FAQ

Below are a number of frequently asked questions that are intended to help you navigate your decisions regarding catalog rights.

Catalog Rights FAQs

• How do I lose catalog rights?

  If you do not maintain continuous attendance, you may lose catalog rights. See definition for continuous attendance.

• Can the university revoke my catalog rights if I maintain continuous attendance?

  No. Election of catalog rights is defined by California Education code and CSUSM policy, and may not be revoked by the university (as long as a student maintains continuous attendance).

• What catalog year am I assigned when admitted to CSUSM?

  Upon admission to CSUSM, all students are assigned the current catalog year (and term) (i.e. catalog requirements in effect at the time of admission). Students may elect new catalog year graduation requirements by submitting the Election of Catalog Rights form.

General Education FAQs

• What is changing in General Education at CSUSM?

  • Area D is reduced by 3 units (it was 12 units, now it is 9 units).
  • Minimum C- grade for oral communication, written communication, critical thinking and mathematics/quantitative reasoning.
  • 9 semester units of upper division GE may be taken at any CSU (not only at CSUSM).
  • Double counting! Major courses and campus-wide required courses that are approved for GE credit shall also fulfill (double count for) the GE requirement. 
  • While upper-division GE courses continue to be generally restricted to students who have completed 60 semester units or more, at a minimum, students must satisfactorily complete A1, A2, A3, B4 (“golden four”) in order to use an upper division GE course for purposes of graduation.
  • CSUSM honors GE credit for courses completed at other CSU campuses.
    GE courses may be taught in all modalities (e.g., face-to-face, online, and hybrid).
    Intermediate Algebra is no longer a specific prerequisite for B4 courses; courses in this GE subarea shall include a prerequisite reflective only of skills and knowledge required in the course.
  • CSUSM will provide sufficient sections of A2 written communication and B4 mathematics/quantitative reasoning courses to support completion of these requirements within the first year of freshman enrollment.
  • Area C will include a 3-unit language requirement.

  You may also refer to the comparison chart of the old and new GE requirements.

• When do these changes take effect?

  Most of the changes to GE requirements are effective for students admitted as of fall 2018; however, one new requirement - the addition of a 3-unit language course to Area C - is effective fall 2019  (see General Education page for information regarding the election of the new GE requirements).

• Do these changes affect me?

  Students with catalog rights prior to fall 2018 are not subject to the new GE requirements; however, students may elect the new requirements.

• How is our campus reducing GE from 51 to 48 units?

  Area D is reduced from 12 to 9 units; Area D now includes:

  • D7: Interdisciplinary Social Science course
  • Dc/Dg: U.S Constitution/California Government
  • Dh: United Stated History

• Is there a new GE language requirement?

  Yes. However, this new requirement in Area C is not effective Fall 2018 and is not associated with EO 1100. It will be effective Fall 2019.

LOTER FAQs

• What is changing with LOTER?

  The Language Other Than English Requirement (LOTER), will no longer be a University graduation requirement for an undergraduate degree, beginning Fall 2019. Note that this is a campus-specific requirement, not common to other CSUs.

  In addition, beginning Fall 2019, Area C within the lower division GE requirements at CSUSM will include a 3-unit language requirement.

   

• When does the change take effect?

  The new University graduation requirements (which no longer include LOTER), as well as the new language requirement in Area C of lower division GE, are effective for students admitted as of fall 2019.

• If I graduate before Fall 2019, will I be required to complete the LOTER requirement?

  Yes, all students expected to graduate prior to Fall 2019 must complete the University graduation requirements associated with their catalog, which includes LOTER. Only students enrolled or graduating in of Fall 2019 will not have to complete LOTER, because they are eligible to elect the Fall 2019 University graduation requirements.

• Why was LOTER not waived for me?

  If LOTER was not waived for you, it is because the University expects that you will graduate prior to Fall 2019. However, if you have not graduated by Fall 2019, and you have still not completed LOTER, the requirement will be waived for you.  You may also complete the Election of Catalog Rights form after the start of the Fall 2019 semester.

• If LOTER is waived for me, must I also elect the new GE requirements?

  No. Students may elect each of the three graduation requirements separately. If you were admitted prior to Fall 2019, and LOTER is waived for you, you are not required to also elect the new GE requirements.

• Do the new requirements apply to transfer students with GE/IGETC or Area C certification?

  No. If a transfer student has completed all GE requirements (GE or IGETC certification) or has completed Area C (i.e. subject area GE certification), a language course is not required.

• Will LOTER be replaced with a new language requirement in my major?

  While many departments are considering curricular changes that will incorporate language courses into major requirements, students who have established catalog rights to existing major requirements are not subject to these curricular changes. In other words, no – the university may not add new graduation requirements (including a language course) once you’ve established catalog rights to earlier requirements.