UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2023-2024

Academic Standing for Undergraduates (Good Standing, Academic Notice and Disqualified Status)

Academic standing is defined by the student’s GPA. The GPA is calculated by dividing the number of grade points earned in courses that assign letter grades by the number of units attempted. Courses in which grades of CR, NC, I and W are assigned are not used in GPA calculation. A student’s academic status takes into account both the cumulative total GPA, which includes coursework transferred from other institutions as well as coursework taken at CSUN, and the CSUN GPA, which includes only coursework taken at CSUN.

The four categories of undergraduate academic status and the regulations pertaining to each are listed below.

Good Standing

Students are in good standing at the conclusion of any matriculated term in which they have both a cumulative total GPA and a CSUN GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students in good standing are eligible to enroll in the University through the regular enrollment process. Students can enroll in the maximum number of units determined by the University for the coming semester. To request enrollment in more than the maximum units, students must complete the Extra Unit Authorization form and obtain the appropriate approvals according to the timeline published in the Registration Calendar.

Academic Notice (Formerly Academic Probation)

Undergraduate students are placed on academic notice if either their cumulative total GPA or CSUN GPA falls below 2.0 at the conclusion of any term. Students remain on academic notice until they either regain good standing or are placed in disqualified status. Students on academic notice are eligible to enroll in the University through the regular enrollment process. However, they receive registration holds and are not able to register for classes until they have received advisement to review progress toward improving academic status. Declared majors on academic notice will typically receive advisement from the Student Services Center/EOP (SSC/EOP) Satellite in their College. EOP Exploratory students receive advisement from the EOP Exploratory Advisement Coordinator. All other Exploratory students receive advisement from the Matador Advising Hub.

Students on academic notice can enroll in a maximum of 13 units in a semester or Summer term. To request more than 13 units, students must complete the Extra Unit Authorization form and obtain the signature of their College associate dean, or for Exploratory majors the Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Studies. Students on academic notice will be disqualified if either their cumulative total GPA or CSUN GPA falls below the GPA listed for each class level in the chart below under “disqualified status.”

Disqualified Status

Undergraduate students who were on academic notice the previous semester are placed in disqualified status if, at the end of the next semester, either their cumulative total GPA or CSUN GPA falls below the floor listed for each class level in the table below:

Class Level Units GPA at the Time of Disqualification
Freshman 1-29 units 1.50
Sophomore 30-59 units 1.70
Junior 60-89 units 1.85
Senior 90-plus units 1.95

Second Baccalaureate Disqualification: Second baccalaureate students will be placed in disqualified status if either their cumulative or total GPA or CSUN GPA falls below 2.0.

Units of precollegiate-level coursework are included in determining class level. Students in disqualified status are not eligible to enroll in the University through the regular enrollment process. They can enroll in CSUN courses only through Open University in The Tseng College. Students seeking to enroll in courses should refer to The Tseng College website. Only 24 units of course credit earned in The Tseng College can be counted toward a CSUN degree. However, second baccalaureate students are limited to 9 units of course credit through Open University. The unit limits include courses completed in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer sessions through The Tseng College.

Before students in disqualified status can be readmitted under an Academic Performance Agreement (APA), they must demonstrate acquired skills or achievements that support a successful return to the University. Such evidence may include successful completion of courses in the student’s degree program at another institution or through The Tseng College with grades that demonstrate the student can achieve good standing in a reasonable time frame if readmitted to CSUN. Students are strongly urged to meet with their CSUN academic advisor to discuss the requirements that must be completed in order to be readmitted to the University. When all requirements have been met, students may apply to the University for readmission.