Graduation Requirements and Regulations

• At least 180 quarter units with a cumulative and major grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.
• • 60 units (15 four-unit courses) of which must be at the upper-division level. Lower-division courses are numbered 1 - 99, upper-division courses are numbered 100 - 199.
  • At least 35 of the last 45 units must be taken at UC San Diego to meet the Senior Residency requirement

All students must demonstrate proficiency in English composition. Refer to the Analytical Writing Program website for information on test scores that fulfill the ELWR requirement. 

Students who have not previously satisfied the ELWR must complete the UC San Diego Writing Placement process (WPP) before the beginning of their first quarter. Students will be placed in College Writing, AWP 3, or AWP 4A. If you are placed in College Writing, you have fulfilled the ELWR.

If you do not pass the placement test and do not have other ways to fulfill the ELWR, you must enroll immediately in the AWP course in which you are placed (either AWP 3 or AWP 4A) during your first quarter at UC San Diego. Students who enroll in AWP 4A are required to enroll in AWP 4B in the subsequent term. AWP 3, AWP 4A, and AWP 4B are credit-bearing courses. Earning a grade of C or higher on AWP 3 or AWP 4B satisfies the ELWR. If you miss this enrollment, you will have lost one of the quarters allotted you for fulfilling the ELWR.

You will not be allowed to enroll in any other writing courses (like MMW) until you fulfill the requirement. You must fulfill ELWR by the end of your third quarter at UC San Diego if you are placed in AWP 3 and your fifth quarter if you are placed in AWP 4A. Exception: Students placed in AWP 4A-4B who do not attempt to successfully complete 4A within the first three quarters will be disqualified.

AWP 3: Analytical Writing

AWP 3 provides underprepared writers the opportunity to develop their critical thinking and writing abilities. At the end of AWP 3, students will produce a portfolio of work that will determine their readiness to enter the college writing programs.

Replaces AWP 1. The 4 units earned in this course will count toward graduation units. Passing AWP 3 fulfills the ELWR.

AWP 4A: Analytical Writing and Academic English A

AWP 4A is the first of a multi-term course designed to offer students who need extra English language support the opportunity to develop their critical thinking and writing abilities over two terms. Students who enroll in AWP 4A are required to enroll in AWP4B in the subsequent term. Students enrolled in AWP 4A will receive a grade of IP (In Progress) at the end of the term and must take AWP 4B the following term, with the same instructor. 

Replaced AWP 2A. Pass/No Pass only. Students must earn a Pass to move on to AWP 4B. The 4 units earned in this course will count toward graduation units.

AWP 4B: Analytical Writing and Academic English B

AWP 4B is the second of a multi-term course designed to offer students who need extra English language support the opportunity to develop their critical thinking and writing abilities over two terms. At the end of AWP 4B, students will produce a portfolio of work that will determine their readiness to enter the college writing programs. If the portfolio demonstrates readiness for College Writing, the student will pass directly to College Writing. If the portfolio does not demonstrate readiness for College Writing, the student will enroll in AWP 3 the following term.

Students will not be able to repeat the 4A-4B sequence. Students can take up to three consecutive quarters of AWP 3 after 4A-4B as long as they fulfill ELWR within five quarters.

Replaces AWP 2B. The 4 units earned in this course will count toward graduation units. Passing AWP 4B fulfills the ELWR.

A knowledge of American History and federal and state institutions is required of all degree candidates. If you graduated from a California high school your AHI requirement is considered complete. Students from other states may ask the UC San Diego Admissions Office to clear the requirement if they completed comparable course work in high school.

If neither of the above applies to you, please refer to the UC San Diego General Catalog under “Undergraduate Degree Requirements” for courses that can be taken to clear the AHI requirement.

International Students should consult with Academic Advising regarding this requirement.

- This one course requirement may be taken for letter or P/NP grade and can overlap with any requirement. Check with your major on grading option requirements if you plan on overlapping this course with your major. -

A knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion is required of all candidates for a Bachelor's degree who begin their studies at UC San Diego in lower-division standing in Fall 2011 or thereafter, or in upper-division standing in Fall 2013 or thereafter.

1. This requirement shall be satisfied by passing, with a grade no lower than C- or P, a one-quarter, four-unit course expressly approved by the Committee on Educational Policy for that purpose.
2. This requirement may be satisfied by presenting proof of having passed a four-unit transfer course at a recognized institution of higher education, community colleges included, that has been articulated and deemed equivalent to one of the courses on the approved DEI list.

Click here or a full list of approved DEI courses

Courses on this list were reviewed and approved by the Academic Senate. Other courses not on this list may not count towards the DEI requirement. Students cannot petition other courses not on this list to count towards the DEI requirement. UCSD Departments may petition to have courses reviewed by the Academic Senate to be added to the DEI list, but petitions are not guaranteed and may take up to two quarters to review for a decision.

• Completion of 36 units in an academic year towards degree objective requirements to maintain minimum progress and qualify for further registration.
• Read the Academic Senate policy on minimum progress.

Quarter Limit and Enrollment Beyond the Quarter Limit (for students entering UC San Diego in fall 2019 or thereafter)

• An undergraduate student who enrolls at UC San Diego as a freshman in fall 2019 or thereafter is allowed to enroll for twelve quarters to complete all requirements for a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degree; if a student reaches this quarter limit and needs additional time to complete those requirements, they will be required to submit a completion plan and have it approved by their college prior to enrolling for additional quarters to continue work toward the degree.
• An undergraduate student who enrolls at UC San Diego as a transfer student in fall 2019 or thereafter is allowed to enroll for six quarters to complete all requirements for a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degree; if a student reaches this quarter limit and needs additional time to complete those requirements, they will be required to submit a completion plan and have it approved by their college prior to enrolling for additional quarters to continue work toward the degree.
• Summer session, as well as quarters during which students are approved for part-time status or have withdrawn from all courses, will not count toward the allowable number of quarters.

Maximum Unit Limitation (for students enrolled at UC San Diego prior to fall 2019)

• An undergraduate student may register for no more than 200 course units. An exception is permitted for candidates for BS degrees in engineering, for whom the limits are 240 units in Revelle and Roosevelt Colleges and 230 units in all other colleges. Other exceptions will be granted only for compelling academic reasons and only with the approval of the college provost.
• Transfer units applicable toward general-education requirements or major requirements are included in the maximum unit calculation; all other transfer units are to be excluded. Advanced Placement and international baccalaureate units are to be excluded.

Qualified students graduate with a degree awarded cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude.  A maximum of fourteen percent of graduating seniors may be so honored, and ranking is based on the GPA for at least 72 letter-grade units of course work at the University of California.  Typically, the top two percent will graduate summa cum laude; the next four percent, magna cum laude; and the next eight percent, cum laude.

University Honors will appear on the transcript and diploma for eligible UCSD students.