College-Based Advisement Centers
Locations, Telephone Numbers and Office Hours are as follows:

Other Advisement Centers

Locations, Telephone Numbers and Office Hours are as follows:

Academic Advisement at Cal State L.A.

Where Do Students Obtain Academic Advisement?

Undergraduate Students can obtain Academic Advisement from Principal Program Department Advisers in their Major colleges, Faculty advisers in their Major and Minor Departments, and College-Based Advisement Centers. Department Principal Advisers and Pre-professional Principal Advisers should be one of the first stops for new students. Their office locations and extensions are listed in each Quarter's Schedule of Classes.

Graduate (Post-Baccalaureate Students) should obtain advisement from the Department or Division offering the Post Baccalaureate Degree Program (except for those declared in the College of Business and Economics, whose students should seek advisement through the Business & Economics Advisement Center). Graduate Students who do not have a declared degree objective should contact the Graduate Studies and Research Office at (323) 343-3820.

Why is Academic Advisement Important?

Academic Advisement is an essential component for a positive student experience and your success at Cal State L.A. Obtaining Academic Advisement in a timely way and on a regular basis, increases your opportunity to succeed academically, to successfully progress toward your degree objective, and to graduate in a timely manner. In addition, because the approved degree program becomes the basis for determining your eligibility for a degree, changes in your program must have your adviser's approval. By seeing an academic adviser quarterly or at least semi-annually, your academic records can be entered on-line into the computer during advisement sessions. When the time comes for filing a "Graduation Check," it can be forwarded to the Graduation Office by your adviser in an accurate and speedy manner.

How Can Academic Advisement Help Me? 

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Who Should Get Academic Advisement?

Academic Advisement is required for all new students prior to their first quarter in attendance at Cal State L.A. Continuing Students should also seek advisement as required by the department or college.

When Should Students Get Academic Advisement?

Before registering for classes, you must consult an adviser in your major department, school, division, or College-Based Advisement Center to plan a program of study. After your initial advisement session, you should consult an academic adviser at least annually, or more often as necessary, to enhance academic success. Undergraduate students who, upon admission to the University, are unable to select a specific major must consult an academic adviser in the University Academic Advisement Center for undeclared students.

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How Do Students Make Appointments for Academic Advisement?

Most advisement offices have some provisions for "Walk-in" advisement appointments. However, it is best to schedule appointments with your academic adviser by phone or in person to ensure sufficient time to cover all of your advisement issues and needs, and to give the adviser an opportunity to prepare for the advisement session.

Be sure to bring with you to the Advisement session any pertinent information that will help your adviser provide you with complete, accurate, and up-to-date advisement information, such as Placement Test Scores (ELM, EPT), SAT/ACT Scores, TOEFL Scores, AP (Advanced Placement Test Scores), Transfer Credit, and Collegiate Transcripts.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What courses should I take first?

2. What are the Basic Subjects in the General Education Program?

3. How do I declare a Major?   

4. What is a minor?

5. How do I declare a Dual Major?   

6. Do I need to take English 102? 

7. When do I take the Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE)? 

8. What determines my undergraduate class level?  

9. What is the difference between Upper and Lower Division classes? 

10. What is the Upper Division Theme?

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Students should first take their BASIC SUBJECTS (BLOCK A) in the General    Education Lower Division Requirements.

2. The BASIC SUBJECTS in the General Education Lower Division Requirements are the written communication, oral communication, critical thinking and mathematical/quantitative reasoning requirements, these classes are Block A in the General Education Lower Division Requirements. 

3. Students may declare a major at anytime if they have a minimum GPA of 2.0. Students first fill out a "Request for New Undergraduate Major" form. This form should be approved by the appropriate major department and is then submitted to Enrollment Services 146.

4. A minor is a formal aggregate of courses totaling 18 or more quarter units, of which at least 12 units must be upper division and taken in residence at Cal State L.A.

5. Students planning to dual major should fill out a "Request for New Undergraduate Major" form. These students should fill out section 1 and section 2 and must have their form approved by the appropriate major departments and the Graduation Office.

6. Yes. English 102 is a graduation requirement and all students are required to complete it.

7. Students should plan to take the Writing Proficiency Exam or WPE after completing English 102. Students are required to complete the WPE requirement before they reach 135 quarter units.

8. Undergraduate class levels at the university are based on the number of units completed. Freshmen (0-44 units completed), Sophomores (45-89 units completed)Juniors (90-134 units completed), Seniors (135+ units completed).

9. Lower Division courses are numbered 100-299 (Freshmen and Sophomore level) and Upper Division courses are numbered 300-499 (Junior and Senior level). Note some 400 level courses may earn graduate credit for graduate students.

10. The Upper Division Theme is a university requirement. A theme consists of three interrelated courses on the same topic, designed to help students acquire knowledge of topics that are current, enduring and of significant importance for humanity.