thirty-five (35) of a student’s last forty-five (45) units must be taken at UCSD.

Pass/Not Pass: No more than one-fourth (25%) of an undergraduate student’s units completed at UCSD may be graded Pass/Not Pass. Note: most majors require a letter grade in all course work.

Minimum Progress: To comply with the UniversityMinimum Progress regulation, you must complete 36 units during each academic year (Fall, Winter and Spring quarters). If you are on leave or approved for part time for any quarter, you will be exempt for the entire period.

Minimum Units for Graduation: 180 units required for a B.A. and B.S. degree. A minimum of 60 units must be taken at the upper-division level.

Maximum Units for Graduation: Students are limited to 200 units for B.A. and B.S. in Arts and Sciences, 230 units for B.S. in Engineering, and 240 units for double majors.

Grade-Point Average: 2.0 overall. Major GPA requirements may differ by department. See the UCSD General Catalog for further information.