Admissions

Chicago State University admits students on the basis of individual merit and without regard to race, color, national origin, creed, sex, or physical handicap. For information regarding graduate admission requirements and graduate course listings, see the Graduate Catalog or call the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies at 773/995-2404, or visit the office in Room 338, Douglas Library.

Applying for Admission

Undergraduate admission applications may be obtained from high school and community college counselors any time throughout the school year, by writing to the Office of Admissions, Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60628, or through the website (www.csu.edu). Students who wish to visit the campus or to speak with one of the university admissions counselors may call 773/995-2513 for an appointment, or come to the Admissions Office, Cook Administration Building, room 200.

Completed admission applications should be returned to the Admissions Office by July 15 for fall admission or by November 15 for spring admission.

Any applicant who knowingly withholds information or gives false information on an application for admission or readmission may become ineligible for admission to the university or may be subject to disciplinary action.

Regular Undergraduate Student Admission Requirements

Regular students are those seeking degrees at Chicago State University.

The following admission criteria will be applied to freshmen who seek admission for the Fall 2010 semester:

Regular Admission

Admission is determined based on a combination of two criteria, the ACT score and the high school GPA. The minimum ACT for regular admission is 16. Students can be regularly admitted if they have an ACT of 16 with a GPA of 2.75 or above. The minimum admissible GPA is 2.0. To be regularly admitted to Chicago State University with a GPA of 2.0, a student must have an ACT score of at least 22.

• Minimum high school subject/unit requirements for Fall 2008 are as follows: four English units emphasizing written and oral communications and literature; three math units of introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming; three social science units emphasizing history or government; three science units of laboratory sciences; two elective units of foreign language, music, vocational education or art (suggested electives; other academic coursework may be acceptable).

Freshmen Applicants

High school graduates should submit the following:

• Completed and signed undergraduate admission application;
• An official high school transcript signed and bearing the school seal, class rank, class size, and date of graduation (if available);
• Official ACT or SAT scores; and
• Application fee.

Freshmen may be considered for admission any time following their sixth semester in high school.

GED Applicants

Eligible GED applicants should submit the following:

• Completed and signed undergraduate admission application;
• Official GED test results;
• Official ACT or SAT scores; and
• Application fee.

Note: Students who did not request results of the ACT or SAT examinations to be sent to CSU (code 0992) may request supplemental score reports by contacting ACT (www.act.org, 319/337-1313) or the Educational Testing Service for SAT (www.collegeboard.org, 609/771-7600).

Home-Schooled Applicants

To evaluate the educational competency of the home-schooled applicant, the student is expected to meet a minimum ACT composite score of 18. The university will accept official transcripts from home-schooling guilds or associations, or transcripts and grades provided by the student and parent(s) at face-value with sufficient evidence that the applicant is indeed home-schooled. Home-schooled students, upon admission, must take the university placement examinations in English, mathematics, and reading prior to matriculation at the university.

Transfer Students/Second Degree Applicants

Transfer and second degree applicants should submit the following:

1. Completed and signed undergraduate admission application;
2. Application fee;
3. Official transcript(s) from each college or university attended.
4. Applicants with less than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of earned college level coursework must also meet freshmen admission requirements and submit the following:
1. an official high school transcript indicating date of graduation or a GED score report.
2. official ACT or SAT scores.

Courses for which students have not earned a grade of C or better will not be accepted in transfer. Transfer and second degree applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0 on 4.0 scale) or better in all prior college coursework.

Maximum Transfer Credits Accepted

Chicago State University will not accept more than 66 hours of transfer credit from a two-year college.

Policies for Transfer Students

No grades of D will be accepted in transfer. All transfer students must complete Chicago State University proficiency examinations for English composition, reading, and math unless they can demonstrate having passed the Illinois Certification Test of Basic Skills or have completed an AA or AS degree from an accredited two-year college. Chicago State University requires all students to take 6 hours of a single foreign language, a diversity course, and a critical thinking course. The requirements are embedded, which means a course can be counted as, for example, both a diversity course and a social sciences general education course. Courses with an IAI designation of N or D will be counted as having satisfied the diversity requirement. 

Foreign Language Policies for Transfer and Freshmen Students

All students entering fall of 2002 or later must demonstrate a level of proficiency in a single language other than English in order to be eligible for graduation. Returning students who have been out for two or more long terms are also subject to the language requirement .

This requirement may be satisfied by any of the following means:

• Completion of 6 hours in a single foreign language at Chicago State University. (Courses excluded from satisfaction of the requirement are AF L 110, FREN 212, RUS 120.)
• Transfer 5 or more semester hours of a single foreign language from another college or university with a grade of C or better in each course.
• Transfer 2 or more semester hours of a single foreign language from another college or university with a grade of C or better and take an additional course in the same foreign language to five the equivalent of two semesters of a single foreign language.
• Pass AP or CLEP examinations for the equivalent of two semesters of a single foreign language.
• Pass any other examination acceptable to the Foreign Language Department.
• Have completed secondary education in a country where English is not the native language provided the student received instruction in a language other than English.

Transfer Students with AA or AS degrees:

• Any student who transfers to Chicago State University with an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science Degree will be deemed to have completed ALL University general Education requirements including those University requirements which exceed the Illinois General Education Core Curriculum. This policy will not override the requirements of any College, Department, Program or Major.
• Any student who transfers to Chicago State University without an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science Degree, but with 75 or more credit hours and has completed the Illinois GECC requirements BEFORE transferring, will be deemed to have completed all University general education requirements including those University requirements which exceed the Illinois General Education Core Curriculum. This policy will not override the requirements any College, Department, Program or Major.
• Any student who transfers to Chicago State University with an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science Degree will not be required to take proficiency examinations in English, Mathematics, or Reading. However , if individuals courses in specific majors require a passing score on a proficiency examination as a prerequisite, all students, including transfer students, must satisfy the prerequisite by taking the proficiency examination.

Advanced Placement and CLEP Credit

Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit will be accepted for credit at Chicago State University. Official transcripts from Advanced Placement and CLEP are required to determine the amount of credits that will be accepted and their course equivalencies.

Students who hold a bachelor’s degree from another institution and who wish to pursue a second degree in Business Administration can do so if their first business degree is in a specifically designated area such as accounting, finance, marketing, management, etc. Example: Bachelor of Science in Finance.

International Applicants (non-U.S. Citizens)

In general, international students must meet the same academic standards for admission as those required of native students. All applicants must provide evidence of their former academic work, English proficiency, and adequate financial resources. Contact the Office of Admissions for further information.

International students must submit the following:

• Original or true copies of all secondary and post secondary educational records. (All documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation from a nationally known credentials translator.) Contact the Office of Admission for further information.
• Official TOEFL scores. (Not required if applicant completed 24 semester credit hours, from an accredited U.S. college or university.)
• Evidence of financial support for the duration of the time required to reach planned academic objectives.
• Certification of sponsorship supported by sponsor’s bank and/or employment letter.
• Photocopy of I-94 form with the application for admission (if in the U.S. on a visa).
• Completed application for admission and preliminary data form.
• Application fee.
• Deadline dates: Fall semester, May 1; Spring semester, September 1; Summer Semester, February 1.
• Applications received after the deadline will be processed for the following semester.

NOTE: An I-20 will not be issued until all required documents have been received and the applicant has been formally admitted to the university.

Readmit Applicants

Former undergraduate students of CSU who were in good academic standing at the time of withdrawal and who wish to reenter after an absence of two or more years must submit the following to the Registrar’s Office, Cook Administration Building, Room 128, 773/995-2517.

• Completed and signed application for readmission.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended during absence from CSU.
• Deadline dates: Fall Semester, July 15; Spring Semester, November 15; Summer Session, May 1.
• Applications received after the deadline date will be processed for the following semester.

NOTE: Applicants will be readmitted to the program in which they were previously enrolled. To change degree programs students must contact the department in which the student was last enrolled.

Reinstatement of Students Dismissed for Poor Scholarship

Students who have been dismissed may petition for reinstatement to the university after one or more terms. The student must present the request for reinstatement in the form of a written petition addressed to the Committee on Reinstatement in the Office of Admissions. All petitions must be filed prior to the published deadline for accepting applications for admission for the term the student is seeking to enter.

A petition for reinstatement must contain documented evidence that the student now has the ability and desire to complete successfully a program of study at the university. The petition must provide sound and logical reasons for believing that the student is now capable of improving his or her previous academic record at the university if reinstated. A transcript of all college work taken since leaving the university must accompany the petition.

Students will be notified by letter of the disposition of their petition for reinstatement.

NOTE: All documents must be received before any action can be taken on the petition.

Undergraduate-at-Large Admission Requirements

Undergraduates-at-large are those individuals who are not seeking a degree at Chicago State University. Undergraduate students may attend the university as at-large students in either of the following categories:

• Individuals who attend or attended a regionally accredited college or university and who can demonstrate good academic standing at the last institution attended; or
• Individuals who wish to enroll as part of a special program or a cooperative agreement between the university and another institution.

Undergraduate-at-large applicants should submit the following:

• Completed and signed undergraduate-at-large application for admissions;
• Application fee; and
• Verification of good academic standing (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) at the last college/university attended (official or unofficial transcript, last grade statement showing cumulative G.P.A. or letter from the registrar or dean of the college). Students may complete up to 30 semester hours as an undergraduate-at-large.

NOTE: Undergraduate-at-large students are not eligible for financial aid, and will not receive an evaluation of previous college credit.

High School Student-at-Large Admission

High-achieving high school juniors and seniors have the opportunity to earn college credits. Students may register and attend classes at the university, or courses may be taught at the local high school. Participating students may register for one lower-division course per semester or summer term. In order to be admitted to the university, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a four-point scale, consent of the high school counselor, and the approval of the university.

The University College

The University College (UC) provides access to Chicago State University for entering freshmen who have special academic needs. The student population comprises students who:

The minimum ACT for conditional admission to the University College is 15.  Students can be admitted to the University College if they have an ACT of 15 with a GPA of at least 2.00 or above. The minimum admissible GPA is 2.0.

To serve students to the best of our ability, UC faculty and staff create supportive curricula and programs to enhance the acquisition of knowledge and skills essential to successful academic performance in the larger university. The UC entails an approximate two-semester commitment with a combination of basic skills and general education course work applicable to all student majors. High school transcript evaluation and university placement examinations determine course placement.

Medical Report

Prior to registration, students who wish to reside in the residence hall, athletes, international students, and students in specialized programs requiring practicum experiences (e.g. health science and education majors), must submit completed medical reports, signed by a primary care provider. The medical examination forms are available in the Wellness/Health Center in the Cook Administration Building, Room 131.

Immunization

Illinois Department of Public Health Part 694 College Immunization Code specifies that any student registered for six hours or more and born on or after January 1, 1957 who is either a first time freshman, a transfer student, or a student reentering the university after an absence of more than one semester will be required to show proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, and tetanus. 

A registered health care provider must verify documentation of immunization and testing. A high school health record with proof of immunizations, if properly noted and certified, is acceptable documentation for residents of Illinois. Individuals who are not properly immunized will not be allowed to register. Proof of proper immunization must be on file prior to registration.

Evidence of tuberculin testing is required for all international and residence hall students, as well as students in programs which require proof of immunizations (e.g., health programs and education).

Students who need to obtain immunizations or information regarding immunizations may contact the Wellness/Health Center or one of the city of Chicago public health clinics. Students residing outside of the city of Chicago should contact the Public Health Clinic for their township or county.

Students who wish to document that they have met the immunization requirements must submit a completed immunization record by fax or mail to the Chicago State University, Wellness/Health Center 9501 King Drive, ADM 131, Chicago, IL 60628. For more information call 773/995-2010.

Students who have not submitted an up-to-date immunization record to the Wellness Center by the 10 ^th day of the first semester of attendance will be charged a 25.00 non-compliance fee.

Other Vaccines Strongly Recommended

• Meningococcal Vaccine – Meningococcal bacteria are transmitted through air droplets and direct contact with persons already infected with the disease. One dose is recommended at entry into college for students who wish to reduce their risk of meningococcal disease. Meningitis is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection.
• Hepatitis B series or documented proof of immunity.
• Varicella vaccine or documented proof of immunity.

Insurance

The basic student health plan for accident and sickness is mandatory for undergraduate and graduate students who enroll for 12 credit hours or more (See Financial Information, Student Health Insurance, for more information).