Impacted Majors

What is an impacted major?

The CSU designates major programs as impacted when more applications are received in the initial filing period from CSU eligible applicants than can be accommodated by the campus. Impacted majors are authorized to use supplementary admission criteria and/or higher admission standards than the CSU minimum requirements in considering applicants to the program.

Which majors are impacted?

How does this affect freshmen applicants?

Admission criteria for freshmen applicants are not based on the major they declared on the application. If offered admission, freshmen interested in impacted majors will be admitted to a "pre-major." For example, a student applying to a major in the College of Business Administration will be admitted as a "pre-business major." During their freshmen year, students in pre-majors normally pursue a combination of General Education courses and lower division major requirements to prepare for consideration for admission to the major. Pre-majors, as well as students declared in other majors, must meet supplemental admission criteria to become declared majors in an impacted program. See How does this affect current CSULB students? below for information on the supplemental requirements.

How does this affect transfer applicants?

CSULB currently only accepts transfer applications at the upper division level. All transfer applicants are required to apply to a specific major by the transfer application deadline and meet general University admission requirements to be considered for admission. If the transfer applicant selects a major that is impacted, the supplemental requirements for that major must also be met to be considered for admission to the University. Applicants should review the supplemental criteria carefully to insure they have met required courses as well as any supplemental materials that must be submitted to the department.

For more information, refer to:

• Transfer – Provides information on general application deadlines and University admission requirements.
• Impacted Majors: Upper Division Supplemental Requirements – Describes the detailed supplemental requirements for each major for upper division consideration. These criteria are applied equally to all upper-division student including continuing CSULB students and entering transfer students.
• Transfer GPA Information – Provides admission data including average GPA’s by major to assist prospective students and counselors.

How does this affect current CSULB students?

Current CSULB students interested in pursuing an impacted major should begin taking the required General Education and major preparation courses contained in the supplemental requirements as soon as possible. Students whose accomplishments in these courses demonstrate future success in the major may be able to apply to the major once they have satisfied the appropriate supplemental criteria referenced below. In all cases CSULB students are required to declare a major by the time they have earned 60 units. If an impacted major is selected, the student must apply to the department and will be required to meet the requirements for admission to that major. If they do not meet the supplemental requirements, "pre-majors" will be required to select another major.

For more information, refer to:

• Impacted Majors: Lower Division Supplemental Requirements – Describes the detailed supplemental requirements for each major for lower division consideration. As CSULB is currently closed to lower division transfers, only current CSULB students who have not earned 60 baccalaureate level units can be considered under these criteria.
• Impacted Majors: Upper Division Supplemental Requirements – Describes the detailed supplemental requirements for each major for upper division consideration. These criteria are applied equally to all upper-division student including continuing CSULB students and entering transfer students.

What are the supplemental requirements for the impacted majors?

For more information, refer to:

• Impacted Majors: Lower Division Supplemental Requirements – Describes the detailed supplemental requirements for each major for lower division consideration. As CSULB is currently closed to lower division transfers, only current CSULB students who have not earned 60 baccalaureate level units can be considered under these criteria.
• Impacted Majors: Upper Division Supplemental Requirements – Describes the detailed supplemental requirements for each major for upper division consideration. These criteria are applied equally to all upper-division student including continuing CSULB students and entering transfer students.

Where can I get more information?

Current CSULB students should contact the academic department for the major(s) in which you are interested for further information on the requirements for admission to that major and for recommendations of the best courses to take to prepare for admission to that program.  See Undergraduate Advisors for contact information for the various programs.  Transfer students should consult the ASSIST web site or the community college advising center for information on community college courses that will satisfy the admission requirements.