University Catalog

Unless an exception is requested under one of the provisions below, students enrolling at Cal State L.A. for the first time must meet degree requirements specified in the catalog in effect at the time of entrance. The catalog date is specified on each student’s credit summary and on the unofficial transcript available on GET.

Baccalaureate students who remain in attendance in regular sessions at any California State University campus, any California community college, or any combination of California community colleges and CSU campuses and thereafter at Cal State L.A. may elect to meet Cal State L.A. graduation requirements in effect at the time they began such attendance, at the time they entered Cal State L.A., or at the time of graduation from Cal State L.A. In this context, attendance means attendance in at least one semester or two quarters each calendar year, which may include Cal State L.A. catalog courses taken through a special session or Open University through the College of Professional and Global Education. Absence due to approved educational leave or for attendance at another accredited institution of higher learning shall not be considered an interruption in attendance if the interruption does not exceed two years. Absence due to approved educational leave or for attendance at another accredited institution of higher learning shall not be considered an interruption in attendance if the interruption does not exceed two years. Disqualified students retain their existing catalog privileges under the conditions outlined above.

All other transfer students and students who have not remained in attendance as described above will be held to Cal State L.A. graduation requirements in effect at the beginning of their most recent period of attendance at Cal State L.A. or, alternatively, at the time of graduation. Students who change to a new degree and/or major objective must meet requirements for the new degree and/or major in the catalog in effect at the time of change. If courses described under earlier requirements are no longer available, the major department or division may authorize or require appropriate substitutes.

General Education is an integral component of the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Students who remain in attendance as defined above normally will meet General Education requirements listed in the catalog in effect at the time of entrance. However, they may elect to meet General Education requirements in the catalog in effect either at the time of entrance or graduation and need not meet major requirements from the same catalog. If courses described under earlier requirements are no longer available, appropriate substitutes must be selected from the current list of courses approved for the area involved.

Undergraduate students are required to meet these requirements for an undergraduate degree.

1. General Education (GE) Requirement — please refer to the General Education Program chapter in the catalog for details and lists of the GE courses.
2. University Requirements include diversity requirement, civic learning/community engagement requirement, and writing intensive requirement. Details and list of courses that meet these requirements are disclosed under the General Education Program chapter.
3. Major Degree Requirements are courses required to completed for the declared major (or minor). The requirements are specified in each major (or minor) program in the catalog.

In order to staying on track to graduation, students pursuing a bachelor’s degree should consult with their academic advisors regarding the major requirements applicable to them and any changes from published catalogs that may be appropriate. 

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