Frequently Asked Questions

General Education Questions

1. What is General Education (GE)?

GE classes are at the foundation of your college experience and future success. GE classes give you a chance to explore different fields and find out what you are passionate about. GE classes also help you develop essential skills, explore new ideas, and prepare for real-world challenges. No matter your major, these courses will give you the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, and solve problems in creative ways.
The General Education Program requires 43 semester units.
Please note that General Education requirements at CSUDH have changed for all students who are entering on the Fall 2025 catalog. For information, including a crosswalk that illustrates how this new GE pattern is different from prior GE patterns, please click here. For additional information, please contact an advisor in your college's Student Success Center.

2. I already completed my General Education requirements at community college; do I still need to take more GE classes?

All students must complete 9 Upper-Division semester units in for the General Education Residence Requirement in the CSU.
All students must complete Areas 1 and 2 before enrolling in any upper division General Education courses.
Upper Division GE includes Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Science.

3. Are there any GE courses that double count for my major?

General Education courses may be double-counted in either the major or the minor as indicated in the major or minor program requirements. A double-counted course counts three units (not six) towards graduation.聽
Meet with an advisor to confirm classes.

Registration Questions

1. When can I register for classes?

You can view registration information by logging into your my.CSUDH.edu account and clicking on the Student Center tab. Check it regularly to see when your appointment for registration has been set.
You won't be able to register before your appointment time, but you can register any time after your appointment time
Check your ToroMail regularly for important registration related information.

2. When is the deadline to Add/Drop classes?

Refer to the Academic Calendar for each semester's Add/Drop deadlines.聽

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)

1. What is the GWAR requirement?

The 好色先生 requires that all undergraduate students demonstrate competency in writing skills at the upper division level as a requirement for graduation.
Undergraduate students must first complete their lower division English composition courses in Area 1A of the General Education program, before attempting to complete this upper-division requirement. Fulfillment of GWAR should be undertaken at the beginning of the junior year (or 60 units) and can be met by completing an upper-division GWAR-certifying course in the major or a closely related major. Many departments and programs offer for their majors. Students should contact their major department to determine if such a course is offered. Students must earn a grade of C or higher to satisfy the GWAR.

Permission Numbers

1. What is a Permission Number (PN)?

During registration, you may be unable to register for classes due to requisites and/or required departmental consent. These numbers do not override the enrollment limit for classes. If the restricted class is full, you must select another class (and obtain another Permission Number) or you may waitlist for the class using the Permission Number. Use the Class Number and the Permission Number to add the class.
Permission Numbers can only be used once and must be used prior to the first day of classes during registration.聽
When the semester and classes begin, to add any classes, student must request a permission number from the instructor.聽

2. How do I obtain a Permission Number?

To obtain access to these restricted classes, request a Permission Number from the department and/or instructor offering the class. Each department will maintain Permission Numbers for their restricted classes.
If the restricted class is full, you must select another class (and obtain another PN) or you may waitlist for the class using the PN.
Permission Numbers expire on the last day of registration. PNs can only be used once. Each department closely monitors the distribution of PNs.

Waitlist

1. What is a Waitlist?

Waitlists are created during registration when a class has filled up.

2. How does a Waitlist work?

Once a waitlist has formed, you cannot add yourself into the class, you can only add yourself to the waitlist. In the event of an opening, students are moved nightly from the waitlist into the class. Waitlists are available till the first day of classes.
On the first day of classes, all waitlists are purged and students must obtain permission from the instructor to add classes.
Please note that it is up to the instructor鈥檚 determination to give permission numbers, they are not required to provide permission numbers and being on the waitlist previously does not give priority when requesting permission numbers.

Holds on Account

1. What is a Hold?

A hold is a code placed on your record that can prevent registration.

2. What is an Advising Hold?

Advising is required for students in certain majors. If this is the case, you'll see an Advising Hold on your account.聽
Students in majors requiring advising will be notified from their major department informing them of advising dates and times. It is important to seek advising during the designated advising period and as early as possible. Do not wait until just prior to your registration appointment time, because advisors may not be available. If you are in the process of changing your major, you should meet with an advisor in your new department.

STEM Majors 鈥� Advising Holds

The following majors in CNBS will have Advising Holds placed by their major departments

Anthropology
Biology
Chemistry & Biochemistry
Computer Science
Earth Science & Geography
Mathematics
Physics

Students with Advising Holds must meet with a faculty advisor in their major department for major course advising and to remove Advising Hold. The CNBS Student Success Center cannot remove department Advising Holds.

3. Other Holds

If you are notified of a hold on your account, you should work to clear it immediately. Please do not wait until your registration appointment time. Contact information is always provided when a hold is placed on your record.

Scheduling Appointments

Scheduling an appointment with an advisor can be done through MyCSUDH in the student center/portal by selecting the icon for Toro Success Collaborative (TSC) or log directly in through .

Here is a tutorial on how to use TSC : How to Schedule a Self-Service Appointment

Advisors are available to meet in-person and Zoom. If you choose a Zoom appointment, an email notification with details of your online appointment meeting with the Zoom link will be sent to your Toromail email. Due to a high volume to appointments, all late appointments will be rescheduled.

Note: During registration periods, the demand to see an Advisor is very high. Because of this, Advisors can be very busy. We recommend students to schedule an appointment 3-5 weeks before your assigned registration date. Students can view their assigned registration time on MyCSUDH.

Graduation vs. Commencement

1. What is the difference between Graduation and Commencement?

Graduation refers to the actual awarding of your diploma. When you apply for graduation, you are indicating you will be done with all of your degree requirements by the end of the term you apply for.
Commencement refers to the graduation ceremony. Eligibility for participation depends on the semester you apply for graduation. The ceremony is held once per academic year.

2. Who do I meet with to discuss graduation?

Students who are at 90+ units and Senior standing will meet with a Graduation Specialist.

Late Withdraw Petition Process

Policy: Students may petition for exception to certain university academic regulations when unusual circumstances exist. It should be noted, however, that academic regulations contained in Title 5, California Code of Regulations, cannot be waived by petition. Before filing a petition, students must first speak with the designated representatives in the School or College associated with their request. Only in cases where no alternate means of resolution is available should a student then file a petition.

1. How do I drop a class after the deadline?

Refer to the Academic Calendar for petition deadlines.聽
Meet with an advisor to discuss petition process.
Late and Retroactive Withdrawal Petitions: Current Students can securely submit Late Withdrawal petitions through their student portal at My.CSUDH.edu under the Online Forms section. Students can submit supporting documents in one location. The request will be automatically routed to designated approvers.
Email notification will sent to their CSUDH email regarding petition request submission and review completion.

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Frequently Asked Questions