You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
California State University, Fresno is authorized to grant the Bachelor
of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master
of Business Administration, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Physical Therapy,
Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Health, and Master of
Social Work degrees. California State University, Fresno also offers a doctoral
degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership. See Kremen
School of Education and Human Development for public school credentials
for which the university is authorized to recommend candidates.
Academic Advisement Report. The Academic Advisement Report is a tool to assist in the advising process. Students can print their own Academic Advisement Report through self-service. The Academic Advisement Report shows the student's progress in a chosen degree program, using courses taken at California State University, Fresno and transfer institutions. The report displays how courses apply toward the student's declared major, General Education, and degree requirements, and displays a list of approved courses for each requirement to be completed.
Additional Requirements. Courses from one or more departments or programs that are required in support of the major. Such courses are not included in the minimum 2.0 grade point average required in the major for graduation and may be waived or substituted at the discretion of the major department or program. Additional requirements normally may be applied toward a minor. Additional requirements may also be applied toward General Education unless specifically prohibited by the major department.
Certificate of Advanced Study. A certificate program of special
study at the postbaccalaureate level.
Concurrent Enrollment. The term concurrent enrollment is used
to describe several different types of enrollment:
Core. A common set of courses within a major or minor that all students
are required to complete.
Double-Counting. Allowing one course to fulfill two separate requirements
concurrently; e.g., allowing one course to fulfill both a major requirement
and the upper-division writing skills requirement, or allowing one course
to fulfill both a major requirement and General Education requirement.
Electives. Courses/units a student selects to complete the total
unit requirement for the baccalaureate degree and/or to complete requirements
for the major.
Grade Point Average (GPA). The grade point average is a measure of
academic scholarship and performance which is computed by dividing units
registered int0 grade points earned. Three separate GPAs are computed:
A minimum of a C average (2.0 GPA) for units in the major, all
California State University, Fresno units, and total units is required for
a baccalaureate degree. (See Grade Symbols and Grade
Points, Degree Requirements. ) Master's
degree students have a higher minimum GPA requirement. (See Graduate Studies
Advancement to Candidacy, Grade Requirements.)
Major. Set of required courses from one or more departments designed
to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary
to pursue a specific career and/or advanced study. A student must earn a
2.0 grade point average in all courses required for the major, except "additional
requirements," in order to graduate. (Minimum Title 5 requirements:
B.A. 24 units of which 12 must be upper division exclusive of General Education;
B.S. 36 units of which 18 must be upper division exclusive of General Education.)
Minor. In addition to academic majors, the university offers a number
of minors. These minors are sets of courses, totaling a minimum of 12 semester
units, including a minimum of 6 upper-division residence units. Minors must
be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Minors offered by academic departments
and programs are listed on page 90-91 of this catalog. Detailed descriptions
are found in the listings of the particular departments and programs. Courses
in the minor may not also count toward a student's major except as Additional
Requirements to that major. However, courses fulfilling requirements for
a minor usually may be counted toward General Education. Refer to the description
of the specific minor for exceptions.
A student may earn one or more minors provided that the requirements
above are met for each and that at least 12 units in each of the two minors
are distinct and include at least 6 upper-division units in residence.
Option. Set of required courses within a major in addition to the
major core courses that emphasizes one important aspect of that school or
college, department, or program.
Concentration. A specialized area of study within a major. The concentration does not appear on the diploma. Concentrations may or may not appear within majors that have also approved formal options. The term concentration is often used interchangeably with the terms emphasis, specialization, or track.
Certificate. A set of interdisciplinary courses comprised of a
minimum of 12 units focusing on a special area of study. Students are not
required to be matriculated or be undergraduates. Certificates are awarded
upon completion of the program regardless of catalog year or degree status.
Consult the index for a complete list of certificates available. The university
awards three types of certificates. They include the Certificate of Completion,
the Certificate of Special Study, and the Certificate of Advanced Study.
See Certificates in Degree Requirements
for more information.
Prerequisite Requirements. Prerequisite courses must be completed
prior to enrollment in the listed course; corequisite courses must be completed
prior to or concurrently with the listed course. Students who do not meet
these requirements may be disenrolled by the instructor or by the university.
Recommended Courses. Courses that the department faculty believe
would be beneficial for a student to take but are not mandated or required
as part of the major.
Units. A credit or semester unit represents one hour of class work
per week for one semester. It is assumed that two hours of preparation are
required for each hour in class. Three hours of laboratory per week are
the equivalent of one unit. In a limited number of courses two hours of
laboratory per week are the equivalent of one unit. Also, two hours of activity
or studio (art, dance, music, physical education) are normally equivalent
to one unit of credit. One quarter unit of credit is equivalent to two-thirds
of a semester unit.
Units attempted and units earned are terms that appear on the student's
transcript and evaluation. Units attempted is the column used for GPA calculation.
The units earned column is used to determine units completed toward the
total unit requirement for the degree.
Election of Regulations. An undergraduate student or postbaccalaureate student pursuing a second bachelor's degree or second major must fulfill degree requirements from one catalog, not the most favorable requirements from two or more catalogs. As long as a student maintains "continuous attendance,"* he or she may elect, for purposes of fulfilling graduation requirements, one of the following:
*A student may not begin "continuous attendance" while still
enrolled in high school.
Continuous attendance is defined as being officially
enrolled at least one semester or two quarters during a calendar year. Students
must demonstrate progress toward fulfillment of degree requirements to maintain
registration eligibility as a continuing student. Students who enroll and
withdraw from courses for two or more consecutive semesters may not be eligible
for registration as a continuing student.
Once a student establishes catalog rights in the CSU or California Community
College system, he or she may attend any accredited college or university
for no more than two years and maintain catalog rights. A planned educational
leave maintains a student's continuous attendance status. (See Planned Educational Leave of Absence.)
Any break in attendance of one calendar year or longer ends a student's
continuous attendance status. This results in the loss of catalog rights
to all catalog choices prior to the break in attendance. It should be noted
that enrollment in Open University, extension, and correspondence courses
does not establish catalog rights nor contribute toward continuous attendance
to maintain catalog rights. A loss of catalog rights could result in one
or more additional semesters to meet new catalog requirements especially
in the major and/or General Education. Once a student graduates, however,
all rights to the original catalog are terminated.
Graduate (master's) students fulfill requirements based on an approved advancement
to candidacy petition. These requirements are based on departmental and
university requirements as published in the current catalog at the time
of advancement. Continuous enrollment is likewise defined differently for
master's students. (See Graduate Studies.
)
Undergraduate transfer students are generally evaluated under the degree
requirements listed in the General Catalog at the time they enter California
State University, Fresno.
During the first semester of enrollment, transfer students should receive
a copy of a computerized evaluation (Academic Advising Report) detailing
how prior coursework has transferred into the university and indicating
remaining degree requirements. It is recommended that students request an
updated Academic Advising Report from their major department at least once
a year for review with their academic adviser. A degree evaluation is completed
during the semester a student files for graduation. (See Graduation
and Commencement.) Students should
keep their personal copy current.
All transcripts submitted in support of an application for admission become
the property of the Records Office and are not returnable. Students are
strongly encouraged to obtain duplicate copies of their records from high
school and prior college attendance for their personal file.
A - Excellent. Performance of the student has demonstrated the
highest level of competence, showing sustained superiority in meeting all
stated course objectives and responsibilities and exhibiting a very high
degree of intellectual initiative. (4 grade points per unit.)
B - Very Good. (1) Performance of the student has demonstrated a
high level of competence, showing sustained superiority in meeting all stated
course objectives and responsibilities and exhibiting a high degree of intellectual
initiative. (3 grade points per unit.)
C - Satisfactory. (2) Performance of the student has demonstrated
a satisfactory level of competence, showing an adequate level of understanding
of course objectives, responsibilities, and comprehension of course intent.
(2 grade points per unit.)
D - Unsatisfactory. (2,3) Performance of the student has been unsatisfactory,
showing inadequacy in meeting basic course objectives, responsibilities,
and comprehension of course content. (1 grade point per unit.)
F - Failure. Fails to meet course objectives. Work at this level
does not meet requirements for credit toward a degree. (0 grade points per
unit.)
WU - Failure Withdrawal Unauthorized. (4) The symbol WU indicates
that an enrolled student did not complete course requirements and did not
properly withdraw from the course. It is assigned when, in the opinion of
the instructor, completed assignments or course activities, or both were
insufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible.
(0 grade points per unit.)
CR - Credit for units allowed, work of
A, B, or C quality in undergraduate courses and A or B quality in 200-level
courses. (0 grade points per unit; units allowed for the degree.)
NC - No credit for units registered for, work of D or F quality in
undergraduate courses and C, D, or F quality in 200-level courses. Replaces
I grade in courses where CR/NC grading is used if required work is not completed
within required time. (0 grade points per unit; no units allowed.)
W - Withdrawal after the fourth week of instruction. (Not used in
grade point calculation.)
I - Incomplete Authorized. Required
coursework has not been completed and evaluated yet. (Not used in grade
point calculation.) See Incomplete Grade Explanation
, which follows.
IC - Incomplete Charged. Student who received an authorized Incomplete
(I) has not completed the required coursework within the allowed time limit
(0 grade points per unit).
RD - Report delayed. Grade must be cleared before a degree
is awarded. (Not used in grade point calculation.)
RP - Report in Progress. Continuing work in progress. (No units allowed
and not included in grade point calculation until grade is assigned.)
AU - Audit. Grade indicates student's status as auditor and does
not earn degree credit.
Audit Status (AU). Persons wishing to attend classes without matriculating
or receiving college credit may register as auditors. Auditors register
during the first week of instruction. Students enrolled in audit status
only may not transfer to credit status without completing admission procedures.
Matriculated students may audit courses in addition to those in which they
are registered for credit.
Enrollment in a course as an auditor shall be permitted only after students
otherwise eligible to enroll on a credit basis have had an opportunity to
do so. Auditors are subject to the same fee structure as credit students.
Regular class attendance is expected and the student may be required to
participate in any or all classroom activities at the discretion of the
instructor. An audited course is not listed on the student's permanent record
if the requirements for auditing the class are not met. A student who is
enrolled for credit may not change to audit after the fourth week of instruction.
Credit for courses audited will not subsequently be granted on the basis
of the audit. (See the current Class Schedule.)
Credit/No Credit Grading (CR/NC).
The credit/no credit grading policy at California State University, Fresno
is designed to encourage academic exploration outside the major field of
study. The policy also recognizes that in certain types of courses, student
performance is best evaluated in terms of credit/no credit grading rather
than through the traditional letter grades.
Neither the CR nor NC grade is included in the calculation of the grade
point average. The grade of CR is assigned if the student's work is judged
to be equivalent to an A, B, or C grade as applicable to regular enrollment
in an undergraduate course or equivalent to an A or B grade in a 200-level
course.
The NC grade is assigned if the student's work is not equivalent to these
standards:
See the current Class Schedule for further information.
__________
Incomplete (I). The symbol I (Incomplete
Authorized) indicates that a portion of required coursework has not been
completed and evaluated in the prescribed time period due to unforeseen
- but fully justified - reasons, and that there is still a possibility of
earning credit. Such reasons must meet the criteria of serious and compelling
and occur late in the semester. The grade of I is only appropriate when
the student requesting it has completed a minimum of two-thirds of the work
for the course with a passing grade. The instructor of record retains the
right to decide whether or not an I grade is appropriate. It is the responsibility
of the student to bring pertinent information to the attention of the instructor
and to determine from the instructor the remaining course requirements that
must be satisfied to remove the incomplete. The faculty member should complete
an incomplete grade form detailing the work that needs to be completed and
provide the student with a copy. A final grade is assigned when the work
agreed upon has been completed and evaluated. Students may not enroll in
a course for which they have an I grade.
Normally it is expected that the student will make up an I grade during the next semester; however, it must be made up within one calendar year immediately following the last day of the semester/session during which it was assigned. This limitation prevails whether or not the student maintains continuous enrollment.
Failure to complete the assigned work will result in the I being counted as an IC, or failing grade for grade point average computation. An I grade not made up within one calendar year after the grade has been recorded is changed to an IC (or an NC if CR/NC grading was approved).
Incomplete grades must be cleared before a degree is awarded. In the absence of the instructor who has assigned the incomplete, a student seeking to make up this grade should consult the department chair.
A short-term extension of time may be granted with justification by contacting the Office of the Registrar prior to the last day of the second semester/session.
Report in Progress (RP). The RP symbol is used in connection with
courses that extend beyond one academic term. It indicates that work in
progress has been evaluated as satisfactory to date but that assignment
of a final grade must await completion of additional work. The RP may be
used only in courses designated on the approved RP grade course list published
by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Cumulative
enrollment in units attempted may not exceed the total number applicable
to the student's educational objective.
While completing work on an RP or an I, graduate students not enrolled in
regular session coursework for a letter grade are required to maintain continuous
enrollment at California State University, Fresno. This may be accomplished
through enrollment in "0" unit GS Continuation. Exception: Graduate
students enrolled in Project 298 or Thesis 299 receive an RP at the end
of the first semester of enrollment and are advised to complete work on
the culminating experience during four additional semesters, subject to
the five-year overall time limit for completion of all master's degree requirements.
In addition, if an RP in 298/299 is not replaced by a final grade within
two years as recommended, the student's major department may require him
or her to reregister for the course. (See Graduate
Studies .)
Withdrawal Unauthorized (WU). The symbol WU indicates that an enrolled
student did not complete course requirements and did not properly withdraw
from the course. It is used when, in the opinion of the instructor, completed
assignments or course activities, or both were insufficient to make normal
evaluation of academic performance possible. For purposes of grade point
average computation this symbol is equivalent to an F. The WU will not revert
to any other grade.
Withdrawal (W). The W symbol indicates that the student was permitted
to drop the course after the fourth week of instruction for serious and
compelling reasons with the approval of the instructor and appropriate campus
officials. It carries no connotation of quality of student performance and
is not used in calculating grade point average.
Grading. Students are expected to complete all requirements for
a class by the end of the semester unless an incomplete is permitted by
the instructor in accordance with university policy. Students shall not
be assigned additional work or be allowed to revise previous assignments
in order to improve a final grade.
College Syllabus and Record Keeping. All faculty members shall provide
students at the beginning of each semester a syllabus or outline stating
course goals and objectives including grading methodology, types and number
of projects, written assignments, tests, experiments, etc.
Dean's List and President's List. Undergraduate students enrolled
in at least 12 units during a term, earning no grade lower than a C, and
earning at least a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) for the term are placed
on the Dean's List for that term and a note is added to their transcript.
Students meeting these requirements and having a 4.0 GPA for the term are
placed on the President's List.
Grade Substitution by Repetition of Courses.
An undergraduate student may repeat an undergraduate course at California
State University, Fresno. If the original grade was D, F, WU, or IC, and
the subsequent grade is the same or higher, the new grade will be substituted
for the original grade. Only the substituted grade will be used in determining
the student's grade point average. Grade substitution can be made only once
for each course. If the original grade was C, CR, or better, the course
cannot be repeated for grade substitution.
A course in which a grade of NC was earned may be repeated but since the NC grade does not affect the grade point average, no substitution is necessary.
A course attempted at another institution may be repeated by enrolling in a regular California State University, Fresno course determined by the Evaluations Office to be equivalent. A course for which grade substitution has been granted at another institution may not be repeated for grade substitution at California State University, Fresno. In addition, a course taken at California State University, Fresno may not be repeated for grade substitution at another institution.
Postbaccalaureate students pursuing (1) a second baccalaureate degree, (2) a second undergraduate major, (3) a teaching credential, or (4) no specific objective, are also free to repeat a course and request grade substitution on the same basis as undergraduates provided the original course was completed when the student had postbaccalaureate standing.
Postbaccalaureate students pursuing a doctoral degree, master's degree, or certificate of advanced study may, with approval of an adviser, repeat a course for academic credit, regardless of what grade was originally earned in the course. However, the student is not eligible to petition for grade substitution. All course work taken, beginning with the first term of the student's doctoral or master's degree program is used in determining the student's grade point average and graduation eligibility.All appropriate grade substitutions will automatically be posted to the student's records at the end of each semester except in cases in which the first attempt was at another institution. For these cases, a Grade Substitution Petition form must be filed with the Admissions, Records, and Evaluations Office by the last day of the semester.
All appropriate grade substitutions will automatically be posted to the student's records at the end of each semester except in cases in which the first attempt was at another institution. For these cases, a grade substitution Petition form must be filed with the Admissions, Records, and Evaluations Office by the last day of the semester.
For further information, contact the Admissions, Records, and Evaluations
Office located in the North Lobby, Joyal Administration Building.
Academic Renewal. Under certain circumstances,
the university may disregard up to two semesters (three quarters) of previous
undergraduate coursework taken at California State University, Fresno or
at any other college from all considerations associated with requirements
for the baccalaureate degree. When such action is approved, the student's
permanent academic record is marked to indicate that no work taken
during the disregarded term(s), even if satisfactory, may apply toward baccalaureate
requirements. However, all work must remain legible on the record ensuring
a true and complete academic history.
In order to qualify for renewal, all of the following conditions must be
met:
For further information or to apply for academic renewal, contact the
Evaluations Office, 559.278.4076.
Planned Educational Leave of Absence.
A planned educational leave of absence is defined as a planned interruption
or pause in a student's regular education during which the student temporarily
ceases formal studies at California State University, Fresno, while pursuing
other activities that may assist in clarifying the student's educational
goals. The intent of the policy is to make it possible for a student to
suspend his or her academic work and later resume studies with a minimum
of procedural difficulty. A student who is approved for a planned leave
will be considered a continuing California State University, Fresno student.
A student with an undergraduate degree objective may enroll for classes
at the end of an approved leave without reapplying for admission and may
continue at California State University, Fresno without changing graduation
requirements.
A planned educational leave for graduate students must be recommended by
the dean, Division of Graduate Studies. Information is available, Division
of Graduate Studies, Thomas Administration Build, Room 132.
Planned educational leaves may be granted for a variety of reasons or projects,
but certain characteristics must be contained in any request for a leave:
The following regulations apply to the planned educational leave:
Students wishing to apply for a planned educational leave should obtain
a re quest form from the Registrar's Office, Joyal 106, 559.278.2191.
Student Academic Petitions. The Student Academic Petitions Committee
has the authority to permit exceptions to university baccalaureate degree
requirements when fulfilling the degree requirement would prove to be an
undue hardship for the student and/or such an exception can be demonstrated
to be educationally justifiable. The committee will take action only upon
the submission of a formal petition by the student that sets forth the facts
and circumstances that may warrant special consideration.
Petitions and procedural information are available in the Office of Advising
Services. The Petitions Committee does not make decisions pertaining
to substitutions for undergraduate and graduate major requirements. Such
requests are initiated through the student's department. Requests to waive
established university policy governing graduate study may be addressed
to the dean, Division of Graduate Studies. If a request cannot be accommodated,
it is forwarded to the Graduate Committee.
Contact Advising Services for further assistance with student academic petitions.
Grade Protests. The Student Academic Petitions Committee also has
the responsibility of handling grade protests for all students, undergraduate
and postbaccalaureate. Students who believe they have been graded unfairly
or incorrectly by an instructor must consult first with the faculty member
concerned within the first 15 working days of the following semester and
make every effort to resolve the issue. The instructor has five working
days to respond. For cases in which an incorrect grade was assigned due
to a recording error, the instructor will submit a Grade Correction Request
form to the Admissions and Records Office
If the issue is not resolved, a student must immediately consult with the department chair, who will give the student an answer within 10 working days. If a student still believes that the grade was assigned unfairly or incorrectly after completing this process, the student then may request that the Student Academic Petitions Committee review the issue. To request review, students must immediately make an appointment with an academic counselor in the Office of Advising Services (Joyal, Rm. 224; 559.278.1787) to discuss their particular situation and to receive a copy of the university's grade protest policy as well as additional procedural instructions.
Students then must submit a written statement no later than midsemester
setting forth all pertinent details to the chair of the Petitions Committee.
Satisfactory Scholarship. Satisfactory scholarship means at least a C average (2.0 grade point average or twice as many grade points as units attempted) in both campus and cumulative GPAs and satisfactory progress toward a degree for undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students without a master's degree objective. Graduate (master's degree) students must maintain at least a B average.
A student (undergraduate, postbaccalaureate or graduate) whose campus
or cumulative grade point average falls below the satisfactory scholarship
level is placed on probation and is disqualified if the grade point average
falls below probation levels. (For details see next page.) Only the most
recent probation or disqualification action appears on the student's transcript.
Probation. Undergraduate students are placed on academic probation,
a type of academic warning, if their:
Students remain on academic probation until both overall and California
State University, Fresno grade point averages are 2.0 or better, or until
they are disqualified under one of the provisions of the disqualification
regulations.
These regulations also apply to all postbaccalaureate students except those
enrolled in master's programs. The latter are expected to maintain a cumulative
GPA of at least 3.0 in all units attempted subsequent to admission to the
master's program. Master's students who fall below the required GPA are
placed on probation.
Students enrolled in master's programs are required to maintain a minimum
3.0 postbaccalaureate cumulative grade point average (GPA) prior to advancement
to candidacy. See Graduate Studies.
A student may be placed on administrative-academic probation for withdrawal
from a substantial portion of a program in two successive terms or in any
three terms; for repeated failure to progress toward a degree; or for failure
to comply with an academic requirement or regulation that is routine for
all students or for a defined group of students.
Disqualification. Students are disqualified if either their campus
or cumulative GPA falls within the disqualified range on either the overall
or California State University, Fresno record equal to or greater than that
indicated below.
A student becomes disqualified when the campus or cumulative grade point average in college work attempted falls below 1.50 for freshmen, 1.70 for sophomores, 1.85 for juniors, and 1.95 for seniors.
The best way to regain satisfactory scholarship status is to repeat classes
at California State University, Fresno in which the student previously earned
D, F, IC, or WU grades. Disqualified students who are readmitted are advised
to take no more than 13 units, to attend a Maximizing Academic Potential
(MAP) workshop, and to obtain a minimum of 2.00 in the semester GPA.
Graduate (master's) students are disqualified if their cumulative California
State University, Fresno grade point averagefalls below 2.0.
Students placed on administrative-academic probation may be disqualified
for the following reasons:
Students placed on academic disqualification at the end of a semester
may be placed on disqualified readmitted status or may not be allowed to
attend the subsequent semester.
Undergraduate. Disqualified California State University, Fresno students
who have been away one semester or longer or were academically disenrolled
must submit an application for readmission to the university and the appropriate
readmission petition signed by a major academic adviser. Students readmitted
under a special disqualification contract must fulfill the terms of that
contract or again face disqualification. Contact 559.278.2191 for
more information.
Postbaccalaureate/Graduate. Disqualified postbaccalaureate students
who have been away one semester or longer must submit an application for
readmission and schedule an advisement interview in the Division of Graduate
Studies, Thomas Administration Building, Room 132. Additionally, students
who seek a master's, second baccalaureate, or credential are asked to obtain
the recommendation of the department/program to which they seek readmission.
Students who are undeclared must have the approval of the dean of graduate
studies to be readmitted to the university.
Transcript of Record. Students may request transcripts of their academic records at California State University, Fresno with payment in advance. The fee is $4 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy (2-10) ordered at the same time. California State University, Fresno transcripts are not provided to students with unpaid financial obligations and other administrative holds as determined by university officials. Transcripts of records from other institutions submitted to California State University, Fresno are not returned to students.
Reports to Students. Students may obtain their grades via the Web systems at the end of each regular semester. For a nominal fee, students may request a copy of their grades at the Admissions/Records service windows, North Lobby, Joyal Administration Building or print a copy off of the Web system.
Enrollment in graduate-level (200-297) courses is limited to those who
have been officially admitted to a graduate degree, advanced certificate,
or credential program. However, there is a special program for last-semester
undergraduate seniors who want to enroll in 200-level courses. All criteria
listed on the Undergraduate Petition to Enroll in Graduate (200-level) Courses
must be met. This petition, available from the Division of Graduate Studies,
should be filed prior to the semester in which the student desires enrollment
in 200-level course(s).
Academic
Regulations
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