Unit and Semester Limits

Semester Limit for CDSS Students

8 semesters for first-year students
5 semesters for transfer students

This limit also applies to students pursuing a double major/simultaneous degree.

Summer terms are not counted toward your allowed semesters.

Terms taken outside of the University of California (canceled/withdrawn terms) are not counted toward your allowed semesters.

Students admitted to UC Berkeley prior to Fall 2023 may be eligible to follow the L&S unit ceiling policy. To understand if this applies to you, contact CDSS advising.

Time to Graduation Policy

Changes to Expected Graduation Term

If you wish to extend your Expected Graduation Term (EGT)

Students will need to petition for an additional semester. These requests are not guaranteed and are more or less likely to be approved depending on the reason for your request. Requests to extend your EGT need to be made by the Friday of RRR week.

You will need to have explored all other possible options prior to submitting a request for an additional semester, including

Making adjustments to your program plan to allow completion within the allowed semesters.
Attend UC Berkeley Summer Session. Summer terms are not counted towards your allowed semesters.
Attend UC Berkeley Extension (make sure that residence requirements have been met).
Attend another institution (make sure that residence requirements have been met).

An additional semester is only considered if you have exhausted all other options from above. If you are eligible, submit the Request to change EGT online form with s signed program plan from all major advisors.

Below are some common reasons students request an additional semester:

You are approved for a reduced course load.
Extenuating circumstances have prevented you from completing your degree on time and all other options have been exhausted. (Please note that choosing to take required coursework late or prioritizing non-required coursework are not considered extenuating circumstances.)

Requests for the following reasons will not be considered:

The request is for more than one additional semester beyond your current EGT.
You are requesting to stay longer in order to improve your GPA.
You are requesting an additional semester in order to add or complete a minor or an additional major(s).
You are requesting an additional semester in order to take courses for career preparation that are not required for your academic degree (e.g., CPA exam prep).
You wish to take courses that are readily available elsewhere.
Your request is solely based on non-academic considerations (e.g., maintaining eligibility for health insurance, financial aid, campus housing, athlete eligibility).

If you wish to change your EGT to an earlier term:

Requests to change an EGT to an earlier term will only be considered for students one semester in advance of the semester they intend to graduate in.
If you have satisfied the above requirements, submit the Request to Change EGT online form. The deadline to request your EGT to be moved to an earlier term is the Friday 8th week of instruction for the term you are intending to graduate.

Minimum Units

To make timely progress toward graduation, all CDSS students must take a minimum of 12 units per semester. Students wishing to take less than 12 units for one or more semesters must be approved for a Reduced Course Load. Even if approved for a reduced course load, students are expected to graduate within the CDSS semester limit (8 semesters for students admitted as first-years, and 5 semesters for transfer students) and are not guaranteed approval to extend their graduation date.

Students planning to request a Reduced Course Load must plan with sufficient time and have approval from the appropriate offices to avoid any implications to your financial aid, visa status, or registration. Students meeting any of the following criteria may be eligible for a reduced course load:

Paid employment (15 hours or more per week): minimum of 6 units per semester
Eligible through Disabled Students Program (DSP): Unit minimum determined by DSP*
Parenthood/caregiver: minimum of 2 courses totalling 6 units per semester
Graduating Senior (in EGT semester only): Minimum of one course, or number of units needed to graduate**
Major Honors Program: Minimum of two courses totalling six units.
Approved late drop that puts a student below 12 units**

If you do not meet one of the above criteria, but feel that you have a medical, personal, or family circumstances that warrant consideration of an approved RCL, you may meet with a CDSS College Advisor to discuss your options and the best course of action.

To request a reduced course load, please complete the CDSS Reduced Course Load Request form by the 3rd Friday of the current semester to make sure your request can be processed by the add/drop deadline.

*Note: Students requesting a RCL through DSP should not fill out the CDSS Reduced Course Load Request form. Instead, all requests should be sent directly to the college from your DSP specialist.

**Note: Graduating seniors in their final term and approved late drops that put a student below 12 units will be automatically approved for a reduced course load and do not need to submit the CDSS Reduced Course Load Request form.

Maximum Units

Students may enroll in up to 20.5 units in a Fall or Spring semester. Students may request permission to enroll in more than 20.5 units (the unit maximum) during the second week of instruction. If approved, students still must add the course themselves before the add/drop deadline.

Understand that approval is not guaranteed. Your overall academic record will be reviewed, including your GPA, your history of passing courses you have enrolled in, your request compared to previous unit loads you have taken, and the course makeup of your proposed schedule compared to previous terms.

To request an increase in units in a given term, please complete the CDSS Maximum Unit Increase Request form. Note that this form will be opened after the start of the semester.