Frequently Asked Questions
Students registered with Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) who require support services may call us at (818) 677-2900 to schedule an appointment. If you should need accommodations for your appointment, please let us know ahead of the appointment.
If you require a sign language interpreter, please submit a request using NCOD’s Communication Access Services (CAS) at least 5 business days in advance.
Telephone: (818) 677-2054
Videophone: (818) 435-3887
Email: ncod@csun.edu.
- What is academic advisement and why is it required for my first year?
Academic Advisors are professionals who guide students in exploring majors and general education, connect students to campus resources, and explains university policies. Students are required to meet with advisors for their first two semesters to provide guidance and to ensure that students are enrolling in appropriate course choices.
- How can I schedule my advisement for my first semester?
First-time Freshmen who have declared their Intent to Enroll must complete the Hub Questionnaire and the Title 9 “Not Anymore” Initial Training. Then, students will be sent an invitation to their CSUN email to schedule their advisement workshop. Workshop invitation emails are sent on a rolling basis as students complete their pre-enrollment requirements.
- How do I submit Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and/or transcripts?
To submit official high school or college transcripts, please see Admitted First-Time Freshman. You may submit your transcripts electronically or on paper.
For AP test scores, you may download a PDF copy of the Student Score Report from the CollegeBoard account. Students may then email that report to registrar@csun.edu. Please provide your name and CSUN ID number in the email.
- Can I change my major before the term starts?
If you want to change your major to an impacted major, you are not able to switch this early. Impacted majors require completion of a minimum of 45 units, among other criteria. For information on impacted major and criteria, please visit the Freshman Impaction page. If you want to switch to a non-impacted major before the start of your first semester, you can email registrar@csun.edu with your full name, student ID number, and the major you want to switch into.
- When may I change from Exploratory to a declared major?
Students can request to change their majors through the CSUN Portal. Students may use the How to Guide as a reference on how to complete the process. While not every request is guaranteed, students who request to change to a non-impacted major would likely see the change reflected through their CSUN Portal within one to two weeks.
Exploratory students are encouraged to declare a major by 45 units and required before reaching 60 units.
- I am an incoming EOP freshman. Who do I contact regarding my advisement and enrollment?
Incoming Exploratory EOP freshmen are served by the Matador Advising Hub. Declared EOP-admitted freshmen are served by their respective academic colleges.
- Can I bring a guest or family member to attend the advisement/registration session?
The advisement workshops are for students only. To respect every student’s academic privacy and due to limited seating, only CSUN students with a confirmed reservation will be permitted to attend the advisement/registration sessions.
- I have registered for my classes but was disenrolled due to non-payment of tuition and fees. What should I do now?
Please email the matadoradvisinghub@csun.edu for assistance. Please know that while the Hub will assist you in enrolling in classes again, you may not be able to enroll in exactly the same courses or times.
- How do I enroll in classes for the first semester?
New F-1 international students are enrolled by International Advisors for first semester only. To begin this process, visit International Advisement and click the drop-down box labeled “1st Semester Academic Advisement Instructions”.
- Am I required to make an academic advisement appointment for the first semester?
New students are highly encouraged to attend the virtual New International Student Academic Advisement Workshop, to meet with their academic advisor and review their class schedule. An invitation to attend the academic advisement workshop will be sent once all pre-enrollment steps are complete.
- Can I choose my own classes?
No, new international students do not self-enroll into classes for first semester. Your International Advisor will pre-enroll you into classes. However, students are encouraged to review their Degree Progress Report (DPR) and the CSUN Catalog to help them understand their degree requirements. Students who would like to select specific classes are welcome to discuss their preferences with an academic advisor, who will review them for degree applicability, student eligibility, and course availability. All students should plan to incorporate general education courses into their schedule, including transfer students who must take 9 units of upper division general education at CSUN.
- What happens if I complete the Pre-Enrollment Steps late?
Completing the pre-enrollment steps late will delay enrollment and classes may fill up. Students may lose classes that are required in their major. Pre-enrollment steps should be completed after admission and immediately after receiving our Welcome Letter. Students who contact us past the first week of the semester will require they obtain permission numbers to be enrolled into classes. Late enrollment via permission numbers is not guaranteed to be approved.
- How are hybrid/fully online classes conducted/How do I attend a fully online class? CSUN offers a variety of fully online, hybrid, and fully on campus courses. For full details please review the Online Course Designations. Online meetings for most courses will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Information on Zoom links, assignments, and quizzes will be sent out by the instructor via the students CSUN emai and/or Canvas account. If a student has not received course information from their instructor via email or Canvas by the time the semester begins they should email their instructor. Instructors contact information can be found by typing their name into the CSUN Directory.
- When will my tuition be due once I am enrolled?
Tuition and other fees are due at the time of registration, but must be paid by the established deadline. Failure to pay fees on time will result in disenrollment from classes. Learn more about tuition payments and deadlines at Student Finance.
- If I drop a class will I receive a refund?
Students are entitled to a refund only if there is a decrease in the number of units in which they are enrolled. Refunds are prorated after the start of the semester up until Friday of week 3. After week 3 students are not eligible for refunds due to partial schedule changes. More information on refunds can be found on the Student Refund webpage.
- I have decided to withdraw or defer my admission to a future semester. What do I do?
Students who decide to completely withdraw after enrollment should notify their Hub-International Advisor at hub.intladvisor@csun.edu as soon as possible, so that we can drop you from classes and so that enrollment fees can be removed from your account. To defer admission to the following semester, students must submit a request via email to International Admissions.
- I have an International Advisement Required hold on my portal. What do I do?
The advisement hold for new international students will stay on for the first semester only. You DO NOT need to get this hold removed. This process is followed so that new international students consult with an academic advisor before adjusting their schedule; this guarantees that students maintain proper enrollment status. The International Advisement hold will be removed when it is time for students to register themselves for the 2nd semester.
- I have an Immunization hold on my portal. What do I do?
The Klotz Student Health Center places the immunization hold and requires proof of immunization for Rubella/Rubeola, German Measles and/or Hepatitis B. To learn how to clear this hold, visit the Klotz Student Health Center.
- Am I required to take a math placement exam?
All freshman are recommended to take the Math Selection Assessment (MSA). The MSA determines placement into pre-college math up to Calculus I. Students who do not take the MSA or are not exempt via transfer work or an external exams (AP, IB, GCE A-levels, etc.) may be placed into the lowest level math course. Some transfer students may also be recommended to take the MSA based on their major. Students will be notified by an academic advisor if they are recommended to take the MSA, which will be offered during the weeks before school starts.
- Am I required to take a writing/English placement exam?
CSUN currently does not offer a writing/English placement test. Freshman students are encouraged to take the SAT or ACT to determine placement into freshman writing. Transfer students should transfer in with a freshman writing course. Students who do not transfer in with a writing course or are not exempt via an external exam (AP, IB, GCE, A-levels, etc.) will be placed into the two-semester writing sequence. Please note the TOFEL and/or IELTS exam is not a writing placement test.
- What is the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) and when am I required to take it?
All CSUN students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. To learn more, visit the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement.
- How do I obtain my I-20?
The office of International Admissions distributes the initial I-20, once you transfer your SEVIS records. For questions regarding your initial I-20 please contact International Admissions.
- Who do I contact regarding immigration issues (visa concerns, work request, concurrent enrollment, etc.)?
Your foreign student advisor in the International and Exchange Student Center (IESC) is responsible for enforcing immigration requirements. To contact your foreign student advisor, visit IESC About Us.
- My sponsor/embassy/cultural mission requires that I submit a study plan before paying my tuition. How can I obtain a study plan?
You should obtain a Study Plan form (if required) from your sponsor and fill it out to the best of your ability, you can use the Degree Road Maps as a guide to help you plan your courses for graduation. You can then request a letter from the Registrar to confirm the accuracy of your plan and add any additional information you may need. To request this letter please fill out the Letter Request Form (PDF) and submit it (with your study plan if applicable) to International Admissions in Bayramian Hall (BH 160) or email it to intladm@csun.edu. Once submitted, the Letter Request process takes approximately 10 business days to complete.
- I cannot access my CSUN Portal or CSUN Gmail account. What do I do?
CSUN uses multi-factor authentication when accessing services, like Portal, Canvas, Gmail, and Box. Ensure you have registered for Duo Multi-Factor Authentication. If you still experience technology issues related to your Portal or email access, contact the IT Help Center, or call 818-677-1400.
- I have been enrolled in classes, but do not see my instructors course on Canvas. What do I do?
Canvas must be activate/published by your instructor. This typically happens once the semester begins. If by the first day of class you still do not see your course on Canvas please email your instructor. Instructor emails can be found by searching for their name in the CSUN Directory.