CSU Transfer: Grade Point Average
Extrapolated from California State University Admission Handbook 2008-2009, Page 25
 

GPA Examples:    180 grade points/60 units attempted = 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA)
                           120 grade points/60 units attempted = 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA)

Calculation of Transferable GPA:
Calculations of transfer GPA include all transferable units attempted at all colleges attended and are part of transfer admission requirements.

GPA Calculation Process:
1.     Use all units earned from transferable courses to calculate GPA

2.     Convert quarter units to semester units by multiplying quarter units by 2/3. Convert semester units to
        quarter units by multiplying semester units by 1 ½.

3.     Calculate GPA by first assigning:
                                                        4 grade points for each A
                                                        3 grade points for each B
                                                        2 grade points for each C
                                                        1 grade points for each D
                                                        0 grade points for each F

 Multiply the number of points assigned for each grade by the number of course units (e.g. a 4 unit class with a grade of A equals 16 grade points, but a 3 unit class with a grad of A equals 12 grade points, etc.).

 Add the total grade points and then divide the total grade points by the total units attempted to get the transferable GPA. A CSU campus may elect to take into account plus or minus designations used in combination letter grades by adding0.3 for each plus and subtracting 0.3 for each minus, except that no college or university grade point value shall be less than 0 or greater than 4.0.

4.     Honor the grading policy of the institution where the grade was earned by accepting official transcript entries
        including those reflecting academic renewal, repeat and incomplete grades. Courses graded Pass/No Pass or
        Credit No Credit shall be computed at neutral value with no grade points and are not part of the GPA calculation.

5.     Evaluate transfer course grades or symbols used to designate unsatisfactory, failing or non-passing work at
        time of withdrawal (such as UW, WU, and WF) as failing grades unless otherwise defined by the institution
        assigning the grades.

6.    The GPA is calculated by using the following formula:
                                        Multiply grade points by course units and add all grade points.
                                        Total transfer grade points earned divided by total graded transfer
                                        units attempted =cumulative GPA

 Transferring General Education Courses:
All students who earn a baccalaureate degree from the CSU are required to complete at least 48 semester (72 quarter) units of general education (GE). Of the 48 semester units, at least 9 semester (12 quarter) units must be upper division level courses taken at the CSU campus granting the degree. It is highly recommended that California community college (CCC) students complete the 39 lower division general education units while attending a CCC campus prior to transfer to the CSU. Some CSU campuses have general education programs with minimum unit requirements of greater than 48 units.

Lower Division General Education:  
Lower division general education courses are transferable, meet some admission requirements, and are required for graduation regardless of the chosen major. If the student is unsure of his/her major, taking general education courses is a good way to learn about the various disciplines and to help decide on a major. California Community College catalogs often identify which courses are acceptable to meet CSU lower division general education requirements.

Students and counselors can also access this information at www.assist.org.  Students should visit the transfer center on their CCC campus for assistance with planning coursework and other transfer-related services. the career center can also be of assistance in exploring major options, skills and interest areas, and related career fields.

Note: Students are urged to access www.csumentor.edu or www.assist.org to learn more about general education. The CSU Mentor website has an online transfer planner that helps students track their progress in meeting general education requirements while attending a California Community College.

For students who enroll at CSU with 60 transferable semester (90 quarter) units but have completed few general education units, completion of the baccalaureate program may take longer than initially anticipated. Thorough planning with a counselor is essential in order to minimize the number of academic terms needed to earn a baccalaureate    degree.   CSU has published via www.calstate.edu information about the Lower Division Transfer Patterns (LDTP) which serve as 29-70 unit “road maps” for prospective CSU transfer students who are enrolled at California Community Colleges.