Academic Advisement

Cal State Fullerton Academic Advising Mission Statement

“CSUF is committed to academic advising which is accessible, accurate, timely, and provides transparent information as a shared responsibility where the adviser and student are equally invested in academic excellence and steady progress toward graduation.”

CSUF recognizes academic advising as a vital element in education and a key component in the timely facilitation of graduation for its students. It is the educational relationship between advisers and students that connects students with their campus, faculty and the global community in which they will live and work during their lifetime. Through the CSUF Titan Advisers Network and TitanNet, students and advisers work together to optimize time and resources while attending the university. The network can be accessed through the student portal, and advisers are available for one-on-one advising based on departmental hours.

Academic Advisement Policy

CSUF Academic Policy (UPS 300.002) states that

• The responsibility for ensuring the availability of academic advisement rests with each college dean.
• In order to ensure that all students receive the opportunities of appropriate advising, every student enrolled at Cal State Fullerton should declare a major as soon as possible after admission to the university. In any event, a major shall be declared prior to the completion of 60 semester units of coursework.
• All students shall confer with an academic adviser on a regular basis.
• All first-time freshmen must receive academic advisement prior to registration for their first semester.

Orientations

All first-time freshmen must receive academic advisement prior to registration for their first semester. This requirement shall be satisfied by attending Freshman Orientation. First-time freshmen who do not register for a Freshman Orientation session prior to the published deadline risk losing their fall admission. Visit fullerton.edu/orientation for more information.

All incoming transfer students must complete a student orientation session prior to registration for their first semester. This requirement shall be satisfied by attending Transfer Student Orientation. This requirement is in addition to any college or departmental mandatory advising. Visit fullerton.edu/orientation for more information.

The Purpose of General Education Courses

General education provides the foundation of a university education. It is designed to give students a breadth of knowledge and understanding across the major disciplines of science, social science, arts and humanities. It also is designed to help students develop broadly applicable skills such as critical thinking and writing, enhance their capacity for lifelong learning, and strengthen their ability to contribute effectively within a culturally diverse society and interdependent global knowledge economy.

The General Education program provides a common intellectual experience for all students regardless of their major; enhances their awareness of themselves in a complex universe, drawing upon multiple points of view; and helps to prepare them for full participation in professional and civic life. Through the thoughtful completion of the General Education program, students will acquire knowledge of diverse disciplinary perspectives, develop skills for analyzing new situations and problems, and gain both self-awareness and an understanding of their role in both local and global communities. The broad areas and learning goals of general education courses are presented in the catalog section “General Education .”

All students are expected to consult with the Academic Advisement Center (Gordon Hall 123B) for support in selecting general education courses that align with their academic goals and meet requirements for graduation. Visit fullerton.edu/undergraduate/general_education for information and resources. Major advisement occurs in the college, and general education advisement occurs in the Academic Advisement Center. Students in the College of Business and Economics should note that the major advisers in their advising center also are trained and prepared to provide general education advising for their students only.

Advisement in the Major

Students who have declared a major should consult with their departmental adviser on a regular basis for academic advisement. Students who wish to explore the majors offered by a specific college should contact either the college advisement office or the college dean’s office for referral to the department.

Titan Degree Audit

The Titan Degree Audit is the official advising tool for both students and academic advisers. The report provides information on student progress toward the completion of general education, major and other degree requirements. The document is used to confer degrees, and advisers are able to generate advising notes directly on the TDA. It is vital that students review their TDAs for accuracy on a regular basis, and it should be printed and available during all advising sessions with each student’s adviser. Visit fullerton.edu/aac for instructions on accessing the TDA and the Titan Advisers Network.

College Advisement Offices

Students who wish to explore undergraduate majors offered by a specific college should contact the appropriate college advisement office. Note that the College of Education does not offer undergraduate programs; undergraduates seeking academic advisement are encouraged to go to the Center for Careers in Teaching for assistance with course selection in preparation for teaching. Visit ed.fullerton.edu/cct for information.

College of the Arts

Student Success Center
Visual Arts Center 280A
657-278-3256

College of Communications

Advising and Student Success Center
College Park 650-26
657-278-7620

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Student Success Center
Computer Science Building 206
657-278-3362

College of Health and Human Development

Student Success Center
Education-Classroom Building 105
657-278-2294

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences Student Access Center
Humanities-Social Sciences Building 112
657-278-2594

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Opportunity Center for Science and Mathematics Students
McCarthy Hall 488
657-278-2638

College of Business and Economics

Business Advising Center
Mihaylo Hall 1201
657-278-2211

Academic Advisement Center

Gordon Hall 123B
657-278-3606
fullerton.edu/aac

The academic advisement program is available, on a walk-in basis, to matriculated undergraduate students regarding the general education and graduation requirements and the policies and procedures associated with the student’s successful completion of those requirements. As the home for undeclared students, through its Major Exploration program, the center provides developmental advising and support for actively researching and exploring various majors. Through individual exploration and declaration appointments, Major Exploration events, and interactive workshops where students can prepare for registration and develop academic success plans, students are directly connected to their prospective majors. The Fullerton Finish and California Promise programs, available only to incoming students, are coordinated in the center as well. Information and services available in the center, and on its website, include academic workshops, tutorials, group advising, hours of operation and referrals to other on-campus student support programs.

Students needing information about the implications of academic probation are required to complete the Probation Tutorial prior to visiting Academic Advisement for in-depth advisement and support through their Student Success Team. The Academic Advisement Center supports the Academic Success Institute for all first-time freshmen on academic probation from certain colleges through a developmental, holistic approach to maximize a return to academic success. Through this program, students identify their strengths while making individualized decisions about their academic plans. Students make adjustments to their course schedules using seven points of student support. Mandatory online tutorials, advising sessions with academic and faculty advisers, development of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals, follow-up group advising sessions, and academic contracts become blueprints for returning to good academic standing.

Disqualified students must complete the Disqualification Tutorial prior to meeting with a disqualification adviser and enrolling in Open University. All probation and disqualification advising must be preceded by students completing specific online tutorials hosted on the center’s website. Visit fullerton.edu/aac for information, announcements and additional resources.

Undeclared Majors

Students who have not selected a major are considered “undeclared” and are required by university policy to declare a major prior to the completion of 60 semester units of coursework. The Academic Advisement Center is the home of the undeclared and provides a variety of resources and services to assist students in choosing an appropriate major. Through its Major Exploration program students can meet with an academic adviser for specialized advising in exploring the many majors on campus, and referral to the appropriate major or faculty adviser. The Major Exploration adviser will use the Titan Advisers Network to ensure the student is referred to the correct major adviser on campus. To encourage adherence to University Policy Statement 300.002, as part of the Major Exploration process, the adviser will work collaboratively with the students to develop an academic plan that connects their strengths, interests and abilities with their academic goals, while facilitating graduation.

Information about the various majors at Cal State Fullerton is available in the Major Exploration Resource Center (Gordon Hall 124), and some appointments are available by visiting fullerton.edu/aac.

Planning a Major Program

When students have selected a major, they should familiarize themselves with all the requirements that are specified in this catalog under their chosen degree program. They should make a tentative semester-by-semester plan for completing the requirements, including prerequisites, and discuss this plan with an adviser in the major. In addition to courses in the major department, related courses in other fields and supporting courses in basic skills may also be required. These should be included in the tentative semester-by-semester plan.

Some departments require placement tests prior to enrolling in some classes (e.g., foreign languages, music and computer science). The times and places for such placement tests will be available by calling the college advisement offices.

Change of Major, Degree or Credential Objective

To change a major, degree objective or credential objective, obtain the required form in the Office of Registration and Records (Langsdorf Hall 114) and take it to the appropriate office(s) for signature(s). Such a change is not official until the form has been signed and filed in the Registrar’s Office.

Student Success Centers/Teams

The divisions of Academic and Student Affairs have collaborated to create Student Success Teams in each of the Cal State Fullerton colleges, at the Irvine Center and in the Office of Graduate Studies. The teams are groups of advisers dedicated to improving student learning, increasing graduation rates, reducing time to degree and narrowing the achievement gap among underrepresented students. Each of the teams provides students with information on individual academic, career and personal development. They include a retention specialist who ensures freshmen and sophomores are making progress and succeeding in lower-division courses, a graduation specialist whose expertise is in supporting juniors and seniors nearing graduation; and college career specialists who are available to help students with career planning. Find Student Success Centers at success.fullerton.edu.

Departmental Academic Advisement

An adviser in the major can provide information and suggestions, and can assist the student in finding the most desirable ways to meet the requirements for graduation and for the major or credential. It is the responsibility of the student to meet with his/her academic adviser regularly. According to University Policy Statement 300.002, “Advisement is a process by which the university helps each enrolled student realize her/his potential.” The university recognizes this endeavor as a campuswide responsibility that demonstrably impacts the academic success of its valued students. Academic advising at CSUF currently uses a dual model of advisement where students are supported in general education and graduation requirements with an emphasis on retention through the Academic Advisement Center and Student Success Teams. Major advisers provide support in discipline-based courses, career opportunities, internships and student-involved research. Both areas encourage and further students’ desired outcome of timely graduation in their field of interest and the lifetime benefits of a liberal education.

Upon admission to the university, students have the opportunity to meet with their respective faculty advisers and develop an academic plan for graduation. Moreover, students are educated on the importance of connecting with their major adviser to ensure degree efficiency is maintained. Faculty advisers share expert knowledge pertaining to their specific discipline and guide students in preparation for internships, career options and research opportunities.

The final choice of courses and the responsibility for the program always lies with the student, but meeting with an adviser regularly is the basis for successfully completing the program and graduating on time.

Undergraduate students who have not yet decided upon a major (undeclared students) will be advised in the Academic Advisement Center. Students will meet with an academic adviser in Gordon Hall 123B and must bring a current, printed copy of their Titan Degree Audit each time they meet.

If students have transferred to Cal State Fullerton, the academic department advisers are able to offer better support if students provide lists of courses they have taken, their own copies of transcripts from colleges previously attended and a copy of their TDA.

Pre-Professional Programs

The academic programs of the university provide appropriate preparation for graduate work in a variety of fields. Students who have made tentative decisions about the institutions at which they may wish to pursue graduate work should consult the catalogs of those graduate colleges as they plan their undergraduate coursework. Students planning to pursue graduate work should supplement their undergraduate plan of study by completing course requirements at major graduate colleges.

The university offers a number of professional programs through the master’s degree, DNP and Ed.D. These include programs in the fine arts, business administration, communications, counseling, education, engineering, microbiology, psychology, kinesiology, public health, public administration, social work, speech pathology-audiology and others. Students interested in preparing for professional careers in these areas, either here or at other educational institutions, are encouraged to seek assistance and guidance from faculty members in these fields.

Pre-Law Preparation

It is recommended that prospective law students prepare themselves in such fields as English, American history, economics, philosophy, political science (particularly the history and development of English and American political institutions) and such undergraduate courses as judicial process, administrative law, constitutional law and international law, philosophy (particularly ethics and logic), business administration, anthropology, psychology and sociology.

A distribution of course sequences among the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities is desirable. Students interested in becoming lawyers should contact the pre-law adviser in the Division of Politics, Administration and Justice. Some faculty members in the College of Business and Economics and the departments of American Studies and History also can provide advice and assistance.

Pre-Theological

Students who are interested in pursuing careers in the ministry, the teaching of religion and associated fields should take some courses in religious studies, psychology, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, history, English, speech communication and a foreign language. Students desiring assistance and counseling regarding advanced work in religious studies or professional careers as rabbis, priests, ministers, etc., may seek help from faculty members in the Department of Religious Studies.

Human Services

Students who plan to seek employment in social work or human services should prepare themselves in the fields of human services, child and adolescent development, psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, and research methods in the social sciences.

Students who intend to enter a professional program following undergraduate training should learn about the specific prerequisites for admission to the graduate program of their choice. Ordinarily, a major in one of the social sciences and some additional work in at least several other social sciences are recommended. Students with interests in pursuing careers in the field of social work and social welfare should contact the Master of Social Work program for guidance and assistance.

Health Professions

Gordon Hall 223
657-278-3980

The Health Professions Advising Office is housed in the Office of Academic Programs at Cal State Fullerton. In the 50-plus years of its existence, the HPAO has assisted thousands of students in gaining admission to health professional schools. Past students have gained entry into Harvard University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the majority of UC campuses. The Health Professions Advising Office is well-situated to assist first-generation and underrepresented students in their successful matriculation into professional schools. CSUF was ranked No. 17 nationally in the number of Latino students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in health-related majors in 2014-15.

From its original mission of preparing pre-medical students to become competitive applicants for medical school, the HPAO’s mandate has expanded in recent years to prepare, inform and advise CSUF students about the following careers: medicine (allopathic, osteopathic, podiatric), dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, physician assistant and veterinary medicine. Preparation for success begins early and continues throughout students’ academic careers at CSUF. Overseen by the Health Professions Committee, the HPAO fosters students’ success through its support of several pre-health student organizations, mock interview practice, personal statement reviews and full support through the professional school application process. The Health Professions Advising Office also offers the pre-health professions minor. The minor provides students who are non-science majors with a structured pathway to complete several prerequisite science courses, and offers science majors the opportunity to complete coursework in the social sciences, population health and cross-cultural studies. Through its community engagement initiatives, the HPAO has established early conditional acceptance (linkage) agreements with professional schools, including Lake Erie College of Medicine, Marshall B. Ketchum University, St. George’s University, American University of Antigua and Western University. Schedule an appointment today with the HPAO director at fullerton.edu/healthprofessions.

Teaching Careers

Students who plan to enter the teaching profession must prepare themselves by developing in-depth knowledge in the subject areas they plan to teach. Teachers of elementary and special education children must have a solid foundation of knowledge in all subjects taught in the elementary classroom. High school teachers must develop expertise in the subject named on their single subject credentials. Students are encouraged to seek advice early in their academic careers to plan a program of study that blends general education, major and subject matter preparation requirements, and prerequisites for admission to a credential program. The Center for Careers in Teaching provides information and advisement for prospective teachers.

Visit the Center for Careers in Teaching website at ed.fullerton.edu/cct or call 657-278-7130.

Answers to Questions