Admission Procedures and Policies

Requirements for admission to CSU Channel Islands (CI) are in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 1, Subchapter 3, of the California Code of Regulations. Complete information is available at www.csumentor.edu/planning/.

Electronic versions of the CSU undergraduate and graduate applications are accessible online at www.csumentor.edu. The CSUMentor system allows students to browse through general information about the CSU’s 23 campuses, view multimedia campus presentations, send and receive electronic responses to specific questions, and apply for admission and financial aid.

Applying online via www.csumentor.edu is expected unless electronic submission is impossible. An acknowledgment will be sent when online applications have been submitted. Application in “hard copy” form may be obtained online via www.csumentor.edu as a portable data format (PDF). Application forms (in PDF) may also be downloaded from www.calstate.edu/sas/publications. Paper applications should be mailed to the Admissions & Recruitment, One University Drive, Camarillo, CA 93012.

Importance of Filing Complete, Accurate, and Authentic Application Documents

CI advises prospective students that they must supply complete and accurate information on the application for admission, residency questionnaire, and financial aid forms. Further, applicants must, when requested, 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 registration or academic credit, suspension, or expulsion (Section 41301, Article 1.1, Title 5, California Code of Regulations).

Undergraduate Application Procedures

Prospective students applying for part-time or full-time undergraduate programs of study must submit a completed undergraduate application. The $55 nonrefundable application fee should be in the form of a check or money order payable to “The California State University” or by credit card if submitting the online application, and may not be transferred or used to apply to another term. An alternate major may be indicated on the application. The applications of persons denied admission to an impacted and/or closed campus may be re-routed to another campus at no cost, but only if the applicant is CSU eligible. The application and fee is only valid for the term of the application. 

Impacted Programs

The CSU designates programs as impacted when more applications from regularly eligible applicants are received in the initial filing period (October and November for fall terms, June for winter terms, August for spring terms, February for summer terms) than can be accommodated. Some programs are impacted at every campus which they are offered; others are impacted only at a few campuses. Candidates for admission must meet all of the campus’ specified supplementary admission criteria if applying to an impacted program or campus.

The CSU will announce during the fall filing period those campuses or programs that are impacted. Detailed information on campus and programs impaction will be available at the following websites:

• www.csumentor.edu
• www.calstate.edu/impactioninfo.shtml
• www.calstate.edu/sas/impaction-campus-info.shtml

Campuses will communicate its supplementary admission criteria for all impacted programs to high schools and community colleges in their service area and will disseminate this information to the public through appropriate media. This information will also be published at the CSU campus individual website and made available online at www.calstate.edu.

Applicants must file applications for admission to an impacted program during the initial filing period. Applicants who wish to be considered in impacted programs at more than one campus should file an application at each campus for which they seek admission consideration. CSU Channel Islands’ only impacted program is Nursing. Applications for the University admissions for Nursing are only accepted during the fall term. Information regarding Nursing is available at www.nursing.csuci.edu. 

Supplementary Admission Criteria

Each campus with impacted programs uses supplementary admission criteria in screening applicants. Supplementary criteria may include rank-ordering of freshman applicants based on the CSU eligibility index or rank-ordering of transfer applicants based on verification of AA-T or AS-T degree, the overall transfer grade point average (GPA), completion of specified prerequisite courses, and a combination of campus-developed criteria. Applicants for freshman admission to impacted campuses or programs are required to submit scores on either the SAT or the ACT. For fall admission, applicants should take tests as early as possible, but no later than November or December of the preceding year.

The supplementary admission criteria used by the individual campuses to screen applicants are made available by the campuses to all applicants seeking admission to an impacted program. Details regarding the supplemental admissions criteria are also provided at www.calstate.edu/impactioninfo.shtml.

Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Application Procedures

All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants (e.g., Ed.D., joint Ph.D. and Ed.D. applicants, master’s degree applicants, those seeking educational credentials or certificates, and where permitted, holders of baccalaureate degrees interested in taking courses for personal or professional growth) must file a complete graduate application as described in the graduate and post-baccalaureate admission materials at www.csumentor.edu. Applicants seeking a second bachelor’s degree should submit the undergraduate application for admission unless specifically requested to do otherwise. 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 post-baccalaureate programs may be limited to the choice of a single campus on each application, re-routing to alternate campuses or later changes of campus choice are not guaranteed. To be assured of initial consideration by more than one campus, it is necessary to submit separate applications (including fees) to each. Applications submitted by way of www.csumentor.edu are expected unless submission of an electronic application is impossible. An electronic version of the CSU graduate application is available online at www.csumentor.edu.

CSU Channel Islands only accepts second bachelor degree applications in the fall terms from Nursing majors.

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or tax payer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements are available from the Credential Services and Field Placement Office, (805) 437-8953, http://education.csuci.edu/.

Application Filing Periods

(Not all campuses/programs are open for admission to every term.)

Application Acknowledgment

On-time applicants may expect to receive an acknowledgment from the campuses to which they have applied within two to four weeks of filing the application. The notice may also include a request that applicants submit additional records necessary to evaluate academic qualifications. Applicants may be assured of admission if the evaluation of relevant qualifications indicates that applicants meet CSU admission requirements, and in the case of admission impaction, supplemental criteria for admission to an impacted program. Unless specific written approval/confirmation is received, an offer of admission is not transferable to another term or to another campus.

Hardship Petitions

The campus has established procedures for consideration of qualified applicants who would be faced with extreme hardship if not admitted. Petitioners should write the campus Admissions office regarding specific policies governing hardship admission. Petitioners can visit the Denied Student website: www.csuci.edu/admissions/denied-students.htm for more information.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Freshman Requirements

Generally, applicants will qualify for consideration for first-time freshman admission if they meet the following requirements:

1. Have graduated from high school, have earned a Certificate of General Education Development (GED) or have passed the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE);
2. Have a qualifiable minimum eligibility index (see section on 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 also known as the “a-g” pattern (see “Subject Requirements”).

Eligibility Index - The eligibility index is the combination of the high school grade point average and scores on either the ACT or the SAT. Grade point averages (GPA) are based on grades earned in courses taken during the final three years of high school. Included in calculation of GPA are grades earned in all college preparatory “a-g” subject requirements, and bonus points for approved honors courses. Up to eight semesters of honors courses taken in the last three years of high school, including up to two approved courses taken in the 10th grade 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.

A CSU Eligibility Index (EI) can be calculated by multiplying a grade point average by 800 and adding your total score on the mathematics and critical reading scores of the SAT. Students who took the ACT, multiply your the grade point average by 200 and add 10 times the ACT composite score. Persons who are California high school graduates (or residents of California for tuition purposes) need a minimum index of 2900 using the SAT or 694 using the ACT. The Eligibility Index Table illustrates several combinations of required test scores and averages. The University has no current plans to include the writing scores from either of the admissions tests in the computation of the CSU Eligibility Index.

Persons who neither graduated from a California high school nor are a resident of California for tuition purposes need a minimum index of 3502 (SAT) or 842 (ACT). Graduates of secondary schools in foreign countries must be judged to have academic preparation and abilities equivalent to applicants eligible under this section. An applicant with a grade point average of 3.00 or above (3.61 for nonresidents) is not required to submit test scores. However, all applicants for admission are urged to take the SAT or ACT and provide the scores of such tests to each CSU to which they seek admission. Campuses use these test results for advising and placement purposes and may require them for admission to impacted majors or programs. Impacted CSU campuses require SAT or ACT scores of all applicants for freshman admission.

Provisional Admission

CI may provisionally admit first-time freshman applicants based on their academic preparation through the junior year of high school and planned coursework for the senior year. The campus will monitor the final terms of study to ensure that admitted students complete their secondary school studies satisfactorily, including the required college preparatory subjects, and graduate from high school. Students are required to submit an official transcript after graduation to certify that all course work has been satisfactorily completed. Official high school transcripts must be received prior to the deadline set by the University. In no case may documentation of high school graduation be received any later than the census date for a student’s first term of CSU enrollment. A campus may rescind admission decisions, cancel financial aid awards, withdraw housing contracts, and cancel any university registration for students who are found not to be eligible after the final transcript has been evaluated.

Applicants will qualify for regular (non-provisional) admission when the University verifies that they have graduated and received a diploma from high school, have a qualifiable minimum eligibility index, have completed the comprehensive pattern of college preparatory “a-g” subjects, and, if applying to an impacted program or campus, have met all supplementary criteria. The CSU uses only the ACT score or the SAT mathematics and critical reading scores in its admission eligibility equation. The SAT or ACT writing scores are not currently used by CSU campuses.

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.

• 2 years of social science, including 1 year of U.S. history, or U.S. history and government.
• 4 years of English.
• 3 years of math (algebra, geometry and intermediate algebra).
• 2 years of laboratory science (1 biological and 1 physical, both must include laboratory instruction).
• 2 years in the same foreign language (subject to waiver for applicants demonstrating equivalent competence).
• 1 year of visual and performing arts: art, dance, drama/ theater, or music.
• 1 year of electives: selected from English, advanced mathematics, social science, history, laboratory science, foreign language, visual and performing arts or other courses approved and included on the UC/CSU “a-g” list.

Eligibility Index Table for California High School Graduates or Residents of California

High School Students

High school students may 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 specific program and does not constitute a right to continued enrollment.

Transfer Policies of CSU campuses

Most commonly, college level credits earned from an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting agency is accepted for transfer to campuses of the CSU; however, authority for decisions regarding the transfer of undergraduate credits is delegated to each CSU campus.

California Community Colleges and other authorized certifying institutions can certify up to 39 semester (58.5 quarter) units of General Education-Breadth (GE-Breadth) or 37 semester (55.5 quarter) units of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) for transfer students to fulfill lower-division general education requirements for any CSU campus prior to transfer.

“Certification” is the official notification from a California Community College or authorized institution that a transfer student has completed courses fulfilling lower-division general education requirements. The CSU GE-Breadth and the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) certification course lists for particular community colleges can be accessed at www.assist.org.

CSU campuses may enter into course-to-course or program-to-program articulation agreements with other CSU campuses and any or all of the California community colleges, and other regionally accredited institutions. Established CSU and CCC articulations may be found on www.assist.org. Students may be permitted to transfer no more than 70 semester (105 quarter) units to a CSU campus from an institution which does not offer bachelor’s degrees or their equivalents, for example, community colleges. Given the university’s 30-semester (45-quarter) unit residency requirement, no more than a total of 90-semester (135-quarter) units may be transferred into the University from all sources.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants who have completed fewer than 60 transferable semester college units (fewer than 90 quarter units) are considered lower-division transfer students. Applicants who have completed 60 or more transferable semester college units (90 or more quarter units) are considered upper-division transfer students. Applicants who complete college units during high school or through the summer immediately following high school graduation are considered first-time freshmen and must meet the CSU minimum eligibility requirements for first-time freshman admission. Transferable courses are those designated for baccalaureate credit by the college or university offering the courses and accepted as such by the campus to which the applicant seeks admission.

Course Credit

For information regarding CI’s policies on the transfer of prior educational experiences, please refer to Course Credit in the Policies and Regulations section of the catalog.

Lower Division Transfer Requirements

Generally, applicants will qualify for CSU admission consideration as a lower-division transfer if they have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (C or better) in all transferable units attempted.

1. Will meet the freshman admission requirements (grade point average and subject requirements) in effect for the term to which they are applying (see “Freshman Requirements” section); or
2. Were eligible as a freshman at the time of high school graduation except for missing college preparatory subject requirements, have been in continuous attendance in an accredited college since high school graduation, and have made up the missing subject requirements with a 2.0 or better GPA.

Applicants who graduated from high school prior to 1988 should contact the Admissions office to inquire about alternative admission programs.

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, e.g., SAT subject tests.

Please consult with the CSU campus admission office to which you are applying for further information about alternative ways to satisfy the subject requirements.

Due to increased enrollment demands, most CSU campuses do not admit lower-division transfer applicants. CSU Channel Islands only accepts lower-division applications in the fall terms from pre-nursing majors.

Upper Division Transfer Requirements

Generally, applicants will qualify for consideration for upper-division transfer admission if they meet all of the following requirements:

1. The have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (C or better) in all transferable units attempted;
2. They are in good standing at the last college or university attended; and
3. They have completed at least sixty (60) transferable semester (90 quarter) units of college level coursework with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher and a grade C or better in each course used to meet the CSU general education requirements in written communication, oral communication, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning, e.g. mathematics.

The 60 units must include at least 30 units of courses, which meet CSU general education requirement including all of the general education requirements in communication in the English language (both oral and written) and critical thinking 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.

Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T)

California Community College students who earn an associate degree for transfer (AA-T or AS-T) are guaranteed admission with junior standing to the California State University but not to any particular campus or program. Because several CSU campuses are receiving more transfer applications from eligible students than can be accommodated, these campuses have declared impaction resulting in higher admission criteria. See more on impaction at www.calstate.edu/SAS/impactioninfo.shtml. However, transfer students who earn the AA-T or AS-T degrees, are given priority admission over other transfer applicants when applying to a non-impacted CSU campus or to a non-impacted program from a community college within the local admission area of the campus. These students are also given priority admission consideration when applying from a community college that is outside the local admission area of an impacted CSU campus or when applying to a similar program that is impacted at any CSU campus. A current list of CSU degree programs that have been deemed similar to the associate degrees for transfer can be found at www.calstate.edu/transfer/adt-search.

Those students who earn associate degrees for transfer and apply to a CSU campus but cannot be admitted due to impaction will be redirected to another CSU campus and offered admission for the same term. In order to qualify for the priority admission guarantee, transfer applicants must be conferred an approved Associate Degree for Transfer (AA- T/AS-T) by a California Community College, must apply for admission to California State University campuses for an open term by the published deadline, submit all requested transcripts and documents, meet CSU admission eligibility requirements for the campus and/or program, and must comply with any other prescribed admission requirements. It is the responsibility of these transfer students to provide documentation about the completion of the degree to each CSU campus that has received an application for admission.

For additional information:

• Contact your community college transfer center to find out how to meet the requirements for an AA-T/AS-T degree.
• Visit www.ADegreeWithAGuarantee.com for general information about the AA-T/AS-T program and to view a list of eligible CSU Channel Islands degrees.
• Recommended plans for completing the additional 60 semester units at CI are available on the Advising Center website.

Provisional Admission

CI may provisionally or conditionally 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. All accepted applicants are required to submit an official transcript of all college level work completed. Campuses may rescind admission for any student who is found not to be eligible after the final transcript has been evaluated. In no case may such documents be received and validated by the University any later than a student’s registration for their second term of CSU enrollment.

Test Requirements

Freshman and transfer applicants who have fewer than 60 semester or 90 quarter units of transferable college credit are strongly encouraged to submit scores, unless exempt (see “Eligibility Index”), from either the ACT or the SAT of the College Board. Persons who apply to an impacted program may be required to submit test scores and should take the test no later than November or December. Test scores also are used for advising and placement purposes. Registration forms and dates for the SAT or ACT are available from school or college counselors or from a CSU campus testing office.

Or students may write to or call:

English Language Requirement

All undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English and 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 500 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Some majors may require a score higher than 500. Some majors and some campuses may require a higher score. A few campuses may also use alternative methods of assessing English fluency: Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP). Each campus will post the tests it accepts on its website and will notify students after they apply about the tests it accepts and when to submit scores.

CSU Minimum TOEFL Standards are:

Systemwide Placement Test Requirements

The CSU requires that each entering undergraduate, except those who qualify for an exemption, take the CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) examination and the CSU English Placement Test (EPT) prior to enrollment. These placement tests are not a condition for admission to the CSU, but they are a condition of enrollment. These examinations are designed to identify entering students who may need additional support in acquiring college entry-level 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. Students placed in remedial programs in either English or mathematics must complete all remediation in their first year of enrollment. Failure to complete remediation by the end of the first year may result in denial of enrollment for future terms.

Students register for the EPT (www.csuenglishsuccess.org/ept) and/or ELM (www.csumathsuccess.org/elm_exam). Campus may establish deadlines by which new students must register for and/or take placement exams as a requirement for enrollment.

Questions about test dates and registration materials may be addressed to the Admissions office, CI, One University Drive, Camarillo, CA 93012, 805-437-8520.

English Placement Test (EPT)

The English Placement Test (EPT) is designed to assess the level of reading and writing skills of students entering the California State University. The CSU EPT must be completed by all nonexempt entering undergraduates prior to enrollment in any course, including remedial courses. Students who score 147 or above on the EPT will be placed in college-level composition classes.

Exemptions from the EPT are granted only to those who present proof of one of the following:

• A score of 500 or above on the critical reading section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test
• A score of 22 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) English Test
• A score of 3 or above on either the Language and Composition or Composition and Literature examination of the College Board Scholastic Advanced Placement Program
• Completion of a course that transfers to a CSU and satisfies the requirement in Qualitative Reasoning, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C or better
• A result of Standard Exceeded: Ready for CSU college-level coursework in English on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) exam

Directed Self Placement (DSP)

Directed Self Placement will be the only method used on the CI campus to place students into freshman composition courses. EPT scores will not be used. New students must take the EPT exam if they are not exempt. Students will be given guidance in Directed Self Placement during orientation and will select ENGL 105 - Composition and Rhetoric I  or the ENGL 102 - Stretch Composition I , ENGL 103 - Stretch Composition II  sequence. Completion of ENGL 105  or ENGL 102  plus ENGL 103  satisfies the freshman writing requirement.

Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Placement Examination

The Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Examination is designed to assess and measure the level of mathematics skills acquired through three years of rigorous college preparatory mathematics coursework (Algebra I and II, and Geometry) of students entering the California State University (CSU). The CSU ELM must be completed by all non-exempt entering undergraduates prior to enrollment in any course, including remedial courses. Students who score 50 or above on the ELM will be placed in college-level mathematics classes.

Exemptions from the ELM are granted only to those who present proof of one of the following:

• A score of 550 or above on the Mathematics section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test
• A score of 550 or above on a College Board SAT Subject Test in Mathematics (level 1 or level 2)
• A score of 23 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) Mathematics Test
• A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Calculus AB or Calculus BC exam
• A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Statistics examination
• Completion and transfer to CSU of a college course that satisfies the requirement in Quantitative reasoning, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C or better
• A result of Standard Exceeded: Ready for CSU college-level coursework in mathematics on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) exam

The following Conditionally Ready statuses require students to continue their preparation in the 12th grade by completing an approved math course with a grade of C or better. Students that do not meet the conditional requirement will need to participate in the CSU’s Early Start Program, unless exemption was met through another pathway.

• 490-540 on the Mathematics portion of the SAT Reasoning Test
• 20-22 on the Mathematics portion of the ACT exam
• A result of Standard Met: Conditionally Ready for college-level coursework in mathematics on the CAASPP exam

Early Start Program

Entering resident freshmen who are not proficient in math or English will need to start the remediation process before their first regular term.

The goals of Early Start Program are to:

• Better prepare students in math and English, before the fall semester of freshman year;
• Add an important and timely assessment tool in preparing students for college; and
• Improve students’ chances of successful completion of a college degree.

Newly admitted freshman students who are required to complete Early Start will be notified of the requirement and options for completing the program as part of campus communications to newly admitted students.

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 General Educational Development or California High School Proficiency Examinations).
2. Has not been enrolled in college as a full-time student for more than one term during the past five years.
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 space availability and a judgment as to whether the applicant is as 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. Due to limited availability, CSU Channel Islands currently does not accept students as adult students.

Graduation Requirement in Writing Proficiency

All students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. Information on currently available ways to meet this graduation requirement may be obtained from the Records and Registration office.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

The Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement will be satisfied through the completion of nine units of upper-division interdisciplinary general education courses, which are writing intensive. (SP 14-03)

Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

Graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants may apply for a degree objective, a credential or certificate objective, or where approved, 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 post baccalaureate 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 at the time of enrollment: (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 earned a grade point average of at least 2.5 on the last degree completed by the candidate or 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 appropriate campus authorities may prescribe. In unusual circumstances, a campus may make exceptions to these criteria.
• Students who meet the minimum requirements for graduate and post-baccalaureate studies may be considered for admission in one of the four following categories:
  • Graduate Classified - To pursue a graduate degree, applicants are required to fulfill all of the professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards, including qualifying examinations, prescribed by the campus; or
  • Graduate Conditionally Classified - Applicants may be admitted to a graduate degree program in this category if, in the opinion of appropriate campus authority, deficiencies may be remedied by additional preparation; or
  • Post-Baccalaureate Classified, e.g. admission to an education credential program - Persons wishing to enroll in a credential or certificate program, will be required to satisfy additional professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards, including qualifying examinations, prescribed by the campus; or
  • Post-Baccalaureate Unclassified - To enroll in undergraduate courses as preparation for advanced degree programs or to enroll in graduate courses for professional or personal growth, applicants must be admitted as post-baccalaureate unclassified students. By meeting the general requirements, applicants are eligible for admission as post-baccalaureate unclassified students. Admission in this status does not constitute admission to, or assurance of consideration for admission to, any graduate degree or credential program (most CSU campuses do not offer admission to unclassified post-baccalaureate students).

(These and other CSU admission requirements are subject to change as policies are revised and laws are amended. The CSU website www.calstate.edu and the CSU admissions portal www.csumentor.edu are good sources of the most up-to-date information.)

Graduate-Post-Baccalaureate English Language Requirement

All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose native language is not English and 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 postsecondary 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). Some programs require a higher score. Several CSU campuses may use alternative methods for assessing fluency in English including Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP).

Returning Students

Returning students who left CI for more than one semester and are still in good standing are expected to meet all admission requirements, deadlines, and procedures of new applicants.

International (Foreign) Student Admission Requirements

The CSU must assess the academic preparation of foreign students. For this purpose, “foreign students” include those who hold U.S. temporary visas as students, exchange visitors, or in other non-immigrant classifications.

The CSU uses separate requirements and application filing dates in the admission of “foreign students.” Verification of English proficiency (see the section on the English Language Requirement for undergraduate applicants), financial resources, and academic performance are each important considerations for admission. Academic records from foreign institutions must be on file at least six months in advance of enrollment for the first term and, if not in English, must be accompanied by certified English translations. Further information can be found at www.csuci.edu/exed/international.htm.

Other Applicants

Intrasystem and Intersystem Enrollment Programs

Fully matriculated students enrolled at any CSU campus have access to courses at other CSU campuses on a space available basis unless those campuses/programs are impacted. This access is offered without students being required to be formally admitted to the host campus and in most cases without paying additional fees. Students should consult their home campus academic advisors to determine how such courses may apply to their specific 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 Enrollment Center.

CSU Fully Online Courses

Matriculated students in good standing may request enrollment in one course per term, offered by a CSU host campus. Enrollment requests will be granted based on available space, as well as completion of any stated prerequisites. Credit earned at the host campus is electronically reported to the student’s 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 on a space available basis at another CSU campus for one term. Credit earned at the host campus is reported at the student’s request 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 on a “space available” basis 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. CI currently does not accept students for intersystem cross enrollment.

CSU Immunization Requirements

Entering CSU students are required to present proof of the following immunizations to the CSU campus they will be attending before the beginning of their first term of enrollment.

Measles and Rubella

All new and readmitted students born after January 1, 1957 must provide proof of immunization against measles and rubella prior to enrollment. Submit medical documentation to Student Health Services to verify both vaccinations were received since age one or obtain the vaccination at an additional charge through the Student Health Center.

Hepatitis B

All new students who will be 18 years of age or younger at the start of their first term at a CSU campus must provide proof of full immunization against Hepatitis B before enrolling. Full immunization against Hepatitis B consists of three timed doses of vaccine over a minimum 4 to 6 months period. If you need further details or have special circumstances, please consult the Student Health Center at 805-437-8828.

Meningococcal Disease Information

Each incoming freshman who will be residing in on-campus housing will be required to return a form indicating that they have received information about meningococcal disease and the availability of the vaccine to prevent contracting the disease and indicating whether or not the student has chosen to receive the vaccination.  This form is available at the Housing & Residential Education office, the Student Health Center or online through the CI website. Student Health Services provides the meningococcal vaccine for an additional fee.

The above are not admission requirements, but are required of students as conditions of enrollment in CSU.

Reservation

The University reserves the right to select its students and deny admission to the University or any of its programs as the University, in its sole discretion, determines appropriate based on an applicant’s suitability and the best interests of the University.