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Office of Academic Advising

Enrollment Tutorial

Welcome to Academic Advising

This Tutorial is designed to ensure you have and understand the courses/requirements needed to earn your bachelor's degree from CSUSM, as well as the tools needed to identify and self-enroll in your first semester courses. Please complete this Tutorial so you are ready to self-enroll in your classes.

New Students (admitted Spring 2022), check back soon for an updated Enrollment Tutorial!

Click the "plus icon" icon below to expand each section.

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  • GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

    There are 3 components to earning a degree at CSUSM: University Requirements, General Education Requirements and Major and/or Minor Requirements.

    components pie chart

    COMPONENT 1: UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS

    Diversity & Equity Requirement:

    Students must satisfy two Diversity and Equity requirements by taking two courses certified for Diversity and Equity in the United States (DEu) and Diversity and Equity in Global Contexts (DEg). Diversity and Equity certified courses can double-count with other general education, major, minor and/or elective courses.

    Minimum Grade Point Average:

    Grades for major and/or minor coursework must be a “C” or higher.
    Students at CSUSM must maintain a 2.0 minimum GPA (“C” average).
    Failure to maintain a 2.0 GPA may result in academic probation or disqualification, even after your first semester!

    Unit Requirement:

    The minimum number of overall units required to graduate at CSUSM is 120 units. After you have completed all of your general education and major requirements, you may still need additional electives to reach 120 units.

    COMPONENT 2: GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

    General Education requirements are referred to as Areas A through E. You must complete all subsections of these areas prior to graduation. You can review your GE Requirements on our GE Worksheets, your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) and your Degree Planner.

    Area A: Basic Skills

    A1 – Oral Communication
    A2 – Written Communication
    A3 – Critical Thinking

    Area B: Math & Science

    B1 – Physical Science
    B2 – Biological Science
    B3 – Science Lab
    B4 – Mathematics
    BB – Upper-division Mathematics or Science

    Area C: Arts & Humanities

    C1 – Fine Arts 
    C2 – Humanities
    C3 – Language other than English
    CC – Upper-division Arts or Humanities

    Area D: Social Sciences

    D7 – Interdisciplinary Social Science (only transfer students need to take D7)
    Dh – United States History
    Dc, Dg – U.S. Constitution/CA Government 
    DD – Upper-division Social Science

    Area E: Lifelong Learning

    For Area E, the majority of first year students take GEL 101, a course designed to assist in your transition to university life. We strongly recommend that first years students enroll in GEL 101 in the first semester. Liberal Studies – Elementary Subject Matter should take PE 203 for Area E. 

    Area F: Ethnic Studies

    Only first-time freshmen are required to take an Area F course.

    Notes about your General Education Requirements:

    • A grade of C- or higher is required for courses used to satisfy the A1, A2, A3 and B4. If any general education courses are also counting towards your major and/or minor, a grade of C or higher is required. For Liberal Studies – Elementary Subject Matter majors, all General Education requirements and major courses must be passed with a C or higher. 
    • There are 3 upper-division GE courses listed above (BB, CC, DD). These requirements are not to be taken until after you have completed GE Areas A1, A2, A3 and B4. First year students should not enroll in BB, CC or DD courses in their first semester.

    COMPONENT 3: MAJOR AND/OR MINOR REQUIREMENTS

    Every major and minor possesses their own particular set of requirements. They are listed in the catalog, major/minor worksheets, Academic Requirement Report and in your Degree Planner.  Your Degree Planner will let you know which classes to take and when. 

  • UNIT LOAD

    Setting a Pace That's Right for You

    It's important you consider the other factors of your life when selecting your unit load. Different students require different paces, depending on outside obligations. Be sure to set a pace that works best for you.

    First Year Student
    Graduation Goal 
    (entering as a first-year student)    		 Units Per Year Units Per Semester
    4  year pace 30 15
    5 year pace 24 12
    6 year pace 20 10
    Transfer Student
    Graduation Goal 
    (entering as an upper-division transfer student)    		 Units Per Year Units Per Semester
    2 year pace for ADT students 30 15
    2 year pace for non-ADT 30 15

    pace

  • HOW TO ENROLL IN CLASSES

    Enrolling in Classes:

    Enrollment videos are based on the Full Site view in the Student Center. If you are on a mobile device using the modernized view, you will need to select the Full Site view. (Visiting the Student Center in Full Site View PDF)

    The videos below will walk you through the process for enrolling in your first semester classes.  

    For additional step-by-step help see Enrollment Instructions Visual Aid (PDF)  

  • HOW TO ENROLL FAQs
    Show All
    • Where do I find what classes I need to take?
       Your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) shows you all the requirements needed for graduation.  Your Degree Planner lists your remaining requirements in a suggested semester by semester plan.  Click on the How to Enroll in Classes tab above to find information for how to use your ARR and Degree Planner. 
    • What if classes on my Degree Planner are full?
      If the classes in your degree planner are full, review Still Looking For Classes? for strategies to finalize your schedule. 
    • How do I waitlist a class?
      1. During the enrollment process or in the Shopping Cart, click on the class to view course details. 
      2. Under Class Preferences, check the Waitlist if Class is Full box. 
      3. Click Next. 
      4. Click Proceed to Step 2 of 3. 
      5. Click Finish Enrolling. 

      Your waitlist position number is displayed in the message. Check My Class Schedule to monitor waitlist position and enrollment status. More info: Waitlisting a Class  

    • How do I know if I’m enrolled or waitlisted in classes?
      In your Student Center, on your enroll screen, you will see a green check if you are enrolled and a yellow triangle if you are waitlisted.  You can also check ‘My Class Schedule’ to see if you are enrolled or waitlisted as well as your position on the waitlist.
    • What if I get an error message that says “prerequisite needed”?
      Some classes require a prerequisite course to be completed before you can enroll.  If you have not taken the prerequisite, you will need to take that first.  If you receive this error message and believe that you have taken the prerequisite course, follow these instructions to get a prerequisite waiver. Please note that approval to override prerequisites does not guarantee enrollment into a course. 
    • What if I get an error message that says “over unit limit”?

      Students may enroll in up to 16 units and waitlist up to 10 units. 

      On August 16 at 3:00pm the enrollment limit increases to 19 units.

    • What if I get an error message that says I "need a permission number"?
      Some classes require that you get permission from the instructor to enroll in that class.  Follow these instructions to get a permission number. 
    • What if I get an error message that says I don’t meet the reserved seat requirement?

      You may receive a message stating the class you are attempting to enroll in has reserved seats for students in particular majors or minors. Some will include the date that the class opens to all students.  You can place yourself on the course waitlist to be added when open seats become available to all students. 

      Helpful Hint: Reviewing class notes carefully can be a very helpful part of your enrollment experience as these notes will reveal important information about the class. 

    • What important dates do I need to be aware of?
      Important dates for the fall 2021 semester can be found on our Fall 2021 Enrollment Calendar.  
    • How do I know what the class format/mode of instruction means?

      Each class will provide information regarding the mode of instruction or class format. Please visit our page with information on instruction modes and class formats for the fall 2021 semester.  

      Helpful Hint: Keep in mind, your first goal is to enroll in the Fall 21 classes suggested by your Degree Planner. Flexibility is key! Not all courses will be offered in your preferred instruction mode.  

    • I am having difficulty enrolling in MATH 105, what should I do?

      There are particular supplemental courses called MATH 5 that are uniquely paired with each section of MATH 105. See chart below.

      Only enroll in MATH 105/5 if suggested in your Degree Planner.

      math105

    • I am having difficulty enrolling in GEW 101A, what should I do?

      There are particular supplemental courses called GEW 100 that are uniquely paired with each section of GEW 101A. You must place both GEW 101A and GEW 100 paired sections in shopping cart first before finishing enrollment steps to avoid errors.  See chart below for pairings.

      Only enroll in GEW 101A/GEW 100 if suggested in your Degree Planner. 

      If GEW 101B is suggested, take it instead. It does not have a supplemental course.

      See new sections listed  below as New! 6/29/21 indicating a newly opened pairing of GEW 101A and 100.

      Also please note that there are three GEW 101A sections that are not available to new students.  These are: GEW 101A sections: 10, 11 and 12.

      IMPORTANT: You MUST place both GEW 101A and GEW 100 paired sections in shopping cart first before finishing enrollment steps to avoid errors!

      Section

      5-Digit Course Record Number

      If this section of GEW 101A

      1

      42771

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      1

      42762
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      2

      42772

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      2

      42763
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      3

      42773

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      3

      42764
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      4

      42775

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      4

      42765
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      5

      42776

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      5

      42766
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      6

      42777

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      6

      42767
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      7

      42779

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      7

      42768
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      8

      42784

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      8

      42769
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      9

      42786

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      9

      42770
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      13

      44003

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      11

      44001
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      14

      44004

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      12

      44003
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      15

      44023 

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      13

      44015 
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      16

      44024 

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      14

      44016 
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      17

      44025 

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      15

      44017 
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      18

      44026 

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      16

      44018 
           

      If this section of GEW 101A

      19

      44027 

      Also take this section of GEW 100:

      17

      44019 
           
      If this section of GEW 101A 20 44082 New! 7/21/21
      Also take this section of GEW 100: 20 44080 New! 7/21/21
           
      If this section of GEW 101A 21 44083 New! 7/21/21
      Also take this section of GEW 100: 21 44081 New! 7/21/21
    • Why are some courses showing up as required in my Schedule Assistant?
      Some courses in the Degree Planner will be labeled as ‘Required’ in Schedule Assistant. They are labeled this way because they are strongly recommended or required for that term of enrollment. For instance, classes that fulfill General Education Area A2 Written Communication and B4 Mathematics are marked as ‘Required’ for many first-year students. You are strongly encouraged to enroll in these classes as Area A2 and Area B4 must be satisfied in a freshman’s first year. 
    • I'm a transfer student. How do I know what units transferred in?
      You can view your transfer and test credit units in your student center.    
    • I’m a transfer student and my degree planner is suggesting a class that I’ve already taken. What should I do?

      It is possible that your transfer credit may not yet be posted to your records. Transcripts are entered and posted in priority order based on when you submitted your intent to enroll and when your transcripts were received.  It can take up to three weeks for transcripts to be processed.  

      On rare occasions, students have taken coursework outside of the California Community College system that may meet major specific requirements. If your transfer credit is up-to-date and you have taken courses at another institution that you believe satisfies a major or minor requirement, please submit a Major Course Approval Request.   

    • Why am I having trouble enrolling in CHEM 150/150L?

      To enroll in CHEM 150 and 150L there must be a seat available in each of the 3 components of the class: Lecture, Activity, and Lab (CHEM 150 L).  If one or more of these components are full, you will not be able to enroll.  Waitlists are being managed by the CHEM Department. But first do your best to enroll in open sections of the Lecture, Activity and Lab.

      To be placed on the waitlist for this course please email Ann Dickinson:  adickins@csusm.edu

      • Include your name, major, year (freshman, etc.), student ID, and the 5 digit class numbers for the lecture, activity and lab sections which you prefer, and any other sections which can fit into your schedule.   We will make a sincere effort to get you into your preferred section.
      • Continue to check your email regularly as you will be provided permission numbers if a seat can be provided in this course.
      • Being placed on the waitlist does not guarantee enrollment, but gives you the best chance of getting into the course. 

      Note: CHEM 150 section 20 is reserved for BIOC and CHEM first year students ONLY.  If you are a BIOC or CHEM first year student you should enroll into this section!

    • What does it mean that I need to declare a subplan for the Social Science major?

      Social Sciences majors must declare one primary field and two secondary fields.  See major worksheet for more information.   Follow the change of major instructions to update your records.  Your Degree Planner will then update and display all of your Degree Requirements.

    • Why don't my Asynchronous classes show up on my weekly schedule?

      Asynchronous classes do not have specific meeting times. They will show at the bottom of your weekly schedule but not on a specific time in your weekly calendar.


  • HOW TO CONNECT WITH ACADEMIC ADVISING

    Ways to Virtually Connect With Us:

    virtual front deskVirtual Front Desk

    Message the Virtual Front Desk on Microsoft Teams, a public channel to ask general questions and to receive additional enrollment support throughout the day. Please do not share confidential information. Until further notice, in person appointments are not being scheduled.

    Email iconEmail an Advisor (eAdvisor)

    An Academic Advisor will answer your question as soon as possible via email.

    virtual drop-ins Virtual Drop-in Advising

    In order to limit student wait times, please only sign in for drop-ins after you have either completed this entire Enrollment Tutorial and/or attended an Enrollment Workshop.

     schedule an appointment  Schedule a Virtual Advising Appointment

    Thirty-minute Virtual Advising Appointments via Microsoft Teams will be limited because we are also offering Virtual Drop-in Advising.  If you are unable to schedule an appointment, visit us during Virtual Drop-ins. Until further notice, in person appointments are not being scheduled.

    email a peerEmail a Peer Advisor

    Student to student support for basic questions and help with advising/enrollment tools.


thank you for completing the Enrollment Tutorial