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Seventh College

Seventh College enriches students’ college experience by empowering them with the knowledge and skills needed to approach large-scale, global issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, and by creating a fun, supportive, and inclusive community where students feel welcome. Seventh College’s theme, “A Changing Planet,” encompasses a broad range of pressing global issues including the climate crisis, mass migration, and rapid cultural and technological change. The college’s general education curriculum provides students with the flexibility to explore their passions while preparing them for their future by building critical real-world skills in communication, research, teamwork, project design, and creative problem-solving.

General Education

Seventh College’s general-education curriculum consists of fourteen required courses.

Synthesis

Synthesis courses take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing the challenges posed by our changing planet. The required three-course sequence includes two courses of intensive instruction in university-level writing (SYN 1/1R and SYN 2/2R) and one project-based course (SYN 100). Synthesis offers optional courses for Seventh College students to satisfy the college’s high-impact requirements. These courses include a transfer student specific preparatory course for project-based learning (SYN 150/150R), an introduction to project-based learning management (SYN 195), a directed group study (SYN 198), and an independent study (SYN 199).

Alternatives

Students select two courses from each of five areas:

  • Arts
  • Humanities
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Social Sciences

Alternatives courses may overlap with major, minor, and university requirements. Approved Advanced Placement (AP) credit, International Baccalaureate (IB) credit, and transfer credit will be applied.

High-Impact

Students must complete one high-impact course (2–4 units) selected from a variety of options including internships, mentored research, study abroad, or other significant experiential learning. The high-impact course may overlap with major, minor, and university requirements.

Transfer Students

All transfer students must complete SYN 100 and the high-impact requirement. SYN 150 is also recommended for transfer students in preparation for SYN 100 and fulfills the high-impact requirement if taken for a letter grade. Depending on transfer credit, additional course work may be required. Refer to the Seventh College website for details and contact Seventh College Academic Advising with any questions or concerns.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Satisfaction of American History and Institutions; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR).
  2. Fulfillment of all general-education requirements.
  3. Completion of a departmental or program major.
  4. A minimum of 180 units.
  5. A minimum of sixty upper-division units.
  6. At least thirty-five of the final forty-five units completed at UC San Diego as an enrolled Seventh College student.
  7. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.

Pass/Not Pass Grading Option

With the exception of units earned in independent study courses (numbered 199), no more than 25 percent of an undergraduate student’s total UC San Diego units may be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis. SYN 1, 2, and 100 must be taken for a letter grade. Students are advised to check with their department or program before taking a major or minor course on a Pass/Not Pass basis.

Majors

Seventh College students may pursue any of the majors offered at UC San Diego. Refer to Courses/Curricula/Faculty for details on specific major requirements. With the approval of both departments or programs and the college provost, a student in good standing may declare a double major. Students are encouraged to consult regularly with college and major advisers to review their academic progress.

Individual Studies Major

The Individual Studies major allows students to pursue a coherent course of study that is not formally recognized as a major at UC San Diego but would otherwise meet all of the standards established by the college and by the Academic Senate. Interested students must submit a written proposal explaining the purpose of an Individual Studies major, including reasons why their educational goals cannot be accommodated within an existing major. The proposal must be approved by a faculty adviser and the Seventh College provost/executive committee. Refer to the Seventh College website for more information about the Individual Studies major.

Minors

Seventh College students may declare an optional minor. Minors require a minimum of twenty-eight units of course work, of which at least twenty units must be upper division. Students may apply the equivalent of two upper-division courses (a maximum of eight units) to fulfill the requirements for a minor that have also been used to satisfy the requirements of a major. A formal request for the minor must be approved by the department or program and college by the quarter before graduation.

Honors

Quarterly provost’s honors, honors at graduation, departmental honors, and Phi Beta Kappa are awarded to Seventh College students.

Seventh College Honors Program

The Seventh College Honors Program sponsors activities and events designed to introduce students to the innovative scholarship and art taking place at UC San Diego.

Enhancing Your Education

Seventh College encourages students to study abroad, engage in research, internships, and other UC San Diego sponsored educational enrichment programs.