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1. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours. Music ensemble courses can be counted up to 7 of the 120 units. However any Music Ensemble courses taken beyond 7 units cannot be counted towards the 120 units.
2. Students must fulfill the General Education requirements as follows. See the General Education Curriculum for more information on its supporting programs and courses:
   1. Core: Students must complete the following two courses: The Enduring Questions of Humanity, and The Enduring Questions in Contemporary Contexts.
   2. Communication and Inquiry: Students must complete two courses in Communication Skills and one course in Modes of Inquiry.
   3. Creative Arts and Creativity Forum: Students must complete one course in creative arts and a 1-unit Creativity Forum course.
   4. Science and Mathematics: Students must complete one course in each area: Mathematics, Biological Sciences, and Physical Sciences.
   5. Area and Comparative Studies: Students must complete the following two courses: Introduction to the Pacific Basin and The American Experience.
   6. Language and Culture: All students must show proficiency in a foreign language by completing a series of four courses.
   7. Study Abroad: All students must spend one half of their junior year engaged in a study abroad program.
   8. Learning Clusters: Students must take at least two courses in the Learning Clusters format.
   9. Wellness: Students must take Health and Wellness.
3. Students majoring in Liberal Arts must declare one of the five concentrations listed below at the end of their sophomore year and meet the requirements as listed:
   Environmental Studies
   Humanities
   International Studies
   Life Sciences
   Social and Behavioral Sciences
   1. Core Requirements of the chosen Concentration: Students must take five courses, apart from any independent or special study course. At least three of these five courses must be taken at the upper division (300-499) level.
   2. Concentration Elective Requirements: Students must complete a total of at least four elective courses in the above concentrations. Of these four, at least one course must be chosen from each of two of the concentrations not selected as the declared concentration, not including independent study or special study courses.
   3. Capstone Requirement: Students must complete Capstone 390 followed by two capstone courses as part of their concentration, one in the final block and one in the final semester of the senior year.
4. The remaining number of units needed to meet the graduation requirement can be satisfied by any ��������- wide courses taken as electives.
5. Academic residency requirements: All students who are candidates for the bachelor’s degree must successfully complete at least fifteen courses at SUA during the last two years before they are eligible to graduate. This includes the study abroad program.
6. A minimum 2.0 grade point average for all courses taken at SUA is required. In addition, a minimum 2.0 grade point average in major courses is required.
7. Students must file an application for graduation in the Office of the Registrar at the end of the first session of their Senior year.
8. Students must ensure that all financial obligations to the university have been met.

Meeting and engaging in dialogue regularly with the academic advisor is an integral part of the Soka experience. New students will be assigned a preliminary academic advisor. When a student declares a concentration, he or she should choose an academic advisor in an appropriate academic area. Students may change advisors at any time. The academic year calendar will provide specific dates for academic advising during which the student should consult with his or her advisor prior to registration for the subsequent session. All students are required to meet with their advisors prior to enrollment in classes. In addition, juniors are required to have declared a concentration. Failure to meet these requirements will result in an “advisor hold” on the student’s academic record preventing them from registering for classes.

All students must declare an area of concentration, with the approval of an academic advisor, by the end of their second year.

Students who wish to complete a Double Concentration must satisfy the conditions and requirements listed below in place of the Concentration requirements detailed in part (3) under “ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE.”

Declaration of a Double Concentration cannot be submitted until after the successful completion of at least two academic years of instruction (4 academic sessions), with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.8. Double Concentration must be declared no later than the beginning of the student’s last session of attendance.

In order to have the transcript and diploma reflect the Double Concentration, all requirements must be completed in four years (8 academic sessions).

A student who fails to complete the requirement for a double concentration reverts to a single concentration.

For a double concentration in declared concentrations A and B, a student will need to complete a minimum of 48 units with the following distribution (where C and D designate two undeclared concentrations):

1. Capstone project in one of the declared concentrations (6 Units)
2. Five courses in concentration A (15 Units)
   1. 3 must be upper division (300/400 level)
3. Five courses in concentration B (15 Units)
   1. 3 must be upper division ( 300/400 level)
4. One course in concentration C (3 Units)
5. One course in concentration D (3 Units)
6. Two concentration electives in any concentration(s) (6 Units)

***Beginning in academic year 2026-2027, the credit value and grading basis for Capstone courses will change.  Until and including academic year 2025/2026, Capstone will remain 9 units.

The instructor may not administer the final exam early or shorten the block or semester in any way. Any student who wishes to change the examination time or who fails to appear for the final exam at the scheduled time must petition for approval by the Dean of Faculty, such petition elaborating the extenuating circumstances prior to scheduling an alternate exam time.

All students must complete four semesters of foreign language courses in the Language and Culture Program (LCP), and go on a semester of study abroad, in order to graduate. For purposes of this policy, English is not considered a foreign language at SUA.

A student may choose any language offered that does not fall into one or more of the following categories:

1. A language that is native to the student, defined as the language of his or her country of origin.
2. A language in which the student has completed high school level coursework in a country where said language is spoken.

These same restrictions apply to students’ choice of study abroad destination.

Placement testing: Students entering SUA wishing to begin language study with a language that they have had any exposure to are required to take a language placement exam, and will enroll in the appropriate level of their chosen foreign language based on the results of this test, an interview with an instructor of the language, and consultation with the LCP Director. Students who place in the 400-level must choose a different foreign language to fulfill SUA’s foreign language requirement. Students deemed “heritage learners,” but who do not meet either of the two criteria above, may choose to pursue more advanced study in their heritage language to fulfill the foreign language requirement.

In those individual cases where this policy does not account for a student’s linguistic or cultural situation, the LCP may review his or her language choice.

Students are free to study more than one language at SUA as long as they complete the 202-level or above in the target language of their study abroad destination, before they begin another language. In addition, students may enroll in upper- division LCP courses taught in any language in which they have demonstrated proficiency.

Foreign language courses that are required for eligibility in the study abroad program may not be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis. Foreign language courses that are not required for study abroad (LCP courses taken as electives, as a concentration requirement, or after returning from study abroad) may be taken on a P/NP basis.

Students will spend either the fall semester or the spring semester of their junior year completing a study abroad experience. This experience is directly linked to the language the student has chosen to fulfill the foreign language requirement. Students on academic probation must clear probation before going on study abroad.

A student is considered to be in good standing if they have a cumulative 2.0 (C average) grade point average, and at least a 2.0 GPA for the most recently completed session.

A student who, at the end of any Fall or Spring session, fails to maintain Good Standing (see above) is considered to have Probationary Standing. A student on probation is not allowed to take more than 4 courses in a semester and may be ineligible for certain extracurricular activities and programs.  Academic Coaching through the Student Affairs office is required until a student is no longer on probation.

Academic dismissal means termination of a student’s relationship with the university for unsatisfactory academic performance. The Academic Standards Committee will notify the student in writing.

While a student is on probation, that student is subject to dismissal:

1. if he or she fails to achieve a session GPA of at least 2.0 while remaining enrolled in at least 12 units throughout the session, or
2. if he or she fails to achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 by the end of the second session after being placed on probation. 

A dismissed student may, within two weeks of notification of dismissal, file a petition with the Academic Standards Committee for a hearing to reverse dismissal and extend probationary status. A dismissed student may not register in courses and is denied all privileges of student status.

A dismissed student who wishes to return to the university must file an application for readmission with the Office of the Registrar. In addition, an application for readmission must give appropriate reasons for reapplication consideration. A dismissed student who has been readmitted is on probation and has to meet specific conditions set by the Academic Standards Committee at the time of readmission.  A readmitted student who fails to meet these conditions will be immediately dismissed and may not reapply.

Registration is the procedure whereby a student enrolls for specific classes. Tuition payments or arrangements are required prior to registration. Students must complete both processes to be officially enrolled in classes.

New students register for courses during the fall block after having had an introduction to SUA’s ��������, degree requirements, and registration procedures. Currently enrolled students register for fall classes in April and for spring classes in November.

Students should consult the Catalog as they begin to plan their schedule. During the week before registration, students must consult with their advisor, complete their registration form, and secure their advisor’s signature before their enrollment appointment times arrive.

The schedule of classes is made available to all students and describes course offerings for every session. In addition, the Office of the Registrar publishes registration policies and procedures and a calendar of important dates.

Students should plan two or three alternate courses in case their first choice of courses is not available. Size limits are imposed on classes; therefore, classes will be closed to further enrollment immediately upon reaching the specified maximum.

Late registration begins after the registration period for each session. A late fee of $60 will be charged. Registration after the first week of instruction is not allowed.

Students are allowed to change their schedule in accordance with the established deadlines for the add/drop period for each block or semester. During a block, the deadline of add/drop period is at the end of the second day of class. During a semester, the deadline of add/drop is at the end of the first week of classes.

During a block, a student can drop a course with no record of enrollment by the end of the second day of classes. During a semester, a student can drop a course without a record of enrollment by the end of the first week of classes. Non-attendance does not constitute a drop from the course. If a student does not formally drop a course by the required deadline, the student will be responsible for the course, financially and academically.

For courses where a grade of D or F is received, the student may repeat the course; however, credit will be given only once (except for courses designated as “may be repeated for credit”). The grade assigned for each enrollment shall be permanently recorded on the student’s transcript. A course originally taken for a letter grade may not be repeated on a Pass/No Pass basis. In computing the GPA, the highest earned grade will be used.

Language courses at the 100/200-level completed with a grade of D or above may not be repeated after the student has completed the higher level courses in the same language.

The normal course load in a session for a first-year student is 5 courses. For all continuing students, the normal course load for the fall session is 4 courses, and spring session is 5 courses. A full-time student must carry at least 12 units in the session. (A session consists of a block and a semester.) Course withdrawals resulting in a load of 11 units or less in a session require a petition to be reclassified as a part-time student (see above). In the case where a petition is not filed or not approved, the student must either withdraw from the university or take a long-term leave of absence. Students ordinarily register for no more than 4 units in a block and 17 units per semester. Students whose cumulative grade point average is at least a B (3.00) or better at the end of the preceding session may petition their advisor for overload units in a semester. Overload units above 17 may be added only during the established deadlines for add/drop period.

Class level is defined in terms of completed credit hours as follows:

0-29.99 = First Year

30-59.99 = Second Year

60-89.99 = Third Year

> 90 = Fourth Year

Part-time status (11 units or less in a session) is granted only by permission through both the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of the Dean of Faculty.

Where withdrawal from a course will jeopardize a student’s full-time status at the University, an undergraduate student may, under special circumstances, petition for part-time status, first by obtaining permission from his or her academic advisor and then by gaining approval of the Dean of Faculty and Dean of Students. Because transitioning from full-time status (12 units or more) to part-time status could impact a student’s financial aid, students are held responsible for notifying their parents or legal guardian of any changes in their status at the University and of any potential balance due.

This policy does not apply to international students who in order to maintain their visa status must be enrolled with a full time course load (12 units or more).

Student communication and interaction in the classroom are highly valued at SUA. A situation may arise, however, in which a student explores subject matter that is not included in the university ��������, or in which the university’s schedule has not permitted a student to take a needed class. In such cases, a student may request and register for an independent study or a special study course. An independent study course should be requested when a student wishes to study topic not currently offered by the university.

A special study course allows a student with suitable background to satisfy a graduation requirement by taking a course offered by the university, but is not offered in the current schedule of courses. In either case, the student must arrange to take this course with a full-time faculty member who will assist the student in developing an appropriate plan of study.

The following regulations govern independent study and special study courses:

1. Students of at least sophomore standing whose cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or better may petition for independent study or special study courses. In addition, permission for special study must be obtained from the appropriate academic programs or areas.
2. No more than four independent study courses can be used to satisfy graduation requirements.
3. No more than one independent study or special study course per session may be taken.
4. Independent or special study courses are restricted in satisfying concentration requirements (see elective requirements of the chosen concentration).

To register for an independent study or special study course, students must submit an approved independent study/special study form to the Office of the Registrar by the add/drop deadline.

At �������� of America (SUA), the “credit hour” is defined as “the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:

1. One contact hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two contact hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.”

SUA offers credit courses in 14-week semesters (fall and spring) and in 15-day fall blocks and 17-day winter blocks. Three-credit lecture courses require a minimum of 45 total contact hours of scheduled face-to-face instruction (or 37.5 total clock hours) whereas four-credit lecture courses require a minimum of 60 total contact hours of scheduled face-to-face instruction (or 50 total clock hours). For every hour of classroom instruction each week, there is a minimum of two hours of student work outside of class.

SUA will review periodically the application of its policy on credit hour across the degree programs to assure that credit hour assignments are accurate, reliable, appropriate to degree level, and that they conform to commonly accepted practices in higher education through new course development, course review and revision, and program review.

A contact hour is 50 minutes and a clock hour is 60 minutes.

Levels of courses at �������� of America are designated as follows:

100: Basic or introductory courses.

200: Intermediate level courses.

300, 400: Advanced courses.

Juniors and seniors who, in order to graduate, are for substantial reasons unable to take needed courses at SUA, may petition the Dean of Faculty for permission to take such courses elsewhere, to be transferred in. The Dean of Faculty will make his/her decision in consultation with the program/area director/coordinator, and the Registrar, and may impose conditions, including but not limited to when and where the course is to be taken. The Academic Standards Committee will handle appeals of the Dean’s decision.

These transferred courses will not compute into the GPA, but will appear on the student’s transcript. This policy may be applied toward no more than 2 courses and no more than 8 units per student. Although a higher requirement may be set as a condition by the program/area, no courses will be accepted as meeting SUA graduation requirements, nor will they have credit transferred, if the grade received is less than C-.

SUA will only accept applications for entrance as a first year student. SUA does not have a separate transfer admission process. If you are currently a college student, you may apply, but you will not be eligible to transfer college credits. Applicants with college experience are required to submit college transcripts to be used as a part of the assessment process should they choose to apply for admission to SUA.

�������� of America participates in the Advanced Placement (AP) program offered by the College Board to provide greater quality and opportunity for high school students to proceed with their education. Students must submit to the Office of the Registrar official transcripts or reports from the College Board no later than the end of the Sophomore year at SUA for scores to be considered. AP credits are not awarded; however, academic programs and areas may grant placement based on AP results. An on-going policy review takes place annually; therefore, placement based on AP tests and scores is subject to change without notice. Similarly, academic programs and areas may grant placement for college courses taken elsewhere.

Once grades have been submitted to the Office of the Registrar, they become final and may be changed only in case of error. An instructor desiring a change of grade must present a written request to the Dean of Faculty. The change will become effective only if the change of grade form has been approved by the Dean of Faculty and filed with the Office of the Registrar by the end of the following session.

Students wishing to appeal a specific grade assigned by the instructor may do so under SUA’s Grade Grievance Policy. No grade changes are permitted after a degree is awarded.

Students should contact faculty members when there are questions concerning the final course evaluations. The student and the instructor who gave the final course evaluation should resolve disputes, and a satisfactory resolution should be reached through meaningful and respectful dialogue. However, in cases in which satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, a formal appeal can be filed through the Academic Standards Committee. The student must submit the appeal by the end of the following session.

Grades are reported to students in the following terms:

A: Excellent

B: Good

C: Satisfactory

D: Poor

F: Failure

The grades of A, B, and C may be modified by (+) or (-). In addition, the following notations are used:

P: Pass (see pass/no pass grade on page 136). The units will be counted toward the total units required for graduation, but not in computing the grade point average.

NP: No-pass (see pass/no pass grade on page 140). The units will affect the grade point average.

I: “Incomplete” is a notation of incomplete work, which has been postponed for serious reason after consultation with the instructor.

W: “Withdrawal” is a notation used when a student drops a course before the withdrawal deadline. The “W” grade will not calculate in the GPA.

In addition to letter grades, students may request and receive narrative evaluations.

Grade points for each course are assigned by multiplying the point value below for the grade earned by the number of units the course carried.

A+/A 4.0 Points

A- 3.7 Points

B+ 3.3 Points

B 3.0 Points

B- 2.7 Points

C+ 2.3 Points

C 2.0 Points

C- 1.7 Points

D 1.0 Points

F, NP 0.0 Points

P, I, and W are not calculated in the GPA.

Grades are averaged on the basis of their unit value to determine a grade point average. Grades of “F” are considered in determining the grade point average. The session grade point average is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned in a session by the total number of units attempted in letter graded courses for that session. The cumulative grade point average is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of units attempted in letter graded courses. Courses in which NP has been earned also count toward the total number of units attempted.

Students who have fully participated in a course during a particular block or semester and whose current work is of non-failing quality, may petition their instructor to assign an incomplete grade if because of circumstances beyond their control they cannot complete required course work.

To request an Incomplete the student must submit an “Incomplete Grade Request” form found on the Registrar’s Portal site. The form must include a letter of explanation, a plan for completing the course requirements, and documentation of the extenuating circumstances.  The form requires the approval of the instructor, who assigns the default grade entered on the student record if the student does not complete the coursework by the deadline. The incomplete form must also be approved by the Dean of Faculty. An incomplete grade not removed by the deadline will result in the assignment of the default grade as submitted by the instructor. The maximum time allowed for an incomplete to be resolved is the beginning of the corresponding session of the following academic year. (Students who received an “I” in Fall session must complete their work before the beginning of the Fall Block of the following academic year; student who received an “I” in the Spring session must complete their work before the beginning of the Winter Block of the following academic year.)

A student may petition the Dean of Faculty for an extension of the Incomplete beyond the deadline originally specified if, because of circumstances beyond their control, they cannot complete the required course work. To be eligible for an extension, the student must:

1. remain in good academic standing even if grade defaults
2. have no other outstanding incompletes
3. submit the petition before the expiration of the Incomplete

A maximum of one additional semester extension may be requested, but the Incomplete cannot be extended beyond the maximum permitted for Incomplete requests.

Students must understand that the reversion to a default grade if the work is not completed, may retroactively impact their GPA and academic standing.

Instructors are required to provide low grade notices to all students whose cumulative work in a course is at level of C- or below at the midpoint of the block or the semester. Failure to receive a low grade notice does not preclude the possibility that the student may fail the course.

Copies of low grade notices are sent to the student’s academic advisor, Dean of Faculty and Dean of Students. Students are encouraged to discuss their academic performance with their advisors and instructors.

Students may elect to take up to 4 courses on a Pass/No Pass grading basis. Students may receive Pass/No Pass grades in courses designated by the University or a specific faculty member. In no case may the total number of regular academic courses in which a student receives a Pass/No Pass exceed four. Grades are then reported in terms of a P (Pass) or NP (No Pass). A student’s work of C- or better is required for a passing grade. Course credit is awarded for a “Pass” and the student’s grade point average is not affected. “No Pass” (NP), however, affects the grade point average.

The following general regulations apply:

1. The Pass/No Pass option applies to at most four courses.
2. Music Ensemble courses will not count toward the four-course limit.
3. Capstone 390 will not count toward the four-course limit.
4. The Pass/No Pass option must be exercised by the last day to Add/Drop, (see Academic Calendar).
5. Once chosen, the Pass/No Pass option is not reversible after the add/drop period.
6. A grade of “NP” is equivalent to an “F” in GPA calculations and in awarding of units.

Official transcripts of courses taken at SUA are issued only with the written permission of the student. Requests for transcripts to show end of current session’s work are held until all grades are recorded.

Students should make their requests through the Office of Student Accounts or order online through National Student Clearinghouse by going to . Regular service requests are generally processed within 3-5 working days after receipt of request. The fee for regular service is specified on the Official Transcript Request form. Rush service is available for an additional fee of $10. These will be processed within 1-2 working days after receipt of request. There is no additional fee for mailing your transcripts via US first class mail. You may have your transcript sent via express delivery to any valid domestic address or international address for an additional cost as specified on the Official Transcript Request form. Express delivery rates may change in accordance to current express delivery costs.

Transcripts from other institutions that have been presented for admission become part of the student’s permanent academic file and are not returned or copied for distribution. Students desiring transcripts covering work attempted elsewhere should request them from the appropriate institutions.

Between the 2nd and the 8th week of a semester, a student may, with the permission of his/her advisor, withdraw from a course. A record of enrollment signified by a grade of “W” (withdraw) is recorded on that student’s official transcript. Withdrawal after the 8th week of a semester is not permitted unless there are serious and extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Poor academic performance or lack of attendance are not considered compelling reasons for withdrawal. In most cases, catastrophic withdrawals involve withdrawal from all classes for the term and are not intended to be made more than once during your SUA undergraduate career. A catastrophic withdrawal will require credible documentation, the approval of the student’s Advisor and the Academic Standards Committee, and the Dean of Faculty. A student may petition for a catastrophic withdrawal using the appropriate Registrar’s form found on the SUA Portal (portal.soka.edu). Withdrawal is not permitted in the last week of a class.

Course withdrawals resulting in a load of 11 units or less in a session require a petition to be reclassified as a part-time student. Course withdrawals during a Block may have a further financial impact if the student then withdraws from the subsequent semester.

Non-attendance does not constitute a withdrawal from a course. Students who do not formally withdraw from a course by the required deadline will be responsible for the course, both financially and academically.

Dean’s List honors are awarded to students achieving high scholarship and a notation is placed on their official transcripts at the end of each session. To be eligible for the Dean’s List in a session a student:

1. Must achieve a 3.7 or higher grade point average for that session.
2. Must have completed 12 letter graded units or more.
3. Must have no I, NP, or F grades.
4. Must have had no academic disciplinary action taken against him or her.

A student with outstanding academic achievement throughout his or her university career may be graduated with university honors. To be eligible for honors, the student must have an outstanding cumulative GPA for all work leading to graduation. Categories of honors are: cum laude (3.5 GPA); magna cum laude (3.7 GPA) and summa cum laude (3.9 GPA).

The Ikeda Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship program at �������� of America, Aliso Viejo. This scholarship provides students with all expenses paid, including tuition, room and board, books, and incidental expenses for the academic year. It is based on merit alone, primarily academic accomplishment with experiences in leadership and service also taken into account.

Ikeda Scholarships are awarded annually in September to a student in the Sophomore class, the Junior class and the Senior class for a total of three scholarships per year.

A committee consisting of SUA’s Dean of Faculty and Dean of Students acts as the selection committee, making final recommendations to the University President who announces the recipients in the Fall of each academic year.