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CSU Transfer

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The California State University is one of two public university systems in the state of California. With 23 CSU campuses serving over 400,000 students, it is the largest, most diverse, and one of the most affordable university systems in the country. The CSU offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in some 240 subject areas, as well as a variety of teaching credential programs. A select number of doctoral degrees are offered jointly with the University of California or with private universities in California.

The following information can help you learn more about how to meet requirements to enter a CSU campus as a transfer student, where the campuses are located, which academic programs are offered by each one, and how to apply for transfer.

CSU Transfer Admission Information
Assist.org
Impacted Majors
General Education: CSU GE Breadth and IGETC
CSU Application
Associate Degrees for Transfer: AA-T and AS-T
Transfer Checklist

CSU Transfer Admission Information

Minimum CSU Transfer Eligibility Requirements

  • 60 CSU-transferable units
  • 30 General Education CSU-transferable units, completed with grades of "C" or better, which must include the "golden four":
    • All of Area A (speech, composition, critical thinking) 
      and
    • Area B4 (quantitative reasoning - college level math)
    • Note: Many CSUs now require that these four courses be completed by spring for fall transfer, by summer for spring transfer.
  • 2.0 GPA for California residents

Recommended CSU Transfer Guidelines

  • 60 CSU-transferable units for full junior standing
  • 39 CSU-transferable General Education units completed and certified, of which 30 units (including the "golden four") must be with a "C" or better
  • Lower division major preparation done
  • 2.5+ GPA (Impacted majors and popular campuses may use additional "selection criteria", including a higher GPA and specific preparation. 
    Find out if the major or CSU campus you want is impacted. 
    Note: To graduate from a CSU, students are required to complete at least 9 units of upper division GE after transfer.

Make an appointment with an MPC counselor to make a two year educational plan detailing the courses you need to satisfy general education requirements and major preparation requirements by calling (831) 646-4020 or make an appointment online. 

Assist.org

Assist.org helps you find community college courses that are transferable to a UC or CSU campus and how those transferable courses might be used to satisfy subject matter requirements for specific majors or general education.

There are several tutorials available to help you use the website effectively. 

 

 

Impacted Majors

The goal when applying for college admission is to make yourself as competitive as possible. When applying to the CSU system, this is especially important if the school or major you want is impacted.

Impacted programs and campuses are those that receive far more applications than there is space for. When campuses and programs are impacted, they will be more selective when admitting students and may use supplementary admissions criteria to screen applicants.

Currently, Fullerton, Long Beach, San Diego, San Jose, and San Luis Obispo are all impacted campuses. Other campuses of the 23 campus system have impacted majors. View the impacted undergraduate majors and campuses information at calstate.edu for more information.

To be a more competitive applicant to impacted programs and campuses, students should:

  • Complete as many of the major preparation courses as possible, and all of the courses if required by the program.
  • Have regular meetings with a counselor to stay on track.
  • Contact an admissions representative at the school, preferably one who works with transfer students regularly.
  • Research the program's website to learn more about what they expect of their students.
  • Find out if you will need to submit materials beyond the regular CSU application to be considered for admission. Those extra materials, or extra applications, will be referred to as supplemental applications.


CSU General Education-Breadth

California State University (CSU) General Education-Breadth

Students transferring to a CSU may complete their general education in one of several ways:

  1. Complete the minimum transfer eligibility requirements of 60 CSU transferable units which must include the golden four (speech, composition, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning)
  2. Complete the CSU GE Breadth requirements
  3. Complete IGETC

Meet with a counselor to find out which is best for you. 
Please note: CSU GE Breadth and IGETC are not an admissions requirement and are not recommended for all majors. Students majoring in STEM fields such as Engineering, Biological and Physical Sciences or majors that require extensive lower division preparation are not encouraged to follow IGETC. Make an appointment with an MPC counselor to see if IGETC or the CSU GE Breadth path is right for you.

Associate Degrees for Transfer: AA-T and AS-T

The Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and Associate of Science for Transfer (AS-T) allow students to earn an associate degree and a bachelor's degree, with no wasted units. They are intended to make it easier for CSU-bound students to successfully transfer by having universal lower division major requirements for all 23 CSU campuses. Students can prepare to transfer to the CSU system using just one set of preparation courses for their major rather than having to meet different requirements for multiple campuses.
 
The AA-T and AS-T degrees offer a simple and direct path to transfer to the CSU system. Other benefits include:

  • Guaranteed admission to a CSU, but not necessarily to a particular campus;
  • GPA bump of .10 or .20 when applying to an impacted campus or major;
  • Students can receive priority admissions to their local CSU campus to a major deemed similar to the AA-T or AS-T major;
  • After transfer to CSU, guaranteed degree completion within 60 semester units at the CSU
  • Requirements for an AA-T or AS-T include:
  • Completion of required general education coursework;
  • Completion of the courses required for the specific AA-T/AS-T major;
  • Completion of 60 CSU-transferable units;
  • 2.0 GPA (Note: student’s GPA will need to be more competitive if applying to an impacted campus or major)
  • Completion of all requirements by the end of the Spring semester if transferring in Fall

For more information, visit  icangotocollege.com

 

CSU Transfer Checklist

 

Fall Semester Transfer

CSU Transfer Checklist – Download printable PDF

September

  • Meet with your counselor to verify you meet transfer admission eligibility 
    • Completion of Golden Four & 60+ CSU-transferable units by end of Spring for Fall admissions 
  • Gather transcripts from all colleges attended (unofficial is fine)
  • Determine if you will earn an AA-T or AS-T in a counseling appointment 

October – November

  • CSU applications open October 1 - November 30. Highly recommended to apply in October at calstate.edu/apply Check your email for a confirmation letter after applying 
  • Attend transfer workshops 
  • Attend Transfer Day and ask your questions to university and college representatives directly
  • Visit campus specific Preview Days & take campus tours. Search for local university Preview Days through the Transfer Events Calendar
  • Apply for Financial Aid (priority deadline is March 2)
  • Follow all instructions and meet all deadlines given to you by each CSU campus. They may ask you to: 
    • Establish your student account. (Examples: CSUMB Portal, MySJSU) 
    • Log in and check the account regularly, including items listed under “To Do List” 
    • Note: Avoid being denied admission by checking your student account weekly and completing the requested To-Do’s well in advance. Check your SPAM folder for emails from the universities! 

December

  • Research housing and any other resources or services you will need
  • Research scholarship opportunities for next academic year
  • Develop a timeline reflecting important deadlines from present to entering the university

January

  • Update your CSU application at calstate.edu/apply. 
    • Record your Fall grades and finalize your planned Spring courses. 
  • Complete any required Supplemental Applications
    • SJSU, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, San Diego State University, and CSU Long Beach are some of the campuses that require a Supplemental Application. 
  • Check email and student portal accounts frequently.
  • Apply for graduation at Monterey Peninsula College  

February-March

  • Apply for Financial Aid (priority deadline is March 2)
    • FAFSA or California Dream Act
    • Include the school code for all campuses that you applied to and that you may be redirected to
  • Continue checking email and student portal accounts for information and/or requests for documents 
  • Research/Apply for scholarships, housing, etc.
  • Make sure to follow through on meeting the minimum CSU eligibility requirements and keep up your GPA. 

April - May 

  • Submit Statement of Intent to Register and enrollment deposit (unless waived) by May 1st, unless provided a different date from the CSU campus.  
  • Research/Apply for housing, etc.
  • Review Financial Aid Award Offer

May – June

  • Submit final documents that may include: 
  • Register for transfer student orientation (bring unofficial transcripts)

July