Extension Programs

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Introduction

657-278-2611
extension.fullerton.edu

Executive Director
Karen McKinley

CSUF Extension Programs partners with academic units and the community to create and administer self-supported programs (programs for which CSUF receives no state funding) that extend Cal State Fullerton’s resources into the community and around the world. Extension administers the CSUF Summer and Winter sessions, degree and postbaccalaureate programs, certificate programs and courses for professional education and workforce development, and programs and courses for K-12 educators.

Degree Credit Courses and Programs and Degree Credit Courses

CSUF Winter Session

Winter Session provides students with additional opportunity to complete a course and make progress toward graduation. It is held in December and January between the fall and spring semesters and includes online, hybrid and in-person courses.

Students can view the Winter Session class schedule in Titan Online in late September, and registration begins mid-October.

CSUF Summer Session

Summer Session provides an opportunity to complete courses in order to make progress toward graduation. Students can view the class schedule in Titan Online in early March, and registration begins in late March. Classes are offered online, hybrid, and in-person.

Open University

Open University provides an opportunity for individuals not currently admitted to CSUF to enroll in undergraduate- and graduate-level courses from the university’s schedule of classes. Enrollment is approval-based in Spring and Fall, and based on space availability in all terms. Enrollment is open to those who can acknowledge and/or demonstrate they have met the stated prerequisites, or their equivalent, for chosen courses.  

Demonstration of English language skill is required for any individual, regardless of citizenship, who has not attended, for at least three years, a school at the secondary level or beyond in which English was the principal language of instruction. Such students are required to score at or above the minimums on the Test of English as a Foreign Language Exams: 6.1 (TOEFL-iBT) or 5.5 (IELTS) or 43 (Pearson Test of English Academic-PTE).

Enrollment is provided on a space-available basis after priority registration of currently admitted CSUF students. While course requirements and grades earned through Open University can count toward a planned undergraduate degree at CSUF, only a maximum of 24 credit units completed through Open University may count toward the cumulative units needed for a bachelor’s degree at CSUF. Credits earned through Open University may not be used to fulfill the residence requirements for an undergraduate degree at CSUF (which are 30 units for the degree, 24 units in upper-division courses and 12 upper-division units in the major). For graduate degrees at CSUF, typically up to nine units of approved credits taken through Open University may apply toward a specific graduate degree at CSUF, but for degrees which require more than 30 units, more units of credit may apply. Consult the graduate adviser of the program for further clarification on this.

Self-Support Degree and Postbaccalaureate Programs

CSUF Extension administers non-state supported undergraduate, graduate degree and postbaccalaureate programs in partnership with CSUF academic departments and colleges. These programs are self-supporting and have characteristics that differentiate them from their state-supported counterparts, including different class schedules or delivery modes, and may be cohort-based. See the Online Degree Completion, Master’s Degree and Pre-Health Postcaccalaureate program websites for more information.

University Semester Abroad (USA) Program

International students who want to study at an American university for a semester or a year may enroll in University Semester Abroad and take credit-bearing courses that transfer to their home university. USA staff work closely with students and their home institutions to help guide course selection and enrollment. Students in the USA program enroll in classes through Open University. More information is available at extension.fullerton.edu/international/usa.

Professional Development Programs

Professional development programs and courses provide opportunities for career advancement or career change and are connected to workforce needs. Programs combine academic content and practical, real-world training applicable to the workplace. Certificates may be awarded upon program completion. Some programs offer digital badges upon course and/or program completion.

Programs for Educators

CSUF Extension works closely with the College of Education to offer self-supporting professional development opportunities for K-12 educators and administrators.

Custom Workforce Development Programs

CSUF Extension can develop a wide variety of training solutions to benefit corporate and community organizations and improve the skills of their employees. Training can be highly customized. From an initial needs assessment through program planning and delivery, CSUF Extension works closely with corporate and community partners to ensure that program content and learning outcomes are aligned with organizational objectives. More information is available at https://extension.fullerton.edu/community-corporate-engagement/.

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