Course Units are the credit you earn for a particular course. They are sometimes called "credit hours" or "credits".
Semester and Quarters
Colleges and Universities operate on either a Quarter system or a Semester system. San Diego Mesa College operates on a Semester system.
Minimum Units
For transfer to CSUs and UCs, a minimum of 60 Transferable Units is required for admission. Some CSUs do accept less units. Please check with a counselor for these exceptions.
For transfer to private institutions the number of Transferable Units required for admission may be found on the university's website.
Maximum Units
Universities may have a maximum limit on the number of Transferable Units. CSUs and UCs have a maximum of 70 semester or 90 quarter Transferable Units towards a bachelors degree. Other institutions may have unit limitation. Check with your target institution for limitations. Any course work completed above the unit maximum will still count towards meeting degree requirements.
Repeated Courses
Course repetition policies vary at each institution. Check with your target institution for their policy and work with a Mesa counselor to determine how these policies apply to academic record and admission.
Accreditation
Any course taken at a regionally accredited institution, regardless of when it was taken, counts towards your overall number of units. Regional Accreditation Agencies:
- Northwest Association of Schools
- Southern Association of Colleges & Schools/Commission on Colleges
- Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools
- Western Association of Schools & Colleges
- Northern Central Association of Collegs & Schools
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc./Commission Institute of Higher Education
For more information on accreditation and to search for a college's or universitie's accreditation, visit the US Department of Education.