Catalog Year
Catalog rights
It is imperative that a student determines his/her catalog year before enrolling in courses. The catalog year establishes the contract of degree requirements the student needs to fulfill in order to graduate. In other words, one's catalog year will clearly outline what courses are needed in order to graduate. Degree requirements may vary from catalog to catalog, therefore it is important to establish which catalog a student will follow to ensure the student on the correct path toward graduation.
How to Determine Catalog Rights
If a student has only attended Fresno State:
A student who has only attended Fresno State, such as first-time freshman, has two options for catalog choices:
Entrance Catalog |
The catalog in effect when the student enters California State University, Fresno and maintains continuous enrollment. |
Graduation Catalog |
The catalog in effect when the student plans to graduate from Fresno State. |
If a student is a transfer student from an out-of-state institution, private institution, or University of California System:
This transfer student has the following two options for catalog choices:
Entrance Catalog |
The catalog in effect when the student enters California State University, Fresno and maintains continuous enrollment. |
Graduation Catalog |
The catalog in effect when the student plans to graduate from Fresno State. |
If a student is a transfer student from a California State University or California Community College:
A transfer student has the following three options for catalog choices:
Transfer Catalog |
The catalog in effect when the student began continuous enrollment in a CCC or other CSU (defined below). |
Entrance Catalog |
The catalog in effect when the student enters California State University, Fresno, with continuous enrollment. |
Graduation Catalog |
The catalog in effect when the student plans to graduate from Fresno State. |
What is "continuous enrollment"?
Continuous enrollment, also known as continuous attendance, begins once you have graduated from high school and enroll in any California Community College (CCC) or California State University (CSU). You can maintain continuous enrollment and your catalog year as long as you are officially enrolled in at least one semester or two quarters during a calendar year (January through December), regardless of the number of units completed.
Do private colleges, out-of-state colleges, or schools in the University of California system establish catalog rights or count for continuous enrollment?
No. Continuous enrollment for catalog rights can only begin once you have enrolled in the California Community College or California State University (CSU) system.
What happens if a student goes to a school other than a California Community College or California State University, Fresno?
After students have established catalog rights by attending a California Community College or CSU, they may attend a college not included in those two systems, such as UC Merced, Fresno Pacific, or Oregon State, for up to two years at a time, without losing their catalog rights, if they return immediately to a CSU or CCC.
If students take college courses in high school, does this count for continuous enrollment?
Students can apply those college courses to California State University, Fresno graduation requirements, but their catalog rights do not begin until they have graduated from high school and started their first term as a matriculated student at a California State University or a California Community College.
What is a "split" catalog?
There are some unique cases when a student can meet major (and minor) requirements under one catalog and G.E. requirements under another. This is referred to as a "split catalog." The request to use General Education requirements from an older catalog needs to be petitioned and approved through the Student Academic Petitions Committee. Make an appointment with an academic counselor in the Office of Advising Services , Joyal Administration Building, Room 224, 278-1787, for additional information.