Apr 23, 2024  
2018-2019 University Catalog 
    
2018-2019 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Academic Affairs



Introduction

Cal State Fullerton offers affordable, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs that reflect the best of current practice, theory and research, and are designed to meet the needs of our diverse students, as well as our region and the state of California. The key mission of the university is to make learning preeminent on our campus. By combining the best qualities of teaching and research universities, actively engaged Cal State Fullerton students, faculty and staff work in close collaboration to expand knowledge. The mark of a Cal State Fullerton graduate is a person who has developed the habit of intellectual inquiry, is prepared for a challenging profession, seeks strengthened relationships with the community and contributes productively to society. We strive for excellence by offering rigorous and intellectually stimulating academic programs that undergo periodic formal review by the university and by external academic accreditation agencies.

Our General Education program is designed to provide a strong foundational understanding of disciplines and subject areas, as well as to ensure well-educated students upon graduation. This is achieved by integrating into the degree programs foundational courses in the physical sciences, social sciences, humanities and fine arts. Articulation agreements with the local community colleges clarify the courses that will be accepted for credit in both general education and degree programs. Currently, the academic programs available at the university include 57 bachelor’s degrees, 52 master’s degrees, the Ed.D. program, the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, 65 minors, a dozen certificate programs, and a variety of initial and advanced credentials for teaching and preschool-12 school settings.

Among our applied master’s degrees are public administration (M.P.A.), public health (M.P.H.), social work (M.S.W.), fine arts (M.F.A.) and business administration (MBA). Other graduate programs include the M.A. and M.S. degrees in arts, humanities, communications, social sciences, applied health, accounting, biology, computer science, counseling, engineering, English, history, kinesiology, mathematics, modern languages, music and psychology. Many graduate-level classes are offered in the late afternoon or evening to accommodate working students. Online programs include the M.S. in environmental engineering, M.S. in instructional design and technology, M.S. in information technology, M.S. in software engineering and M.S. in statistics. Nearly all concentrations in the M.S. in education are offered online.  

Cal State Fullerton offers two doctoral degrees. The Ed.D. in educational leadership is available in two concentrations. The community college leadership concentration prepares community college professionals for leadership roles in higher education. The preschool-12 leadership concentration prepares mid-career educators for careers as administrators, principals and superintendents in school systems throughout California. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) prepares nurses for increasingly complex practice, and for faculty and leadership roles in nursing.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

College Park 1060
657-278-2614
fullerton.edu/acadaffairs

The provost and vice president for academic affairs is the chief academic officer for the campus and provides leadership for the planning and management of all academic and instructional resources that support the teaching, scholarship and research mission of the university. Working with the president, college deans, academic administrators, Academic Senate, students and campus community, the provost and vice president for academic affairs provides leadership for all academic planning, resources and operational matters.

Each college and academic program publishes information that is available on the university’s website at fullerton.edu.

Academic Advisement

University Hall 123B
657-278-3606
fullerton.edu/aac

The Academic Advisement Center provides academic advising to matriculated undergraduate students with respect to general education and graduation requirements, major exploration, university policies and procedures, and referral to other campus resources. Above that, its mission is to work in a collaborative partnership with students, a shared responsibility, where the adviser and student are equally invested in the educational process and holistic development of the student.

The Academic Advisement Center is the academic home department for undeclared students, providing services normally offered through the declared student’s major department. Additionally, the department provides information, programs and referrals to support students in their academic careers and progress to timely graduation.

Students needing information about the implications of academic probation are required to complete the Probation Tutorial, housed on the AAC website, prior to visiting Academic Advisement for in-depth advisement. First-time freshmen on academic probation are contacted each January by their Student Success Teams in order to prepare them to fulfill their mandatory probation advising workshop, as well as the components of the semester-long Academic Success Institute.

Advising is provided on a walk-in basis and students must bring a current copy of their Titan Degree Audit to meet with an academic adviser. Arrangements also can be made to support nontraditional student populations such as night-only students with limited appointments, if deemed necessary, outside regular advising hours. Visit fullerton.edu/aac for hours of operation, wait time and contact information for special requests. Find the hours, location and contact information for the AAC as well as Student Success Team resources at success.fullerton.edu.

Academic Programs

McCarthy Hall 133
657-278-3602

The Office of Academic Programs focuses on three areas: curriculum, student success and academic quality. In consultation with college deans, the Academic Senate, appropriate faculty committees and campus divisions, the Office of Academic Programs has responsibility for the planning, direction and implementation of academic curriculum, programs and policies for undergraduate and graduate education, general education, university advisement, institutional and program accreditation, and various other university and systemwide programmatic initiatives. The associate vice president for academic programs provides leadership and oversight for the Office of Academic Programs, and works in consultation and collaboration with the directors of Academic Programs (Academic Advisement Center, Office of First Year Experience, Graduate Studies, Health Professions Advising Office, University Honors Program, Undergraduate Studies and General Education, and Writing Across the Curriculum) to assist in the implementation of university and system policies and in assuring the quality of the curriculum, academic programs and student success.

The Academic Advisement Center works in a collaborative partnership with students to provide guidance and information on general education, general graduation requirements and academic success. The AAC also partners with the university’s Student Success Teams to provide highly personalized support systems for CSUF students. The Office of First Year Experience connects first-year students who are undeclared to a community of first-year-focused faculty, professional staff and peer mentors; Graduate Studies focuses on graduate programs and curriculum as well as providing student support services for the success of graduate students, including outreach, onboarding and advising; Health Professions Advising Office prepares, informs and advises students about post-baccalaureate careers in the health professions; the University Honors Program is a 24-unit academic program with honors seminars that meet university general education requirements and is dedicated to inclusive excellence and extending the frontiers of knowledge beyond the boundaries of the institution; Undergraduate Studies and General Education focuses on undergraduate programs, including general education; and Writing Across the Curriculum supports faculty members as they integrate student writing into their courses. The associate vice president for academic programs also provides oversight of institutional and professional program accreditations as the campus accreditation liaison officer.

Academic Senate

Pollak Library 120
657-278-3683
fullerton.edu/senate

The Academic Senate is an integral part of university governance and collegial decision-making. The Academic Senate, governed by a constitution and bylaws, develops, formulates and reviews educational and professional policy that becomes university policy if approved by the president. Examples of educational and professional policy include curricula; academic standards; criteria and standards for the selection, retention and promotion of faculty members; academic and administrative issues concerning students; and allocation of resources.

The Academic Senate consists of 1) the following ex officio members: the president of the university, vice president for academic affairs, immediate past chair of the Academic Senate (except in the case when the incumbent chair is re-elected), CSU Academic Senators, president of the exclusive bargaining representative for Unit 3; 2) at least 35 full-time faculty members, of which at least six shall be at-large and at least 23 shall represent specific constituencies, all of which shall be elected by the Academic Senate electorate according to the procedures set forth in the bylaws; 3) two part-time faculty members elected by the part-time faculty according to the procedures set forth in the bylaws; 4) two students appointed by Associated Students Inc.; 5) two staff members elected by the staff according to the procedures set forth in the bylaws and 6) a member appointed by the emeritus professors of Cal State Fullerton. At the beginning of the 2020-21 academic year, the senate composition will have completed the transition stage to its new composition with exactly 38 full-time faculty members elected, of which exactly six are elected at-large and 32 are elected from specific constituencies.

Shared governance at CSUF involves the Academic Senate and other faculty members through membership on boards, ad hoc committees and general committees, in addition to the standing committees. Representing the faculty, the Academic Senate works with administrators, staff and students, exemplifying “The Fullerton Way” of collegial governance.

There are 21 standing committees of the Academic Senate: 1) Academic Standards Committee, 2) Assessment and Educational Effectiveness, 3) Campus Facilities and Beautification Committee, 4) Elections Committee, 5) Extended Education Committee, 6) Faculty Affairs Committee, 7) Faculty Development Center Board, 8) General Education Committee, 9) Graduate Education Committee, 10) Information Technology Committee, 11) International Education Committee, 12) Internships and Service Learning Committee, 13) Library Committee, 14) Planning, Resource and Budget Committee, 15) Student Academic Life Committee, 16) University Advancement Committee, 17) University Committee on Writing Proficiency, 18) University Curriculum Committee, 19) Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 20) Faculty Research Policy Committee and 21) Honors Program Advisory Board.

There are three general committees of the faculty: 1) Faculty Personnel Committee, 2) Professional Leaves Committee and 3) Faculty Research Committee.

Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness

fullerton.edu/data

The Office of Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness leads systematic and integrated efforts to explore the impact of university programs, curricula, services and operations; provides meaningful data to support strategic planning and decision-making at all levels of the university; plays a critical role in demonstrating accountability to accreditation, external entities and the general public; fosters a campuswide culture of data-informed decision-making, continuous improvement, and teaching and learning innovations. Accreditation, analytical studies, assessment, data governance, institutional research and quality assurance comprise the six core functional areas within OAIE.

  • Accreditation: OAIE works closely with campus constituents to support university and discipline accreditation efforts.
  • Analytical Studies: OAIE coordinates and conducts research studies related to campus initiatives and educational effectiveness, including grant evaluation and support.
  • Assessment: Working in close collaboration with diverse units across campus, OAIE oversees the universitywide assessment process and facilitates the development, implementation and alignment of assessment plans in the program/unit, department, college/division and university levels.
  • Data Governance: OAIE collaborates with other campus stakeholders to ensure data integrity, coordination, and management.
  • Institutional Research: OAIE ensures compliance with internal and external mandated reporting requirements, completes external survey reporting, maintains databases and dashboards for institutional data, and responds to ad hoc data requests.
  • Quality Assurance: OAIE oversees the universitywide quality assurance processes, including the program performance review and centers and institutes review.

Extension

657-278-2611
extension.fullerton.edu

Extension is a rich and varied component of Cal State Fullerton. Extension works with academic units to create and administer programs that extend the university’s resources out into the community. For additional information, see the section of this catalog titled “Extension .”

Academic Credit Programs

Extension administers a variety of CSUF academic credit programs that are self-supporting and do not receive state tax revenue. These include: Summer Session, Winter Session, Open University enrollment, certificate programs and classes, online degree completion programs (B.A. in sociology, B.A. in business administration) and master’s degree programs (M.S. in counseling, M.S. in taxation, master of social work, fully employed MBA, accelerated M.S. in software engineering, M.S. in financial engineering and risk management).

Professional Development Programs

Continuing education fills a critical need in a challenging job market. Certificate programs provide innovative learning experiences to help professionals stay current on the latest technologies and best practices, or to develop the skills and knowledge to explore a whole new career.

Custom Workforce Training Solutions

Programs taught on-site at local companies and tailored to meet specific training needs yield proven results: development of real-world knowledge; improved team performance and productivity; increased employee satisfaction and retention; and an enhanced, shared knowledge base.

Programs for Educators

A wide variety of programs are offered in the field of education. These include professional development in the areas of education of the gifted, reading, beginning teacher training, school business management, special education and online teaching.

Summer Programs for Children and Teens

Summer programs offers a variety of programming for young people. Academic classes are offered to advance knowledge in topics such as mathematics and writing. Summer Art Camp is an opportunity for youth ages 7-14 to immerse themselves in a variety of art forms while learning to express their creativity.

Learning in Retirement

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Cal State Fullerton is part of a nationally recognized network of organizations for retirees, semi-retirees and those approaching retirement. OLLI-CSUF is self-supported and offers a wide range of classes and activities for an active, healthy life.

Faculty Affairs and Records

Pollak Library 260A
657-278-2125
fullerton.edu/far

The Office of Faculty Affairs and Records oversees the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and applicable campus policies for faculty (Unit 3). FAR is housed within Faculty Support Services and works in collaboration with the Faculty Development Center, Academic Technology Center, and the Division of Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion to provide faculty with support for successful academic careers.

FAR coordinates the following processes for academic employees: retention, tenure, and promotion; temporary faculty (lecturer) evaluations; post-tenure review; range elevation; student opinion questionnaires; sabbatical leaves; and difference-in-pay leaves.

FAR is the official repository for documents and correspondence concerning full-time faculty and has the responsibility for retaining documentation pertaining to employment, reappointment, tenure, promotion, and the evaluation of faculty performance. The FAR office is open throughout the year, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Faculty Development Center

Pollak Library 244
657-278-4722
fdc.fullerton.edu

Established in 1998, the Faculty Development Center is charged with promoting faculty development, vitality and enrichment. The center is responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive program of support for all instructional faculty across a broad spectrum of professional activities, including but not limited to: teaching and learning; pedagogical considerations for instructional technologies; assessment; scholarly research and creative activities; professional and service activities; and other campuswide intellectual, recognition and community-building events.

The guiding principles of the FDC are to:

  • recognize and support faculty, and acknowledge the broad range and depth of their varied accomplishments, both individual and collaborative;
  • enhance faculty instructional development to support student learning and engagement;
  • promote interdisciplinary collaboration and build a sense of community among faculty with shared interests and professional development goals;
  • offer programs that reflect an awareness of the different stages of faculty growth and development;
  • align faculty growth and development with the university’s mission, goals and strategies; and
  • encourage and support faculty in exploring new roles and developing new skills.

Given these principles, the FDC is a collaborative effort that includes a faculty director; a graphic artist; support staff; a team of faculty coordinators and liaisons; and a Senate-convened advisory board with faculty, administrator and student representation. Specifically, the Faculty Development Center fosters faculty professional development in teaching, research and service; coordinates funding programs supporting teaching; assists new and tenure-track faculty with orientation and retention/tenure/promotion workshops; works with part-time faculty and lecturers; arranges events, conferences, seminars, workshops and colloquia that support teaching and learning; and assists faculty with the production of graphics for use in presentations, scholarly publications and posters for display at conferences. Faculty coordinators provide additional services based on their areas of expertise. In addition, the FDC enlists the expertise of faculty across campus to provide professional development on topics of interest.

With the goal of enhancing teaching and learning, the FDC — under the direction of the assistant vice president for faculty support services and in collaboration with the directors of online education and training, academic technology, and faculty affairs and records — provides instruction, support and consultation on a spectrum of academic technologies useful to faculty members who teach in person, online or in a blended environment. Technologies range from learning management systems, to multimedia development tools, to a variety of web-based applications, statistical software and making technology-based information accessible to all. Teaching strategies and tips are integrated within workshops.

For more information on specific activities, workshops, programs and events, contact the Faculty Development Center at 657-278-4722 or visit fdc.fullerton.edu.

Graduate Studies

McCarthy Hall 112
657-278-2618

fullerton.edu/graduate

The Office of Graduate Studies serves the university as the central office for graduate student affairs and operations. Included in its portfolio: leadership and support for graduate curriculum development (reviewing all graduate programs, courses and program changes), administration of several scholarship and fellowship programs for graduate students (the Giles T. Brown Travel Grants, Graduate Equity Fellowship, Elevar Scholars Program, CSU Pre-Doctoral Fellowship and Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program), providing academic support (including tutoring and workshops), implementing the Faculty/Graduate Student Mentoring Program, and managing the Graduate Student Success Center in the Pollak Library. The office also manages the federal Title V, Part B, PPOHA (Promoting Post-Baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans) program Strengthening Opportunities, Access and Resources. In addition, the office serves as a resource on state regulations and campus policies, overseeing implementation of guidelines and procedures for graduate students. The Office of Graduate Studies processes or monitors graduate student academic steps, including enrollment processes (continuous enrollment, leave of absence, GRAD 700 registration, petition review), classification status (Study Plan), academic standards (probation and disqualification), graduation check and degree conferral, and provides support for department graduate program advisers. All master’s theses, doctoral dissertations and doctoral projects are reviewed in the Office of Graduate Studies, a final step before graduation.

Information Technology

Langsdorf Hall 700
657-278-8500
fullerton.edu/it

The Division of Information Technology strives to be a strategic, innovative and best‐in‐class organization that provides a leading‐edge technology environment for students, faculty and staff to advance the university’s mission, vision and goals. We empower our students to become digital citizens and to utilize immersive technology in curricular and co-curricular instruction.

International Programs

657-278-2787
international.fullerton.edu

International Programs facilitates the university’s commitment to being a comprehensive regional university with a global outlook. The office initiates and administers contacts with partner institutions around the world to foster the exchange of faculty and students and coordinate international programming. Areas include Study Abroad and Exchange, University Semester Abroad, and International Student Services. For additional information, see the section of this catalog titled “International Programs .”

Online Education and Training

Pollak Library 237
657-278-4528
oet.fullerton.edu

The Department of Online Education and Training was established by the Division of Academic Affairs to create, promote and support effective and accessible online education at Cal State Fullerton. OET serves the entire university by providing a comprehensive array of services related to the use of instructional technologies in face-to-face, blended or hybrid, and fully online courses.  

OET’s team of instructional designers and academic technology consultants support faculty in the use of CSUF’s Learning Management System, TITANium, and technology products integrated with TITANium; advise and consult in the use of instructional technologies, curating and making available examples of best practice; develop tools to assist faculty in the design and delivery of online education; train and consult in the implementation of online instructional activities, course redesign using technology, and the creation of new online courses and programs; and assist in the production of instructional media components including the coordination and maintenance of several media studios.  

OET is located in the Faculty Commons area of the Pollak Library (PL 237). Individual appointments may be scheduled with OET’s instructional design team, and walk-ins are welcome from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To set up an appointment or for more information, call OET at 657-278-4528. The OET website offers information on its services and online professional development certificate programs, as well as resources on teaching online, online readiness, accessibility and open educational resources. Additionally, OET created and maintains the TITANium Resource Center (titaniumhelp.fullerton.edu), which provides self-help guides on a wide range of topics regarding teaching and learning using TITANium.

Instructional Televised Instruction

Interactive Televised Instruction offers videoconferencing, interactive televised instruction and delivery of hybrid courses. Employing various academic technologies, ITI removes the traditional boundaries of time and location to facilitate programs and combines distance learning with classroom instruction. Course instruction is provided to students through online or distance delivery methods, as well as simultaneously taking place in the classroom with other students and the instructors. ITI, in partnership with the Division of Information Technology and the College of Communications, contributes to providing content and programming for the university cable channel on local cable systems in some cities throughout Orange County.

The Paulina June and George Pollak Library

657-278-2633
library.fullerton.edu

Chief among campus learning resources is the Pollak Library, named in 1998 after CSUF Professor Emeritus of English Paulina June Pollak and her husband, George. Located at the center of the campus and offering robust physical and electronic collections of approximately three million items, the library consists of a six-story south wing and a newer four-story north wing.

The library provides access to over 200 online databases, more than 400,000 e-books, over 75,000 electronic journals and online collections of streaming audio, video and digitized primary source materials. In addition to physical book collections of approximately one million volumes, the library also contains a wide array of other materials, including print and online government publications (federal, state, local and international), audiovisual collections, archival and rare items, maps and microforms. Library collection materials are selected to support the learning mission of the university.

As part of the university’s learning mission, the Pollak Library offers a variety of instructional programs and services. Library faculty conduct instructional sessions for CSUF classes in all disciplines. One-to-one instruction in the use of the library’s collections and services is provided at the main reference desk. The library also is the site of the Information and Learning Commons (ilc.library.fullerton.edu), including over 500 computers, smart group study rooms, tutoring services and more.

For the convenience of users, photocopiers, printers and microform reader-printers are available in locations throughout the library. These are operated with coins or TitanCards. Other specialized facilities include media listening and viewing rooms and group study rooms. Wireless internet access is available on all floors of the library.

The TitanCard issued by the university serves as a library card for checking out books and other materials. Library users are responsible for the on-time return of all materials charged out on their cards.

Reciprocal borrowing agreements with all other CSU libraries and some nearby academic libraries allow CSUF students, faculty and staff to visit and check out materials from those locations. In addition, Interlibrary Loan obtains materials not owned by Pollak Library for CSUF students, faculty and staff through local, state and national interlibrary-loan networks.

The Pollak Library’s home page serves as the gateway to library resources and offers a wealth of information about the library’s collections and services. Remote access to licensed library resources is provided to students, faculty and staff via portal authentication through the library home page gateway.

Registration and Records

Langsdorf Hall 114
657-278-2300

The Office of Registration and Records provides services to undergraduate and graduate students in the regular sessions of Cal State Fullerton. Units within these offices register student programs of study, including enrollment into classes; maintain academic records; administer academic probation and disqualification policies; provide enrollment certifications on student request, including transcripts of academic records; certify the completion of degree requirements; receive petitions for exceptions to academic regulations; and provide information about these programs and services.

Research and Sponsored Projects

fullerton.edu/research

The Office of Research and Sponsored Projects includes:

Office of Grants and Contracts

Titan Hall 213
657-278-7679

The Office of Grants and Contracts assists with proposal preparation, review and timely submission of proposals to external funding agencies, and appropriate training related to these functions; assures proposal compliance with funding sponsor and regulatory agency requirements; serves as the lead in review of grant awards and in the issuance, review and negotiation of contracts, subcontracts and related agreements. This office provides oversight of the university’s proposal review and approval process, maintains data, and prepares all necessary reports on proposal submissions.

Office of Research Development

Titan Hall 226
657-278-2134

The Office of Research Development assists faculty in identifying funding sources for their research and creative activities; promotes institutional and collaborative grant development; provides guidance, training and assistance in preparing high-quality, competitive proposals.

Office of Research Compliance

Titan Hall 228
657-278-7719

The Office of Research Compliance assures universitywide compliance with federal, state, local and agency policies and regulations that involve research and creative activities, including use of human and animal subjects and policies regarding conflict of interest, export control, responsible conduct of research and research misconduct.