Undergraduate (and Master's pre-reqs) Distance Program
Frequently Asked Questions

• What courses do I need to take?
  • The Computer Science catalog page
  • BS in Computer Science
  • BS in Computer Information Systems

• Can I see a pre-requisites listing to determine where I stand in the core courses? Core Course Sequence
  • Do you have other helpful pages like this? (4-year plans, clearance forms) Index
  • and also the page from which this was derived Clarke Steinback the Undergrad Advisor

• Will my course transfer for credit at CSU Chico
  • For Computer Science courses see our articulation page
  • For General Education courses, campus admissions decides which courses will transfer and what category they fit into. (Also see CSUC distance ed course equivalents.) Particularly, note that the Computer Science Department does not decide what GE courses transfer. This is decided when a student is admitted. In order to be admitted, one needs to apply. See the Application page from the Regional and Continuing Education page. (The cost for application (as of 5/20/2) is $55).

    See the University Catalog (and its Table of Contents) to get some idea of what the campus requires for GE, in particular

    • GE Requirements
    • the Requirement form (shows Residency Requirements - (Residence: 30 units which must include Upper Division 24 units; Major 12 units; GE 9 units) CSUC Online courses are considered as CSUC on-campus courses and fulfill these residency requirements. We suggest Theme M: Science, Technology, and Society since a couple of courses in it can "double count" for GE and CS requirements.)
    • GE course links
  • GE requirements for second BS degrees.

• Tell me about the new Master's program .

• Why is the cost so high compared to onsite tuition?
  There are costs associated with providing this service via a distance program, for example the technology needed to record the courses, to transmit the courses, to archive the courses, etc. Personnel are needed both to run and maintain the technological aspects and to administer the program. The extra cost for each class is reflected therein. In addition, onsite students are subsidized by the state, distance students are not. All administration, advising, faculty costs, etc. for these distance courses are paid through this course fee - not through state dollars. In summary, the distance course fees must pay for all production, delivery, advising and administration costs.

• Why is the cost so high compared to other distance programs?
  • For the same reasons specified above.
  • Courses taken through the CSU Chico Distance Program count towards graduation with a degree from an accredited Computer Science program. Some Graduate Programs only admit students who have received their BS from an accredited institution. The BS in Computer Science is accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission(CSAC) of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB) - a national accrediting agency and hence in high regard. This agency has currently been engulfed by ABET.
  • Courses taken through the Distance Program show on transcripts as a course taken at CSUC, there is no designation specifying that it is a distance course.

• How do I apply? As indicated above: Through Regional and Continuing Education (apply)

• What courses are available? archived and see the Index page for the Computer Science Distance Program though Regional and Continuing Education for live courses in a given semester.

• How do I register for Distance Courses? Through Regional and Continuing Education (register)

For futher questions concerning admissions, registration, cost, etc. contact Regional and Continuing Education - Jeff Layne (530-898-6105).

For futher questions concerning Computer Science courses and pre-requisite satisfaction contact Susan Ledgerwood (530-898-4010)