NOTE: This document is specific to the

2000-2002 printed catalog.

AADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITYFirst-time Freshmen ................................ 49Transfer Students .................................... 53Undergraduate Advising Procedures ...... 59General Education ................................. 63Graduate Studies .................................... 69

48 / ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO ADMISSION: FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN / 49

2.17 26 11702.16 27 11802.15 27 11802.14 27 11902.13 27 12002.12 27 12102.11 28 12202.10 28 12202.09 28 12302.08 28 12402.07 28 12502.06 29 12602.05 29 12602.04 29 12702.03 29 12802.02 29 12902.01 30 13002.00 30 1300

Below 2.0 doesnot qualify forregular admission

ADMISSION: FIRST-TIMEFRESHMEN

You will find the requirementsfor admission to CSUS and otherCSU campuses in the followingsection.

Contact your high school orcommunity college counselor or anadmission counselor at CaliforniaState University, Sacramento if youhave any questions.

FRESHMAN ADMISSIONREQUIREMENTS

You will qualify for regularadmission as a first-time freshmanif you:

• are a high school graduate,

• have a qualifying eligibilityindex (see Eligibility IndexTable), and

• have completed, with grades ofC or better, each of the coursesin the comprehensive pattern ofcollege preparatory subjectrequirements (see “SubjectRequirements”).

Eligibility IndexThe Eligibility Index is the

combination of your high schoolgrade point average and your scoreon either SAT I or the ACT. Yourgrade point average is based ongrades earned during your finalthree years of high school (exclud-ing physical education and militaryscience) and bonus points forapproved honors courses (see“Honors Courses”).

You can calculate the index bymultiplying your grade pointaverage by 800 and adding yourtotal score on the SAT I. Or, if youtook the ACT, multiply your gradepoint average by 200 and add tentimes the ACT composite score. Ifyou are a California high school

graduate (or a resident of Californiafor tuition purposes), you need aminimum index of 2900 using theSAT I or 694 using the ACT; theEligibility Index Table illustratesseveral combinations of requiredtest scores and averages.

If you neither graduated from aCalifornia high school nor are aresident of California for tuitionpurposes, you need a minimumindex of 3502 (SAT I) or 842 (ACT).

Honors CoursesUp to eight semesters of

approved honors courses takenin the last two years of high schoolcan be accepted. Each unit of Ain an honors course will receive atotal of 5 points; B, 4 points; andC, 3 points.

Test RequirementsFreshman applicants with grade

point averages below 3.00 (3.61for nonresidents) must submitscores from either the ScholasticAptitude Test of the College Board(SAT I) or the American CollegeTest (ACT). Applicants with gradepoint averages of 3.00 or above(3.61 for nonresidents) are exemptfrom the test requirements. How-ever, you are urged to take theSAT I or ACT since all campuses

* Requirements for admission to CSUS arein accordance with Title 5, Chapter 1,subchapter 3, of the California Code ofRegulations. If you are not sure of theserequirements you should consult a highschool or community college counselor orthe Admissions Office. Applications maybe obtained at any California high schoolor community college or from theAdmissions Office at any of the CSUcampuses.

Eligibility Index Table forCalifornia High School Graduates or Residents of California

2.80 14 6602.79 14 6702.78 14 6802.77 14 6902.76 15 7002.75 15 7002.74 15 7102.73 15 7202.72 15 7302.71 16 7402.70 16 7402.69 16 7502.68 16 7602.67 16 7702.66 17 7802.65 17 7802.64 17 7902.63 17 8002.62 17 8102.61 18 8202.60 18 820

2.59 18 8302.58 18 8402.57 18 8502.56 19 8602.55 19 8602.54 19 8702.53 19 8802.52 19 8902.51 20 9002.50 20 9002.49 20 9102.48 20 9202.47 20 9302.46 21 9402.45 21 9402.44 21 9502.43 21 9602.42 21 9702.41 22 9802.40 22 9802.39 22 990

2.38 22 10002.37 22 10102.36 23 10202.35 23 10202.34 23 10302.33 23 10402.32 23 10502.31 24 10602.30 24 10602.29 24 10702.28 24 10802.27 24 10902.26 25 11002.25 25 11002.24 25 11102.23 25 11202.22 25 11302.21 26 11402.20 26 11402.19 26 11502.18 26 1160

ACT SAT 1GPA Score Score

3.00 and abovequalifies withany score

2.99 10 5102.98 10 5202.97 10 5302.96 11 5402.95 11 5402.94 11 5502.93 11 5602.92 11 5702.91 12 5802.90 12 5802.89 12 5902.88 12 6002.87 12 6102.86 13 6202.85 13 6202.84 13 6302.83 13 6402.82 13 6502.81 14 660

ACT SAT 1GPA Score Score

ACT SAT 1GPA Score Score

ACT SAT 1GPA Score Score

ACT SAT 1GPA Score Score

use test results for advising andplacement purposes.

You may obtain registrationforms and the dates for either testfrom school or college counselorsor from a campus Testing Office.Testing information is also availableat the CSUS web page, www.csus.edu.Or, you may write to:

College Board SAT ProgramRegistration Unit, Box 6200Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6200(609) 771-7600www.collegeboard.org

American College TestingProgram (ACT)Registration Unit, P.O. Box 414Iowa City, Iowa 52243(319) 337-1270www.act.org

You will qualify for regularadmission when the universityverifies that you have a qualifyingeligibility index and will havecompleted the comprehensivepattern of college preparatorysubjects (and if applying to animpacted campus or programmeet supplementary criteria).Supplementary criteria will beused to select applicants if moreapplications are received in theinitial application filing period

50 / ADMISSION: FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO

than can be accommodated inspecific class level or programcategories. These criteria areannounced prior to the beginningof the application cycle.

Graduates of secondary schoolsin foreign countries must be judgedto have academic preparation andabilities equivalent to applicantseligible under this section.

Subject RequirementsThe California State University

requires that first-time freshmanapplicants complete, with grades ofC or better, a comprehensivepattern of college preparatorycourses totaling 15 units. A “unit”is one year of study in high school.

English, 4 years

Mathematics, 3 years: algebra,geometry, and intermediatealgebra

U.S. History or U.S. History andGovernment, 1 year

Science, 1 year with laboratory:biology, chemistry, physics, orother acceptable laboratoryscience

Foreign Language, 2 years in thesame language (subject towaiver for applicants demon-strating equivalent competence)

Visual and Performing Arts,1 year: art, dance, drama/theater, or music

Electives, 3 years: selected fromEnglish, advanced mathematics,social science, history, labora-tory science, foreign language,visual and performing arts, andagriculture

Subject Requirements:Alternative Admission/Flex Unit

An adjustment to first-timefreshman admission standardshas been approved through the2002-2003 academic year. Theadjustment accommodates appli-cants who lack up to one unit(one year) of visual and performingarts or foreign language (or onesemester of each), as long as theyhave completed 15 or more collegepreparatory units. This means

applicants must complete an extraunit in another area to offset themissing unit of visual and perform-ing arts or foreign language.

If admitted with up to one unit(one year) of visual and performingarts or foreign language missing,students will be required to completethe missing course by the end oftheir first year of CSU enrollment.They may complete the subject areadeficiency at high school duringthe summer prior to CSU enroll-ment or at a community college,CSU or other four-year college oruniversity during the first year ofenrollment. If not completed by theend of the first year, further enroll-ment at CSU will be limited tocompleting the missing one course.

Applicants seeking admission asfirst-time freshmen for the fall 2003or later terms will have the samepreparatory course requirementsfor admission to both the Califor-nia State University and theUniversity of California. Thepreparatory course admissionrequirements for both systems willbe the completion of the followingcourses with a grade of C or better:

• four years of English

• three years of math (algebra,geometry, and intermediatealgebra)

• two years of U.S. history orsocial science

• two years of laboratory science

• two years of foreign language

• one year of visual or performingarts and

• one year of electives chosenfrom one of the areas above.

InternationalBaccalaureate

California State University,Sacramento recognizes completionof the International Baccalaureate(IB) program as satisfying thecollege preparatory subjectrequirements for admission. Theapplicant’s high school GPA andscore on the ACT or SAT will alsobe used in determining eligibilityfor admission. (See also page 104.)

Foreign Language SubjectRequirement

The foreign language subjectrequirement may be satisfied byapplicants who demonstratecompetence in a language otherthan English equivalent to or higherthan expected of students whocomplete two years of foreignlanguage study. Consult with yourschool counselor or any CSUadmissions office for information.

Subject RequirementSubstitution for Studentswith Disabilities

Applicants with disabilities arestrongly encouraged to completecollege preparatory course require-ments if at all possible. If an applicantis judged unable to fulfill a specificcourse requirement because of hisor her disability, alternate collegepreparatory courses may be substi-tuted for specific subject requirements.

Substitutions may be authorizedon an individual basis after reviewand recommendation by theapplicant’s academic advisor orguidance counselor in consultationwith the director of a CSU disabledstudent services program. Althoughthe distribution may be slightlydifferent from the course patternrequired of other students, studentsqualifying for substitutions will stillbe held for 15 units of collegepreparatory study.

Students should be aware thatcourse substitutions may limit laterenrollment in certain majors,particularly those involving math-ematics. For further informationand substitution forms, please callthe director of disabled studentservices at your nearest CSUcampus.

Provisional AdmissionCalifornia State University,

Sacramento may provisionallyadmit first-time freshman appli-cants based on their academicpreparation through the junioryear of high school and plannedfor the senior year. The campuswill monitor the senior year ofstudy to ensure that those studentscomplete their senior year of

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO ADMISSION: FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN / 51

studies satisfactorily, including therequired college preparatory subjects,and graduate from high school.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTSThe CSU must assess the

academic preparation of foreignstudents. For this purpose, “foreignstudents” include those who holdU.S. visas as students, exchangevisitors, or in other nonimmigrantclassifications. Foreign visa studentsgraduating from U.S. high schoolsafter three years of attendance willbe admitted as freshmen under thesame requirements as graduates ofCalifornia high schools by use of theeligibility index.

Those graduating from foreignhigh schools (or from California highschools after less than three yearsof attendance) may be admitted iftheir achievement is equivalent tothat of eligible California highschool graduates.

TOEFL RequirementAll undergraduate applicants

regardless of citizenship, who donot have at least three years offull-time study in schools at thesecondary level or above, whereEnglish is the principal languageof instruction*, must present aminimum score of 510 or aboveon the Test of English as a ForeignLanguage (TOEFL). On the com-puter-based TOEFL test, theminimum score required is 180.Courses taken at colleges must bebaccalaureate level to qualify forfull-time status. (See admissionrequirements for undergraduateapplicants.)

Students seeking admission tograduate programs in Communica-tion Studies and Speech Pathologyand Audiology should have profi-ciency equivalent to a TOEFL scoreof 560 or 220 on the computer-based TOEFL test: those seekingadmission to the graduate programin English should have a proficiencyequivalent to a TOEFL score of 600(or 250); those seeking admission tothe International Affairs programshould have a proficiency equivalentto a TOEFL score of 570 (or 230); allother graduate programs require a

minimum of 550 or (213) TOEFLscore. (See also Graduate Studies,page 70.)

SPECIAL ADMISSIONCATEGORIES

Adult StudentsAs an alternate to regular admissioncriteria, an applicant who is 25 yearsof age or older may be consideredfor admission as an adult student ifhe/she meets all of the followingconditions:1. possesses a high school diploma

(or has established equivalencethrough either the Tests ofGeneral Educational Develop-ment or the California HighSchool Proficiency Examination);

2. has not been enrolled in collegeas a full-time student for morethan one term during the pastfive years; and

3. has earned a “C” average or better,if there has been any collegeattendance in the last five years.

Consideration will be basedupon a judgment as to whether theapplicant is as likely to succeed asa regularly admitted freshman andwill include an assessment of basicskills in the English language andmathematical computation.

Educational Opportunity ProgramEOP is designed to improve accessand retention of low-income andeducationally disadvantaged studentsamong California residents whowish to pursue a college education.It is designed as a special admis-sion and support program forstudents who possess the potentialand motivation to succeed.

VeteransVeterans of United States activeduty military service with honor-able discharges applying foradmission within four years oftheir date of discharge and whoare also California residents, maybe admitted as first-time freshmen,even though such applicants arenot otherwise eligible. Veteranswho wish to be admitted underthis provision should contact anadmission counselor.

High School Non-GraduatesApplicants over 18 years of age whohave not graduated from high schoolare considered for admission onlywhen their preparation in all otherways is such that CSU Sacramentobelieves their promise of academicsuccess is equivalent to that ofeligible California high schoolgraduates. These applicants may berequired to submit scores of the ACTor SAT I. Applicants should consultwith an admissions counselorconcerning eligibility for admission.

High School StudentsStudents still enrolled in high schoolwill be considered for enrollment incertain special programs if recom-mended by their principal and theappropriate campus departmentchair and if their preparation isequivalent to that required ofeligible California high schoolgraduates. Such admission is onlyfor a given program and does notauthorize the right to continuedenrollment. These programs include(1) Accelerated College Entrance(ACE) for talented students who canbenefit from accelerated academicstudies, (2) Capitol Center MESA forunder–represented students in CSUmathematics, engineering andscience programs, (3) the SpecialHigh School Student program forunderrepresented students majoringin programs other than mathemat-ics, engineering and science andapplicants who have been admittedto CSUS for a subsequent semester.Students accepted into theseprograms qualify for reduced fees(total of $5 per semester).

High school students other thanthose accepted into the aboveprograms may also enroll concur-rently in college courses withoutfee reduction upon approval ofparents, high school principal and

* CSUS interprets “where English was theprincipal language of instruction” tomean that a school is located in acountry where English is the nativelanguage (the daily medium of communi-cation of the majority of residents isEnglish), and that the students receiveacademic instruction in all subjects(except foreign language courses) at alllevels of education in English.

52 / ADMISSION: FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO

appropriate CSUS academicdepartment chairs.

Students interested in informa-tion on these programs shouldcontact the Office of Admissionsand Records at (916) 278-3901.

Applicants Not Regularly EligibleApplicants not admissible underone of the above provisions shouldenroll at a community college oranother appropriate institution inorder to meet eligibility require-ments. Only under the mostunusual circumstances and only byspecial action will such applicantsbe admitted to CSU Sacramento.

ADVANCED STANDINGCREDIT AND ADVANCEDPLACEMENT EXAMS

CSU Sacramento grants ad-vanced standing credit forsystem-approved, college-levelexaminations or courses taken bystudents while in high school.

• Students may be granted up to 6units for each Advanced Place-ment (AP) examination for whicha score of 3, 4, or 5 is earned.

• Students who pass both parts ofthe CSU English EquivalencyExamination (EEE) may earn 6

AP Subject Number of Units Applicable to CSU SacramentoGeneral Education Breadth Requirements.

Art: History of Art 3 semester units toward Area C2Biology 3 semester units toward Area B2Chemistry 6 semester units toward Areas B1 and B3Economics: Macroeconomics 3 semester units toward Area D1aEconomics: Microeconomics 3 semester units toward Area D1aEnglish: English Language & Composition 6 semester units toward Area A2 and C3English: English Literature & Composition 6 semester units toward Area A2 and C3French: French Language 6 semester units toward Area C3French: French Literature 6 semester units toward Area C3German Language 6 semester units toward Area C3Government and Politics: United States 3 semester units toward Area D1aGovernment and Politics: Comparative 3 semester units toward Area D1aHistory: European History 3 semester units toward Area C1History: United States History 3 semester units toward Area D3Latin: Vergil 3 semester units toward Area C3Latin: Latin Literature 3 semester units toward Area C3Mathematics: Calculus AB 3 semester units toward Area B4Mathematics: Calculus AB 3 semester units toward Area B4Music Theory 3 semester units toward Area C2Physics B 6 semester units toward Area B1 and B3Physics C (mechanics) 3 semester units toward Area B1 and B3Physics C (electricity and magnetism) 3 semester units toward Area B1 and B3Psychology 3 semester units toward Area D1aSpanish: Spanish Language 6 semester units toward Area C3Spanish: Spanish Literature 6 semester units toward Area C3Statistics 3 semester units toward Area B4

Advanced Placement Examinations in CSU General Education—Breadth CertificationThe following Advanced Placement examinations may be incorporated into certification of completion of CSUSGeneral Education-Breadth requirements by any participating institution. Students must have scored 3, 4 or 5 on anAdvanced Placement examination listed below to receive the credit indicated.

units of college credit, 3 units ofwhich will meet the GeneralEducation written compositionrequirement.

• Transferrable college coursescompleted as a high schoolstudent will be evaluated forpossible college credit uponreceipt of an official collegetranscript.