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Enrollment Preparation

Registration Guide Home › Enrollment Preparation

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Academic Advisement

Academic advisement is essential for a positive student experience at Cal State Northridge. Get advised regularly to increase your opportunity to succeed academically, progress steadily toward your degree objective, and graduate in good time.

You are strongly encouraged to plan your next semester’s class schedule with an academic advisor. Students in some majors are required to obtain advisement.

All first-time freshmen will have mandatory advisement starting with their initial enrollment at CSUN and continuing each semester until the completion of basic skills (see the current university catalog on Basic Skills Policy, Section A).

Apply for Graduation at 90 Units

Undergraduate students must apply for graduation when they have earned 90 units. All undergraduate students are required to make an academic plan and file for graduation before reaching 130 units, or they will not be able to enroll in classes for the following semester.

All coursework for majors and minors combined shall be completed within 140 units. For details and exceptions, see the Major and Minor Policy.

Students who have accumulated over 140 earned units may be graduated administratively if they have completed all degree requirements in any major, whether or not they have declared that major. For details, see the Administrative Graduation Policy.

Resources:

Academic Advisement

Graduation Evaluations

Degree Planning Guides

 

Department Exams

Find out if you need an additional department exam. The Math Placement Test (MPT) or the Chemistry Placement Test (CPT) is required to enroll in certain lower division Math or Chemistry courses. However, you cannot take MPT or CPT until you pass the Entry Level Math placement test or are exempt.

For more MPT and CPT information, see CSUN Testing Center website.

Developmental Courses (CSU Executive Order 665)

First-time freshmen are required to complete all developmental mathematics and writing courses within their first year of enrollment. Students who have not complied will not be eligible to register for classes in their second year.

If you do not complete your developmental courses in the first year, you will need to complete the required General Education courses at a community college before returning to CSUN. All community college courses must be ones identified by CSUN as transferable. To check whether or not a specific course is transferable from a community college to CSUN, go to www.assist.org.

General Education Basic Skills Policy

All Basic Skills courses must be completed by students within their first 60 units. All first-time freshmen will have mandatory advisement starting with their initial enrollment at the University and continuing each semester until the completion of Basic Skills. Students will enroll in the appropriate writing and mathematics courses as advised until they complete GE writing and math within the first four semesters or 60 units, whichever comes first.

Students will enroll either simultaneously or within two consecutive semesters in GE oral communication and GE writing.

Students will enroll in GE critical thinking after completing GE math (within their first 60 units). Refer to page 25 of the current university catalog for more information.

Basic Skills must be completed by all transfer students and all students seeking readmission after disqualification.

Mandatory Declaration of Major by 60 Units

Students are expected to declare their major by the conclusion of the semester in which they complete 45 units. Students must declare their major by the conclusion of the semester in which they complete 60 units. (Transfer students must declare a major in their transfer application.)

Students who have not declared their major and have completed 60 units will not be able to register until they obtain academic advisement at the Advising Resource Center/EOP.

Please note that there are new limits to the total number of units you can earn toward a double major, a major and a minor, or double minors. Learn more at Major and Minor Policy.

Where to Get Advisement

Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES)

The Disability Resources and Educational Services offers a variety of support services designed to empower students, foster independence and promote achievement of realistic educational and career goals. Students must provide disability documentation and complete an intake with the department. A service agreement will then be developed, delineating the accommodations the student is eligible to receive. The service agreement must be renewed each semester as student accommodations may change based on updated information and individual course requirements.

Disability Resources and Educational Services may include:

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at California State University, Northridge designs, administers, and supports programs that deliver access and retention services to CSUN students. EOP focuses on highly motivated low-income, first-generation college students, a population that not only reflects the diversity of CSUN’s feeder communities but also the diversity of the University itself.

EOP provides eligible students with a modest EOP grant. Also, students may participate in an EOP Transitional Program: Bridge Residential, Bridge Commuter, Transfer Bridge, or FreshStart. EOP’s Faculty Mentor Program provides mentoring services, training, and resources for faculty, staff, and students. Our EOP Resilient Scholars program empowers former foster youth through higher education and is committed to helping students exiting the foster care system succeed by providing access to key campus resources. Academic support services are provided to all students through the Student Services Centers and EOP Satellite Office located in each academic college and for undecided students in the Advising Resource Center/EOP.

EOP programs:

National Center on Deafness (NCOD)

Since 1962 the National Center on Deafness (NCOD) has pioneered in serving students who are deaf and hard of hearing at the university level. NCOD is internationally recognized for its programs and serves as a model for other institutes, providing innovative orientation programs, full communication access, and a comprehensive array of services. Each semester approximately 200 students who are deaf or hard of hearing have access to university classes, meetings and student sponsored co-curricular activities.

National Center on Deafness student services include:

Advisement Checklists

First-Time Freshman Checklist

If you are a first-time freshman, use the Freshman Checklist to prepare for academic advisement.

First-Time Transfer Student Checklist

If you are a first-time transfer student, use the Transfer Checklist to prepare for academic advisement.

CSUN Photo ID

All new CSUN students must purchase a CSUN Photo ID card. The card is required for:

  1. All transactions at the Student Services Center in Bayramian Hall (BH 100)—Admissions and Records, Financial Aid and Scholarships, and University Cash Services, including check pick-up

  2. Obtaining University Library campus services

  3. The Student Health Center

  4. The University Student Union

  5. Voting in Associated Student elections, obtaining tickets from the Associated Student Ticket Office at reduced rates, and attending CSUN athletic events and selected other campus programs at reduced rates or free of charge.

Purchase Your Photo ID Card

Online - Log into myNorthridge, locate the My Financial Obligations box, and click the Parking Permit & CSUN Photo ID link.

  1. Pay by credit card (a 2.9% service fee is charged) or electronic check (no fee).

  2. Print your receipt. Bring it and a required photo ID (valid driver’s license, other state-issued ID, or passport) to Admissions and Records in the Student Services Center, Bayramian Hall Lobby (BH 100).

  3. Have photo taken and receive your card.

In Person - Go to the Student Services Center, Bayramian Hall Lobby (BH 100) and:

  1. Bring required photo ID (valid driver’s license, other state-issued ID, or passport).

  2. Pay $5.00 fee to University Cash Services (cashier window) first.

  3. Then take your receipt and photo ID card to one of the Admissions and Records windows to have your picture taken.

Hours:

Monday and Thursday - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Tuesday and Wednesday - 10:00 am to 6:30 pm

Friday - 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

After Hours: A CSUN photo ID may be obtained at the Oviatt Library circulation desk.

During the First Week of Late Registration: The Photo ID Station remains open the same extended hours as the Student Services Center but closes 15 minutes before end of business.

Immunization Requirements: Measles and Hepatitis B

By direction of the Chancellor, immunization for or immunity to Measles/Rubella is required for all students born after January 1, 1957, while immunization for or immunity to Hepatitis B is required for all entering CSUN students age 18 or younger. The Hepatitis B vaccine is given in a series of three shots and takes six months to complete. Click to view detailed Immunization Requirements, consequences of non-compliance and other immunization considerations.