ADMISSION AND APPLICATION
Requirements for admission to
CSU San Marcos are in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 1, Subchapter 3, of the
California Code of Regulations. Prospective applicants who are unsure of their
status under these requirements are encouraged to consult a high school or
community college counselor, or the Office of Admissions. Applications may be
obtained at any California high school or community college, or from the
Admissions Office at any of the campuses of the California State University.
Electronic versions of the
CSU undergraduate and graduate applications are accessible on the Web at http://www.csumentor.edu/. The CSUMentor system allows students to browse through general
information about CSU’s twenty-three campuses, view multimedia campus
presentations, send and receive electronic responses to specific questions, and
apply for admission and financial aid.
Importance of Filing Complete,
Accurate, and Authentic Application Documents
The CSU advises prospective
students that they must supply complete and accurate information on the
application for admission, residence questionnaire, and financial aid forms.
Further, applicants must submit authentic and official transcripts of all
previous academic work attempted. Failure to file complete, accurate, and authentic
application documents may result in denial of admission, cancellation of
academic credit, suspension, or expulsion (Section 41301, Article 1.1, Title 5,
California Code of Regulations).
Admissions
The Office of Admissions
offers a full array of services from the time of first contact until students
register for their first semester.
All pre-enrollment services
are housed in the Office of Admissions. Admissions is responsible for
processing admission applications and for the evaluation of high school or
transfer credits, but also offers a wide variety of services to prospective
students who have not yet applied. Outreach services to area high schools,
community college transfer services, pre-admission advising, and campus tours
are all available to students seeking information about the University.
Questions about majors offered, support services available, or the future
development of the campus can also be addressed. In addition to the
professional staff, Peer Resources in Discussing Education (PRIDE) Ambassadors
are a group of continuing CSUSM students who are available, by appointment, for
these services.
Registration and Records
The Office of Registration
and Records is responsible for registration, grade reporting, maintenance of
the official academic record, evaluation of transfer credits, transcripts,
class rosters, enrollment verification, transcript evaluation, and graduation
processing. The official name, address, and major changes for a student must be
requested in the Office of Registration and Records. All official academic
records for students are maintained in Registration and Records, including
academic transcripts, academic status, degree information, grade changes, and
petitions for exceptions to academic regulations.
Undergraduate Admission
Requirements
Freshman Admission
Requirements
Students will qualify for
regular admission as first-time freshmen if they:
1. are high school graduates,
2. have a qualifiable
eligibility index (see Eligibility Index), and
3. have completed, with
grades of C or better, each of the courses in the comprehensive pattern of
college preparatory subject requirements (see “Subject Requirements”).
ELIGIBILITY INDEX
The eligibility index is the
combination of the student’s high school grade point average and his/her score
on either the ACT or the SAT. The student’s grade point average is based on
grades earned during the student’s final three years of high school (excluding
physical education and military science) and bonus points for approved honors
courses.
Up to eight semesters of
honor courses taken in the last two years of high school can be accepted. Each
unit of A in an honors course will receive a total of 5 points; B, 4 points;
and C, 3 points.
Students can calculate the
index by multiplying their grade point average by 800 and adding their total
score on the SAT I. Or, if students took the ACT, multiply their grade point
average by 200 and add ten times the ACT composite score. California high
school graduates (or legal residents of California for tuition purposes) need a
minimum index of 2900 using the SAT I or 694 using the ACT. The Eligibility
Index Table illustrates several combinations of required test scores and
averages.
Students who neither
graduated from a California high school nor are residents of California for
tuition purposes, need a minimum index of 3502 (SAT I) or 842 (ACT).
Students with grade point
averages of 3.00 or above (3.61 for nonresidents) are exempt from submitting
test scores. However, students are urged to take the SAT I or ACT since
campuses use test results for advising and placement purposes.
Students will qualify for
regular admission when the University verifies that students have a qualifiable
eligibility index and will have completed the comprehensive pattern of college
preparatory subjects and, if applying to an impacted program, meet
supplementary criteria.
Eligibility Index Table for
California High School Graduates or Residents of California
GPA ACT SAT GPA ACT SAT
Score Score Score Score
2.99 10 510 2.48 20 920
2.98 10 520 2.47 20 930
2.97 10 530 2.46 21 940
2.96 11 540 2.45 21 940
2.95 11 540 2.44 21 950
2.94 11 550 2.43 21 960
2.93 11 560 2.42 21 970
2.92 11 570 2.41 22 980
2.91 12 580 2.40 22 980
2.90 12 580 2.39 22 990
2.89 12 590 2.38 22 1000
2.88 12 600 2.37 22 1010
2.87 12 610 2.36 23 1020
2.86 13 620 2.35 23 1020
2.85 13 620 2.34 23 1030
2.84 13 630 2.33 23 1040
2.83 13 640 2.32 23 1050
2.82 13 650 2.31 24 1060
2.81 14 660 2.30 24 1060
2.80 14 660 2.29 24 1070
2.79 14 670 2.28 24 1080
2.78 14 680 2.27 24 1090
2.77 14 690 2.26 25 1100
2.76 15 700 2.25 25 1100
2.75 15 700 2.24 25 1110
2.74 15 710 2.23 25 1120
2.73 15 720 2.22 25 1130
2.72 15 730 2.21 26 1140
2.71 16 740 2.20 26 1140
2.70 16 740 2.19 26 1150
2.69 16 750 2.18 26 1160
2.68 16 760 2.17 26 1170
2.67 16 770 2.16 27 1180
2.66 17 780 2.15 27 1180
2.65 17 780 2.14 27 1190
2.64 17 790 2.13 27 1200
2.63 17 800 2.12 27 1210
2.62 17 810 2.11 28 1220
2.61 18 820 2.10 28 1220
2.60 18 820 2.09 28 1230
2.59 18 830 2.08 28 1240
2.58 18 840 2.07 28 1250
2.57 18 850 2.06 29 1260
2.56 19 860 2.05 29 1260
2.55 19 860 2.04 29 1270
2.54 19 870 2.03 29 1280
2.53 19 880 2.02 29 1290
2.52 19 890 2.01 30 1300
2.51 20 900 2.00 30 1300
2.50 20 900
2.49 20 910
3.00 and above
qualifieswith any score. Below 2.00 does
not qualify for regular admission
Graduates of secondary schools
in foreign countries must be judged to have academic preparation and abilities
equivalent to applicants eligible under this section.
Provisional
Admission
CSU San Marcos may
provisionally admit first-time freshman applicants based on their academic
preparation through the junior year of high school and planned for the senior
year. The campus will monitor the senior year of study to ensure that those so
admitted complete their senior year of studies satisfactorily, including the
required college preparatory subjects, and graduate from high school.
Subject Requirements
The California State
University requires that first-time freshman applicants complete, with grades
of C or better, a comprehensive pattern of college preparatory study totaling
15 units. A “unit” is one year of study in high school. Within the 15 units completed,
up to one unit (one year) in visual and performing arts or foreign language may
be missing and offset by a college preparatory course(s) in other areas. The
missing unit of visual and performing arts or foreign language must be
completed either prior to, or by the end of the first year, of CSU enrollment.
This provision is effective through the 2002-2003 academic year.
·
English, 4 years.
·
Mathematics, 3 years:
algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra.
·
U.S. history or U.S. history
and government, 1 year.
·
Science, 1 year with
laboratory: biology, chemistry, physics, or other acceptable laboratory
science.
·
Foreign language, 2 years in
the same language (subject to waiver for applicants demonstrating equivalent
competence).
·
Visual and performing arts, 1
year: art, dance, drama/ theater, or music.
·
Electives, 3 years: selected
from English, advanced mathematics, social science, history, laboratory
science, foreign language, and visual and performing arts.
Applicants seeking admission
as firsttime freshmen for the fall 2003 or later terms will have the same
preparatory course requirements for admission to both the California State
University and the University of California. The preparatory course admission
requirements for both systems will be the completion of the following courses
with a grade of C or better:
·
English, 4 years.
·
Mathematics, 3 years:
algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra.
·
U.S. history or social
science, 2 years.
·
Laboratory science, 2 years.
·
Foreign language, 2 years.
·
Visual or performing arts, 1
year.
·
Electives chosen from one of
the areas above, 1 year.
Foreign Language
Subject Requirement
The Foreign Language Subject
Requirement may be satisfied by applicants who demonstrate competence in a
language, other than English, equivalent to or higher than expected of students
who complete two years of foreign language study. Consult with your school
counselor or any CSU campus’ Admissions or School Relations Office for further
information.
Subject Requirement Substitution
for Students with Disabilities
Applicants with disabilities
are encouraged to complete college preparatory course requirements if at all
possible. If an applicant is judged unable to fulfill a specific course requirement
because of his or her disability, alternate college preparatory courses may be substituted
for specific subject requirements. Substitutions may be authorized on an
individual basis after review and recommendation by the applicant’s academic
advisor or guidance counselor in consultation with the Director of Disabled
Student Services. Although the distribution may be slightly different from the
course pattern required of other students, students qualifying for substitutions
will still be held for 15 units of college preparatory study. Students should
be aware that course substitutions may limit later enrollment in certain
majors, particularly those involving mathematics. Further information and
substitution forms can be obtained from the Director of Disabled Student
Services.
Undergraduate Transfer Applicants
Transfer
Requirements
Students who have completed
55 or fewer transferable semester college units (83 or fewer quarter units) are
considered lower-division transfer students. Students who have completed 56 or more
transferable semester college units (84 or more quarter units) are considered upper-division
transfer students. Students who complete college units during high school or
through the summer between high school graduation and fall enrollment in the
California State University are considered firsttime freshmen and must meet
those admission requirements. Transferable courses are those designated for
baccalaureate credit by the college or university offering the courses.
Lower-Division Transfer Requirements
Students will qualify for
admission as lower-division transfer students if they have a grade point
average of 2.0 (C or better) in all transferable units attempted, are in good
standing at the last college or university attended, and meet any of the
following standards:
1. meet the freshman
admission requirements in effect for the term to which they are applying (see
"Freshman Requirements" section); or
2. be eligible as a freshman
at the time of high school graduation except for the subject requirements, have
been in continuous attendance in an accredited college since high school graduation,
and
• have made up the missing
subjects, or
• have completed at least 30
semester units of college coursework with a grade of C or better in each
course, to be selected from courses in English, arts and humanities, social science,
science and mathematics, at a level at least equivalent to courses that meet
general education requirements. The 30 units must include all the general
education requirements in communication in the English language and critical thinking
(at least 9 semester units) and the requirement in mathematics/ quantitative
reasoning (usually 3 semester units) OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer
Curriculum (IGETC) requirements in English communication and mathematical
concepts and quantitative reasoning.
Applicants who graduated from
high school prior to 1988 should contact the Office of Admissions to inquire
about alternative admission programs.
Upper-Division Transfer Requirements
Students qualify for
admission as upper-division transfer students if they:
1. have a grade point average
of 2.0 (C or better) in all transferable units attempted; and
2. they are in good standing
at the last college or university attended; and
3. have completed at least 30
semester units of college coursework with a grade of C or better in each
course, to be selected from courses in English, arts and humanities, social
science, science and mathematics, at a level at least equivalent to courses
that meet general education requirements. The 30 units must include all of the general
education requirements in communication in the English language and critical
thinking (at least 9 semester units) and the requirement in
mathematics/quantitative reasoning (usually 3 semester units) OR the Intersegmental
General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) requirements in English
communication and mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning.
Provisional
Admission
CSU San Marcos may
provisionally admit transfer applicants based on their academic preparation and
courses planned for completion. The campus will monitor the final terms to
ensure that those admitted complete all required courses satisfactorily.
Making Up Missing College Preparatory
Subject Requirements
Lower-division applicants who
did not complete subject requirements while in high school may make up missing
subjects in any of the following ways.
1. Complete appropriate
courses with a C or better in adult school or high school summer sessions.
2. Complete appropriate
college courses with a C or better. One college course of at least three
semester or four quarter units will be considered equivalent to one year of
high school study.
3. Earn acceptable scores on
specified examinations. Please consult with any CSU Admission Office for
further information about alternative ways to satisfy the subject requirements.
Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Admission
Requirements
Graduate and
postbaccalaureate applicants may apply for a degree objective, a credential or
certificate objective, or may have no program objective. Depending on the
objective, The CSU will consider an application for admission as follows:
• General Requirements — The minimum requirements for admission to graduate and
postbaccalaureate studies at a California State University campus are in
accordance with University regulations as well as Title 5, Chapter 1,
Subchapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations. Specifically, a student
shall:
1. have completed a four-year
college course of study and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution
accredited by a regional accrediting association, or shall have completed
equivalent academic preparation as determined by appropriate campus
authorities;
2. be in good academic
standing at the last college or university attended;
3. have attained a grade
point average of at least 2.5 (A = 4.0) in the last 60 semester (90 quarter)
units attempted; and
4. satisfactorily meet the
professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards for graduate study, including
qualifying examinations, as determined by each graduate program.
If students meet the minimum
requirements for graduate and postbaccalaureate studies, they will be
considered for admission in one of the four following categories:
• Postbaccalaureate Unclassified — To enroll in graduate courses for professional or personal
growth, students must be admitted as a postbaccalaureate unclassified student.
By meeting the general requirements, students are eligible for admission as a
postbaccalaureate unclassified student. Some departments may restrict enrollment
of unclassified students because of heavy enrollment pressure. Admission in
this status does not constitute admission to, or assurance of consideration for
admission to, any graduate degree or credential program; or
• Postbaccalaureate Classified — To enroll in a credential program or certificate program, students
must satisfy the additional professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards,
including qualifying examinations, as the campus may prescribe; or
• Graduate Conditionally Classified — To enroll in a graduate degree program if, in the opinion of
appropriate campus authority, students can remedy any deficiencies by
additional preparation; or
• Graduate Classified — To pursue a graduate degree students will be required to fulfill
all of the professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards, including
qualifying examinations, as the campus may prescribe.
Adult Students
As an alternative to regular
admission criteria, an applicant who is 25 years of age or older may be
considered for admission as an adult student, if he or she meets all of the
following conditions:
1. possesses a high school
diploma [or has established equivalence through either the tests of General Educational
Development (GED) or the California High School Proficiency Examination],
2. has not been enrolled in
college as a full-time student for more than one term during the past five
years, and
3. if there has been any
college attendance in the last five years, has earned a C average or better in
all college work attempted. Consideration will be based upon a judgment as to
whether the applicant is likely to succeed, as a regularly admitted freshman or
transfer student, and will include an assessment of basic skills in the English
language and mathematical computation.
Other Applicants
An applicant not admitted
under the provisions cited in this catalog should consider enrollment at
another appropriate institution. Only under the most unusual circumstances will
such applicants be permitted to enroll in the University. Permission is granted
only by special action of the University.
International (Foreign) Student Admission
Requirements
The California State
University must assess the academic preparation of international students. For
this purpose, “foreign students” include those who hold U.S. visas as students,
exchange visitors, or in other non-immigrant classifications.
The CSU uses separate
requirements and application filing dates for the admission of foreign
students. Verification of the student’s English proficiency (see the section on
TOEFL requirement for undergraduate and graduate applicants), financial resources,
and academic performance are all important considerations for admission.
Academic records from foreign institutions must be on file at least eight weeks
before registration for the first term and, if not in English, must be
accompanied by certified English translations.
Priority in admission is
given to residents of California. There is little likelihood of nonresident
applicants, including international students, being admitted either to impacted
majors or to those with limited openings.
Insurance
Requirement
Effective August 1, 1995, as
a condition of receiving an I-20 or IAP-66 form, all F-1 and J-1 visa
applicants must agree to obtain and maintain health insurance as a condition of
registration and for continued enrollment in The CSU. Such insurance must be in
amounts as specified by the United States Information Agency (USIA) and NAFSA:
Association of International Educators. Information about which insurance
policies meet these criteria may be obtained from the Office of Admissions.
Intrasystem and Intersystem Enrollment
Programs
Students enrolled at any CSU
campus will have access to courses at other CSU campuses on a space available basis
unless those campuses or programs are impacted. This access is offered without
students being required to be admitted formally to the host campus and
sometimes without paying additional fees. Although courses taken on any CSU
campus will transfer to the student's home CSU campus as at least elective
credit, students should consult their home campus academic advisors to
determine how such courses may apply to their degree programs before enrolling
at the host campus.
There are two programs for
enrollment within the CSU and one for enrollment between CSU and the University
of California or California community colleges. Additional information about these
programs is available from the Office of Admissions.
CSU Concurrent
Enrollment
Matriculated
students in good standing may enroll at both their home CSU campus and a host
CSU campus during the same term. Credit earned at the host campus is
automatically reported to the home campus to be included on the student's
transcript at the home campus.
CSU Visitor
Enrollment
Matriculated
students in good standing enrolled at one CSU campus may enroll at another CSU
campus for one term. Credit earned at the host campus is reported automatically
to the home campus to be included on the student's transcript at the home
campus.
Intersystem Cross Enrollment
Matriculated CSU, UC, or
community college students may enroll for one course per term at another CSU,
UC, or community college and request that a transcript of record be sent to the
home campus.
Admission to Teaching Credential
Programs
Admission to the University
as a student does not constitute admission to a teaching credential program.
Just as admission to a credential program does not constitute admission to the
university, students must be admitted to both in order to enroll in classes.
Students who intend to work toward the Multiple or Single Subject Credential
must also apply for admission to the credential program. For details regarding
the admission requirements, please refer to the College of Education section.
Postbaccalaureate students
must file official transcripts with both the Office of Admissions and the
College of Education if they plan to enter a credential program. Students must
include transcripts from each college attended (including extension,
correspondence, summer session, or evening courses).
Second Bachelor’s Degree Admission
Requirements
Students who have a previous
bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
may apply to receive a second bachelor’s degree. Applicants must have a 2.5 grade
point average in the last 60 units attempted for prior work, and must meet graduation
requirements as specified in the Second Bachelor’s Degree Requirements section.
Undergraduate Application Procedures
Prospective students,
applying for part-time or full-time undergraduate programs of study, in day or
evening classes, must file a complete undergraduate application as described in
the undergraduate admission booklet. The $55 nonrefundable application fee should
be in the form of a check or money order payable to “The California State
University” and may not be transferred or used to apply to another term. An
alternate campus and major may be indicated on the application, but applicants
should list as an alternate campus only a CSU campus that also offers the
major. Generally, an alternate major will be considered at the first choice
campus before an application is redirected to an alternate choice campus. To be
considered by more than one campus during the open filing period, it is
recommended that an applicant submit an application (including fees) to each
campus.
Application Filing
Periods
Filing Period Duration: Each
campus accepts applications until capacities are reached. Many campuses limit
undergraduate admission in an enrollment category because of overall enrollment
limits. Undergraduates are encouraged to apply during the initial filing period
to facilitate the campus’ early review and response. If applying after the initial
filing period, the student should consult with the Office of Admissions for
current information.
Semester
Terms in Applications
2001-2002 First
2002/2003 Accepted
Fall 2001 November 1, 2000
Spring 2002 August 1, 2001
Fall 2002 November 1, 2001
Spring 2003 August 1, 2002
Application
Acknowledgement
Students may expect to
receive an acknowledgment of their application from the Office of Admissions
beginning in January 2001 for Fall 2001 semester, October 2001 for Spring 2002 semester,
January 2002 for Fall 2002, and October 2002 for Spring 2003. The
acknowledgment letter will also include a request to submit any additional records
necessary for the campus to evaluate the student’s qualifications. Students may
be assured of admission if the evaluation of their qualifications indicates
that they meet CSU admission requirements, and campus requirements for
admission to an impacted program. Such a notice is not transferable to another
term or to another CSU campus.
Notification of
Admission
Applicants who have received
an application acknowledgment and have submitted all required admission
materials will begin to receive notification of acceptance or denial of
admission to the Fall 2001 semester beginning on January 1, and for the Spring
2002 semester beginning on November 15. If the processing schedule permits, some
applicants may be notified in advance of these dates.
Cancellation of
Admission
Admission will be cancelled
automatically if a student who received a notice of admission for a given
semester does not register for that semester. If the student wishes to
undertake studies at the University at a later date, the student must file a
new application, pay a new application fee, and meet the current admission
requirements. Materials supporting the application for admission, such as
transcripts and entrance examination scores, are retained for one year only.
Additional documentation will be required of studies done in the interim to
complete the student’s application file.
Filing Official
Transcripts
Applicants must file the
following official transcripts with the Office of Admissions:
1. Freshmen — May submit preliminary high school transcripts prior to
graduation but must also send final transcripts with graduation date listed.
2. Transfers — Request official transcripts be sent directly from all colleges
or universities previously attended (even if no coursework was completed).
Transcripts must be received in sealed envelopes from each institution
attended. Applicants should keep personal copies of all transcripts and test
scores to complete the admission application and for academic advising
sessions. If transferring with fewer than 56 transferable semester (84 quarter)
units of study, applicants must also submit their high school transcript. Applicants
with 56 or more transferable semester units may be asked to submit high school
transcripts if admissibility cannot be determined on the basis of college or
university transcripts.
3. Photocopy of the military
separation form DD-214 if applicant wants transfer credit for active military service.
A transcript will be
considered official and accepted to meet the regulations governing admission
only if forwarded directly to CSU San Marcos by the institution attended. All
records or transcripts received by the University become the property of the
University and will not be released to a third party.
Use of Social
Security Number
Applicants are required to
include their correct Social Security Number (taxpayer identification number)
in designated places on applications for admission pursuant to the authority contained
in Section 41201, Title 5, California Code of Regulations, and Section 6109 of
the Internal Revenue Code. The University uses the Social Security Number to
identify records pertaining to the student as well as to identify the student,
for financial purposes, for financial aid eligibility and disbursement and the
repayment of financial aid and other debts payable to the institution. Also,
the Internal Revenue Service requires the University to file information
returns that include the student’s Social Security Number and other
information, such as the amount paid for qualified tuition, related expenses,
and interest on educational loans. This information is used by the IRS to help
determine whether a student, or a person claiming a student as a dependent, may
take a credit or deduction to reduce federal income taxes.
High School
Students
Students still enrolled in
high school will be considered for enrollment in certain special programs if
recommended by the principal and the appropriate campus department chair, and
if preparation is equivalent to that required of eligible California high
school graduates. Such admission is only for a given program and does not
constitute the right to continued enrollment.
Hardship Petitions
Qualified applicants who
would be faced with extreme hardship if they are not admitted should
communicate in writing the details of their hardship to the Office of
Admissions and request hardship admission consideration.
Test Requirements
Freshman
and transfer applicants who have fewer than 56 semester or 84 quarter units of
transferable college credit must submit scores, unless exempt (see
"Eligibility Index" on page 28), from either the ACT or the
SAT I of the College Board. If students are applying to an impacted program, on
campus, and are required to submit test scores, they should take the test no
later than November or early December. Test scores are also used for advising and
placement purposes. Registration forms and dates for the SAT I or ACT are
available from school or college counselors or from a CSU campus testing office.
Or you may write to or call:
The College Board (SAT I)
Registration Unit, Box 6200
Princeton, New Jersey 08541
(609) 771-7588
ACT
Registration Unit, P.O. Box
414
Iowa City, Iowa 52243
(319) 337-1270
Advanced Placement
Tests
Students with grades of three
or higher on the College Board’s Advanced Placement Test may receive college credit
for the test. For information on which Advanced Placement tests are accepted
for credit at CSU San Marcos, contact Admissions at (760) 750-4848.
TOEFL Requirement
All undergraduate applicants,
regardless of citizenship, who have not attended schools at the secondary level
or above for at least three years full time where English is the principal
language of instruction, must present a score of 550 or above on the Test of
English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants taking the Computer Based
Test of English as a Foreign Language must present a score of 213 or above.
Systemwide
Placement Test Requirements
The
California State University requires each entering undergraduate, except those
who qualify for an exemption, to take the CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM)
examination and the CSU English Placement Test (EPT) after admission and prior
to enrollment. These placement tests are not a condition for admission to the
CSU, but they are a condition of enrollment. They are designed to identify
entering students who may need additional support in acquiring basic English
and mathematics skills necessary to succeed in CSU baccalaureate-level courses.
Undergraduate students who do not demonstrate college-level skills both in
English and in mathematics will be placed in appropriate remedial programs and
activities during the first term of their enrollment.
English Placement
Test (EPT)
The
EPT is designed to assess the level of reading and writing skills of entering undergraduate
students so that they can be placed in appropriate baccalaureatelevel courses.
The CSU EPT must be completed by all entering undergraduates, with the
exception of those who present proof of one of the following:
• A score of 550 or above on
the verbal section of the College Board SAT I Reasoning Test taken April 1995 or
later.
• A score of 24 or above on
the enhanced ACT English Test taken October 1989 or later.
• A score of 680 or above on
the recentered and adjusted College Board SAT II: Writing Test taken May 1998 or
later
• A score of 3, 4, or 5 on
either the Language and Composition or the Composition and Literature
examination of the College Board Scholastic Advanced Placement program.
• Completion and transfer of
a course that satisfies the General Education- Breadth or Intersegmental
General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) written communication requirement,
provided such course was completed with a grade of C or better.
Entry Level
Mathematics (ELM) Placement Examination
The ELM examination is
designed to assess the skill levels of entering CSU students in the areas of
mathematics typically covered in three years of rigorous college preparatory
mathematics courses in high school (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry). The
CSU ELM must be completed by all entering undergraduates, with the exception of
those who present proof of one of the following:
• A score of 550 or above on
the mathematics section of the College Board SAT I Reasoning Test or on the College
Board SAT II Mathematics Tests Level I, IC (Calculator), II, or IIC
(Calculator).
• A score of 23 or above on
the American College Testing Mathematics Test.
• A score of 3 or above on
the College Board Advanced Placement mathematics examination (AB or BC).
• A score of 3 or above on
the College Board Advanced Placement Statistics examination.
• Completion and transfer of
a course that satisfies the General Education- Breadth or Intersegmental
General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) quantitative reasoning requirement,
provided such course was completed with a grade of C or better.
English and
Mathematics Proficiency Requirements
All new undergraduate
students must establish their college level proficiency in English and
mathematics within their first two semesters of enrollment. Those who are
exempt from, or achieve passing scores on the ELM or EPT examinations, are
considered proficient.
Those who are not exempt from
and do not achieve a passing score on the EPT must earn a grade of “C,” or
better, in GEW 101, Principles of Written Communication, by the end of their second
semester of enrollment at CSU San Marcos. Those who are not exempt from and do not
achieve a passing score on the ELM test must establish their proficiency by
earning a grade of “C,” or better, in a designated remedial course in mathematics
by the end of their second semester of enrollment at CSU San Marcos.
Those who do not establish
proficiency within their first two semesters will be subject to disenrollment
and advised to strengthen their academic skills before returning to the
University.
Health Screening
All
new and readmitted students born after January 1, 1957, will be notified of the
requirement to present proof of measles and rubella immunizations. All students
18 years of age or younger shall be required to present proof of immunization
against Hepatitis B. These are not admission requirements, but shall be
required of students as conditions of enrollment in CSU.
Proof of measles and rubella
immunizations shall also be required for certain groups of enrolled students
who have increased exposure to these diseases.
Providing Proof
When a student is providing proof of full immunization, the required
documentation must be presented to Student Health Services. Student Health Services
is responsible for the official verification of the documentation. All proof of
immunization and immunity must be submitted to Student Health Services to be
properly recorded for report to the Admissions Office. The required
documentation may be presented to the clinic for clearance by:
• Bringing the documentation
to the clinic for staff review.
• Having the documentation
reviewed by SHS staff member during orientation.
• Mailing the documentation
to SHS for review.
• Faxing the documentation to
SHS.
Provisions for exemptions in
fulfilling this requirement are available based on medical considerations,
religious or personal beliefs. For medical considerations, a written statement
from a physician indicating the reason for the medical exemption must be
provided along with the student signing the exemption form. For exemptions for
religious or personal reasons, the student will sign the exemption form. Students
electing to claim an exemption will be given the opportunity to meet with a
medical provider to discuss risks associated with not being fully immunized and
will also be instructed as to the campus actions in the event of a measles
outbreak on campus. Students with exemptions will be excused from all classes
in the event of a campus outbreak of measles.
Immunization Holds
Enrollment
Services has the task of placing registration holds on students' records if
documentation of full immunity has not been presented to Student Health
Services. Holds are placed if proof has not been submitted approximately four
weeks prior to the start of priority registration. If a hold is placed on
registration, this hold will be lifted if proof of immunity is presented to the
clinic, or by receiving the injection. Holds will be temporarily lifted, for one
semester, for those students who have signed the waiver for exemptions. Students
who sign the waiver for exemption, must sign the waiver each semester that they
are enrolled. Questions can be directed to Student Health Services at (760)
750-4915.
Veterans and
Veterans’ Dependents
Many veterans, dependents of
deceased or disabled veterans, and reservists are eligible for Department of Veterans
Affairs’ education benefits. Additionally, many dependents of deceased or
disabled veterans are eligible for a complete waiver of application and
registration fees through the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
The programs administered by
the Department of Veterans Affairs are:
VEAP. For veterans who entered active duty between January 1, 1977, and
June 30, 1985, and who contributed to the program while on active duty.
Montgomery G.I. Bill
(Active Duty). For veterans who entered
active duty beginning July 1, 1985, and who participated in the twelfth-month
pay reduction while on active duty.
Montgomery G.I. Bill
(Selected Reserve Program). For
undergraduates and graduates enlisted in the reserves who have made a six-year commitment
to the selected reserves.
Dependents. For spouses or children of veterans who died on active duty, whose
death was caused by a serviceconnected disability, or who are rated 100%
permanently disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Vocational
Rehabilitation. For veterans with a
service-connected disability, or who are rated 100% permanently disabled by the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Students should be aware that
the Veterans Administration will pay educational benefits only for those
courses which are part of an approved degree or certificate program, and which
have not been previously and successfully completed. Students are required to attend
classes regularly and maintain satisfactory grades. For clarification of
Veterans Administration policies on withdrawals, incompletes, course repeats,
etc., please contact the veterans representative on campus.
Students wishing to apply for
the programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs can apply for
their benefits on campus. Veterans who enroll at CSU San Marcos are encouraged
to call or visit the veterans representative in the Office of Registration and Records
for instructions prior to signing up for benefits. Dependents of deceased or
disabled veterans who wish to apply for the fee waiver program may contact the
County of San Diego Veterans Service Office, 7151 El Cajon Blvd., Suite C, San
Diego, CA 92115-1819 or the veterans representative in the Office of
Registration and Records.
Graduate and Postbaccalaureate
Application Procedures
All graduate and
postbaccalaureate applicants (e.g., master’s degree applicants, those seeking
credentials, and those interested in taking courses for personal or
professional growth) must file a completed graduate application as described in
the graduate and postbaccalaureate admission booklet. Applicants who completed
undergraduate degree requirements and graduated the preceding term are also
required to complete and submit an application and the $55 nonrefundable
application fee. Since applicants for postbaccalaureate programs may be limited
to the choice of a single campus on each application, redirection to alternate
campuses or later changes of campus choice will be minimal. To be assured of
initial consideration by more than one campus, it will be necessary to submit
separate applications (including fees) to each. Applications may be obtained
from a Graduate Studies Office or an Admissions Office of any California State
University campus. An electronic version of the CSU graduate application is
available on the Web at http://www.csumentor.
edu/.
Graduate and
postbaccalaureate applicants are encouraged to submit applications during the
initial filing periods (November for fall semester admission and August for
spring semester admission).
Graduate applicants to
masters and credential programs must apply to both the University and the
program intended. Official transcripts from each college or university attended
must be filed with both the Office of Admissions and the program office.
TOEFL Graduate and
Postbaccalaureate Requirement
All graduate and
postbaccalaureate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory
education was principally in a language other than English, must demonstrate
competence in English. Those who do not possess a bachelor’s degree from a
post-secondary institution where English is the principal language of
instruction must receive a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants taking the Computer-Based Test of English
as a Foreign Language must present a score of 213 or above.
Determination of Residence for Nonresident
Tuition Purposes
The Office of Admissions
determines the residence status of all new and returning students for
nonresident tuition purposes. Responses to the Application for Admission,
Residency Questionnaire, and Reclassification Request Form, and, if necessary,
other evidence furnished by the student, are used in making this determination.
A student who fails to submit adequate information to establish a right to classification
as a California resident will be classified as a nonresident.
The following statement of
the rules regarding residency determination for nonresident tuition purposes is
not a complete discussion of the law, but a summary of the principal rules and
their exceptions. The laws governing residence determination for tuition
purposes by The California State University are found in the California
Education Code Sections 68000-68090, 68120- 68134, and 89705-89707.5, and in
Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, Sections 41900-41912. A copy of
the statutes and regulations is available for inspection at the Office of
Admissions.
Legal residence may be
established by an adult who is physically present in the state and who, at the
same time, intends to make California his or her permanent home. Steps must be
taken at least one year prior to the residence determination date to show an
intent to make California the permanent home with concurrent relinquishment of
the prior legal residence. The steps necessary to show California residency
intent will vary from case to case. Included among the steps may be:
registering to vote and voting in elections in California; filing resident
California state income tax forms on total income; ownership of residential
property or continuous occupancy or renting of an apartment on a lease basis
where one’s permanent belongings are kept; maintaining active resident
memberships in California professional or social organizations; maintaining
California vehicle plates and operator’s license; maintaining active savings
and checking accounts in California banks; maintaining permanent military
address and home of record in California if one is in the military service. The
student who is in the state for educational purposes only does not gain the
status of resident regardless of the length of the student’s stay in
California.
In general, an unmarried
minor (a person under 18 years of age) derives legal residence from the parent
with whom the minor maintains or last maintained his or her place of abode. The
residence of a minor cannot be changed by the minor, or the appointment of a
guardian for the minor, so long as the minor’s parents are living.
A married person may
establish his or her residence independent of his or her spouse.
A noncitizen may establish
his or her residence, unless precluded by the Immigration and Nationality Act, from
establishing domicile in the United States. Nonresident students seeking reclassification
are required by law to complete a supplemental questionnaire concerning their
financial independence status.
The general rule is that a
student must have been a California resident for at least one year immediately
preceding the residence determination date in order to qualify as a “resident
student” for tuition purposes. A residence determination date is set for each
academic term and is the date from which residence is determined for that term.
The residence determination dates are:
Semester Term Campuses
Fall September
20
Spring January
25
The residence determination
dates for the four stages on CalStateTEACH are as follows:
Stage 1 September
20
Stage 2 January
5
Stage 3 June
1
Stage 4 September
20
There are exceptions from
nonresident tuition, including:
1. Persons below the age of
19 whose parents were residents of California but who left the state while the
student, who remained, was still a minor. When the minor reaches age 18, the exception
continues until the student has resided in the state the minimum time necessary
to become a resident.
2. Minors who have been
present in California with the intent of acquiring residence for more than a
year before the residence determination date, and have been entirely
selfsupporting for that period of time. The exception continues until the student
has resided in the state the minimum time necessary to become a resident.
3. Persons below the age of
19 who have lived with and been under the continuous direct care and control of
an adult or adults, not a parent, for the two years immediately preceding the
residence determination date. Such an adult must have been a California
resident for the most recent year. The exception continues until the student
has resided in the state the minimum time necessary to become a resident.
4. Dependent children and
spouse of persons in active military service stationed in California on the
residence determination date. There is no time limitation on this exception
unless the military person transfers out of California or retires from military
service. If either of those events happen, the student’s eligibility for this
exception continues until he or she resides in the state the minimum time
necessary to become a resident.
5. Military personnel in
active service stationed in California on the residence determination date for
purposes other than education at statesupported institutions of higher education.
This exception continues until the military personnel has resided in the state
the minimum time necessary to become a resident.
6. Military personnel in
active service in California for more than one year immediately prior to being
discharged from the military. Eligibility for this exception runs from the date
the student is discharged from the military until the student has resided in
state the minimum time necessary to become a resident.
7. Dependent children of a
parent who has been a California resident for the most recent year. This
exception continues until the student has resided in the state the minimum time
necessary to become a resident, so long as continuous residence is maintained
at an institution.
8. Graduates of any school
located in California that is operated by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, including,
but not limited to, the Sherman Indian High School. The exception continues so
long as continuous attendance is maintained by the student at an institution.
9. Certain credentialed,
full-time employees of California school districts.
10. Full-time CSU employees
and their children and spouses; state employees assigned to work outside the state
and their children and spouses. This exception continues until the student has
resided in the state the minimum time necessary to become a California
resident.
11. Children of deceased
public law enforcement or fire-suppression employees who were California residents
and who were killed in the course of law enforcement or fire suppression
duties.
12. Certain amateur student
athletes in training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California.
This exception continues until the student has resided in the state the minimum
time necessary to become a resident.
13. Federal civil service
employees and their natural or adopted dependent children if the employee has
moved to California as a result of a military mission realignment action that involves
the relocation of a least 100 employees. This exception continues until the
student has resided in the state the minimum time necessary to become a
resident.
14. State government
legislative or executive fellowship program enrollees. The student ceases to be
eligible for this exception when he or she is no longer enrolled in the
qualifying fellowship.
Any student, following a
final campus decision on his or her residence classification only, may make
written appeal to:
The California State
University Office of General Counsel
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, CA
90802-4210
within 120 calendar days of
notification of the final decision by the campus of the classification. The
Office of General Counsel may make a decision on the issue, or it may send the
matter back to the campus for further review. Students classified incorrectly
as residents or incorrectly granted an exception from nonresident tuition are
subject to reclassification as nonresidents and payment of nonresident tuition
in arrears. If incorrect classification results from false or concealed facts,
the student is subject to discipline pursuant to Section 41301 of Title 5 of
the California Code of Regulations. Resident students who become nonresidents,
and nonresident students qualifying for exceptions whose basis for so
qualifying changes, must immediately notify the Office of Admissions.
Applications for a change in classification with respect to a previous term are
not accepted.
The student is cautioned that
this summation of rules regarding residency determination is by no means a
complete explanation of their meaning. The student should also note that
changes may have been made in the rate of nonresident tuition, in the statutes,
and in the regulations between the time this catalog is published and the
relevant residence determination date.
Impacted Programs
Office of Admissions
(760) 750-4848
The California State
University designates programs as impacted when more applications are received
in the first month of the filing period than can be accommodated. Some programs
are impacted at every campus where they are offered; others are impacted only at
some campuses. Students must meet supplementary admission criteria if applying
to an impacted program.
The CSU will announce, with
the opening of the Fall filing period, which programs are impacted and the
supplementary criteria campuses will use. That announcement is published in the
CSU Review and distributed to high school and college counselors. Information about
the supplementary criteria is also sent to program applicants.
Students must file their
application for admission to an impacted program during the first month of the
filing period. Further, if students wish to be considered in impacted programs
at two or more campuses, students must file an application to each campus.
Supplementary
Admission Criteria
Each campus with impacted
programs uses supplementary admission criteria in screening applicants.
Supplementary criteria may include ranking on the freshman eligibility index,
the overall transfer grade point average, completion of specified prerequisite
courses, and a combination of campus-developed criteria. If students are required
to submit scores on either the SAT I or the ACT, students should take the test no
later than November (if applying for Fall admission).
The supplementary admission
criteria used by the individual campuses to screen applicants appear
periodically in the CSU Review and are sent by the campuses to all applicants seeking admission
to an impacted program.
Unlike unaccommodated
applicants to locally impacted programs who may be redirected to another campus
in the same major, unaccommodated applicants to systemwide impacted programs may
not be redirected in the same major, but may choose an alternate major either
at the first choice campus or another campus.
Evaluation of Academic Records
Transfer Credits
Credit
for work completed at regionally accredited institutions, other than coursework
identified by such institutions as remedial or in other ways as being
nontransferable, will be accepted toward the satisfaction of baccalaureate degree
and credential requirements at CSUSM within limitations of residence requirements,
community college transfer maximums, and in accordance with directives from
Executive Orders and Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
Undergraduate
Tests and Examinations
CSUSM grants up to a maximum
of thirty (30) semester units of credit to those students who pass examinations
that have been approved for credit systemwide. These include the Advanced Placement,
CSU English Equivalency Examinations, and some CLEP examinations. The total
credit earned in external examinations (excluding Advanced Placement) that may
be applied to a baccalaureate shall not exceed 30 units. No credit for any
examination will be forwarded to a student who has either 1) taken the
examination previously within the past year; 2) earned equivalent credit
through regular coursework credit by another examination, or other instructional
processes, such as correspondence study or military training; or 3) earned
credit previously in a course or by examination more advanced than the level
represented by the examination in question.
Credit for
Advanced Placement
CSU San Marcos grants credit
toward its undergraduate degrees for successful completion of examinations of
the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board. Students who present scores
of three (3) or better will be granted up to six (6) semester units of University
credit with the following provision: Acceptance of Advanced Placement units for
purposes other than lower-division electives is determined by the appropriate
academic or discipline division.
Credit for College
Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Credit is awarded for
successful performance in certain examinations of the College Level Examination
Program. Students may earn up to six (6) units per examination passed. Passing
scores for the CLEP exams are established by the participating academic
disciplines and the California university and college system. Credit for one
examination in mathematics may be applied to the mathematics requirement of the
general education program. Credit for additional examinations is allocated to lower-division
electives; acceptance for major, minor, or prerequisite use is granted on the
approval of the appropriate academic or discipline division.
Credit for
International Baccalaureate Certificates or Diplomas
CSU San Marcos normally
grants six (6) units of credit for each International Baccalaureate Higher
Level Subject Examination passed with a score of 4 or better. To receive
credit, students must request that their International Baccalaureate transcript
of grades be sent to CSU San Marcos’ Office of Admissions for evaluation and
determination of appropriate credit to be awarded.
Credit by
Challenge Examination
A student may elect to
receive credit for a course by challenge examination for any course approved by
the academic discipline as a course eligible for challenge. The following
procedures are applicable:
• A student must be enrolled
currently in the course elected for challenge, as well as one additional
course.
• A course challenge form
containing the approval of the student’s faculty advisor and the designated
signature( s) within the course’s college must be completed prior to the examination.
(Note: It is assumed that some disciplines may use discipline/ college-defined
exams instead of having individual faculty members administer the exam. That is
why the faculty member signature is not required, but may be added if the discipline/college
requires it. The form, once the policy is approved, will be designed in
consultation with Enrollment Services, and the colleges of Arts and Sciences,
Business Administration, and Education, and will address any additional
signatures required.)
• Examinations must be administered
and graded prior to the last day to add courses in any given semester or term.
Students are required to file course challenge forms prior to the end of the
first week of classes to insure adequate time for the examination process. If
the student does not successfully complete the exam, the student will be
allowed to remain in the course or drop the course in accordance with normal
withdrawal policies.
• The grading option for a
challenge exam is at the discretion of the discipline. Disciplines may
designate the grading method (letter grade, CR/NC) and may establish a minimum grade
that must be obtained in order to receive course credit in accordance with
University policy.
• Credit by examination may
not be used to fulfill the residency requirement.
• The challenge examination
must include a writing assessment that reflects the all-university writing requirement.
• There is a six-unit limit
on credit by challenge examination within the major.
• A student may not elect to
challenge a course for which a grade of “U,” “F,” “NC,” or “AU” was received in
a previous semester, for which academic renewal has been granted, or for which
a prior challenge has been unsuccessful.
• As a matter of general
policy, a student may not challenge a course for which a prerequisite is listed
unless the prerequisite requirement has been met. Exceptions to this policy require
special approval as designated by the college or discipline. A student may not
challenge a course that is listed in the catalog as a prerequisite for a course
in which academic credit has already been granted.
• Courses cannot be
challenged to fulfill upper-division General Education requirements.
Credit for
Noncollegiate Instruction
CSU San Marcos grants
undergraduate degree credit, appropriate to the baccalaureate, for successful
completion of noncollegiate instruction, either military or civilian, that has
been recommended by the Commission on Educational Credit and Credentials of the
American Council on Education. The number of units allowed are those
recommended in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the
Armed Services and the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs.
The Office of Admissions provides students with specific details about
individual military credit after evaluation of the documents submitted for
admission purposes.
Community College
Credit
A maximum of seventy (70)
semester units earned in a community college may be applied toward the degree,
with the following limitations: (a) no upperdivision credit may be allowed for courses
taken in a community college; (b) no credit may be allowed for professional courses
in education taken in a community college, other than introduction to education
courses.
Extension Credit
The maximum amount of
transferable extension and correspondence credit which may be applied toward
the minimum requirements for the bachelor’s degree is twenty-four (24) semester
units. Extension credit does not apply toward the 30 units of residence credit required
for all undergraduate degrees.
Catalog Rights for
Degree Requirements
If a student does not
graduate within ten (10) years from the beginning of his/her catalog rights,
the major advisor may review all upper-division major courses for
applicability.