FAQs
Q. What is meant by the term "breadth" (as in breadth courses vs. GE or General Education courses?)
A. Think of the term "breadth" as an umbrella (= general/broad) term for courses that fit the category of either GENERAL EDUCATION (i.e., A1-A3, B1-B4, C1-C3, D1-D3, E, F, Upper Division B, C, D) and LOCAL REQUIREMENTS or UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS (i.e., Second composition, American Code/American Institutions, Overlays). As such, the term "breadth" is not exactly interchangeable with the term "general education". A rule of thumb - all general education courses are breadth courses but not all breadth courses are general education courses. Some Breadth Courses are Local Requirement (= University Requirement) courses. Keep this information in mind when considering double counting in Breadth Courses or GE courses.
Q. What in the world is an "overlay"?
A. Think of an OVERLAY as a theme. So, courses that fit the Sustainability overlay meet certain learning outcomes that align with the theme of sustainability, and so on.
Q. How do I do a search for Breadth/GE courses that fit certain categories?
A. Check out this Google Doc for the steps to address this issue.
Q. What happened to the terms B6, C4, and D4?
A. As a way to reduce confusion, the administration has updated these general education course names to Upper Division B (=the GE Area formerly known as B6), Upper Division C (the GE Area formerly known as C4), and Upper Division D (the GE Area formerly known as D4). Other than the names, nothing else has really changed.
Q. I took Calculus I at CSUEB or a community college prior to Fall 2018. Is this okay to satisfy the Calculus I requirement for my biology major? I hear that the new semester version of Calculus I (BIOL 130) is a little different than the quarter BIOL 1304 version of Calculus I and this concerns me.
Whether you will be a student adhering to the quarter catalog requirements for the major (only available for eligible students) or the semester catalog requirements for the major, if you took either MATH 1304 at CSUEB or the equivalent of MATH 1304 at a community college or another four year college prior to FALL 2018, you will be considered as having satisfied the Calculus I requirement for the major.
Q. I am required to take a year of physics as part of my major. Prior to semesters, this was the PHYS 2701-2-3 series. I partially completed this series prior to semesters. Can I now just take one half (i.e., semester) of the new PHYS 125-126 course series to make up what I did not take before conversion to semesters?
Unfortunately, the answer to this is NO. While the PHYS 125-126 series is, on the whole, equivalent to the PHYS 2701-2-3 quarter series, the content of the latter was not just halved with the content of PHYS 2701 and half of 2702 put into PHYS 125 and the content of PHYS 2703 and half of 2702 placed into PHYS 126. Instead content throughout hte PHYS 2701-2-3 series are present in both PHYS 125 & 126 and vice versa. So, at this time, if you have partially completed the PHYS 2701-2-3 series, you have the following options:
- retake the whole series - PHYS 125 & 126 - at CSUEB;
- complete the courses equivalent to the part of PHYS 2701-2-3 series that you have not taken at at a community college and transfer them in
Another word of advice, until we have a better idea if/how the semester PHYS 125-126 articulates with current community college physics series, those students who have not yet started the physics series would do best to take the series all at CSUEB or all at a community college; but not half at CSUEB and half at a community college.
Q. I hear there have been some changes regarding failure to complete the University Writing Skills Test and registration holds. Can you explain?
Undergraduate students are required to begin steps to satisfy the University Writing Skills Requirement after completing 60 semester units. According to new policies, effective Fall 2018, students who do not enroll in an appropriate course or register to take the Writing Skills Test in their first semester after completing 60 units will have a registration hold placed.
Q. Will there be Fall Graduation Ceremonies after we switch to semesters? I hear there are changes to eligibility for walking in Spring Graduation Ceremonies after we switch to semesters. Can you explain?
At this time, there is no plan for the university or the College of Science to hold Fall Graduation ceremonies. While the policies regarding walking in Spring graduation ceremonies (see section entitltled "Commencement") will not change much under semesters, what may change is the enforcement of those polices. The general policy is that "participation in a Commencement Ceremony is different than graduating and earning a degree. Graduation applicants who are candidates for a degree during the Fall, Spring, or Summer term of the same academic year or school year as of March 1 are eligible to participate and their name will be printed in the official commencement program. There is one University Commencement each year, held in the Spring."
Q. If I have taken CHEM 1610 and 1620 (or the equivalents) and I am a Biology B.S. major, can these be used to replace the CHEM 1101, 1102, and 1103 requirements?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. After checking in with the Chemistry department, it is their determination that CHEM 1610 and 1620 (or the equivalents) will not adequately prepare you for the organic chemistry courses you will be required to take for your degree.
Q. I heard that GEOL 3401 will no longer be accepted for an upper division elective. Is that true?
Yes. We have a policy that all out-of-department electives must be approved by a major advisor and that they have to be for major credit in the department in which they are taught. While GEOL 3400 is a course that is for major credit and would count for major credit in Earth and Environmental Sciences, GEOL 3401 would not. Now that we have established that, we will be enforcing the policy that GEOL 3401 will no longer count for an upper division elective for a Biology B.S. major.
Q. I heard that the General Option will no longer be available under Semesters. If I am a current student who is a B.S. General Option major and I will still be taking courses when we switch to semesters, do I have to now choose a particular option before semesters begin in Fall 2018? Or can I remain with the General Option?
As a student who will be here for both quarters and semesters, you have the option to be held to the list of requirements as specified under the quarter catalog (click here for which quarter catalog options are available to you). Since the general option was available to you under quarters, you can stay as a general option Biology major. Most students in this situation will be defaulted to the quarter catalog for the major already. However, if you are not or unsure, please visit a major advisor to find out one way or another. It is imperative that you get this setteled for Fall Semester 2018 begins because it will be difficulty/impossible to claim the quarter catalog requirements once we officially switch over to semesters.
Q. Will I be able to finish my degree in time?
Yes, in fact, there is a university Pledge to our Students regarding this. But, to be clear, you will need to help us help you with this. You can do your part by making an appointment with both your major and GE academic advisors to review the courses you have left to take and plot out your remaining terms here. And if you are interested, advisors can help you establish an Individualized Advisement Plan/Education Plan that will map out the remaining courses you need to take.
Q. If I am here through semesters and requirements for my degree/option change under semesters, am I held to the quarter requirements that I started under or the new semester requirements?
Student catalog rights are governed by the catalog in effect at the time they declare their undergraduate major/minor or are admitted to a graduate degree program. Your catalog year determines the requirements that you must satisfy to earn your degree. Your catalog year will not change, but the courses you must take may change because the courses in your catalog will may no long.
To some extent, all of the courses that the biology courses will carry over from quarters to semesters will change after semester conversion begins in Fall 2018 in that they will all be 15 weeks long, may have slightly different formats (i.e., lecture length may change; there may be a new discussion section added; etc.) and the course number will be three numbers instead of four (i.e., BIOL 3130 will become BIOL 310). In the case of other courses, they may be totally discontinued and, if you have not taken one or more of those courses by that point, you will need to work with an advisor to determine which course(s) you will need to take as a substitute.
Now, it turns out that you actually have a choice in whether to be held to the requirements of the your quarter catalog year or the new semester system catalog year for your major AND your GE. Furthermore, it is possible to choose quarter requirements for one and semester requirements for the other - they don't need to be the same (e.g., you can keep to your quarter catalog year for your major and the new semester catalog requirements for GE and vice versa. Your major advisor can assist you with determining which might work best for you for your major requirements and your AACE/GE advisor can assist you with determining this for your GE requirements. Advisors will primarily base their decisions on what is more efficient for you (which will vary by major/option and graduation date). Once you have determined which set of University and major requirements you will be following, you will know what classes you need to put into your IAP/Education Plan.
Q. How many units would I have to enroll in to be considered full time under semesters?
An undergraduate student must enroll in 12 or more semester units to be considered full-time. A post-baccalaureate student seeking an additional undergraduate degree or an unclassified post-baccalaureate student must enroll in 12 or more semester units to be considered full-time.
Full-time classified post-baccalaureate students admitted to a teaching credential program must enroll in at least 8 semester units to be considered full-time. Full-time graduate students who are admitted to a master or doctoral degree program must carry at least 8 semester units.
Q. I have been seeing signs and banners about an IAP. What is this?
To prepare students for the change to semester, the Individualized Advisement Plan (IAP) in MyCSUEB will help you determine your academic paths through the conversion process and beyond to graduation. The IAP was made available to you and your advisors in Fall 2016. Your major and GE advisors can help you complete an IAP ifor you. And once it is approved by an academic advisor, it serves as a roadmap to facilitate graduation requirements under your major, and if applicable, minor program(s). It also provides the opportunity to inform the university of courses you plan to enroll in and when. This information will allow the university to improve course offerings based upon demand.
Q. Can I get my courses planned out for me and, if so, where can I go?
If you have questions about the semester conversion and the biology major or minor you are always welcome to see a major advisor in the College of Science Student Service Center or you can speak with an Advisor in the Department of Biology.
Q. What will happen to my units once we move from quarters to semesters? Will they be in quarter units or semester units?
The University will make every effort to ensure that the units you have already earned will count toward your degree. The College of Science and the Biology Department has been working individually on plans for transitioning our courses from quarters to semesters to make the move go smoothly for you. You can check out the university's Pledge to Our Students in which the University promises that students will graduate on time and will not lose earned credits provided they meet with advisors, develop an Individualized Advisement Plan, and follow the plan.
As for what form the units will be in, the current plan is to have on myCSUEB any courses you have taken on quarters viewable in quarter units, any courses you take during semesters in semester units and then your total number of units converted into semesters. We will know more as we get closer to the transition.
Q. I have other questions about converting to semesters. Is there anywhere else I can find answers to my question?
Yes, there is a whole site on the CSUEB website devoted to Semester Conversion. You can click on the links to visit those pages. And of course, you are always welcome to see a major advisor in the College of Science Student Service Center or you can speak with an Advisor in the Department of Biology.