You are in the official 1998-99 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
You are in the official 1998-99 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Program Planning and Registration
Freshmen should plan their programs early, beginning, when practical,
with the selection of a major. Degree requirements in each major are listed
under the appropriate department. Major information sheets are available
for most of our majors. If you are undecided about a major, indicate Undeclared
on the appropriate forms until a definite decision is reached. For general
information, see Degrees and Credentials.
Depending on the major department's procedure, an academic adviser is assigned
to each student, or selected by the student. Undeclared majors are advised
by the Office of Advising Services.
It is recommended that all students meet with a faculty adviser once
each semester before registering for classes. A faculty adviser assists
the student in planning an academic program, but the primary responsibility
for meeting all graduation requirements is the student's.
Recommended Preparation
Freshmen. Overall excellence of performance in high
school subjects and evidence of academic potential provide the basis for
admission at California State University, Fresno.
Since certain academic majors require high school preparation in definite
subjects, the student should consult the requirements indicated in the field
of his or her choice.
In university majors, such as engineering, natural science, mathematics,
social science and humanities, a maximum number of high school credits should
be obtained in appropriate preparatory subjects.
Transfer Students. Students intending to transfer to California State
University, Fresno should plan their programs while attending other colleges
to meet our General Education and major degree requirements. Students transferring
from a California community college should complete as many of the CSU General
Education requirements of that college as possible while keeping in mind
that a maximum of 70 transferable units is allowed from two-year institutions
(community/junior colleges). For more information, visit the California
Articulation Web site. A General Education Certification (requested
only from California public community/junior colleges and California State
University campuses) should be sent to California State University, Fresno
along with the final transcripts. Earning an A.A. or A.S. degree does not
necessarily mean one has fulfilled CSU admission and/or General Education
requirements.
After admission to California State University, Fresno, transfer students
with a declared major, entering with 40 or more units will receive a copy
of their advanced standing evaluation, indicating how previous college units
have been applied toward degree requirements at California State University,
Fresno. Questions about one's evaluation should be directed to the student's
adviser or the Evaluations Office. It is recommended that transfer students
bring with them an unofficial copy of all previous college transcripts and
their CSU General Education Certification when attending New Student Orientation
and Advising Day to ensure accurate advising.
The California Articulation Number (CAN) identifies some of the transferable,
lower-division, introductory (preparatory) courses commonly taught on California
college campuses. The system assures students that CAN courses on one participating
campus will be accepted "in lieu of" the comparable CAN course
on another participating campus. For example: CAN ECON 2 on one campus will
be accepted for CAN ECON 2 on every other participating campus. Each campus
retains its own numbering system, but adds the CAN designation parenthetically
in its publications. In this catalog, the CAN is listed parenthetically
at the end of the course description.
It is expected that most campuses throughout the state will qualify courses
to use the California Articulation Numbers. Check with academic advising
offices or articulation officers for current listings of CAN courses and
campuses participating in the CAN system. A CAN Catalog listing campuses
and courses is published biannually.
Registration
Registration is open to new and returning students who have been admitted
and to continuing students in good standing. Former California State University,
Fresno students returning after an absence of one semester or more must
apply for readmission, subject to university enrollment limitations and
filing deadlines. Students who are returning after an absence of two semesters
or more, and those who have been absent one semester and who have attended
another institution since last registered at California State University,
Fresno are required to pay the $55 application fee when applying. The Academic
Calendar lists dates of registration.
Registration is complete only when all class selection through Student
Telephone Assisted Registration (STAR) is finalized and all fees are paid.
Payment of the initial registration fee is not allowed after the end of
the first week of instruction. See the Academic Calendar
for all deadline dates.
Registration priority for all students is determined by the number of academic
units completed with limited exceptions. After a priority group is processed,
then first-time freshmen register, followed by students with the highest
number of completed units.
Registration in courses offered by some schools or departments may be
restricted to students officially enrolled in certain majors and/or class
levels. It is essential that each student's current major be correctly recorded
in the university's records. Failure to do so may result in enrollment difficulties.
It is the student's responsibility to be sure his or her major is correct
as it appears each semester on the Telephone Registration (STAR) mailer
and the Enrollment mailer. Undergraduate major changes can be made at the
Admissions/Records service windows, Joyal Administration Building, North
Lobby; postbaccalaureate and graduate changes at the Graduate Admissions
Office; and international student changes at the International Admissions
Office.
Schedule of Courses. An official Schedule of Courses is published
each semester listing registration procedures, courses offered, class hours
and locations, and other important deadlines and updated policy changes
as applicable. The schedule is available prior to registration and may be
purchased at the Kennel Bookstore for a nominal cost.
Concurrent Registration at a Non-CSU College or University. While
enrolled at California State University, Fresno, students may enroll for
additional courses at another institution outside the CSU system with the
written approval of the student's academic adviser. Such approval must be
granted prior to the beginning of classes at the other institution. The
courseload in the combined enrollment program may not exceed the maximum
unit load restrictions for California State University, Fresno. The completed
form must be filed by the end of the first week of instruction at the public
contact windows, North Lobby, Joyal Administration Building.
Concurrent Registration at Another CSU Campus. A continuing undergraduate
student who has completed a minimum of one semester of 12 units on the Fresno
campus and is in good standing (2.0 grade point average), or a graduate
student who has been and is in an authorized graduate program in good standing
may enroll concurrently at another CSU campus without any additional fees.
Complete information is available in the Office of the Registrar.
Visitor Registration at Another CSU Campus. A continuing undergraduate
student who has completed a minimum of one semester of 12 units and is in
good standing or a continuing graduate student who has completed one semester
and is admitted to an authorized graduate program may register and pay fees
at another CSU campus for one semester without applying for admission to
that campus. Complete information is available in the Office of the Registrar.
Full-time/Part-time Students. Students taking at least 75 percent
of the normal academic load are considered full-time students. Since the
normal academic load is 15 semester hours, students carrying 12 or more
semester hours are full-time students. For purposes of financial aid, graduate
-level courses are weighted for graduate students. Each graduate unit attempted
by a graduate student is considered as 1.5 units.
Full-time (12 or more units)
Three-quarter time (9 to 11.5 units)
Half-time (6 to 8.5 units)
Excess Unit/Enrollment Restrictions Undergraduate. Undergraduate
students are cautioned against registering for more than 18 units without
consulting with an adviser, since more than 18 units is generally considered
to be an academic overload. A limit of 16 units applies to graduate students.
See the Schedule of Courses for details.
To register for 19 units, an undergraduate student must have an overall
grade point average of 2.5; for 20 to 22 units, a student must have an overall
grade point average of 3.0. Exceptions to these limits must be approved
by the chair of the student's major department. An absolute limit of 22
units (excluding credit by examination units) is enforced which may be waived
only with the approval of the dean of the school of the student's major.
An academic department may restrict enrollment by requiring students to
drop a class if the student has been disqualified from the major or the
student has not achieved a C average in the major or has not met the stated
course prerequisites. This is especially true in academic areas that are
impacted or are in high demand.
Enrollment in upper-division courses is normally restricted to students
with junior, senior, or graduate standing or who have the necessary prerequisites.
Exceptions are subject to the approval of the instructor and department
chair. Only students who have been fully approved for admission to credential
programs may enroll in certain education courses and qualify for a school
service credential on the basis of the university's recommendation.
Credit in any course is also subject to all restrictions that may appear
in our General Catalog.
Excess Units/Enrollment Restrictions Postbaccalaureate/Graduate.
To enroll in 17 or more units, master's degree students must demonstrate
a GPA of 3.0 or better; credential students must demonstrate a minimum GPA
equivalent to the admission standards of their individual credential program.
However, if the credential program requires enrollment in graduate-level
(200-series) coursework, the students must demonstrate a 3.0 GPA or better.
Second baccalaureate/second undergraduate major/nonobjective students may
enroll in 19 units if they possess a GPA of 2.5; 3.0 for 20-22 units. Graduate-level
(200-series) courses are unavailable to second baccalaureate/major and nonobjective
students.
Change of Major. Each undergraduate student who wishes to change
his or her major must do so in the Admissions/Records Service Windows, Joyal
Administration Building, North Lobby to initiate the procedure. International
students report to the International Admissions Office. Graduate and postbaccalaureate
students should report to the Graduate Admissions Office.
Adding and Dropping Courses. A student is held responsible for the
program of courses in which he or she is officially registered. A student
is urged to consult an adviser before making a program change. If the class
is dropped before the end of the fourth week of classes, the course is not
recorded on the permanent record. The end of the fourth week is defined
as the end of the 20th instructional day of the semester. Consult the current
Schedule of Courses for specific add/drop instructions, procedures,
and deadlines.
Adding Courses. Once registered, a student may add courses through
the end of the second week of instruction.
Dropping Courses. Through the second week of instruction, a student
may drop courses without a serious and compelling reason.
After the seventh day of instruction, a student may drop a course only for
a serious and compelling reason that makes it impossible for the student
to complete course requirements. A serious and compelling reason is defined
as a medical, emotional, or other condition acceptable to and verified by
the dean of the school in which the course is offered. The condition must
be stated in writing on the drop form. Upon signing the form, the course
instructor may add a written recommendation to the school dean in the space
provided. The dean may require that the student provide written substantiation
as deemed necessary. Failing or performing poorly in a class is not an acceptable
serious and compelling reason within the university policy, nor is dissatisfaction
with the subject matter, class, or instructor.
During the final four weeks of instruction, dropping an individual course
is not permitted. Instead, a student must completely withdraw unless special
approval is given by the registrar in cases such as accident or illness
where the cause of the drop is due to circumstances beyond the student's
control. If the student has completed a significant portion of the required
coursework, incomplete grades are often assigned.
Complete Withdrawal. A student may totally (completely) withdraw
from all courses through the last day of instruction. Complete withdrawal
is not permitted during the final examination period. If a student withdraws
through the first four weeks of instruction, only the date of withdrawal
is posted on the permanent record. If the student withdraws after the first
four weeks, a W is posted for each class as well as the official
date of withdrawal. For purposes of subsequent registration and catalog
determination, students are considered as having been enrolled for that
semester.
A student who withdraws from the university in good academic standing (not
disqualified) is eligible to enroll the following semester without reapplying
for admission. A student remaining unenrolled at the university for only
one semester and not enrolling at another accredited institution during
the interim must apply for readmission, may use the short application form
available from the Admissions Office, and is not required to pay the application
fee. However, a student attending another accredited institution or not
enrolled for two or more consecutive semesters must reapply and pay the
application fee. Contact the Office of Advising Services or the Evaluations
Office regarding possible consequences if you remain away from California
State University, Fresno more than one calendar year.
Consult the current Schedule of Courses for specific withdrawal instructions,
procedures and deadlines.
Nonattendance. During the first week of classes, it is the responsibility
of students to attend each class meeting of courses in which they are enrolled.
Students absent from any class meeting during this period are responsible
for personally contacting their instructor by the next class meeting to
request being retained in the class.
In addition, as a courtesy to other students attempting to add and as a
courtesy to the faculty, students who decide to drop a class should do so
immediately by using the STAR system. Students must not assume that instructors
will exercise their option to submit the Administrative Withdrawal Form.
In short, it still is the responsibility of the student to withdraw properly
from any class he/she does not intend to complete. Failure to withdraw will
result in the assignment of the appropriate failing grade, U or NC.
Further, in order to permit students on waiting lists to enroll in a class,
instructors may drop from their classes students who are absent from any
class session during the first week of classes and do not personally notify
the instructors by the next class meeting of their intent to remain in the
course.
Admissions, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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