Open University • Extended Learning & Education | CSUDH CCPE

What is Open University and what will it do for you?

Through the Open University program, run through the CSUDH College of Continuing and Professional Education, high school graduates, working adults, and students from other universities may enroll in most regular CSUDH credit courses on a space-available basis with permission of the instructor. There is no formal admission to the University required and registration is easy. High school students who are rising juniors and above can take lower-division courses with the permission of their high school counselor and principal.

If you missed the deadline for application at CSUDH or any other CSU campus you can begin taking classes right away through Open University! Later, once you have been accepted to a university, you can transfer your Open University classes into CSUDH or another university.

Open University makes regular CSUDH credit courses available to students who are not admitted to CSUDH.

Open University is available during the fall and spring semesters, and non-CSUDH students may also take courses through CSUDH Summer Session, and during CSUDH Winter Session and Spring Intersession.

Through Open University, you can pursue a degree or take courses to help you advance in your career. The cost for Open University is $311/unit for undergraduate courses if you have not earned your bachelors degree, and $369/unit for undergraduate and graduate courses if you have earned your bachelors degree.

Get registered for the classes you want early! Enrollment is Easy!

View the Spring 2023 Class Schedule.
(Looking for Fall? View Fall 2022 Class Schedule)
Select your classes.
Find the name of your instructor in the class schedule, look up their email in the campus directory, and email the instructor requesting permission to take the class through Open University. Do this as early as possible. If there is no instructor listed, or you cannot get in touch with the instructor, please contact the department.
Note: If you are attempting to take nursing classes, please contact Jackie McKenzie at jmckenzie@csudh.edu to begin the process. Nursing classes require departmental approval.
Once you have received the email permission, forward the email, along with a completed Open University Registration Form PDF, to ceereg@csudh.edu. Students cannot enroll until the first day of the term: January 23, 2023.
Call the College of Continuing and Professional Education Registration Office at 310-243-3741 (Option 1), to pay the class fee(s) and complete your registration. At this time, the registration clerk will check if there are seats available in the class. If there are seats available, you will be registered in the class.

Open University registrations are granted on a space-available basis. If you aren't able to register for the class because the class is full, we would like to hear about it! Please send us a note.

Through Open University you can:

Sample a field before formal application to a degree program
Take professional development courses without formal enrollment in a degree program
Pursue personal interests in the arts, humanities, literature, philosophy and many other fields
Take a few courses or units to complete a university degree, meet continuing education requirements or qualify for a pay increase
Improve your grade point average if you have been turned down for admission by the university or have been academically disqualified
Complete prerequisites for majors or advanced degrees
Get an early start on an academic program
Take classes if you have missed the deadline for admission to CSUDH

You can also take Winter Session, Spring Intersession, and Summer Session courses at CSUDH. You don't have to be a regular student!

Restrictions & Limitations

Matriculated Students

You may not enroll in the Open University program if you have been admitted to any California State University campus as a regular student for the current semester, or if you are a continuing regular student who registered in the previous semester (academically disqualified students may still enroll in Open University).

Undergraduate Credit

A maximum of 24 semester units of baccalaureate-level Open University credit may be applied toward bachelor's degree requirements at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Open University credit does not qualify as residence units for a degree. The term "in residence" applies to those units earned at California State University, Dominguez Hills while an officially admitted student in a degree program. All classes you take will become part of your permanent academic record at CSUDH.

Graduate Credit

For a 30 semester unit master's degree at California State University, Dominguez Hills, students may apply no more than 6 units of Open University credit and/or credit transferred from other accredited institutions.

For More Information

The College of Continuing and Professional Education Registration Office is open 8am—8pm Monday—Thursday, 9am-5pm Friday, and 8am-1:30pm Saturday, and can be reached at (310) 243-3741 (Option 1).

For questions about Open University, email learn@csudh.edu.

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