Goals of an Undergraduate Education

The faculty of UCR hereby declare the following set of general educational goals to be pursued through our individual and collective efforts in teaching and guiding the undergraduates of this campus.

A university education must help students realize their potential as individuals and contributing participants in society. This involves the acquisition of knowledge and skills, as well as preparation for future responsibilities.

A general education provides a framework that enables one to appreciate and critically examine the significant aspects of civilization. This framework is derived from the study of world history; political and economic systems; the ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity of the peoples of the Earth; the arts and letters of all cultures; the social and natural sciences; and technology. Such a broad education is the foundation for concentrated studies that enable students to prepare for careers and to strive for an understanding of the world in which they live and about which they must make decisions.

A university education nurtures the critical skills of oral and written communication, including the exercise of these skills in a language other than one’s own. It must teach students to become verbally and quantitatively literate, to analyze and synthesize, and to regard the acquisition of knowledge as a lifetime activity. A university education must promote tolerance of the opinions of others and an understanding of the mutual dependence of human beings on each other and on their natural environment. The student’s university years also provide an opportunity to develop integrity, self-esteem, self-discipline, style, humanness, commitment to the general welfare, sensitivity to the interplay of environment and technology, and confidence that the human drama is worthy of a lengthy future.

UCR has three undergraduate colleges and three undergraduate schools that offer bachelor’s degrees: Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; Natural and Agricultural Sciences; and Engineering. UCR also has the School of Business, School of Education, and the School of Public Policy that offer bachelor’s degrees.

Requirements for the bachelor’s degree vary according to the college and major selected. There are three kinds of requirements: general uni- versity, college, and major.

• 1. General University requirements

Entry-Level Writing American History and Institutions Unit Scholarship Residence

• 2. College breadth requirements

English Composition Humanities Social Sciences Ethnicity Foreign Language Natural Sciences and Mathematics Additional Courses

• 3. Major requirements

Lower-Division or Core Courses Upper-Division Courses

Students should plan a program of study carefully and consult an academic advisor. Students are responsible for meeting all requirements for graduation.

General university requirements are university-wide requirements that all undergraduates must satisfy. The following regulations and requirements are applicable to all undergraduate students on the Riverside campus.

All university faculty assume that students are proficient in reading and writing English, and that they understand how to compose an essay on an academic topic. For this reason, students are asked to provide proof of their writing ability on entering the university.

Completion of the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement is a prerequisite to WRIT 010 and WRIT 010S. The UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement may be completed after enrollment in the university by passing an Entry-Level Writing Requirement course as directed by the University Writing Program (see below). It may be completed before enrollment in any one of the following ways:

• 1. Receiving a score of 680 or better on the College Board SAT

Reasoning Test, Writing test (last administered January 2016).

• 2. 680 or better on the SAT, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

section of paper-and-pencil SAT (offered prior to March 2024). Scores from the digital SAT are not approved to satisfy the ELWR.

• 3. Achieving a score of 30 or better on the ACT, English Language Arts test.

• 4. Achieving a score of 30 or better on the ACT, Combined

English/Writing test (last administered June 2015).

• 5. Achieving a score of 63 or better on the ACT, English plus Reading.

• 6. Receiving a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced

Placement Test in English (Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition). In addition to fulfilling the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement, a score of 3 satisfies the WRIT 010/WRIT 010S requirement; a score of 4 or 5 satisfies the WRIT 010/WRIT 010S and WRIT 020/WRIT 020S requirements.

• 7. Receiving a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced

Placement test in Seminar.

• 8. Receiving a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced

Placement assessment in Research.

• 9. Receiving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on an International Baccalaureate

Higher Level English A: Literature exam (formerly known as Higher Level English A1 exam).

• 10. Receiving a 6 or 7 on an International Baccalaureate Standard

Level English A: Literature exam (formerly known as Standard Level English A1 exam).

• 11. Receiving a 5, 6, or 7 on an International Baccalaureate Higher

Level English A: Language and Literature exam.

• 12. Receiving a 6 or 7 on an International Baccalaureate Standard

Level English A: Language and Literature exam.

• 13. Completion with a grade of “C” or better of a 4 quarter unit or 3

semester unit college-level course in English composition, taken at another institution before the student enters the university and judged acceptable by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

• 14. Receiving a passing score on the Writing Placement Process

diagnostic essay exam.

All incoming freshmen who have not met the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement and are entering in the fall quarter must complete the Writing Placement Process.

The diagnostic essay exam is administered by the University Writing Program. Students may select to complete the Writing Placement Process on one of multiple test dates leading up to the start of the fall quarter.

For more information, see https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/elwr/ or https://uwp.ucr.edu/elwr#wpp. Students also have an opportunity to satisfy the requirement in UCR’s summer sessions by passing ENGL 004 before they become full-time students in the fall. They can also take a pre-WRIT 010 (formerly ENGL 001A) class during the summer at a local college or university before they become full-time students at UCR. Students taking pre-WRIT 010 summer courses not at UCR can then retake the Writing Placement Process for a second time at UCR right before fall quarter classes begin.

Students who have not met the requirement upon entrance to UCR are placed into one of the following UCR courses of instruction. Place- ment in these courses is determined by the Director of the University Writing Program and is based on the student’s performance on the Writing Placement Process diagnostic essay exam.

• 1. WRIT 001

• 2. WRIT 003

• 3. WRIT 005

• 4. WRIT 007 (formerly ENGL 004)

To pass the Entry-Level Writing Requirement (once enrolled as full- time students), students must earn a course grade of “C” (2.0) or better in WRIT 007 or WRIT 009.

According to systemwide regulations, any student who has not satisfied the Entry-Level Writing Requirement after three quarters of university residence (three quarters of enrollment during the regular academic year) is not normally eligible to enroll for a fourth quarter at the University of California. (For students placed in WRIT 001, WRIT 003, or WRIT 005, this three-quarter residence rule be- gins after satisfactory completion of WRIT 005 or at the start of their fourth quarter of regular enrollment at UCR, whichever comes first.) Students are encouraged to complete the requirement as soon as possible in their first year.

Candidates for a bachelor’s degree must satisfy the requirement in American History and Institutions by demonstrating a knowledge of American history and of American political institutions and ideals. The requirement may be satisfied by satisfactory completion of any one of the following:

• 1. One (1) high school unit in American History, or 1⁄2 high school

unit in American History and 1⁄2 high school unit in civics or American Government

• 2. The requirement in a junior college or other accredited institution

• 3. One college course in the field of American History or one college

course in the field of American Government. UCR courses that fulfill this requirement are HIST 017A or 017B, POSC 010, POSC 100, and POSC 113

Students applying for one of the teacher credential programs should check with the School of Education concerning limitations on ways of meeting this requirement.

A minimum of 180 units of academic work with a grade point average of 2.00 in all courses undertaken in the UC is required for graduation.

Not more than 6 units of physical education activities courses, no 400 series course, and not more than three courses in the 300 series may be counted toward the 180 unit requirement.

To receive a bachelor’s degree, students must obtain twice as many grade points as units (2.00 grade point) for all courses attempted in the university. An exception to this rule is made for those students undertaking certain honors courses.

The minimum residence at the UC required for a degree is three quarters. One of the three quarters may be completed in a UCR summer session in which the student carries 12 units, unless a reduced load is approved in advance by the dean of the student’s college.

Courses completed in UC Extension are not considered work in residence, even if taken through concurrent enrollment.

Thirty-five (35) of the final 45 units must be earned in residence in the student’s college (this does not preclude the student from taking courses in other colleges on campus). For students who are enrolled in the Education Abroad Program, UC Washington Center (UCDC) or UC Center Sacramento (UCCS) programs, 35 of the final 90 units, including the final 12 units, must be earned in residence. Eighteen (18) of the 35 units may be completed in summer session courses on the Riverside campus.

With the approval of the dean of a student’s college or school, a candidate for the bachelor’s degree who was in active service in the armed forces of the United States in the year preceding the awarding of the degree may be recommended for the degree after only one quarter of university residence in which the candidate completes at least 16 units or passes a comprehensive examination in the major or field of concentration.

Each college has established additional requirements for a degree. The requirements of the colleges at Riverside are designed to stimulate an interest in areas of knowledge not necessarily related to a student’s major field. Students should note that they consist of a certain number of units and courses covering a variety of fields. Although these requirements determine a large and important part of the four-year curriculum, there are opportunities for students in all departments to do special, independent work.

The main objective of the colleges on the Riverside campus is to provide a setting within which students may develop those qualities of mind and character necessary to intellectual advancement and to useful membership in society. The major areas of human knowledge form the substance of the colleges on the Riverside campus: the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; The Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering; The School of Business; The School of Education and The School of Public Policy. The breadth requirements for the colleges are similar; however, refer to each college’s section for a detailed discussion of its requirements. Courses taken in a student’s major discipline (including courses cross-list- ed with the major discipline) may not be applied toward satisfaction of the Humanities, Social Sciences, Ethnicity, or the Natural Sciences and Mathematics requirements except for Biology majors in connection with the Biological Sciences requirement, English majors in connection with the English Composition requirement, History majors in connection with the World History requirement, Ethnic Studies majors in connection with the Ethnicity requirement, Foreign Language majors in connection with language requirements, and students permitted by their college to take a Senate- approved alternative to English 1C in order to satisfy the third-quarter writing requirement. However, courses outside the major discipline, but required for the major, may be applied toward satisfaction of these requirements. Students are urged to make sure that they understand which courses are permitted to satisfy more than one requirement. Information on specific degree requirements and courses is available in the academic advising office in each college.

Placement exams may be required before a student takes courses in certain subjects, such as foreign languages and mathematics. Foreign language placement exams are required before students register for courses in the language that they took in high school or have some experience with the language. Students are only allowed one placement exam per applicable language. For foreign languages, a sufficiently high score on the UCR placement exam can fulfill the Foreign Language requirement. Students who are required to take math courses, will need to complete the Math Placement Assessment (MPA) or have met the math prerequisites before registering. Please refer to the MPA website at https://arc.ucr.edu/mpp for placement information.

For details about the UC policy on intercampus reciprocity of breadth requirements and the UC policy on the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum, see below.

Students who transfer from one UC campus to another and who have completed the Breadth/General Education (B/GE) requirements of the campus from which they have transferred (except for upper-division B/GE requirements) will be considered to have met the B/GE requirements of the campus to which they transfer.

Courses taken for B/GE requirements at the campus from which they transfer will be accepted toward the appropriate B/GE requirements of the campus to which they transfer.

The California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) is the singular general education pathway for California community college students to fulfill lower-division general education requirements necessary for transfer and admission to the UC or California State University. The Cal-GETC program is administered through the California community college system. Completion of the Cal-GETC must be certified by a community college counselor and submitted to UCR with the student’s final transcript.

The Cal-GETC is accepted for all majors at UCR. Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) will continue to be accepted in lieu of Cal-GETC. All students should ensure that their certified Cal-GETC has been received during their first quarter of attendance at UCR.

Although the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE), College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS), and College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) accepts completion of Cal-GETC as satisfying the majority of the college’s breadth requirements for transfer students, some additional breadth coursework may be required after enrollment. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to focus on preparatory course work for their desired major, such as mathematics, science, and other technical preparatory course work, rather than on Cal-GETC completion.

A major is a coordinated group of upper-division courses giving depth to a student’s work in a chosen area. A list of degrees offered and possibilities for establishing individual majors are described in each college section below. Degrees are also listed in the front of the catalog. A student should choose a major not later than the beginning of the junior year. However, a choice of major before that time facilitates program planning in most academic fields.

The departmental major represents advanced and relatively specialized work in one of the academic disciplines in the college. The interdepartmental or nondepartmental major is broader in scope and usually based upon two or more disciplines. The individual major is designed for the student who has an unusual but definite academic interest for which no suitable major is offered.

Major requirements are described in detail in the Programs and Courses section of this catalog under the department or program offering the major.

The responsibility for fulfillment of all degree requirements — general university, college, and major — rests with the student. Students are urged, however, to seek program counseling with appropriate advisors.

Assignment to a major or to the undeclared category (open to first-year and sophomore students) is based on the student’s choice indicated on the Application for Admission. The student should enroll in accordance with this choice; changes may be made following course enrollment.

Students may transfer from one major to another, elect a double major within their college, or add a second major in another college by filing a declaration. Students must be in good academic standing and meet eligibility requirements to change or add majors. DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

Louie F. Rodriguez, Vice Provost and Dean Vice Provost/Dean’s Office Student Services Building #2106

• (951) 827-7750

ue.ucr.edu

The Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) collaborates with the UC Riverside campus community to create transformative, equity-driven academic opportunities for student learning, building, and thriving. UE is focused on the student experience and student outcomes. More specifically, UE is committed to elevate high achievers through the Honors Program; connect students to research, scholarships and other academically-driven enrichment experiences; and strengthening students’ skills, knowledge and readiness through the Academic Resource Center (ARC). Additionally, DUE promotes students’ various forms of literacies in the Undergraduate Writing Program (UWP) and the promotion of health professions through the Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC).

DUE is responsible for the following student programs and services. These programs and services are categorized as Academic Programs, CUREL, and Student Success.