University Requirements and Regulations

A knowledge of American History and federal and state institutions is required of all degree candidates. If a student graduated from a California high school, then their AH&I 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, please refer to the UC San Diego General Catalog under “Academic Regulations” for courses that can be taken to clear the AH&I requirement.

International Students should consult with Academic Advising regarding the AH&I requirement.

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 not lower than C- or P, a one-quarter, four-unit course expressly approved by the Committee on Educational Policy for that purpose.  A list of approved courses will be provided in the UC San Diego General Catalog. 
2. This requirement may be satisfied by presenting proof of having passed a one-quarter, four-unit transfer course, or its equivalent, at a recognized institution of higher education, community colleges included, that has been articulated to one of the courses approved by the Committee on Educational Policy for the purpose of meeting the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion requirement.
3. Students can refer to the General Education (GE) chart above to review TMC courses that will satisfy both the GE and the DEI requirement.

To view the list of approved DEI courses, please visit the university's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website.

A knowledge of climate change is required of all candidates for a Bachelor’s degree who begin their studies at UC San Diego in lower-division standing in Fall 2024 or thereafter.

1. The requirement shall be satisfied by passing, with a grade not lower than C- or P, a one-quarter course expressly approved by the Undergraduate Council for that purpose.
2. This requirement is required of all candidates for a Bachelor’s degree who begin their studies at UC San Diego as a first-year student. Transfer students are not required to satisfy this requirement.

To view the list of approved CCER courses, please visit the university's Climate Change Education Requirement.

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

• An undergraduate student who enrolls at UC San Diego as a freshman in Fall 2019 and 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 major department or program as well as 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 and 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 major department or program as well as 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)

• 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.
• 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.