SOLAR Self Service
- What is the SOLAR Student Center?
- Where can I get instructions to use SOLAR?
- How do I set up my CSUN account and get CSUN e-mails?
- What reports can I obtain using SOLAR?
- I can log into myNorthridge but not my e-mail. What do I do?
Class Search
Advisement
Registration
- Can I register before my registration appointment?
- I missed my registration appointment. Can I still enroll?
- My friend and I are both seniors, but she got a different registration date than I did. What gives?
- How do I add or drop a class?
- What is swap classes and how does it work?
- How do I register for summer term classes?
- How do I add a class using a Permission Number?
- School hasn't started yet, but SOLAR is telling me I need a permission number to add this class. What do I do?
- I got a permission number to add a class, but it's not working. What do I do?
- Can I change my class schedule after I've registered? How about after classes begin?
Holds
- How do I know if I have holds that will block my registration?
- What is the Measles/Rubella hold? Why is it preventing me from registering?
- I already met with my advisor but have a hold saying I need to meet with my advisor, and now I can’t enroll. What do I do?
- I have a previously disqualified hold, and now I can’t enroll. Why won’t it go away?
- SOLAR says I have missing transcripts when I sent them to CSUN last semester. So why won’t SOLAR let me enroll?
- I have advisement holds for the fall semester that are blocking me from enrolling in summer. How can I enroll in summer classes?
Prerequisites
- How do I know if a course has prerequisites?
- I know I have the right prerequisites to enroll in this class, but it’s telling me I don’t. Who can help?
- What are course requisites?
Enrollment Rules
- How many units can I take?
- What about enrolling for a Credit/No-Credit grade?
- Will SOLAR let me register in classes with overlapping times?
- When can I repeat a course?
- I repeated a course to improve my GPA, and now my DPR says "excess" instead of giving me a grade. What’s happening?
Finals
Other / Miscellaneous
- What is the difference between admission and enrollment?
- Do I need a CSUN photo ID card?
- I have questions about money matters. Where do I get answers?
- A class I enrolled in has disappeared from my schedule. What happened?
Answers
What is the SOLAR Student Center? The SOLAR Student Center is your one-stop shop to view and manage your academic, financial and personal information. To navigate, log into myNorthridge at www.csun.edu with your CSUN User ID and Password. In the My Path to Graduation box, click Student Center (SOLAR).
Learn more with the tutorial Accessing the SOLAR Student Center.
Where can I get instructions to use SOLAR? For step-by-step SOLAR Student Center instructions, see the How To Guides. They walk you through adding and dropping classes, setting a summer registration appointment, using MAP interactive DPR, and more.
How do I set up my CSUN account and get CSUN e-mails? You need a CSUN User ID and Password to log into myNorthridge and use the SOLAR Student Center for CSUN e-mail, self-service registration and other services. To activate your CSUN account, follow the steps provided by the Instructional Technology Help Desk.
CSUN sends official communications by e-mail—check it regularly. During account activation, you can elect to forward CSUN e-mail to your Yahoo, G-mail or other account. If you decide later to use e-mail forwarding, log into www.csun.edu/webmail and select Options > Forwarding.
To view your CSUN e-mail, log into myNorthridge or www.csun.edu/webmail with your CSUN User ID and Password.
What reports can I obtain using SOLAR? You can run the following reports on SOLAR:
Enrollment Verification – View and print an Enrollment Verification for current and past terms. Log into myNorthridge and in the My Path to Graduation box, select Student Center (SOLAR). From the Other Academic pull-down menu, select Enrollment Verification.
My Academic Planner / Degree Progress Report – Use MAP interactive DPR to plan courses that will meet degree requirements in future terms. Learn more at Managing Your Degree Progress and the tutorial Navigating to DPR and MAP.
Unofficial Transcript - View and print your unofficial transcript. Log into myNorthridge. In the My Path to Graduation box, select Student Center (SOLAR). Under Academics, click Unofficial Transcript.
I can log into myNorthridge but not my e-mail. What do I do? Call CSUN’s Information Technology Help Desk at (818) 677-1400 or see Help and Support.
How do I search for classes ? Use Class Search. Go to the CSUN home page and, in the QuickLinks pull-down menu, select Class Search. No login is required, and it’s always available to students and guests alike.
If you have a CSUN account, you can also log into myNorthridge and, in the My Path to Graduation box, click Class Search.
During registration periods, you can search for and add classes at the same time in the SOLAR Student Center Enroll in a Class pages.
Learn more with the tutorial Class Search.
The class I want is closed. What options do I have? Here are some options:
- Look for other class sections of the same course in Class Search.
- Review your DPR to find out what other courses will meet the same degree or major requirement.
- Keep watching the class section(s) you want in Class Search. If anyone drops, a seat should become available. You may be able to add the class or swap another one for it.
- If the above options aren't available, consult your academic advisor. It might be possible, as a last resort, to substitute another class to fulfill the same degree requirement.
Is academic advisement required? Advisement is one of the services you receive as a student, and it is mandatory for all first-time freshmen. Advisement is also required at higher class levels for several majors and support programs.
All students should make an appointment for academic advisement through their college or major department prior to registration each term. If undecided or undeclared, contact the Academic Resource Center/EOP. For more information, see Academic Advisement.
Can I register before my registration appointment? Students cannot enroll in classes prior to their registration appointment. Your appointment is printed on your Registration Access Mailer for each fall and spring semester. To view your registration appointment online, log into myNorthridge and, in the My Path to Graduation box, select Student Center (SOLAR) > Enrollment Appointments.
I missed my registration appointment. Can I still enroll? Absolutely! You may add classes in SOLAR anytime after your registration appointment has arrived, through the end of Late Registration. Beginning with the first day of instruction for the term or semester, you'll need a permission number to add classes.
See also Registration Periods.
My friend and I are both seniors, but she got a different registration date than I did. What gives? Seniors who’ve filed for graduation have priority over those who have not. Registration appointments are prioritized; every student is assigned a time based on class level and other factors. Please note that appointments are not negotiable.
For more information, see Registration Appointments.
View the tutorial Add a Class.
View the tutorial Drop a Class.
To add or drop after instruction begins, see Change in Academic Schedule after Start of Classes.
What is "swap classes" and how does it work? Swapping classes is “trading” one class for another without giving up your seat in the original class until your enrollment in the new class is confirmed. When you drop a class and add another separately, you risk not having a seat in either class.
You can swap any two classes (if you meet the prerequisites of the new class) online during the registration periods published at Semester Calendars. To learn how, see the tutorial Swap Classes.
How do I register for summer term classes? Summer registration is first come, first served. Access to registration depends on whether you are a regular CSUN student or a summer Open University student.
Regular CSUN Students: Set your own online appointment to register during the “self-appointment” period. When your appointment arrives, enroll in classes until the published deadlines. When Nonrestrictive Registration begins, no appointment is needed.
Summer Open University Students: Although you won’t have a registration appointment, you can start enrolling in classes on the first day of Nonrestrictive Registration and thereafter—you don’t need to wait until classes begin. SOLAR will prompt you to enroll through Summer Open University.
All students, regular or visiting, need a permission number to enroll in classes after instruction for a summer session begins.
For more information:
Semester Calendars
Who Can Attend Summer Term
Summer Registration
How do I add a class using a permission number? Permission numbers are required to add restricted classes at all times and to add all classes after instruction begins.
Obtain a permission number from the instructor or department offering the class you want to add. Log into myNorthridge > Student Center (SOLAR) > Enroll in a Class. Look up the five-digit Class Number of the course and, on the Enrollment Preferences page, enter the permission number.
View the tutorial Add a Class Using a Permission Number.
School hasn't started yet, but SOLAR is telling me I need a permission number to add this class. What do I do? If the class hasn’t started yet and it's not fully enrolled, you probably need a permission number because the class is “restricted.” Contact the academic department offering the course or the instructor to discuss your eligibility and request a permission number to add.
See also Restricted Classes.
I got a permission number to add a class, but it's not working. What do I do? First, make sure you’ve entered the permission number correctly on SOLAR. If so, then the number may not be working because:
- You have a registration hold. To view holds, log into myNorthridge > SOLAR Student Center. Resolve the hold and try the permission number again.
- You have a time conflict. SOLAR does not permit registration in two or more classes whose times overlap even by a minute.
- You are attempting to enroll in more than the maximum unit load. See Academic Load Regulations.
- You’re already enrolled in the class or you’ve already taken it in a prior term.
- The permission number may have expired. All permissions expire at the end of the Late Registration/Schedule Adjustment period; some expire earlier. Contact the department for assistance.
- A permission number works only with its associated class section. If the class requires concurrent enrollment in another class, obtain a separate permission number for each class before enrolling.
- The instructor may have individually authorized you to enroll. You should be able to register in the class without a permission number.
Can I change my class schedule after I've registered? How about after classes begin? Yes, you can adjust your schedule anytime after your registration appointment, even if you’ve registered, through the end of the Late Registration/Schedule Adjustment period.
Once classes begin, you may adjust your schedule only during the first three weeks of the fall or spring semesters. Enrollments recorded by the end of the third week of instruction are considered official and unalterable. (In summer term, changes are permitted only through the second Friday of a session.)
For more information:
Change in Academic Schedule after Start of Classes (Add and Drop)
How do I know if I have holds that will block my registration? Log into myNorthridge and, in the My Path to Graduation box, select Student Center (SOLAR). Review the Holds box for messages and details.
Learn more with the tutorial View Holds.
What is the Measles/Rubella hold? Why is it preventing me from registering? All students are required to provide proof of immunization for Measles, Rubella and Hepatitis B. Generally, this information can be found on your high school transcript.
If you haven’t met the requirements, bring written proof of immunization from a doctor, clinic or school transcript to the Klotz Student Health Center. If written proof is not available, you can receive the immunization(s) at the Health Center. If you cannot take the vaccination for religious, personal or medical reasons, you must sign a waiver. Contact the Health Center at (818) 677-3666.
For more information, see Immunization Requirements.
I already met with my advisor but have a hold saying I need to meet with my advisor, and now I can't enroll. What do I do? Contact your advising center to verify that the hold will be removed. You may need some follow-up advisement.
I have a previously disqualified hold, and now I can't enroll. Why won't it go away? Good news—it’s not the kind of hold that will prevent you from enrolling. However, it is a reminder of disqualification.
Each time you are disqualified, the rules change for re-admission to the University. After the third disqualification, the student must wait 5 years before reapplying to CSUN and taking classes, including those offered through The Tseng College (Extended Learning).
Ask your advisor for guidance. Learn more at Academic Probation and Disqualification.
SOLAR says I have missing transcripts when I sent them to CSUN last semester. So why won't SOLAR let me enroll? Chances are you were enrolled in some classes at the time you submitted the transcripts. If so, then you did not have grades awarded for those in-progress classes, and the transcript you submitted was preliminary.
We need your final grades; otherwise, you’ll get a missing transcript hold placed on your account, which will prevent you from enrolling. If you feel you’ve received the hold in error, call Admissions and Records at (818) 677-3700 or e-mail admissions.records@csun.edu.
I have advisement holds for the fall semester that are blocking me from enrolling in summer. How can I enroll in summer classes? Enroll through the Summer Appt/Enrollment link in the SOLAR Student Center (not the Enroll in a Class link).
For more information, see Summer Registration.
How do I know if a course has prerequisites? Prerequisites are listed in the current university catalog course descriptions. You can also view prerequisites in SOLAR Class Search. If unsure about your qualifications to enroll in the class, see your academic advisor.
I know I have the right prerequisites to enroll in this class, but it's telling me I don't. Who can help? First, look up the class in Class Search, and click the Detail link to see all the prerequisites.
Your advisor is also a great resource for prerequisites. Contact the advising center for your College to make an appointment ASAP. If you and your advisor don’t resolve the problem, call Admissions and Records at (818) 677-3700, and we can do our best to troubleshoot.
What are course requisites? If you haven’t met the requisites for a class, you won’t be able to enroll in it.
One kind of requisite is a prerequisite. For example, you can’t take FREN 200 until you’ve completed FREN 102/C or equivalent.
In addition to courses, requisites can be conditions such as class level, a specific exam score, a specified passing grade, etc. For example, enrolling in CHEM 101/L requires a satisfactory score on the Chemistry Placement Test or a grade of C or higher in CHEM 100 taken at CSUN only.
Check the requisites in the course description and notes when registering for a class. To view them online, go to SOLAR Class Search, look up the course and class section, and click the Detail link. The requisites will display in the “Course Information” and “Notes” boxes.
For more information, see Troubleshooting > Course Requisites.
How many units can I take? During the Registration-by-Appointment period, undergraduate students in good academic standing may enroll in a maximum of 19 units. The limit for undergraduate students on academic probation is 13 units.
Graduate or credential students in good academic standing may enroll in a maximum of 15 units.
For more information and the Extra Unit Authorization Form, see Academic Load Regulations.
What about enrolling for a Credit/No Credit grade? Undergraduate students not on probation may elect the Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) grading option for some classes. Caution: Before choosing the CR/NC option, consult your academic advisor or review the CR/NC grading policy.
Will SOLAR let me register in classes with overlapping times? It is the policy of CSUN that no student shall be permitted to enroll simultaneously in any two or more classes meeting during the same time period even if they overlap by only one minute. Students are advised to enroll in an alternate section that does not conflict with their current schedule.
For policy exceptions and procedures, see Time Conflicts.
When can I repeat a course? You may enroll in repeated courses only during the Late Registration/Schedule Adjustment period, after classes begin for a semester or term. A permission number is required to enroll in all classes after instruction begins.
Before deciding to repeat a course, consult your academic advisor and review the Repeat Policy.
I repeated a course to improve my GPA, and now my DPR says "excess" instead of giving me a grade. What's happening? "Excess" can mean different things depending on your situation. The best way to inquire about a repeated course on your DPR is to send Admissions and Records a DPR Review Request.
Note: Please do not submit a DPR Review Request if you have received a DPR Graduation Evaluation or if you have questions about major requirements. Instead, contact the Graduation Evaluations Office at the phone number provided on the DPR Graduation Evaluation, or consult your academic advisor about major requirements.
For questions about DPR placement of courses in your major, contact your academic advisor.
For GE course placement, complete a Transfer GE Information Request.
Before repeating a course, check with your academic advisor. For more information, see:
When do I take my final exams? Coming June 2009, students will be able to view all their exam schedules on one page from the SOLAR Student Center. Log into myNorthridge and select Student Center (SOLAR). Under Academics, pull down the Other Academic menu and select Exam Schedule.
Note: If the final for a class does not display, ask your instructor or the department offering the course. The dates of final exams week are published in the Registration Guide at Final Examination Schedules.
Learn more with the tutorial View Final Exam Schedule.
What is the difference between admission and enrollment? Admission means you’ve been accepted to CSUN. Enrollment means you’ve actually registered in classes for the academic term to which you were admitted. Your first enrollment action activates you for the term. If you do not enroll for the term to which you were admitted but decide to enroll in a later term, you must reapply for admission to CSUN.
Once you register, you may add, drop, or swap classes during the registration periods. Your fee payment due date is based on the date you first register. If you get dropped (i.e., disenrolled) for non-payment, you must clear any financial holds with Student Accounting prior to re-registering.
Do I need a CSUN photo ID card? Yes. A CSUN photo ID is required for all students and is the official form of campus identification. Your card provides access to student services and other benefits. Learn more at CSUN Photo ID.
I have questions about money matters. Where do I get answers? The central website for student financial information (fees, tuition, payment due dates, parking permits, refunds, etc.) is University Cash Services.
A class I enrolled in has disappeared from my schedule. What happened? A class missing from your schedule on SOLAR may have been cancelled. Normally, the department will e-mail you when a class is cancelled.
To confirm that the class has been cancelled, log into myNorthridge and, in the My Path to Graduation box, select Class Search. (Do not use Enroll in a Class > Search for Classes.) Look up the missing course. On the Search Results page, click the Detail link. The Class Status field should display Cancelled.”
You can also contact the department to confirm the class was cancelled.