Beginning with the Fall 2013 admission cycle, all CSULB undergraduate majors will become "impacted." As a result, all majors will have majors specific admission requirements. Please check back after July 1 when the admission web site will be updated with details of this change.
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.
| Major | Impaction Status |
|---|---|
| Art (BA in Studio Art and all BFA options) | Continues to be impacted |
| Athletic Training | Continues to be impacted |
| Biology - All options including Microbiology | Continues to be impacted |
| College of Business Administration -- All majors | Continues to be impacted |
| Communication Studies | Continues to be impacted |
| Communicative Disorders | Continues to be impacted |
| Criminal Justice | Continues to be impacted |
| Design (BA. Industrial Design BS, Interior Design BFA) | Continues to be impacted |
| Film & Electronic Arts | Continues to be impacted |
| Kinesiology - Exercise Science | Continues to be impacted |
| Kinesiology - Kinesiotherapy | Continues to be impacted |
| Liberal Studies | Continues to be impacted |
| Nursing | Continues to be impacted |
| Psychology | Continues to be impacted |
| Social Work | Continues to be impacted. Accepts applicants Fall term only. |
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.
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:
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:
For more information, refer to:
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.