University Graduation Requirements Petitions

Go to: Area US123 | Area RSV | WID 100W| Core GE | Intensive Science | Intensive Music | PE

Note: DocuSign template forms require an active one.SJSU account. If you do not have an active account, please contact us at undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu for an electronic copy of the petition.


Lower Division Core GE Petition

Regardless of major the General Education is required for all undergraduate degrees. Some majors fulfill general education upon completion of the degree (see major exceptions in Catalog).

Eligibility Requirements
  1. Must be an undergraduate student who has matriculated (admitted and enrolled) at SJSU for one full semester.
  2. Courses must have been declared at the time of Admissions (or taken concurrently with SJSU coursework) and posted on your unofficial SJSU transcript before submitting this petition. 
  3. Coursework must address the GE Area's Learning Outcomes not a specific course. We recommend consulting with the Articulation Office before submitting the petition. 
  4. Designated area reviewer must sign the first section. 
  5. Equivalencies for Basic Skill (A1, A2, A3, B4) will not be granted unless passed with a grade of "C- or better".
GE Area reviewers and minimum writing requirements

For learning outcomes, see the University's Institutional Learning page's General Education section.

GE Area reviewers and minimum writing requirements
GE Area Formerly  Minimum Writing Requirement Assigned Area Reviewer
Area 1A: Written Communication I A2 8000 Words

Director of Composition, English Department

Note: Department Chair, Philosophy signs all philosophy courses

Area 1B: Critical Thinking and Writing A3 6000 Words

Director of Composition, English Department

Note: Department Chair, Philosophy signs all philosophy courses

Area IC: Oral Communication A1 1500 Words

Department Chair, Communication Studies

Area 2: Mathematics Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning B4 No minimum

Department Chair, Mathematics & Statistics Department

3A: Arts C1 No minimum

Associate Dean, Humanities & the Arts

3B: Humanities C2 No minimum

Associate Dean, Humanities & the Arts

UD Area 3: Cultures and Global Understanding  V 3000 words

Associate Dean, Humanities & the Arts

Area 4: Social Science D No minimum

Associate Dean, College of Social Sciences

UD Area 4: Self, Society, and Equality in the U.S. S 3000 words

Associate Dean, College of Social Sciences

5A: Physical Science B1 No minimum

Associate Dean, College of Science

5B: Life Science B2 No minimum

Associate Dean, College of Science

5C: Laboratory B3 No minimum

Associate Dean, College of Science

UD Area 2/5. Earth, Environment, and Sustainability R 3000 words

Associate Dean, College of Science

Area 6: Ethnic Studies F No minimum

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education

Note: There are NO waivers or substitutions allowed (per CSU General Education Breadth Requirements).  Grades below a "C-" can be petition

N/A E: Human Understanding & Development 1500 words

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education

Designee Reviewers are assigned by the Office of Undergraduate Education
Required Attachments and form

1. Personal statement explaining the reasoning for submitting the request.

2. Supporting evidence/ documentation

  1. minimally a catalog description from the year when the course was taken, ideally a syllabus as well
  2. Writing samples will be required for Area 1A and 1B.
  3. College of Science Equivalency Form required for Area 5A, 5B, or 5C.
  4. General Education Breadth (see Articulation)

3. Transcripts - from the institution where the coursework was taken (unofficial transcripts acceptable).

4. Complete the GE Area Equivalent Petition Form [DocuSign]

Note: The official transcript showing the course you are petitioning must have been submitted at the time of admission, or before submitting this petition if taken concurrently with SJSU coursework


Intensive Science Plan Sequence Petition

Students, who have completed in-depth coursework in science that is not certified for GE, may request an alternative package to satisfy Core Physical Science (5A), Life Science (5B), and/or Laboratory Science (5C) that have not already been met by approved GE Courses. Must have one semester of matriculated (admitted and enrolled) at SJSU.

The assigned area reviewer is the Associate Dean, College of Science

What can be petitioned with this form?

A) grades below "C-" (very rarely approved);

B) Two or more physical science courses (if they are 5A/5B/5C) and a CHEM 1A;

C) CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B and a physics course;

D) Intensive Science Physics/Chemistry/Biology courses not articulated to SJSU;

E) Three courses from BIOL 30, BIOL 33, BIOL 65, BIOL 65O, BIOL 66, MICRO 20;

F) Other Intensive Science courses not listed on the approved Intensive Science list.

Required Attachments 

1) Personal statement explaining the reason for submitting request.

2) Catalog description from the year when the course was taken or course syllabus (in English).

3) Attach approved College of Science equivalency petition.

4) Transcripts - from the institution where the course work was taken (unofficial transcripts acceptable). 

5) Complete the Intensive Science Petition Form [DocuSign] 

  • all courses that are being use for Intensive Science Plan must be entered on the petition

Intensive Music Plan Sequence Petition

Students who have completed in-depth coursework in music that is not certified for GE may request an alternative package to satisfy CORE Area 3. Students who have completed the Intensive Music courses with a “C-" or better, will be allowed to use these courses to fulfill the requirements in 3A or 3B. The assigned area reviewer is the Associate Dean, Humanities & the Arts.

  • MUSC 4A, MUSC 4B, and MUSC 12
What can be petitioned with this form?

A) Grades below "C-" (very rarely approved).

B) Other Intensive Music courses are not on the list of approved intensive music courses. 

C) Intensive Music courses currently not articulated to SJSU.

Required Attachments and Petition Form

1) Personal statement explaining the reasoning for submitting the request.

2) Supporting documentation - minimally a catalog description from the year when the course was taken and a course syllabus.

3) Transcripts - from the institution where the course work was taken (unofficial transcripts acceptable). Note: official transcript showing the courses you are petitioning must have been submitted at the time of admission, or before submitting this petition if taken concurrently with SJSU coursework, ideally the course is showing on your MySJSU account.

4) Enter all courses that are part of the Intensive Music Course Plan sequence.

5) Complete the Intensive Music Plan Form [DocuSign]


SJSU Studies (Area R, S, V) Petition

For learning outcomes, see University's Institutional Learning. Upper division requirements (SJSU Studies) are general education courses that are only offered to juniors and seniors (upper division standing). SJSU Studies is used to fulfill 9 units residency and upper division general education requirement (see Catalog). The minimum writing requirement is 3000 words. 


There are no designated area reviewers. An Academic Advisor can sign this petition. It can also be sent directly to Undergraduate Education. 

What can be petitioned with this form?

A) Course was approved for an upper division GE one semester after course was taken;

B) Course was discontinued as an upper-division GE the semester the course was taken; 

C) SJSU Studies aggregate GPA is below a 2.0; 

D) Took two or more courses in the same area, would like to cover a different area (rarely approved); 

E) A course is less than 3 units; policy requires 9 semester units (rarely approved); 

F) Upper division non-GE course from SJSU (rarely approved); 

G) Course(s) are upper-division GE at another CSU and are not showing as SJSU Studies Areas; 

H) Course was not taken for a letter grades (rarely approved). Except courses taken Spring 2020 due to temporary change in grading policy related to the pandemic. 


Petition Form will be DENIED if:

1) course is NOT taken at a CSU. 

2) course is a lower division course (community college courses are considered lower division).

3) transcript has not been submitted to SJSU or declared.

4) required attachments are missing 

Note: for study abroad courses, please use the Academic Approval form and not the SJSU Studies equivalent petition. 

Petition form and Requirements 

If you are a recent transfer student, please wait for courses to be posted to your MySJSU records before petitioning.  Should credit not be granted for SJSU Studies, please consult with the Articulation Office before submitting this petition.

1) Must be an undergraduate (or postbaccalaureate) student who matriculated (admitted and enrolled) at SJSU for at least one semester.

    1. Completed all Core General Education,
    2. Have upper division standing (completed 60 or more units)

2) Must include a personal statement explaining why you are making this request.

3) Must include supporting documentation

    1. GE Breadth (i.e. MyProgress report, website/URL to GE listing), or
    2. minimally a catalog description from the year when the course was taken and/or a course syllabus. 
    3. Course(s) are upper-division General Education at another CSU. 

4) Must attach copy of the Transcript

    1. Official transcript showing the course(s) must have been submitted at the time of admission, or before submitting this petition if taken concurrently with SJSU coursework.
    2. Course information must be entered as shown on the external transcript not as posted on SJSU student account. 

5) Complete the SJSU Studies Equivalent Course Form [DocuSign].


Writing in the Disciplines (WID) Petition

The California State University (CSU) junior-level writing requirement is known as the “Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement” (GWAR), . Courses must have a minimum of 8000 words.

Area Reviewer: Thomas Moriarty, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, English Department.

What can be petitioned with this form?

1) Must be an undergraduate (or postbaccalaureate) student who matriculated (admitted and enrolled) at SJSU for at least one semester. 
2) Receive a waiver score of 11 or 12 on the Written Skills Test (WST)1. SJSU is no longer offering this exam.
3) Demonstrate exceptional writing ability (e.g., published expository writing).
4) Completed an upper-division composition course (Intensive Writing Course). 
5) Completed the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) at another CSU

1 A WST score of 11/12 earns a waiver of the SJSU 100W course requirement, with the caveat that a major degree program may require a 100W course as part of the major (see Major Exceptions in Catalog). 

The WST Directed Self Placement (WST-DSP) exercise is NOT eligible for a 100W waiver.


Note: Coursework already given credit in GE Area A2 (e.g., ENGL 1A) or second-semester composition (e.g., ENGL 1B or ENGL 2) or lower division writing course may not be used as a basis for this petition.

Required Attachments and Petition Form

Before submitting the petition, please check with your major department to ensure that 100W is not needed in the major.


Category 1: Scored an 11 or 12 on the Written Skills Test (WST)

  1. Copy Written Skills Test (WST) scores. Note: major department chair can submit a memo/email in lieu of petition to Undergraduate Education for waiver of 100W course base on WST score.

Category 2: Demonstrate exceptional writing ability (rarely approved)

  1. Personal statement explaining the reasoning for submitting the request.
  2. Attach writing samples or publish works (please work with the Undergraduate Education Office).

Category 3: Completed the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) at another CSU.  Please wait for the course to be posted to MySJSU, as credit is usually given automatically. 

  1. Personal statement explaining the reasoning for submitting the request.
  2. Attached information from institution showing writing course fulfills a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) or documentation showing that GWAR is done.  
  3. Attach school transcript(s) (unofficial acceptable). An official transcript showing the course must have been submitted at the time of admissions before submitting this petition.

Category 4: Completed an upper-division composition course (Intensive Writing Course)

  1. Personal statement explaining the reasoning for submitting the request.
  2. Attach catalog course description from year course was taken and course syllabus.
  3. Attach school transcript(s) (unofficial acceptable). An official transcript showing the course must have been submitted at the time of admissions before submitting this petition.

Complete the Writing in the Disciplines (100W) Form [DocuSign] 


American Institutions (US1, US2, US3) Petition

Requirements in United States History, Constitution and American Ideals, Title 5 § 40404. Other ways to satisfy American Institution requirements include the College Level Exam Program (CLEP, US1, US2, 3-6 units granted) or waiver exam (California government, US3, no units of credit granted. Contact the Testing Office for information on CLEP and/or Waiver exams). This petition is not required for these options.

Area reviewers and content requirements.

US 1: American History - Courses should fulfill at least 100 years or both pre- and post-Civil War time. Area Reviewer, Department Chair of History. 

US 2: American Government/Politics - Courses should be able to describe (1) how political decisions are made, (2) describe the links between the people and government, and (3) the U.S. Constitutions. Area Reviewer, Department Chair of Political Science.

US 3: California Government/Politics - Courses should (1) The relationship between state and local government in California, (2) the basic issues of California politics, and (3) changes on the history and politics of the state. Area Reviewer, Department Chair of Political Science.

Required Attachments and Form
  1. Personal statement explaining the reasoning for submitting the request.
  2. Supporting evidence/ documentation - (minimally a catalog description from the year when the course was taken, ideally a syllabus as well).
  3. Transcripts - from the institution where the coursework was taken with the relevant course(s) highlighted (unofficial transcripts acceptable).
  4. Complete the American Institutions Areas US123 [DocuSign] petition form

Note: The official transcript showing the course you are petitioning must have been submitted at the time of admission, or before submitting this petition if taken concurrently with SJSU coursework

 

Please visit the FAQ page for additional information or email your question to undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu.