SOAR Summer 2025

COTA Advising & Registration

Welcome to the College of the Arts, a community of learners and artists at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).  We are excited to welcome you to our campus and look forward to partnering with you in the journey that awaits you academically, professionally, and civically.  The purpose of the advising partnership is to help and support you through an academic journey that is intellectually, personally, and creatively engaging at the University and to facilitate the successful completion of your program in a timely manner. 

To achieve these goals and help with your transition to CSULB, you must complete the following two components:

These two components require multiple steps, and deadlines will vary based on your major. Check your personal email and your new CSULB email (BeachMail) for updates and read the information below thoroughly so you understand the full process. Your enrollment at the university may be in jeopardy if you do not register for your classes and attend your orientation workshop.

  • Step 1 — Accept CSULB Admission by May 1, 2025. Students must submit their Intent to Enroll and Enrollment deposit by May 1st. Visit your MyCSULB Student Center portal to get started. All newly admitted Fall 2025 students are required to accept admission before meeting with an advisor for advising and registration.
  • Step 2 — Register for New Student Orientation through SOAR. As a new CSULB student, you are required to complete CSULB’s university-wide orientation requirement through SOAR. You can sign-up for one of the available new student orientation workshops directly on your MyCSULB Student Center portal. Visit the SOAR website to learn more about the new student orientation experience. Watch this helpful video on how to make your SOAR Reservation.

To facilitate a smooth transition into the university and to the College of the Arts (COTA) all newly admitted students will be meeting with the COTA advising team for Advising and Registration. Advisors will be available to help you register for your first semester as your assigned advising and registration date nears. An advising registration hold has been placed on your first-semester registration until this advising requirement is met. Complete the following steps:

Step 1 – Attend Advising. Your advisor will inform you about available advising meetings or workshops as your assigned registration nears, be sure to check both your CSULB and personal email regularly for updates.

Step 2 – Register for your courses during your assigned registration date.

Select your department below for more information on: Receiving List of Recommended Courses; Registering for Courses; and Receiving Advising.

List of Recommended Courses:

  • School of Art students will receive an email with recommended courses from your Academic Advisor. Students should not reach out to the academic advisor asking which courses to take, as this information will be provided before you attend your New Student Orientation Workshop (SOAR).
  • If you cannot find this email before your registration date, check your personal and CSULB student email account (BeachMail), including your junk/spam folders. If you still cannot find the email, contact your School of Art academic advisor.

Register for Courses:

  • Make a reservation for your linked Class Registration and Orientation Workshop dates by June 2, 2025. Your assigned class registration date is based on the date you selected to attend your new student orientation workshop.
  • [First-Time, First-Year Students]: FTFY students will register for classes while on campus attending the New Student Orientation Workshop (SOAR).
  • [Transfer Students]: Transfer students will register virtually one day after attending the New Student Orientation Workshop. Students will be attending a Zoom presentation in the morning of their registration date, and can then receive support with registration from an Art Advisor and Student Ambassador.
  • Missed your registration period? Contact your School of Art Academic Advisor for help with registering for courses and to temporarily remove any advising holds. It is important to register as soon as possible as this gives you the best selection of courses and communicates to the university you plan to attend the upcoming semester.
  • The first day of classes is Monday, August 25, 2025.

Advising Presentations:

  • [Transfer Students]: The School of Art will hold mandatory presentations for new students. The virtual academic advising workshop will take place on the day of your registration.
  • Your recommended class list will be sent to you by email before your registration date.

Advising:

List of Recommended Courses:

  • Cinematic Arts students will receive an email with recommended courses from your Academic Advisor. Students should not reach out to the academic advisor asking which courses to take, as this information will be provided before you attend your New Student Orientation Workshop (SOAR).
  • If you cannot find this email before your registration date, check your personal and CSULB student email account (BeachMail), including your junk/spam folders. If you still cannot find the email, contact your Cinematic Arts academic advisor.

Register for Courses:

  • Make a reservation for your linked Class Registration and Orientation Workshop dates by June 2, 2025. Your assigned class registration date is based on the date you selected to attend your new student orientation workshop.
  • [First-Time, First-Year Students]: FTFY students will register for classes while on campus attending the New Student Orientation Workshop (SOAR).
  • [Transfer Students]: Transfer students will register virtually one day after attending the New Student Orientation Workshop.
  • Missed your registration period? Contact your Cinematic Arts Academic Advisor for help with registering for courses and to temporarily remove any advising holds. It is important to register as soon as possible as this gives you the best selection of courses and communicates to the university you plan to attend the upcoming semester.
  • The first day of classes is Monday, August 25, 2025.

Advising Presentations:

  • [Transfer Students]: The Department of Cinematic Arts will hold mandatory presentations for new students. The virtual academic advising workshop will take place prior to attending your New Student Orientation (SOAR) Workshop. Your recommended class list will be sent to you by email the day before your registration date.

Advising:

  • If you have questions about your recommended courses, transfer credit, or requirements, contact your Cinematic Arts Academic Advisor.

Make a reservation for your linked Class Registration and Orientation Workshop dates by June 2, 2025. 

Advising & Registration:

  • [First-Time, First-Year Students]: First-Year students will register for classes while on campus attending the New Student Orientation (SOAR) workshop.
  • [Transfer Students]: Transfer students will register virtually two days after attending the New Student Orientation workshop. Transfer students will be invited to schedule an academic advising appointment with Dance academic advisor prior to registration.

Advising:

List of Recommended Courses:

  • Design students will receive their recommended course list from the Design advisor, 1-2 days before their SOAR date. Students should not reach out to the advisor asking which courses to take, as this information will be provided before SOAR.
  • If you cannot find this email before your registration date, check your personal and CSULB student email account (BeachMail), including your junk/spam folders. If you still cannot find the email, contact the Design Advisors.
  • [Transfer Students Only]: The Design advisor will send you an email requesting more information prior to your registration date. Please be certain to reply to this email as it will guide the advisor to provide you with a list of recommended courses based on your academic goals.

Please Note: The Department of Design at CSULB offers the following programs:

 

Graphic Design, Fashion Design, and Fashion Merchandising are not programs offered by the Department of Design. Students admitted as Fashion Design or Fashion Merchandising majors should refer to the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) advising website for incoming students.  Students admitted to the Graphic Design major can refer to the School of Art (SOA) information provided above. 

 

First-Time, First-Year (FTFY) students who would like to change their major should refer to the Summer SOAR Major Change Information website for further instructions.

 

Register for Courses:

  • Make a reservation for your linked Class Registration and Orientation Workshop dates by June 2, 2025. Your assigned class registration date is based on the date you selected to attend your new student orientation workshop.
  • [First-Time, First-Year Students]: You will be advised and register for classes while you are on campus for your New Student Orientation Workshop (SOAR).
  • [Transfer Students]: Transfer students will register virtually one day after attending the New Student Orientation Workshop (SOAR).  Student ambassadors will be available via Zoom to provide additional support on registration days.  These sessions are primarily for students seeking assistance with registration and will not serve as academic advising appointments.
  • Missed your registration period? Contact the Design Advisors for help with registering for courses and to temporarily remove any advising holds. It is important to register as soon as possible as this gives you the best selection of courses and communicates to the university you plan to attend the upcoming semester.
  • The first day of classes is Monday, August 25, 2025.

Advising Meetings:

  • [First-Time, First-Year Students]: FTFY students will not have individual appointments but can request one if needed, provided they attend the mandatory advising presentation first.
  • [Transfer Students]: Transfer students may schedule one-on-one sessions after their registration date if needed.

Advising:

Take BCCM Theory Placement Exam and Piano Placement Self-Assessment. All incoming students are required to take the theory placement exam prior to enrolling in classes. All non-piano students should take the piano-self assessment. More information will be sent about these processes, be sure to check both your CSULB email and personal email regularly for information.

Make a reservation for your linked Class Registration and Orientation Workshop dates by June 2, 2025. 

Advising & Registration:

  • [First-Time, First-Year Students]: First-Year students will register for classes while on campus attending the New Student Orientation workshop (SOAR).
  • [Transfer Students]: Transfer students will register virtually one day after attending the New Student Orientation workshop. Transfer students will be invited to schedule an academic advising appointment with Music academic advisor prior to registration.

Advising:

List of Recommended Courses:

  • Theatre Arts transfer students will receive an email with recommended courses from Adriane Howze. Please save this CSULB email address in your contacts so that emails will not be routed to your junk/spam folders.
  • If you cannot find this email before your registration date, check your personal and CSULB student email account (BeachMail), including your junk/spam folders. If you still cannot find the email, contact Adriane Howze.

Register for Courses:

  • Make a reservation for your linked Class Registration and Orientation Workshop dates by June 2, 2025. Your assigned class registration date is based on the date you selected to attend your new student orientation (SOAR) workshop.
  • Register during your designated registration period shown in the communication from advisor.
    • Students are responsible for ensuring all other holds are removed before their registration date. Advising holds will be removed by 10:00 a.m. on your registration date. Check your myCSULB Student Center for any outstanding holds five (5) days prior to your designated registration period. Holds may include a Past Due Balance, VAWA Hold, CIE Insurance, etc. Visit the Enrollment Services: Holds and To Do Lists webpage to learn how to remove holds.
  • Missed your registration period? Contact Adriane Howze for help with registering for courses and to temporarily remove any advising holds. It is important to register as soon as possible as this gives you the best selection of courses and communicates to the university you plan to attend the upcoming semester.
  • The first day of classes is Monday, August 25, 2025.

Registration:

  • [First-Time, First-Year Students]: First-year students will register for classes while on campus attending the New Student Orientation Workshop (SOAR).
  • [Transfer Students]: Transfer students will register virtually one day after attending the New Student Orientation Workshop.
  • Additional advising and registration support will be available on your registration date. Hours and availability will be emailed to you.

Advising:

  • If you have questions about your recommended courses, transfer credit, or requirements, contact the Theatre Arts undergraduate advisor, Adriane Howze.

If you have any challenges accessing Single Sign-On, MyCSULB, BeachMail, or Canvas contact Academic Technology Services Help Desk.