Semester conversion

Beginning Fall 2026, Cal Poly moves from quarters to semesters. Instead of three main terms (Fall/Winter/Spring), there will be two main terms (Fall/Spring), and each term is longer (about 15 weeks of instruction). Course units and course numbers will also change (many courses will be 3 or 4 units, and course numbers move to a 4-digit format). General Education will move to a new GE pattern in the 2026–28 catalog, and campus calendars will shift to an August-to-May academic year.

Cal Poly has a campuswide conversion plan, with faculty and staff reviewing and converting curriculum, policies, and student-facing systems so students can stay on track. The university also maintains a dedicated semester conversion website that centralizes student resources, tools, and FAQs. Colleges (including CLA) are building major-specific guidance and updates, plus advising support to help students make the right decisions for their catalog and course planning.

Key tools include:
- Semester Conversion website (student resources and FAQs)
- Semester Conversion Student Handbook (overview + advising guidance)
- Unit Converter (quarter ↔ semester conversion calculator and chart)
- The 2026–28 catalog and GE 2026 guidance
- Your CLA Major Guide (major-specific mappings, flowcharts, and planning notes)
- Your DPR (Degree Progress Report) for your official progress and remaining requirements

Full-time status remains 12 units. To stay on track for graduation, many students will aim for about 15 units per semester term (often around 5 classes), but the right number depends on your major and plan. You can convert units using: quarter units ÷ 1.5 = semester units.

You will start at Cal Poly on quarters in 2025–26, then transition to the semester calendar in Fall 2026 like everyone else. Your major will provide guidance on the recommended catalog path and how your first-year coursework maps into the semester plan. The main thing to do now is follow your major-specific guidance and use advising resources if you have questions about staying on track.

The university is updating curricula, requirements, and systems so students can complete their degrees without losing progress. Colleges are providing course mappings and planning tools to show how quarter courses and semester courses align. If you are in the middle of requirements during the change, advising and transition tools are designed to help you bridge what you have already completed to what you still need.

You still need to complete your degree requirements, but the way those requirements are met may look different after conversion (course numbers, units, and titles may change). Your DPR is the best place to confirm what you still need, and your major’s conversion guidance will show which semester courses fulfill remaining quarter requirements. If you are unsure about substitutions or sequencing, check your Major Guide and contact advising before making changes.

Check your DPR for the Free Electives requirement and your overall unit totals. Quarter units will convert to semester units, and most students will continue to see their remaining elective needs reflected in their DPR as systems update. If you are close to minimum units or unsure how a course will apply after conversion, contact advising for confirmation.

Departments are redesigning sequences for the semester calendar, and completed quarter courses will map into the new sequence where appropriate. If you are partway through a sequence near the time of conversion, there may be specific transition guidance (for example, approved equivalents or bridge options) so you can continue without repeating content. Use your major-specific guidance first, and contact advising if you are mid-sequence and planning future terms.