The Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Environmental Design requires the successful completion of at least 120 semester units of courses subject to certain rules:

Semester Limitation

Single-major students admitted as freshmen are guaranteed eight non-summer semesters. Single-major students admitted as transfer students are guaranteed four non-summer semesters. Further non-summer semesters are very rarely approved except in circumstances of simultaneous degrees. Students who have reached their semester limit may enroll only with approval of the Undergraduate Dean.

Minimum Progress Requirement

It is important to maintain minimum progress toward a degree. The rule for determining minimum academic progress states that you must have successfully completed a number of units no fewer than the number of semesters in which you have been enrolled on the Berkeley campus, less one, multiplied by 15. For the purpose of this regulation, summer session will not be counted as a semester. If you fail to satisfy minimum progress, you will not be allowed to register in subsequent semesters. Failing to satisfy minimum progress may also affect your eligibility for financial aid. If you are a student from abroad, failing to maintain minimum progress can affect your international student status. If you fail to achieve minimum academic progress, your continued enrollment is subject to the approval of the dean.

Progress Toward Your Degree

To earn your degree in four years, you should successfully complete 30 units of course work each year.

Exceptions

Minimum Units. You may request permission to take fewer than 12 units if you:

Even though you may be enrolled in fewer than 12 units you are considered a full-time student if you pay full tuition and fees. Note: If you receive financial aid, you should check with the Financial Aid Office about the minimum unit requirements for your particular aid package.

There is no minimum unit limitation during Summer Session.

A candidate for the B.A. degree need take only what is necessary to complete requirements for graduation in the last semester.

Maximum Units. To request permission to take more than 20.5 units, see your major advisor.

Senior Residence Requirement 

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your A.B. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 4 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, Education Abroad Program, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program units may not be applied to this requirement.

You may use Berkeley summer sessions to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence Requirement, provided that you successfully complete 4 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) or the UC Berkeley-Washington Program may meet a Modified Senior Residence Requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Environmental Design. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes here for four years. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you go abroad for a semester or year or want to take courses at another institution or through University Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to see an adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.