Students aiming to transfer to San Jose State in 2016 would receive higher admissions rankings if they have finished their preparatory courses for their major as opposed to being considered simply on good grades.
The goal, according to school administrators as reported by the Mercury News, is to open up seats in popular introductory courses, which are notoriously in short supply.
When transfer students take lower-level courses, the university says, it leaves less room for freshmen and sophomores who need those same classes -- and it takes everyone longer to graduate.
The policy change would not affect those who have applied to San Jose State for the coming fall.
The Mercury News reports that under the proposed policy, the following programs would consider a student's course work in determining their eligibility: biochemistry, biological sciences (all majors), chemistry, climate science, computer science, earth science, engineering (all majors), geology, kinesiology, mathematics (all majors), meteorology, philosophy, physics and pre-nursing.
Some programs would give preference to students who have earned an associate degree for transfer, a new kind of community college degree designed to simplify a student's transfer to the California State University system. The programs are art history, English (all), music, radio-film-TV, Spanish, studio practice (art), and theater arts.
Before submitting the proposal to the CSU chancellor for final approval, San Jose State is holding three public meetings in the next week about the admissions guidelines, as required by CSU.
