Concentrations (Undergraduate)

Click here to see the policy on Undergraduate Concentrations under the semester system, which will begin at Cal Poly with the 2026-27 academic year.

A concentration is intended to be a coherent and specialized course of study within a student's major degree program, which presupposes knowledge of the major discipline. The requirements for a concentration are stated in the catalog, and faculty have a commitment to deliver the approved curriculum as stated. Therefore, when advising individual students, faculty should attempt to follow the approved curriculum before considering substitutions.

Concentrations are noted on the student’s transcript but are not shown on the diploma. The following requirements for establishing or revising a concentration became effective with the 2013-15 catalog cycle.

• A concentration is a block of at least five designated courses from one or more lists of designated courses or course areas.
• No single course should appear in every concentration; such courses should be included in the major.
• The courses for a concentration shall appear in the major course column.

Providing accurate field-of-study information is essential when the CSU reports enrollment- and degree-related data to the US Department of Education. In order to ensure accurate reporting of enrollments and degrees granted, the major program core must have more required units than the number required in the concentration. Thus, concentrations need to constitute less than 50% of the major curriculum. Conversely, the core must constitute more than 50% of the major curriculum.

Sources:

Academic Senate Resolution: AS-745-12 "Resolution on Concentration Definition" (PDF). Adopted 6 March 2012. 

CSU Policy: EO 1071 "Delegation of Authority to Approve Options, Concentrations, Special Emphases (and Similar Subprograms) and Minors". Revised 14 December 2021; supercedes EO 602.

• Information on how concentrations relate to IPEDS reporting of degrees and subprograms can be found via Coded Memorandum ASA-2017-02 "Accurate National Enrollment and Degree Reporting." Revised 01 February 2022.

Last updated 7/7/2022