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California State University, Long Beach                                                         

Policy Statement

13-07

June10, 2013

 

 

Baccalaureate Degree Unit Limits

 

This policy statement was recommended by the Academic Senate on May 9, 2013

and approved by the President on May 31, 2013.

 


          The purpose of this policy is to enforce Title 5 baccalaureate degree unit limits and create strategies for reducing required units for academic programs. Title 5 requires that all programs (with the exception of the BFA, the BM, the BArch, and the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture) require a maximum of 120 units. All majors are expected to ensure that their requirements meet this maximum unless an exception is approved by the Chancellor. These changes are intended to create access to the university for prospective freshmen and community college transfer students while maintaining program accreditation and licensure.

 

I. MAXIMUM UNITS ALLOWED

          For candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree or the Bachelor of Science degree who are meeting graduation requirements established during or after the 2013-14 academic year, 120  units shall be required, including at least 40 units in upper-division courses or their equivalent, unless the Chancellor grants an exception. For candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or Bachelor of Music degree who are meeting graduation requirements established during or after the 2013-14 academic year, no fewer than 120 units and no more than 132 units or the limit set in Title 5 shall be required, unless the Chancellor grants an exception. For candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the major shall consist of a maximum of 70 units with at least one-fourth of these units devoted to theory and content as distinguished from studio, production, and performance.

 

II. STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING UNITS

          All programs exceeding the maximum unit limits specified above must first reduce the number of required major courses and units. Should this not be sufficient, programs should pursue the following strategies to reduce units required:

1.      Consider consistency of requirements with comparable programs at other institutions;

2.      Request approval for lower division majors-only courses to be eligible for certification to fulfill General Education requirements;

3.      Request an exception to the maximum number of units in the major that can satisfy General Education requirements;

4.      Request exemption from campus-specific degree requirements; and

5.      Request approval to adjust category and unit requirements for General Education. However, all programs are required to include a minimum of 39 units of

         general education including one 3 unit Writing Intensive Capstone.

          Programs which have pursued all the above strategies and for which further reduction would jeopardize their accreditation or licensure may request that the Provost’s Office petition the Chancellor for an exception to allow higher units.

          BM and BFA programs requiring in excess of 70 units in the major must use the strategies outlined above to reduce time to degree.

          Programs in which students regularly complete significantly more than the required 120 (or 132 for the BM and the BFA) should also use the strategies outlined above to reduce time to degree. 

 

III. APPROVAL PROCESS

  

        Adjustments to General Education requirements to meet the Baccalaureate Degree Unit Limits Policy must first be approved through the regular department and college curricular approval process and then be submitted to the General Education Governing Committee (GEGC). Recommendations from GEGC will be forwarded to the Curriculum and Educational Policy Council. Those adjustments approved by the Curriculum and Educational Policy Council will be forwarded to the Provost. If required, adjustments approved by the Provost will be forwarded to the CSU Office of the Chancellor for final approval.

 

EFFECTIVE: Immediately

PS 13-07