Navigating the Semester Conversion

Updated May 12, 2025
 
Cal Poly will be transitioning to the semester system starting in Fall 2026, which will introduce a 15-week instruction system, with an additional 1 week of finals. This change may bring up questions and concerns as students navigate towards graduation. The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences is preparing to help ease students into the transition and support students in achieving their graduation goals.

This website will serve as a resource for all students, staff, and faculty in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. You will find important updates regarding policy changes, advice in navigating your schedule composition based on term of enrollment, flowcharts, and advice regarding your major.

These updates will be communicated to current students via their Cal Poly email as they become available, so please stay tuned for those.
 

Latest Updates

Coming soon!

Scheduling information for the 2025-2026 Academic Year

Going into the 2025-2026 academic year, students will need to be familiar with what class they should complete before the transition, and what classes they should plan on holding off until the conversation starts. 
Please select whether you were admitted to Cal Poly as a first-time student (i.e., started Cal Poly as a freshman) or a transfer student, then select your major to see what recommendations your department has on course planning.
If you have questions on these, please contact your CAFES Academic Advisor, or email cafesadvising@calpoly.edu for further questions.

First-time freshman (started Cal Poly directly after high school)

Agricultural Business

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025      
started fall 2024      
started fall 2023      
started fall 2022      

Agricultural Communication

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

 

Follow Flowchart 

   
started fall 2024

 

Follow Flowchart 

   
started fall 2023

 

Follow Flowchart 

   
started fall 2022

 

Follow Flowchart 

   

Agricultural Science

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

 

Follow Flowchart 

   
started fall 2024

 

Follow Flowchart 

   
started fall 2023

 

Follow Flowchart 

   
started fall 2022

 

Follow Flowchart 

   

Agricultural Systems Management

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

 

BRAE 237/239 

   
started fall 2024

 

BRAE 237/239. BRAE 203 

   
started fall 2023 Bridge version of BRAE 418     
started fall 2022      

Animal Science

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

All GE Area A  

MATH 118 or MATH 161 

BIO 111 or BIO 161* 

Start production course electives 

Follow flow chart 

CHEM 127,128,129*   
started fall 2024

CHEM 127 (or 124), CHEM 128 (or 125),129* 

BIO 162* 

STAT 218 

ASCI 220, 229 

Production course electives 

Follow flow chart 

CHEM 216, 217*   
started fall 2023

CHEM 216 or CHEM 312; CHEM 217* 

Finish support courses 

ASCI UD major courses 

Follow flow chart 

Physics 121*,122*,125* unless can be completed before Fall 2026   
started fall 2022 Follow flow chart     

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

 

GE D1 

Physics 142 (take replacement in Fall, 2026)   
started fall 2024 CE 204  BRAE 234   
started fall 2023

 

CE 207, BRAE 239 

BRAE 428   
started fall 2022      

Dairy Science

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

 

Follow flow chart 

   
started fall 2024

 

Follow flow chart 

   
started fall 2023

 

Follow flow chart 

   
started fall 2022

 

Follow flow chart 

   

Environmental Earth and Soil Sciences

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

SS120

CHEM 127, 128

ERSC 223, GEOL 201 

(take GEOL 201 on semesters)

(take GEOL 201 out of block schedule

CHEM 129

For all students, you do NOT need to take CHEM 129. We will sub CHEM 129 with a 4-unit lower division approved elective. 
started fall 2024

ERSC 223 (W)

SS 221, support courses

GE area E

CHEM 129

For all students, you do NOT need to take CHEM 129. We will sub CHEM 129 with a 4-unit lower division approved elective. 
started fall 2023

1st priority - major classes

2nd priority - concentration core classes

GE area E

CHEM 129 For all students, you do NOT need to take CHEM 129. We will sub CHEM 129 with a 4-unit lower division approved elective. 
started fall 2022

1st priority - major classes: SS 423, SS 422 or ERSC 423, SS 424

2nd priority - concentration core classes

  NR 320 not offered winter term (for Hydrology concentration) - take NR 320 in fall so you can take NR 420 in spring. 

Environmental Management and Protection

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

NR 140 

NR 142 

SS 120 

   
started fall 2024

STATS  217 or STATS 218 

NR 218 

NR 208 or BIO 162 or BIO 222 or BIO 227 or CHEM 128 

BIO 114 or BOT 121 or GEOL 201 

   
started fall 2023

NR 306 or NR 305 or NR 304; 

NR324 or NR 323 or NR 328 or NR 335 or NR308 

NR 320 or NR 402 or ERSC 303 or NR 421 or SS 440 or SS 323 

NR 314 or NR 326 or NR 418 or NR 445 

BRAE 348 or BRAE 324 or NR 310 

NR 323 

Concentration courses  
started fall 2022

1st priority 

NR 465, NR 416, NR 425, NR 435, NR 404 

2nd priority 

Approved Elective 

Free Electives  

Food Science

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025 Follow Flow Chart     
started fall 2024 FSN 121, FSN 321, CHEM 127, CHEM 128, PHYS 121, MATH 161, MCRO 221, STAT 218  FSN 204, FSN 330   
started fall 2023 MCRO 221, CHEM 312/216, CHEM 314, FSN 330, FSN 335, FSN 321, FSN 343, FSN 370, FSN 344, FSN 364, FSN 375  FSN 368, MCRO 421, FSN 408, FSN 311, FSN 444, FSN 474, FSN 457, FSN 458, FSN 459, STAT 314,    
started fall 2022

Follow Flowchart  

*FSN 311 offered in fall, not winter 25/26 AY 

   

Forestry and Fire Science

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025 NR 141, NR 215, NR 218, Calculus, Bot/Bio, English comp, Chem, Oral comm, Arts & humanities GE     
started fall 2024 Stat 218, NR 208, Social Science GE, Ethnics Studies GE, Econ 2201, NR 307, Upper div GE, NR 215, BRAE 237  NR 260 (but can use as approved elective)  Some fire classes may not be offered – check back for more updates. 
started fall 2023 NR 305, NR 308, NR 320, NR 315   NR 260 (but can use as approved elective) NR 365   
started fall 2022 NR 365 (F,S), NR 402, NR 414 (W), NR 435, NR 465     

Nutrition

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025 Follow Flowchart     
started fall 2024 FSN 281, CHEM 314 
Applied Nutr: FSN 321 
FSN 332, FSN 333 if both cannot be completed by end of AY 2025-26   
started fall 2023 FSN 281, FSN 381, FSN 331, FSN 332, FSN 333, FSN 343, FSN 344  FSN 415, FSN 416, FSN 417 - if all 3 cannot be completed by end of AY 2025-26 
FSN 432, FSN 433 - if both cannot be completed by end of AY 2025-26 
 
started fall 2022 Follow Flowchart     

Plant Science

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

Major courses, especially LD; PLSC 132 and PLSC 133 (for Fruit/Crop Concentration); SS 120 and SS 221; CHEM 127 and CHEM 128; PLSC 150; PLSC 203; PLSC 312; PLSC 332; PLSC 341; PLSC 350; PLSC 360; PLSC 381; PLSC 437 

If you know you will not be able to take CHEM 128, hold off on the CHEM 127/128 series  PLSC 421; PLSC 126; PLSC 327; PLSC 342 
started fall 2024 Major courses, especially LD; PLSC 132 and PLSC 133 (for Fruit/Crop Concentration); SS 120 and SS 221; CHEM 127 and CHEM 128; PLSC 150; PLSC 203; PLSC 312; PLSC 332; PLSC341; PLSC 350; PLSC 360; PLSC 381; PLSC 437    PLSC 421; PLSC 126; PLSC 327; PLSC 342 
started fall 2023 Major courses, especially LD; PLSC 132 and PLSC 133 (for Fruit/Crop Concentration); SS 120 and SS 221; CHEM 127 and CHEM 128; PLSC 150; PLSC 203; PLSC 312; PLSC 332; PLSC341; PLSC 350; PLSC 360; PLSC 381; PLSC 437    PLSC 421; PLSC 126; PLSC 327; PLSC 342 
started fall 2022 Major courses, especially LD; PLSC 132 and PLSC 133 (for Fruit/Crop Concentration); SS 120 and SS 221; CHEM 127 and CHEM 128; PLSC 150; PLSC 203; PLSC 312; PLSC 332; PLSC341; PLSC 350; PLSC 360; PLSC 381; PLSC 437    PLSC 421; PLSC 126; PLSC 327; PLSC 342 

Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

 

Follow Flowchart 

   
started fall 2024

 

Follow Flowchart 

   
started fall 2023

 

Follow Flowchart 

   
started fall 2022

 

Follow Flowchart 

   

Wine and Viticulture

First year students are block scheduled into their classes the entire year. Ifyou receive a schedule with a class you should hold off on, consult an advisor on making appropriate changes.

STUDENTS prioritize hold off on classes not being offered and substitution
Started fall 2025

CHEM 127 

Enol& Vit: CHEM 128 

Enol & Vit: If you know you will not be able to take CHEM 128, hold off on the CHEM 127/128 series   
started fall 2024

CHEM 127 if needed 

Complete any full-year series you start (WVIT 331-332-333 or 404-405-406) 

WB: hold off on WVIT 344 and WVIT 433  WVIT 343 not offered in Fall; take in Summer 2025 or Winter or Spring 2026 
started fall 2023

Enol: CHEM 128, 129 

Vit: CHEM 128 

Complete any full-year series you start (WVIT 331-332-333 or 404-405-406) 

WB: WVIT 344 and 433 (the Sales courses) 

 

WVIT 343 not offered in Fall; take in Summer 2025 or Winter or Spring 2026 

Enol & Vit: WVIT 365 is offered only in Spring 

WB: WVIT 345 is offered only in Winter, and WVIT 447 is offered only in Spring 

started fall 2022 Requirements to graduate!  Any purely elective classes that interfere with meeting graduation requirements 

WVIT 343 not offered in Fall; take in Summer 2025 or Winter or Spring 2026 

Enol & Vit: WVIT 365 is offered only in Spring 

WB: WVIT 345 is offered only in Winter, and WVIT 447 is offered only in Spring 

WVIT 460 in Fall; take in Spring or see advisor 

Transfer students

Agricultural Business

Information coming soon...

Agricultural Communication

Information coming soon...

Agricultural Science

Information coming soon...

Agricultural Systems Management

Information coming soon...

Animal Science

Information coming soon...

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Information coming soon...

Dairy Science

Information coming soon...

Environmental Earth and Soil Sciences

Information coming soon...

Environmental Management and Protection

Information coming soon...

Food Science

Information coming soon...

Forestry and Fire Science

Information coming soon...

Nutrition

Information coming soon...

Plant Science

Information coming soon...

Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration

Information coming soon...

Wine and Viticulture

Information coming soon...

Semester Flowchart

To assist with course planning, each department is designing a flowchart to help students visualize the structure of course sequencing. Since students are coming into the semester from different starting points, you will see the following types:

  • 3 + 1 Flowchart: For students who started as first-time freshmen with 3 years on quarters, and 1 year on semesters.
  • 1 + 3 Flowchart: For students who started as first-time freshman with 1 year on quarters, and 3 years on semesters.
  • 1 + 1 Flowchart: For transfer students who are on 1 year on quarters, and 1 year on semesters.

Please click on the drop-down below and select your major to view the flowchart that best describes your quarter/semester situation.

Major Flowcharts

Agricultural Business

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Agricultural Communication

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Agricultural Science

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Agricultural Systems Management

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Animal Science

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Dairy Science

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Environmental Earth and Soil Sciences

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Environmental Management and Protection

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Food Science

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Forestry and Fire Science

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Nutrition

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Plant Science

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Wine and Viticulture

Flowcharts are currently in progress of being made. We will update students through email when they become available.

Courses offered in semesters

You will find that some courses in the catalog will directly translate to the semester system with minimal to no changes. Other classes may merge together, or be removed entirely.
To help students understand what to expect for each class, you will find the course mapping documents for each major, noting what each major class from the quarter catalog will become in the semester catalog.
If there is a class that is removed but necessary for your catalog year, you will want to work with your CAFES Academic Advisor to see what next steps you’ll need to take to still complete your degree.

Course Mappings by Major

Agricultural Business

Agricultural Communication

Agricultural Science

Agricultural Systems Management

Animal Science

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Dairy Science

Environmental Earth and Soil Sciences

Environmental Management and Protection

Food Science

Forestry and Fire Science

Nutrition

Plant Science

Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration

Wine and Viticulture

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