Undergraduate Students

      Academic Advisement

Academic advising helps students connect their needs, values, abilities and goals to CSUN’s educational programs. It helps students realize their academic and professional goals and facilitates timely graduation. Regular contact with an academic advisor is the best way to assure that all required classes are taken at the proper time, in the proper order. Academic advisors can answer questions about policies, procedures, resources, and information posted on a student’s portal.

read more

      Academic Status

Academic status is defined by the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). The GPA is calculated by dividing the number of grade points earned in courses that assign letter grades by the number of units attempted. Courses in which grades of CR, NC, I and W are assigned are not used in GPA calculation.

A student’s academic status takes into account both the (1) Cumulative Total GPA, which includes coursework transferred from other institutions as well as coursework taken at CSUN, and (2) the CSUN GPA, which only includes coursework taken at CSUN.

      Schedule Adjustments

Students are permitted to change their initial enrollment by following the University’s Adjustment of Schedule procedure. Ordinarily during the first three weeks of a semester, a student may add, drop or change the basis of grading in SOLAR, sometimes using permission numbers, or later by filing a Late Change in Academic Schedule for Undergraduate Students form. For additional details concerning approvals required, time deadlines and fees, consult the current Schedule of Classes Registration Guide. Forms may be obtained on the Admissions and Enrollment Forms Website.

      Simultaneous Enrollment in Classes

Students may not enroll simultaneously in two or more classes meeting during the same time period. Exceptions to this policy will be permitted only if one of the classes does not meet on a regular basis, such as independent study or internship that permits independent lab work. Students who meet the acceptable criteria must submit a completed Time Conflict Petition form to Admissions and Records no later than Friday of the third week of classes. Petitions will not be considered after the deadline.

      Withdrawals

Students who find it necessary to cancel their registration or to withdraw from all classes after enrolling for any academic term are required to follow the University’s official withdrawal procedures. Failure to follow formal University procedures may result in an obligation to pay fees as well as the assignment of failing grades in all courses. Students who withdraw without permission need to apply for readmission before being permitted to enroll in another academic term. Information on canceling registration and withdrawal procedures is available at the Admissions and Records website, http://www.csun.edu/anr/soc/.

      Academic Leave (Leave of Absence)

Undergraduate students in good standing may take a two-semester leave of absence. Though no formal approval is required, it is suggested that students seek academic advisement.

      Enrolling in Courses with Prerequisites

Students must fulfill a course’s prerequisite(s) prior to enrollment in the course. For the most updated information regarding prerequisite enforcement see the Schedule of Class Registration Guide at the Admissions and Records Website.

      Administrative Action on Prerequisites

Although it is the student’s responsibility to drop classes, the University may withdraw a student, within the first three weeks, from a course if he or she fails to meet the prerequisite(s) or other requirements as indicated in the catalog. These prerequisites may include:

1. Completion of prior coursework.
2. Passing of qualifying examinations.
3. Class year standing.
4. Admission to, or special requirements of, special programs such as Honors or Credential.
5. Completion of prior coursework with a required minimum credit.
6. Consent of instructor.

      Syllabi for all Undergraduate Courses

To better inform students about the requirements, content and methodology of the University’s undergraduate curricula, all faculty teaching undergraduate courses will distribute a written syllabus to each student in the course and/or post it online no later than the second week of classes. The syllabus should contain the following information:

1. Course objective(s).
2. A brief list or summary of topics or projects covered.
3. Course requirements and methods of evaluation.
4. Grading criteria including whether or not the plus/minus system will be used.
5. Contact information (instructor’s name, office hours, office location, and campus phone number).