APPLICATION TO SACRAMENTO STATE
Application Information and Forms
Office of Admissions and Outreach
Lassen Hall Lobby - Room 1102
www.csus.edu/admissions
The Office of Admissions and Outreach provides prospective students with information about academic programs, admission requirements, and the application process.
Requirements for admission to California State University, Sacramento are in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 1, Subchapter 3, of the California Code of Regulations. Complete information is available at www.csumentor/edu.
Electronic versions of the CSU undergraduate and graduate applications are accessible at www.csumentor/edu. The CSUMentor system allows students to browse through general information about CSU’s 23 campuses, view multimedia campus presentations, send and receive electronic responses to specific questions, and apply for admission and financial aid.
Applying online via www.csumentor.edu is expected unless electronic submission is impossible. An acknowledgement will be sent when online applications have been submitted. Application in “hard copy” form may be obtained online via www.csumentor.edu as a portable data format (PDF). Application forms (in PDF) may also be downloaded from www.calstate.edu/sas/publications. Paper application should be mailed to:
Attention: Office of Admissions
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6048
Students who want to enroll for residence credit in either a fall or spring semester must file an application for admission. A student who has been in attendance at Sacramento State in either of the two preceding semesters is considered a continuing student and does not need to reapply or pay the $55 application fee. The application and fee are necessary when reentering California State University, Sacramento after an absence of two or more semesters, but are not required for students desiring to enroll only in extension or intersession.
Sacramento State Affirmative Action and Non-Discrimination Policy
Sacramento State seeks the participation in all its programs and activities, including admission and access, by all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or disability. Discrimination based on these factors is prohibited by University policy. Sacramento State has established nondiscrimination and affirmative action programs that conform to applicable federal statutes, as well as pertinent laws, regulations, and directives of the State of California. These statutes prohibit discrimination and harassment (including sexual harassment) against applicants, students and employees. Sacramento State is committed to provide equal opportunities to all its students in all campus programs, including intercollegiate athletics. William "Skip" Bishop, the Director of Equal Opportunity, has been designated to coordinate the efforts of Sacramento State to comply with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment on these bases.
For further information, or should you feel that you have been discriminated against in any one of the areas mentioned, including Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, contact the Office for Equal Opportunity, Del Norte Hall 3001, (916) 278-5770, or visit our website at www.csus.edu/hr/departments/equal-opportunity/.
Social Security Number
Applicants are required to include their correct social security numbers in designated places on applications for admission pursuant to the authority contained in Section 41201, Title 5, California Code of Regulations, and Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 6109). The University uses the social security number to identify students and their records including identification for purposes of financial aid eligibility and disbursement and the repayment of financial aid and other debts payable to the institution. Also, the Internal Revenue Service requires the University to file information returns that include the student’s social security number and other information such as the amount paid for qualified tuition, related expenses, and interest on educational loans. This information is used by the IRS to help determine whether a student, or a person claiming a student as a dependent, may take a credit or deduction to reduce federal income taxes.
The student's social security number is not used as the individual identifier in all student records which may include: 1) application and admissions records, 2) registration records, 3) enrollment/transcript records, 4) financial aid records, 5) alumni records, and 6) records maintained by other University operated programs. A student is assigned a unique Sacramento State ID upon admittance to the University, which is used as the student identifier in all student records.
Such personally identifiable records are not shared or distributed to private individuals or agencies unless such sharing or distribution is authorized by the student or unless otherwise lawfully available. (See Appendix D).
Undergraduate Application Procedures
Prospective students applying for part-time or full-time undergraduate programs of study must submit a completed undergraduate application. The $55 nonrefundable application fee should be in the form of a check or money order payable to “The California State University” or by credit card and may not be transferred or used to apply to another term. An alternate major may be indicated on the application. The applications of persons denied admission to an impacted campus may be re-routed to another campus at no cost, but only if the applicant is CSU eligible.
Importance of Filing Complete, Accurate, and Authentic Application Documents
Sacramento State advises prospective students that they must supply complete and accurate information on the application for admission, residency questionnaire, and financial aid forms. Further, applicants must, when requested, submit authentic and official transcripts of all previous academic work attempted. Failure to file complete, accurate, and authentic application documents may result in denial of admission, cancellation of registration or academic credit, suspension, or expulsion (Section 41301, Article 1.1, Title 5, California Code of Regulations).
CSU Impacted Programs
The CSU designates programs as impacted when more applications from regularly eligible applicants are received in the initial filing period (October and November for fall terms, June for winter terms, August for spring terms, February for summer terms) than can be accommodated. Some programs are impacted at every campus that they are offered; others are impacted only at a few campuses. Candidates for admission must meet all of the campus’ specified supplementary admission criteria if applying to an impacted program or campus.
The CSU will announce during the fall filing period those campuses or programs that are impacted. Detailed information on campus and program impaction will be available at the following websites:
- www.csumentor.edu;
- www.calstate.edu/impactioninfo.shtml;
- www.calstate.edu/sas/impaction-campus-info.shtml.
Campuses will communicate supplementary admission criteria for all impacted programs to high schools and community colleges in their service area and will disseminate this information to the public through appropriate media. This information will also be published at the CSU campus individual website and made available online at www.calstate.edu.
Applicants must file applications for admission to an impacted program during the initial filing period. Applicants who wish to be considered in impacted programs at more than one campus should file an application at each campus for which they seek admission consideration.
Supplementary Admission Criteria
Each campus with impacted programs or admission categories uses supplementary admission criteria in screening applicants. Supplementary criteria may include rank–ordering of freshman applicants based on the CSU eligibility index or rank-ordering of transfer applicants based on verification of AA-T or AS-T degree, the overall transfer grade point average (GPA), completion of specified prerequisite courses, and a combination of campus-developed criteria. Applicants for freshman admission to impacted campuses or programs are required to submit scores on either the SAT or the ACT. For fall admission, applicants should take tests as early as possible, but no later than November or December of the preceding year.
The supplementary admission criteria used by the individual campuses to screen applicants are made available by the campuses to all applicants seeking admission to an impacted program. Details regarding the supplemental admission criteria are published at www.calstate.edu/impactioninfo.shtml.
Sacramento State Designated Impacted Programs
Biological Sciences has been officially designated as an impacted program on the Sacramento State campus. Check with the Department of Biological Sciences, (916) 278-6535, to confirm current criteria.
*See Academic Programs/Biological Sciences
All undergraduate programs in Business Administration have been officially designated as impacted programs on the Sacramento State campus. Check with the Undergraduate Business Advising Center to confirm current criteria at (916) 278-BIZZ (2499).
*See Academic Programs/Business Administration.
The upper division Clinical Nursing Program* has been officially designated as an impacted program on the Sacramento State campus. Check with the Division of Nursing to confirm current criteria at (916) 278-6525.
*See Academic Programs/Nursing.
Graphic Design and Photography have been officially designated as impacted programs on the Sacramento State campus. Check with the Department of Design, (916) 278-3962, to confirm current criteria.
*See Academic Programs/Graphic Design, Academic Programs/Photography
All programs in Criminal Justice have been officially designated as impacted programs on the Sacramento State campus. Check with the Department of Criminal Justice to confirm current criteria at (916) 278-6487.
*See Academic Programs/Criminal Justice.
All undergraduate programs in Health Science have been officially designated as impacted programs on the Sacramento State campus. Check with the Department of Health Science to confirm current criteria at (916) 278-6441.
*See Academic Programs/Health Science.
All programs in Psychology have been officially designated as impacted programs on the Sacramento State campus. Check with the Department of Psychology to confirm current criteria at (916) 278-6254.
*See Academic Programs/Psychology.
In addition to the Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Clinical Nursing, Criminal Justice, Graphic Design, Photography, Health Science and Psychology programs, it is possible that any class level or program categories may be impacted if more applications are received in the initial application filing period than can be accommodated by the University. Preapproved criteria are announced prior to the beginning of each application cycle. Admission criteria are subject to revision.
Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Application Procedures
Office of Graduate Studies
River Front Center Room 215
www.csus.edu/gradstudies/
All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants (e.g., Ed.D., joint Ph.D. applicants, master’s degree applicants, those seeking educational credentials or certificates, and where permitted, holders of baccalaureate degrees interested in taking courses for personal or professional growth) must file a complete graduate application as described in the graduate and post-baccalaureate admission materials at www.csumentor.edu. Applicants seeking a second bachelor’s degree should submit the undergraduate application for admission unless specifically requested to do otherwise. Applicants who completed undergraduate degree requirements and graduated the preceding term are also required to complete and submit an application and the $55 nonrefundable application fee. Since applicants for post-baccalaureate programs may be limited to the choice of a single campus on each application, re-routing to alternate campuses or later changes of campus choice are not guaranteed. To be assured of initial consideration by more than one campus, it is necessary to submit separate applications (including fees) to each. Applications submitted by way of www.csumentor.edu are expected unless submission of an electronic application is impossible. An electronic version of the CSU graduate application is available at www.csumentor.edu.
The application and fee are not required for students desiring to enroll only in extension, intersession, or Summer Open University.
*See Graduate Degree Requirements.
International Students
Office of International Programs and Global Engagement
www.csus.edu/ipge
International students requiring F-1 visas seeking entry to the United States on the basis of acceptance by Sacramento State must file the CSU Mentor International Application. Applications received during the initial filing period of each admission cycle receive highest consideration for admission. Undergraduate international and non-California resident students are not admitted to some impacted programs.
Both undergraduates and graduates must have adequate financial resources and provide evidence of health insurance.
Students with foreign academic work are required to submit official copies of academic records directly from their school, college, or university, along with a certified English translation. Academic records should include:
- secondary school records (if applying as a first time freshman with no college university coursework completed);
- yearly records from each college or university attended, indicating the number of hours per semester or per year devoted to each course and the grades received; and
- official documents that confirm awarding of a degree or diploma, with the title and date, if a postbaccalaureate applicant.
All official documents submitted become the property of the University. The University will determine the acceptability of any foreign work. The U.S. Immigration Service requires F-1 foreign visa students to enroll full-time, defined as follows:
• a minimum of 12 semester units for credit for undergraduates
• a minimum of 9 semester units for graduate students.
International students must comply with all University and U.S. Immigration Service regulations.
English Language Proficiency Requirement
All undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English and who have not attended schools at the secondary level or above for at least three years full-time where English is the principal language of instruction must demonstrate English language proficiency through one of the following acceptable tests.
Test |
Undergraduate |
Graduate |
TOEFL |
Score of 510 (paper based test) |
Score of 550** (paper based test) |
PTE Academic: |
Score of 50 |
Score of 65** |
IELTS (Academic): |
Overall band score of 6.5 |
Overall band score of 7.0** |
Each campus will post the tests it accepts on its website and will notify students after they apply about the tests it accepts and when to submit scores. Those who have graduated from an accredited four-year U.S. college or university or who come from countries where English is the primary language need not submit an English language proficiency test**
At the graduate level, a TOEFL score of 550 (or 80 internet based test) is required for admission for all students, with the following exceptions:
Communication Studies, English, International Affairs, Speech Pathology and Audiology, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) require higher scores.
** Note: Sacramento State interprets “where English was the principal language of instruction” to mean that a school is located in a country where English is the native language (the daily medium of communication of the majority of residents is English), and that the students receive academic instruction in all subjects (except foreign language courses) at all levels of education in English.
Returning and Adult Students
Returning Students
Sacramento State students are granted an automatic leave of absence for one semester. This leave maintains the continuous attendance status of the student with eligibility to register in the following semesters and holds the catalog that determines degree requirements.
Former Sacramento State students who have been absent for two or more semesters must apply for readmission, an application fee is charged. Following a mandatory interruption of one or more semesters, students who have left in a negative academic standing* may be not be eligible to return until they complete additional coursework. Students who have been academically disqualified or dismissed must file an appeal for reinstatement/readmission.**
*Visit csus.edu/admissions for more information
*See Academic Policies/Readmission of Academically Dismissed Students.
Adult Students
As an alternative to regular admission criteria, an applicant who is 25 years of age or older may be considered for admission as an adult student if he or she meets all of the following conditions:
1. Possesses a high school diploma (or has established equivalence through either the General Educational
Development or California High School Proficiency Examinations)
2. Has not been enrolled in college as a full-time student for more than one term during the past five years
3. If there has been any college attendance in the last five years, has earned a C average or better in all college work attempted
Consideration will be based upon a judgment as to whether the applicant is as likely to succeed as a regularly admitted freshman or transfer student and will include an assessment of basic skills in the English language and mathematical
computation.
Reservation
The University reserves the right to select its students and deny admission to the University or any of its programs as the University, in its sole discretion, determines appropriate based on an applicant’s suitability and the best interests of the University.
Steps in the Application Process
1. Application Filing Periods
(Not all campuses/programs are open for admission to every term.)
Sacramento State is on the semester system. The initial filing periods for applications are the previous October through November for fall semester and the previous August for spring semester. All applications postmarked or received during the initial filing period will be given equal consideration within established enrollment categories and quotas.
Additional selection criteria may be used to select applicants if more applications are received during the initial filing period than can be accommodated in specific enrollment categories. If the campus is designated an “impacted campus,” supplemental criteria may be used to select applicants.
If any enrollment categories are not filled during the initial filing period, the University will continue to accept applications during an extended filing period until capacity is reached. Enrollment priorities within the extended period will be in chronological order of receipt of applications.
| Terms in 2016-2017 | Applications
First Accepted
|
Initial Filing
Period |
| Fall Semester 2016 | October 1, 2016 |
October 1-November 30, 2016 |
| Spring Semester 2017 | August 1, 2016 |
August 1 - 31, 2016 |
2. Filing Period Duration
Each non-impacted campus accepts applications until capacities are reached. Many campuses limit undergraduate admission in an enrollment category due to overall enrollment limits. If applying after the initial filing period, consult the campus admissions office for current information. Similar information is conveniently available at www.csumentor.edu/filing_status
3. Application Acknowledgment
On-time applicants may expect to receive an acknowledgment from the campuses to which they have applied within two to four weeks of filing the application. The notice may also include a request that applicants submit additional records necessary to evaluate academic qualifications. Applicants may be assured of admission if the evaluation of relevant qualifications indicates that applicants meet CSU admission requirements, and in the case of admission impaction, supplemental criteria for admission to an impacted program. Unless specific written approval/confirmation is received, an offer of admission is not transferable to another term or to another campus.
4. Transcript and Test Score Requirements
Undergraduate students are required to comply with the following transcript and test score requirements as part of the application procedures for admission. Applicants project their class level as of the date of intended initial enrollment.
- Applicants with No College Units:
Transcripts: One from high school showing work-in-progress through first senior semester; follow-up copy showing second semester senior grades and date of graduation. Tests: Either ACT or SAT I score. - Applicants with Fewer Than 60 Semester Units:
Sacramento State is not accepting applications from lower division transfer applicants with less than 60 transferable units. - Applicants with 60 or More Transferable Semester Units:
Transcripts: One copy of final record from each college attended; one showing work-in-progress if currently enrolled. - Returning Students:
Transcripts: One copy of final record from each college attended since last enrollment at Sacramento State; one showing work in progress if currently enrolled.
All transcripts become the property of the University and will not be released or copied. Processing of applications cannot be guaranteed unless all required documents and test scores are received during the appropriate application period. Individuals who do not file an application for admission are advised that transcripts are retained for one year only. Failure to disclose enrollment in each college or university attended constitutes grounds for denial of admission or dismissal from the University for unethical conduct. The University reserves the right to determine whether or not a record can be accepted as official.
5. Notification of Admission
Applicants will receive confirmation of their admission or a statement of ineligibility beginning in March 1st for fall semesters and September for spring semesters, if they filed during the first month of the filing periods and all necessary documents have been received. If the campus has been designated an “impacted campus,” notification of admission status may be delayed while supplemental criteria are applied to applications received after the initial filing period.
Information about registration, placement testing, advising, and orientation will be e-mailed to all admitted students before registration when possible. Late applicants will be considered on a space available basis.
6. Hardship Petitions
The campus has established procedures for consideration of qualified applicants who would be faced with extreme hardship if not admitted. Petitioners should write the campus Admission Offices regarding specific policies governing hardship admission.
Appeal of Admission Decision
Section 89030.7 of the California Education Code requires that the California State University establishes specific requirements for appeal procedures for a denial of admission. Each CSU campus must publish appeal procedures for applicants denied admission to the University. The procedure is limited to addressing campus decisions to deny an applicant admission to the University.
Admissions appeal procedures must address the basis for appeals, provide 15 business days for an applicant to submit an appeal, stipulate a maximum of one appeal per academic term, provide specific contact information for the individual or office to which the appeal should be submitted, and indicate a time estimate for when the campus expects to respond to an appeal. The appeal procedures must be included in all denial of admission notifications to students, and must also be published on the campus website.
Visit the "I was not admitted" link at www.csus.edu/admissions/ for more information.
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