A little history....
The California State University is
the largest system of senior higher education in the country with 23 campuses.
Under the 1961 Master Plan for Higher Education, the CSU draws students from
the top third of California's high school graduates, and prioritizes admission
to eligible upper division California Community College transfer students. The
CSU has more than 430,000 students, 42,000 employees, and 2 million alumni.
The CSU confers 65 percent of California's business B.A.s, 52 percent of its
agricultural business and agricultural engineering B.A.s. It provides
bachelors' degrees to teachers and education staff (87 percent), criminal
justice workers (89 percent), social workers (87 percent), and public
administrators (82 percent). Altogether, about half of the bachelor's degrees
and a third of the master's degrees awarded annually in California are from the
CSU.
The CSU is one of the nation's most diverse higher educational institutions.
The CSU, the University of California, and the California Community College
systems comprise the state-supported systems of higher education in California.
In addition, there are more than 75 independent non-profit universities. For
more information about the CSU, see www.calstate.edu or www.californiacolleges.edu.
Freshman Admission Requirements
It is easy to understand
the California State University admission requirements for California
residents. Admission offices at the 23 campuses use three factors to determine
eligibility.
Most applicants who are
admitted meet the standards in each of the following areas:
Many CSU campuses have higher
standards for particular majors or for students who live outside the
local admission area. Because of the number of students who apply, several campuses have higher standards
(supplementary admission criteria) for all applicants. Many CSU
campuses utilize local admission guarantee policies for students who graduate
or transfer from high schools and community colleges that are historically
served by a CSU campus in that region. You may review the CSU Local Admission Areas for each campus
here.
1. a-g Courses
The CSU requires a
minimum 15-unit pattern of courses for admission as a first-time freshman. Each
unit is equal to a year of study in a subject area. A grade of C or
better is required for each course you use to meet any subject requirement.
|
Area
|
Subject
|
Years
|
|
a.
|
History and Social
Science (including 1 year of
U.S. history or 1 semester of U.S. history and 1 semester of civics or
American government AND 1 year of social science)
|
2
|
|
b.
|
English (4 years of college preparatory English
composition and literature)
|
4
|
|
c.
|
Math (4 years recommended) including Algebra I,
Geometry, Algebra II, or higher mathematics (take one each year)
|
3
|
|
d.
|
Laboratory Science (including 1 biological science and 1
physical science)
|
2
|
|
e.
|
Language Other than
English (2 years of the same
language; American Sign Language is applicable - See below about a possible waiver of
this requirement)
|
2
|
|
f.
|
Visual and Performing
Arts (dance, drama or
theater, music, or visual art)
|
1
|
|
g.
|
College Preparatory
Elective (additional year
chosen from the University of California
"A-G" list)
|
1
|
|
Total Required Courses
|
|
2. Grades and Test Scores
The grades you earn in
high school are the most important factor in CSU admission decisions. Your high
school grade point average is calculated using your grades in all your college
prep "a-g" classes completed after the 9th grade.
Test scores are required
unless you have a grade point average above 3.0 and are a resident of
California. The CSU uses a calculation called an eligibility index that
combines your high school grade point average with the score you earn on either
the SAT or ACT tests. Even if you have a GPA above 3.0, it is useful to take
either an SAT or ACT as the score may indicate if you do not need to take
English and math placement tests after you are admitted and before you enroll
at the CSU. The eligibility index for out-of-state
students is higher and admission requirements for international
students are somewhat different.
While SAT/ACT test
scores are not required to establish the admission eligibility of California
residents with high school grade point averages of 3.00 or above (nonresidents
3.61 or above), impacted campuses and impacted first-time freshmen enrollment
categories often include test scores among the supplemental criteria required of
all applicants to those campuses and enrollment categories.
If you have your high
school GPA and the results of your SAT or ACT test, then you can calculate your
eligibility index. From there you can quickly see whether you meet the minimum
admission standards. Remember, some campuses have higher standards for
particular majors or those students who live outside the local campus area.
ACT
The CSU does not
require the score from the Writing Test for admission purposes.
SAT
Scores from the Writing
section will not be used for admission purposes to the CSU.
3. Graduation from High School
How to apply...
*If you meet all of the above criteria, please visit www.csumentor.edu starting October 1st through November 30th of your senior year! |
Additional Exam Placement Information for the CSU
English Placement (EPT) Exam
The CSU requires new students to be tested in English as soon as possible after
they are admitted and before enrolling at a CSU campus. The test is used to
determine whether students are prepared for college work; and if they are not,
to place the students in appropriate remediation courses or activities.
Students may be exempt from the test if they have scored well on other
specified tests or have completed appropriate courses.
PURPOSE OF THE 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
baccalaureate courses. Those undergraduate students who do not demonstrate
college-level skills will be enrolled in courses or programs designed to help
them gain these skills. (The test is not part of the admission requirements
to the CSU, but it is a condition of enrollment if the student is not exempt.)
Students may take the EPT only once. It may not be repeated. There is an $18
charge to take the test.
WHO MUST TAKE THE EPT
The CSU EPT must be completed by all non-exempt 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:
|
Test
|
EPT Exemption Score
|
**EPT Conditional Exemption Score
|
|
*New SAT
|
550 or more on the Evidenced Based Reading and Writing SAT test
|
510 - 540 on the Evidenced Based Reading and Writing SAT test
|
|
Old SAT
|
500 or more on the Critical Reading section
|
460 - 490 on the Critical Reading section
|
|
ACT
|
22 or more on the English Test
|
19 - 21 on the English Test
|
|
AP
|
3 or more on either the Language & Composition or Literature & Composition exam
|
N/A
|
- Completion and transfer to CSU of the
credits for a college course that satisfies the CSU General Education
requirement in English Composition, provided such a course was completed
with a grad of C or better
- A score of "Exempt" or
"Ready for college-level English courses" on the CSU Early
Assessment Program (EAP) taken along with the English Language Arts
California Standard Test in grade 11
To support you in preparing to meet the EPT Requirement, the California State
University has developed the English Success Website.
Entry Level Math (ELM) Exam
The CSU requires new students to be tested in mathematics as soon as possible
after they are admitted and before enrolling at CSU. The test is used to
determine whether students are prepared for college work; and if they are not,
to place the students in appropriate remediation courses or activities.
Students may be exempt from this test if they have scored well on other
specified tests or have completed appropriate courses. (This test is not
part of CSU admission requirements, but is a condition of enrollment if the
student is not exempt.) There is an $18 charge to take the test.
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:
To support you in
preparing to meet the ELM Requirement, the California State University has
developed the Math Success Website.