Steps to Graduate

1. General Advising. See the advisors at the Academic Advising Center (Library East, AS-124, (562) 985-4837) for your appropriate GE pattern. They will explain how to meet your General Education requirements and can also provide information about policies, procedures and petitions at CSULB. Advising is MANDATORY for First Time Freshmen prior to registration for their 2nd semester.
2. Know your General Education Requirements and complete your General Education (GE) pattern. If you are pursuing a Bachelor's degree at CSULB, you must meet the University's General Education (GE) requirements. A class will count towards your GE requirements only if it appears in the list of General Education courses in the Schedule of Classes for the semester in which you take that class.
3. Program Advising. Academic advisors in your major will help you to select courses to meet your major requirements.
4. CSULB Catalog. The catalog will be your main reference for information about the university. Usually, the year you declare your major is your "Catalog year"; refer to the catalog published that year for your "catalog rights," requirements for your academic major and graduation. You will keep your "catalog rights" until you graduate or break enrollment. If you break enrollment you will be under the catalog in effect at the time of your return. (Catalogs can be viewed online at http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/catalog/ or purchased from the University Bookstore.
5. Take these Tests:
   
   EPT (English Placement Test) prior to enrollment @ CSULB
   
   ELM (Entry-Level Mathematics) EXAM prior to enrollment @ CSULB
   
   Chemistry Placement Test required for CHEM 111A (unless passed CHEM 101 @ CSULB)
6. Pass the WPE (Writing Proficiency Examination) before completing 75 units. Supplemental instruction is available (see the Catalog). For more information use the GWAR link on the left-hand menu.
7. Complete the requirements of your major. All upper division classes must be taken within 10 years of graduation date. A minimum of 2.0 GPA for all CSULB classes and all major courses. A grade of “C” or better must be received in all prerequisites for all MAE courses.
8. Choose and complete enough elective classes to make up the total number of units required by your degree or program.
9. Meet with your program advisor to complete a Program Planner for your major. The Program Planner must be delivered to Enrollment Services in an envelope sealed by your program department at the time you file your Request to Graduate
10. File a Request to Graduate form with the Office of Enrollment Services (http://www.csulb.edu/depts/enrollment/graduation/) one year before you expect to graduate and pay your grad check/diploma fee. The request form must indicate each major, minor, or certificate program you will complete.
    
11. Review Graduation Requirements section of Enrollment Services website to be sure you have completed all required steps.
12. Receiving your degree. If all degree requirements are complete, your degree and any honors will be added to your transcript after the clearing is complete. Your transcript is the official verification of your degree.  Your diploma will be ready two to three months after your degree is recorded. You will be notified when your diploma is ready for pickup.
13. Commencement.