Instructions to Enroll via Open University
All students must meet and acknowledge all stated prerequisites for course choices. An instructor or department could ask to see transcripts.
Always review the academic schedule for the semester/term you are interested in attending.
NEW: During spring/fall semesters you may enroll in open sections for courses you have met prerequisites in the Manage Classes tile, without permission through week one of the semester.
If the course is closed, waitlisted, or if you need to confirm requisites are met, then permission from both the instructor and academic department are needed. This process is facilitated by initiating a Request for Approval on the Open University website two weeks before the semester begins.
You may request permission for a course that is open (pending requisite documentation), closed or waitlisted. If approved by the instructor and academic department, a permit will be placed and you will proceed with enrollment in the Manage Classes tile with an OU enrollment appointment (registration date), as long as there is physical space, and any active internal waitlists have expired. Active waitlists are for admitted students only. Refer to the important dates, details and timelines for a specific semester.
Summer and winter session terms have an early enrollment window. You may enroll into open sections of a course without permission, barring prerequisites have been met. The early enrollment period opens in late October for upcoming winter sessions, and in April for upcoming summer sessions. Prepare ahead and be sure to either create or confirm your record so that you have an enrollment appointment window in the Manage Classes tile. Refer to the important dates and deadlines for a specific session/term.
STEP 1: Assign an OU Enrollment Appointment
- An enrollment appointment is not an appointment with a person. It’s a registration date.
- This step is necessary each term you enroll: winter, spring, summer and fall.
- Assign winter before spring; and summer before fall, if you are planning to enroll in both terms.
Are you New to CSUF?
If you have never applied to CSUF, then the first step is to obtain a campus wide ID (CWID). Use the New Student Record Creation Guide to help map out the process.
Go to New Student Creation to create a new student record and activate your program and term for an Open University enrollment appointment (registration date).
Follow prompts to verify your email address and then use the PIN Letter emailed to you later to gain login access to the CSUF Portal and confirm your enrollment appointment. Use the New Student Record Creation Guide.
- Assign winter appointments before spring, and summer before fall, if you are planning to enroll in both terms.
*If you receive an error message, try clearing the cookies/cache in your browser.
Returning CSUF Student WITHOUT Portal Access
If you NO longer have access to login to the CSUF Portal; Go to Returning Student Confirmation to have the system update your Portal access in 24-48 hours.
Once you have access to the CSUF Portal, use this Returning Student OU Enrollment Appointment Guide to login to the CSUF Portal and activate your program & term to enroll via Open University.
This step will prompt an Open University enrollment appointment (registration date) to appear in your CSUF Student Homepage.
Updating your student record may be three parts.
Part 1. Regaining access to login to the CSUF Student Portal,
Part 2. Updating your profile, and
Part 3. *Activating your program and term to enroll via Open University, which generates an
enrollment appointment.
- Assign winter appointments before spring, and summer before fall, if you are planning to enroll in both terms.
Returning Student Confirmation
*If you receive an error message, try clearing the cookies/cache in your browser.
Returning CSUF Student WITH Portal Access
If you DO have access to login to the CSUF Portal; You will need to activate your program & term to enroll via Open University in the Manage Classes tile.
This step will prompt an Open University enrollment appointment (registration date) to appear in your CSUF Student Homepage.
Use this Returning Student OU Enrollment Appointment Guide and review the Manage Classes link for instructions. Once this step is complete, the appointment (registration date) typically appears in 24-48 hours.
- Assign winter appointments before spring, and summer before fall, if you are planning to enroll in both terms.
 |
When can I setup an OU Enrollment Appointment (registration date)? | When will I see the OU Enrollment Appointment (registration date)? |
|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | September 30 | October 4, 2024, or 24-48 hours |
| Spring 2025 | October 7 | October 25, or 24-48 hours |
| Summer 2025 | early February | Stay tuned |
| Fall 2024 | May 28, 2024 | May 29, or 24-48 hours |
STEP 2: View CSUF Schedule
- During fall & spring semesters, uncheck “Show open classes only” box to view all sections of a course (open, closed, or waitlisted).
- When searching for summer & winter terms, adjust the course career to "Extended Education".
- Returning student? The schedule in the Manage Classes tile is the same as the link below.
STEP 3: Check for Holds
- Registration holds prevent enrollment via Open University. Returning students: check the Tasks tile in your Student Homepage.
- Select the hold for more details and the department to contact for the hold. Be proactive and resolve holds before enrolling.
- New to CSUF? You should not have any holds.
STEP 4: Enroll or Request for Approval
Summer/Winter Terms: register for open sections with an OU enrollment appointment in the Manage Classes tile.
If the course has prerequisites that were taken elsewhere, you will need a permit. Check the summer or winter Dates & Details page for permit instructions.
Fall/Spring Semesters:
NEW: register for open sections with an OU enrollment appointment in the Manage Classes tile.
If the course is closed, waitlisted, or you need to document requisites taken elsewhere (including department consent), then start by initiating a Request for Approval to obtain instructor and department permission.
- This process opens on the OU website two weeks before the semester begins.
- The transaction is an online communication, routing the request to the instructor first, then to the academic department for the course section requested.
- Think of it as an electronic paper form that holds up to five individual courses.
This is the process for courses that are open (pending requisite confirmation), closed or waitlisted.
After a permit is placed you will need to complete enrollment in the Manage Classes tile, then proceed to Step 5: Process Payment. Payment is due the same day.
STEP 5: Process payment
- All fees are due at the time of enrollment. Once enrolled, process payment in the Financial Account tile in your Student Homepage; OU Fees & Resources.
- Enjoy your class! Remember to use campus resources to aid in your success and keep track of important dates, details, and deadlines.
Effective 2023: All students enrolling via Open University must either create or update their student record by going to New Student Creation OR Returning Student Confirmation link so that your student record is active in the Open University program and semester/term of enrollment. If you receive an error message, try clearing the "cookies/cache" in your browser.
This action must be completed ahead of EACH semester or term you plan to enroll through Open University, so you will complete this step more than once if planning to enroll in multiple future semesters or terms. This step assigns an enrollment appointment window, viewable in the Manage Classes tile in your Student Homepage. Be proactive and plan ahead.
*Assign winter appointments before spring, and summer appointments before fall, if you are planning to enroll in both terms.
For more information regarding Student Portal login and navigating your Student Homepage, click HERE.
Consult with one of the Open University Advisors if you have academic questions or need direction about whom you need to consult at the university
All fees are due in full at the time of enrollment, unless approved under some other agreement through EIP Finance. You will be subject to enrollment cancellation (without notice) if fees are not paid in full at the time of enrollment. Take time to review the Fees & Resources for Open University fee and refund policies.
For information on all other fees of other courses/programs offered through University Extension, click HERE and go to the specific program to review fee policy and refund information.
If you are an individual in the United States physically on a student Visa, requesting enrollment in any semester/term, which allows you to complete coursework in the United States, be prepared to upload proof of permission from your designated school official (DSO) at the time of the enrollment or Request for Approval. This documentation should state you have approval to complete a course(s) at CSUF through Open University, while an admitted/matriculated student in attendance at another institution. Open University at CSUF does not issue one an I-20 to obtain a student Visa to enter the United States.
