Admissions Information

 

First Year Experience (FYE) is a holistic experience of support, connection, and welcome for all new first-year students and families connecting students to peers, the CSN community, campus resources and a network for overall success. New students move through the FYE with innovative and impactful programming including New Student Orientation events, FYE celebration traditions, Peer Leader connections, and overall programming and support for academic and social engagement in the college community. The goal of the FYE at CSN is to personalize the first year for each student maximizing student success and every student’s ability to meet their goals!  For more information, visit the web page at: csn.edu/fye.

 

As the important “launch point” to the FYE@CSN, New Student Orientation is an important first stop to connecting new students to CSN. Orientation familiarizes new students to CSN’s community engagement opportunities, academic programs, advising services, course scheduling, online learning, support resources, policies, and financial aid. With one focus on academic engagement, orientation helps new students plan for their academic goals and get off to a good start on their Coyote pathway towards completion. Orientation creates important opportunities to connect with other students, faculty, and staff establishing an early network for success! To successfully complete the CSN “First Steps” to success, new students are required to complete orientation prior to the class registration process.

 

New Student Orientation is available to students in an online platform for easy accessibility and connection! Follow these steps to access orientation: 

• Make sure you have validated your CSN student account after receiving your NSHE Student ID.
• Login to GoCSN with your CSN Student username and password.
• Select the New Student Orientation App.
• You will automatically be entered into the orientation platform.
• New students will now complete their preliminary Academic Advising Workshops right inside the Online Orientation.  Once completed, allow 3-5 working days for Academic Advisors to email your course recommendations. *Health Science majors will be prompted to connect with Health Science Programs for their advising needs after completing the New Student Online Orientation.
• Complete the entire orientation including the post assessment survey.
• Only full completion of the online orientation will complete your Orientation Checklist item to meet your New Student First Steps orientation requirement.
• Save or print your Orientation Completion Certificate for your records.

In addition to Online Orientation, you now have an opportunity to attend a CORE Live event! These events are designed to supplement the online orientation and give students direct access and contact with CSN campus resources and a great chance to meet other students, faculty and staff. Visit csn.edu/orientation for more information on the events and how to register – we hope to see you there! FYE also hosts ongoing Your FYE Connect events for students, families, & support persons prior to and during the academic year. Stay connected to the FYE web page and social media for the most current information.

For new to CSN students joining us as transfers, the New Transfer Student Orientation is an incredible opportunity to connect with the CSN community. The new transfer student orientation includes a transfer specific introduction to the CSN community, key resources in place for transfer success, and connection opportunities with FYE Peer Leaders and other transfer students.  New Transfer Student Orientation events occur in January and August of each academic year.

Please contact First Year Experience with any questions at:

• 702-651-2727 (main line)
• fye@csn.edu

 

Registration Information

Once a student has been admitted to CSN he/she may register for classes online via MyCSN at www.csn.edu or in person at the Office of the Registrar at any of the three main campuses.

Course Registration

Registration for full-term classes must be completed by the end of the first week of the semester. Registration for short-term/summer classes must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on the day before the session begins (as defined in the Academic Calendar).

1. Exceptions to the registration deadline are limited to:
   1. Courses for which the course catalog notes a prerequisite AND specifies that the permission of the instructor and/or department chair and/or program director is required.
   2. Courses requiring auditions or try-outs.
   3. Courses in the Jumpstart (dual enrollment with high school) program or courses designated in a Memorandum of Understanding.
   4. Students dropped due to DOCUMENTED CSN ERRORS.
   5. Courses that were cancelled within 6 days of the start of the session.
2. Exceptions require permission of appropriate instructor(s) and the department chair. The approval can be done via email or official form. The student must be enrolled in the class by the end of the first week of the session.
3. Course registration wait-list will be functional during the first week of the fall and spring semesters.

Course Withdrawal

PLEASE NOTE: Before withdrawing from a course, students are strongly encouraged to discuss their decisions with an academic counselor, academic adviser or success coach. Students receiving financial aid should check with the Financial Aid Department since these decisions may affect a student’s financial aid awards and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status.

1. Instructors  do not have the option of withdrawing students. The student must receive a grade of A through D-, F, Pass or I if still on the roster after the 60% point in the session (refers to the length of the session in days, not the number of assignments or percentage of points earned) Refer to the Academic Calendar for the last day to drop date
2. CSN administration may withdraw a student at any time during the session for just cause including, but not limited to, failure to pay for the course and violations of the Student Conduct Code.
3. Students with documented exceptional circumstances may follow the grade change process to request a grade change to W.
4. Students may withdraw from a course with a grade of W during the first 60% of a session, measured by time, not assignments. If the withdrawal occurs during the refund period, the class will not appear on the student’s transcript. When withdrawing from the class, the official withdrawal date is the date processed by the Office of the Registrar, not the date last attended, unless the two dates coincide.
5. In order to  adhere to financial aid guidelines, at the end of the second week of the semester or summer session, the instructor submits to the Office of the Registrar the names of students who have not participated at all in the course. Participation is defined by the U.S. Department of Education to mean physically attending a class with direct interaction between the instructor and students and/or submitting an academic assignment and/or taking an exam, interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction and/or attending a study group assigned by the institution and/or participating in an on-line discussion about academic matters and/or initiating contact with the faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

Auditing Classes

To audit a course means the student will enroll in the course but receive no credit or grade.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Federal financial aid will not pay for audited courses, and students should not include aid for audited courses in their financial planning.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) related to federal financial aid takes attempted credits into consideration when assessing a student’s ongoing eligibility for federal financial aid. Credit-to-Audit conventions are counted among “attempted” credits but not as “completed” credits for financial aid purposes.

Students are strongly advised to consult with an academic counselor or advisor and the Financial Aid Department, if the student receives financial aid PRIOR to making any course registration changes.

1. Except for programs with applicable limitations (such as limited-entry or specialized accreditation), a student may elect to audit a course.
2. A student must pay the normal registration fees for audited courses.
3. Audited courses will NOT be counted as part of the academic load when full-time or part-time status is reported, for any reason, to any internal or external office or agency; this includes, by way of example only, the Financial Aid Department, Social Security Administration, Veteran’s Administration, employers and others.

Course Auditing Procedures

1. To audit a course, a student must register for the course and pay the regular fees (and tuition, if applicable).
2. Credit to Audit: To change the status of a course from credit to audit, a student must come to the Office of the Registrar and complete the Auditing Classes form change on or before the last day to withdraw. Students must sign a statement acknowledging the consequences of their decision.
3. Students cannot change their status from audit to credit.

 

Enrollment Verification

To request enrollment verification, students must go to MyCSN after the start of a semester. The student’s social security number must be in the system to access the online enrollment verification. Enrollment verification is free.

 

Credit Load

      A. The normal class hour load for full-time undergraduate students who are not on academic suspension is 12-19 credit hours each semester. Only students with a CSN grade point average of B (3.0) or higher may enroll for more than 19 hours. The table below shows the maximum credit hours an undergraduate student can enroll for depending on academic standing.

Academic Standing	Fall / Spring Semester	Summer Term
Good	22	16 (cumulative)
Suspension	6	6

     B. Requests for more than 19 credit hours
         (12 in the summer) require written approval from any of the following individuals – Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs or Associate Vice President of Advising Counseling, and First Year Experience. Approval must be obtained before registering.

1. The recommended maximum credits under CSN policy is 19 per regular semester and 12 per summer. To be approved for 19-21 credits, students must have a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or higher and receive approval from one of the individuals listed above. To register for 22 or more credits, the student must have written permission from the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
2. If a student has outstanding incomplete grades, they cannot exceed 19 credits in regular semester or 12 credits in summer.
3. Students can download the “Credit Overload Request” form on our website at https://www.csn.edu/registrarforms or pick one up at any of our three main campuses.

 

Declaration of Major

It is important for students to declare the appropriate major in order to receive accurate advising, avoid taking unnecessary course(s) which may result in excess credit fees, and to ensure timely graduation from CSN. NOTE: Processed declaration of major changes become official and reflect on the student’s record on the first day of the next semester following submission.

Changing From One Major to Another

To change from one program of study or major to another, including from self-enrichment/non-degree seeking to degree-seeking and vice versa, you must do so online from your MyCSN portal. Effective Fall 2018, students will only be allowed to have one declared specific major at a time. Exceptional cases will be considered for students requesting more than one major with the appropriate approval. The Request for Multiple Majors form can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.

 

Alternative Credit Options

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

Advanced placement and/or credit may be granted to entering students who have achieved appropriate scores on one or more of the Advanced Placement Tests offered by the College Entrance Examination Board, which may apply towards required credits for a degree. Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information.

Advanced Placement Subjects:		Scores:
Art – AP Art History Test
	Art for non-Art Majors only (3 credits)	3-5
Art – AP Art Studio Drawing Test
	ART 101  (3 credits)	3-5
Art – AP Art Portfolio Test
	Art for non-Art Majors only (3 credits)	3-5
Art – AP Studio Art:2-D Design Test
	ART 107	3-5
Chemistry – AP Chemistry Science Test
	CHEM 121  (3 credits, no lab) This course will show as a CHEM LELC on your transfer credit report.  Please contact the Physical Sciences Department directly at (702) 651-7517 to arrange the lab component which will complete CHEM 121.	3
	CHEM 121  and CHEM 122  (6 credits, no lab) These courses will show as CHEM LELC on your transfer credit report.  Please contact the Physical Sciences Department directly at (702) 651-7517 to arrange the lab components which will complete CHEM 121 and CHEM 122.	4-5
Computer Science
	Computer Science A (3 credits awarded as CS 135)	3-5
	Computer Science Principles (3 credits awarded as CS LELC on transcript)	3-5
Economics – AP Macroeconomics Test
	General Electives (3 credits)	3
	ECON 103  (3 credits)	3-5
Economics – AP Microeconomics Test
	General Electives (3 credits)	3
	ECON 102  (3 credits)	3-5
English – AP Composition/Literature Test
	ENG 101  (3 credits) and ENG 102  (3 credits)	3-5
English – AP Language/Composition Test
	ENG 101  (3 credits)	3
Environmental Science – AP Environmental Science
	ENV 101  (3 credits)	3
Foreign Language – AP Language and Culture Test
	Equivalent to 111 Placement in 112 (4 credits)	3
	Equivalent to 111 and 112;
	Placement in 226 (8 credits)	4-5

History – AP American History Test
	HIST 101  or HIST 102  (3 credits)	3
	HIST 101  and HIST 102  (6 credits)	4-5
	(Both cases include the U.S. Constitution requirement)
	(Both cases include the NV Constitution requirement if taken at Nevada high schools, otherwise student will receive U.S. Constitution credit ONLY)
History – AP European History Test
	HIST 106  (3 credits)	3
	HIST 106  plus 3 credits (6 credits)	3-5
	(Both cases exclude the U.S. Constitution requirement)
Human Geography
	GEOG 106	3-5
Mathematics – AP Calculus Test
	AB Mathematics MATH 181  (4 credits)	3-5
	BC Mathematics MATH 182  (4 credits)	3-5
Music – AP Music Theory Test 3-5
	Music elective	3
Physics – AP Physics Test 1: Algebra-Based Test
	Science (3 credits)	3
	PHYS 151  (3 credits, no lab) This course will show as a PHYS LELC on your transfer credit report.  Please contact the Physical Sciences Department directly at (702) 651-7517 to arrange the lab component which will complete PHYS 151.	4-5
	PHYS 151  (4 credits)*	4-5
	*Pending department approval. Students must show documentation (i.e. lab notebook) indicating satisfactory completion of laboratory work equivalent to PHYS 151. Otherwise, only science elective credit is awarded.
Physics – AP Physics Test 2: Algebra-Based Test
	Science Elective (3 credits)	3
	PHYS 152  (3 credits, no lab) This course will show as a PHYS LELC on your transfer credit report.  Please contact the Physical Sciences Department directly at (702) 651-7517 to arrange the lab component which will complete PHYS 152.	4-5
	PHYS 152  (4 credits)**	4-5
	**Pending department approval. Students must show documentation (i.e. lab notebook) indicating satisfactory completion of laboratory work equivalent to PHYS 152. Otherwise, only science elective credit is awarded.

Physics – AP Physics C: Mechanics Test
	Science Elective (3 credits)	3
	PHYS 180  (3 credits, no lab)	4-5
	PHYS 180L  (1 credit)***	4-5
	***Students must show documentation (i.e. lab notebook) indicating satisfactory completion of laboratory work equivalent to PHYS 180L
Physics – AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Test
	Science Elective (3 credits)	3
	PHYS 181  (3 credits, no lab)	4-5
	PHYS 181L  (1 credit)****	4-5
	****Students must show documentation (i.e. lab notebook) indicating satisfactory completion of laboratory work equivalent to PHYS 181L
Political Science – AP Comparative Government and Politics
	PSC 211	3-5
Political Science – AP U.S. Government and Politics
	U.S. Constitution only	3-5
	(Excludes the Nevada Constitution requirement)
Psychology – AP Psychology Test
	PSY 101  (3 credits)	3-5
Statistics – AP Statistics Test
	STAT 152	4-5
World History
	HIST 208	3-5

 

Challenges

The College recognizes the fact that students accumulate a great deal of information outside the classroom without formal instruction or from previous academic or occupational instruction. There are times when this background may be extensive enough to satisfy the requirements of courses offered by the College either through various examinations, course substitutions or waivers, or credit for nontraditional education. A student interested in these options should inquire with the appropriate department chair for courses which may be challenged in these ways.

Challenge Examinations

Students who wish to challenge courses under the Credit by Examination provision must pay a nonrefundable fee of $25.00 for each course challenged. Policies of the College relating to challenge exams are as follows:

• Only currently enrolled students are eligible to take challenge exams.
• No more than 15 credits required for a degree may be obtained through challenges.
• Courses cannot be challenged if a student has taken an advanced course in the same area.
• Challenge examinations are not considered resident credit.
• Challenge examination credit does not count as part of a student’s credit load for any given semester nor are they computed into the grade point average.
• A student may not retake a challenge.
• Challenge examinations are not transferable and in many cases will not count for licensing agencies.
• Successful challenge examinations are posted as a TP grade (Pass) on the student’s transcript.
• Students must complete the challenge during the same semester in which the request was made.

The College reserves the right to deny any petition for credit by examination.

 

College Board Advanced Placement Examination (CBAPE): In accordance with the NSHE Board of Regents Policy, CSN credit may be granted to students who have achieved appropriate scores of 3, 4, or 5 on one or more of the Advanced Placement Tests offered by the College Entrance Examination Board. The tests are administered each year in May and are available to all high school seniors who have taken advanced placement courses in high school and to other interested students who feel they have knowledge of the given subject being tested equal to the college level course on the subject. Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information.

 

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program: The program provides an internationally accepted qualifications aimed at 16- to 18-year-old entry into higher education.

CSN Credit may be awarded for credit for each higher-level examination passed at a level of 4 or above.

IB SUBJECT	MIN. SCORE	CREDITS	COURSES SATISFIED
American History	4	3	Gen Ed (U.S. Constitution)
Anthropology, Social & Cultural	4	3	ANTH 101
Biology	4	4	BIOL elective
Chemistry	4	4	CHEM elective
Economics	4	3	ECON elective
European History	4	3	HIST elective
English Comp./Lit.	4	3	ENG elective
History	4	3	HIST elective
Math	4	3	Math elective
Music	4	3	MUS elective
Physics	4	4	PHYS elective
Philosophy	4	3	PHIL elective
Psychology	4	3	PSY 101
Theater Arts	4	3	THTR elective

 

Non-Traditional Education (NTE): Credit for work experience will be evaluated on the basis of a personal interview, verification of occupational experience, and the results of occupational competency examinations. Applicants must submit all relevant official documents, supportive materials, and specific information on the length, content, and other pertinent information concerning the work or life experience to the department chair or designee. Request for NTE credit will be evaluated and awarded in the sole discretion of the academic department.

These non-traditional sources may include but are not limited to nor guaranteed to be:

• Apprenticeship instruction and training
• Certificate training
• Correspondence schools
• Extension courses
• Post-secondary proprietary institutions including business colleges
• Service Members Opportunity College (SOC)
• Work experience

Students applying for NTE credits must be admitted to the College of Southern Nevada. NTE credits can only apply towards the degree of Bachelor of Science (BAS), Associate of General Studies (AGS), Associate of Applied Science (AAS), and the Certificate of Achievement (CA). Generally a maximum of sixteen (16) NTE credits can be applied towards the BAS, AGS, and the AAS, and a maximum of eight (8) NTE credits can be applied toward the CA. However, there is an opportunity to exceed the foregoing limit through application to and approval from the Vice President of Academic Affairs, in addition to the regular approval process.

NTE credits can only be applied towards Special Program Requirements and cannot be used towards General Education Requirements. NTE credit cannot exceed the credit value of the equivalent course. Students who wish NTE credit must pay a nonrefundable fee of $25.00 per course. Credits earned from NTE sources will not apply toward satisfying the minimum residence credits required for graduation purposes. NTE credit is not included in a student’s cumulative CSN grade point average (GPA). NTE credit awarded by CSN may not be transferable to another educational institution.

 

College Level Examination Program (CLEP): The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a specific type of challenge examination. Credit may be granted for the satisfactory completion of the CLEP general or CLEP subject examinations. Students who wish to use credits from CLEP should submit official CLEP results and a request for the Transfer Credit Evaluation Form to the Office of the Registrar.

• CLEP Subject Examinations – A maximum of three or four credits (one semester) may be granted for each institutionally approved subject examination for scores of 50 or above.
  College Composition Modular is not accepted at CSN but is given at the Testing Center for other institutions.

Additional credit may or may not be granted for selected examinations at the discretion of the academic department.

• Please check with the counselor of your degree to determine which CLEPs will be transferable and the maximum amount of CLEP credits allowed by your program before taking the exams.

CLEP SUBJECT EXAMS
CLEP SUBJECT	ACE RECOMMENDED SCORE	SEMESTER HOURS	COURSE GRANTED
American Literature	50	3	ENG 241
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature	50	3	ENG 298
College Composition (College Composition Modular is not accepted at CSN but is given for other institutions) College Composition College Composition	50-63       64 or higher	3       6	ENG 101       ENG 101  and ENG 102
Humanities	50	3	HUM Elective
French Language, Level 1	50	4	FREN 111
French Language, Level 2	70	8	FREN 111 /FREN 112
German Language, Level 1	50	4	GER 111
German Language, Level 2	70	8	GER 111 /GER 112
Spanish Language, Level 1	50	4	SPAN 111
Spanish Language, Level 2	70	8	SPAN 111 /SPAN 112
American Government	50	3	U.S. CONSTITUTION
History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877	50	3	HIST 101
History of the United State II: 1865 to Present	50	3	HIST LELC
Microeconomics, Principles of	50	3	ECON 102
Macroeconomics, Principles of	50	3	ECON 103
Psychology, Introductory	50	3	PSY 101
Sociology, Introductory	50	3	SOC 101
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648	50	3	HIST 105
Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present	50	3	HIST 106
Biology	50	3	BIOL Elective
Calculus	50	4	MATH 181
Chemistry	50	3	CHEM Elective
College Algebra	50	3	MATH 124
College Mathematics	50	3	MATH 120
Pre-Calculus	50	3	MATH 126
Natural Sciences	50	3	SCIENCE Elective

 

Student Appeals

The Student Appeal Form is available at the Office of the Registrar on any of the three main campuses or online at csn.edu/registrarforms. The Student Appeals Committee will review all petitions in the order of date received. The decision of the committee is final. Students will be notified via email of the Student Appeals Committee’s decision.

A refund appeal will not be considered unless the student has officially withdrawn (W) from the class(es). Students who are receiving financial aid should check with the Financial Aid Department or Veteran’s Affairs prior to withdrawal to determine what, if any, effect this action may have on future financial aid or Veteran’s Affairs eligibility.

Tuition appeals will generally be approved for the following reasons as long as the appropriate written supporting documentation is provided:

• Deployment of a student in the United States Armed Forces. The student must provide valid and properly endorsed orders. Includes dependent(s) enrolled at CSN, if other than the student;
• Death or incapacitation resulting from an illness or injury of the student; or spouse, child, parent, or legal guardian of a student that prevents the student from returning to school for the remainder of the semester. Extended incapacitation/hospitalization of the student (which caused the student to miss 20 percent or more of scheduled instruction) documented by a physician’s statement on the doctor’s official letterhead (copies of the student’s medical records will be accepted). This must be an unscheduled medical emergency experienced or continuing after the last day to drop for tuition refund. The physician’s letter must include the date the student was first seen for the medical condition as well as the beginning and ending date the student was incapacitated or/and hospitalized and must state that the student was physically unable to attend classes during that period of time. The physician’s letter must specifically state that the student was physically unable to attend classes, otherwise it will not be sufficient support to approve an appeal;
• Verifiable error on the part of the institution;
• Involuntary job transfers outside the Greater Las Vegas Metropolitan Area-documented by employer;
• Late notification of denial to a specific degree program with supporting documents.

If the appeal is approved, the grades of W will remain on the student’s academic record and will be used to calculate Student Academic Progress (SAP), and any other state or federal mandate.

No refund will be made if the Student Appeal Form and supporting documentation are not received by the end of the semester following the semester being appealed. Exceptions may be made in extraordinary circumstances.

 

Grades and Academic Progress

Grading Symbols and Definitions

At the end of each semester, reporting of individual student grades is made available through MyCSN. All financial obligations to the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) must be met before a student is eligible for an official transcript.

The following grades are given at CSN:

Grade	Grade Point Value
A	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
C-	1.7
D+	1.3
D	1.0
D-	0.7
F	0.0

Grades of D+, D, and D- in the student’s major occupational area in Associate of Applied Science degree programs or Certificate of Achievement will not count towards graduation requirements.

• The Failure F grade is given for failure in the performance of course objectives and is worth zero (0) grade points.
• The Incomplete I grade may be assigned when the student has successfully completed all course work up to the withdrawal date of that semester/session but is unable, due to legitimate reasons (e.g. serious illness, death in the family, or change of employment), and with proper documentation, to compete all requirements for the course.
  • The instructor will determine if the student qualifies for the incomplete process, and if so, the instructor will determine and document the outstanding requirement for the student to finish the course and post the I grade as well as the time frame to complete those requirements, not to exceed one year.
  • If the work is not completed during that time frame, the I converts to an F unless a different grade is indicated by a Grade Change Form.
  • If the instructor is no longer available to submit a Grade Change Form, it is the responsibility of the department chair to do so, if applicable.
  • The I grade is not included in the student’s grade point average and therefore is worth “0” points.
  • If a student wishes to retake the entire course, he or she must re-register and pay for the class.
  • Unless approved by the dean in the student’s major or the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) or VPAA’s designee, a student with three current I grades may not register for additional coursework.
  • If the student is not enrolled at CSN at the time he or she needs to complete the coursework and he or she needs to use CSN facilities not open to the public (such as labs), the student must receive permission from the department chair or program director to use those facilities, sign a waiver of liability to CSN, and if applicable, receive permission from the clinic site.
• The Withdrawal W grade indicates withdrawal from a class. If the withdrawal happens after the refund period, the student will receive a grade of W for the class as long as withdrawal occurs before the course is 60% complete as defined by the Academic Calendar. Lack of attendance does not constitute withdrawal; failure to properly withdraw will result in the assignment of an F grade on the student’s transcript in accordance with the NSHE Grading Policy. The W grade is not computed in the grade point average.
• The Pass P grade is granted on the basis of satisfactory completion of specific courses designated as Pass/Fail only. The P grade is not computed in the grade point average.
• The Satisfactory S grade indicates that a student earned a C- or above in the completion of course objectives. The S grade is not computed in the grade point average.
• The Unsatisfactory UN grade indicates that a student earned a D+ or below in the completion of course objectives. The UN grade is not computed in the grade point average.
• The Not Reported NR grade is assigned by the Registrar pending submission of a final grade by the course instructor. The NR grade is not computed in the grade point average.
• The Audit AU grade is given for students who audit a course. The AU grade is not computed in the grade point average.
• The use of plus (+) and minus (-) in a grade is at the discretion of the instructor. The course syllabus shall contain a clear explanation of the grading scale to be used by the faculty member.

Calculating Your Grade Point Average

The grade point value associated with each grade denotes how many points are accumulated for each credit earned with that grade. The grade point average is determined by dividing the sum of the grade points earned (refer to the grade point value chart) by the total number of credits earned with a regular letter grade.

Course Repeat

Students may retake a CSN course as often as needed to gain a better grade and, thereby, a higher grade point average. Only the highest grade received will count as part of the total grade point average. All repeated courses taken at the College will remain as part of a student’s permanent academic record. Some limited entry programs will not allow required courses to be repeated.

Students receiving financial aid should be aware that all attempted credits are included in the calculations for Satisfactory Academic Progress. For more information on Satisfactory Academic Progress go to csn.edu/satisfactory-academic-progress-sap-policy.

Academic Honors

The College of Southern Nevada supports and recognizes student achievement. An Academic Honors List identifies and recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence. In addition to being identified as an honoree, a notation “Academic Honors” will post to the student’s transcript for the qualified semester.

To be eligible for Academic Honors, a student must:

1. Complete at least 6 credits during the eligible semester with grades on the ABCDF scale,
2. Courses must be 100 level or above, and
3. Semester grade point average and correlating designation:
   1. 3.3 to 3.59 – Honor’s List
   2. 3.6 to 3.99 – Dean’s List
   3. 4.0 – President’s List

Academic Warning

Any student who does not achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher after having attempted at least 15 credits is placed on academic warning for one semester. Students on academic warning will be directed to complete the Academic Warning component of the Academic Success Online Warning/Probation Workshop (ASOW) and to seek assistance from appropriate services. A registration hold will be placed on the student’s account when the student is placed on academic warning, which will be removed upon completion of the relevant ASOW component. Courses the student has enrolled in before being placed on academic warning are not affected by being on academic warning; however, the student will not be able to add or drop courses until the registration hold has been removed. Academic warning status does not appear on official transcripts.

Removal of Academic Warning: A student on academic warning who achieves a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the end of the next semester of enrollment will be removed from Academic Warning.

Academic Probation

A student on academic warning who fails to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the end of the next semester of enrollment will be placed on academic probation beginning when the final semester grades are posted. Academic probation status appears on official transcripts. The first semester on academic probation will be directed to complete the Academic Probation component of ASOW and to seek assistance from appropriate service. A registration hold will be placed on the student’s account when the student is first placed on academic probation, which will be removed upon completion of the relevant ASOW component. Courses the student has enrolled in before being placed on academic probation are not affected by being on academic warning; however, the student will not be able to add or drop courses until the registration hold has been removed. A student who maintains a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher during the first and subsequent semester(s), but have a cumulative GPA below 2.00, will continue to be on academic probation.

Removal of Academic Probation: Academic probation is removed at the end of the semester when a student’s cumulative GPA is raised to 2.0 or higher.

Academic Suspension

A student on academic probation who fails to achieve a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher will be placed on academic suspension. Students who are on academic suspension will not be allowed to register for any credit classes for at least one semester, but during the semester may petition to register for the following semester with the Academic Suspension Appeals Committee. Academic suspension status will appear on the student’s official transcript. Students on academic suspension will be encouraged to seek advice from appropriate counselor or advisor based on declared major.

College Readmission After Suspension: If the student wants to register for a credit class(es) after one semester of suspension, that student must meet with the appropriate counselor or advisor based on the declared major, and submit an Academic Suspension Appeals form. Student Appeal Form must also include the advising degree sheet and up to two selected courses chosen. If approved by the committee, the student will be limited to a maximum of two classes per semester. The student must appeal every semester until a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. If semester GPA is below a 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student must sit out another semester before petitioning again. The student must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be removed from Academic Suspension status.

Grade Appeals Process

1. A student may request a change of grade for any of three reasons:
   1. The student claims a clerical or computational error was made by the instructor in assigning the grade.
   2. The student claims the instructor lost or damaged student work that had been completed and submitted as assigned.
   3. The student claims the instructor evaluated the student’s work on the basis of different factors than were used to evaluate the work of the other students in the same course section.
2. A Grade Appeal Committee will be appointed as necessary. The school dean will solicit members for this committee as defined below:
   
   The Committee will consist of five members:
   1. One department chair/head, from a department other than that of the involved faculty member, selected by the Dean.
   2. Two school faculty members, one to be selected by the Dean and the other by the involved faculty member.
   3. One representative from Student Affairs, appointed by the Vice President of Student Affairs.
   4. The fifth member of the Committee will be a faculty member selected by the student. If the student declines to suggest a Committee member, the Dean will select the fifth member from the discipline, when possible, involved in the appeal.
   5. The Dean will seek replacement of any member of the Committee who is directly involved in a particular case. If a member of the committee is unavailable, the Dean will replace the member for that individual appeal.
   6. The Committee members will designate the chair of the Committee, who is responsible for ensuring that the procedure is correctly followed.
3. The Grade Appeal Committee’s decision will be final and binding on all parties and unable to be appealed.

Procedure:

1. The student will first discuss the request for change of grade with the instructor. If the matter cannot be resolved, the student appeals in writing to the department chair/head. This appeal must contain a signed statement of the reason (as stated in II.A for a change in grade, and also all supporting documentation which must include at least the course syllabus, any relevant assignment instructions/criteria, and copies of any disputed work. This appeal must be submitted within four months of the end of the course in which the grade is being disputed. If resolution is still not reached, the student appeals to the dean of the school. The dean will see that the Grade Appeal Committee is formed. The Grade Appeal Committee will rule on the matter within 30 days of the date of the appeal to the dean.
2. When a grade appeal is referred to the Grade Appeal Committee, the Committee will schedule a formal hearing at which the student and the instructor may each make a statement of the case. Additional material may be submitted to the Committee chair at least one week in advance, to be distributed to all parties at the chair’s discretion. The Committee may hear other witnesses and examine all submitted evidence from student and faculty as they choose. The petitioning student must be present for the hearing. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the student’s absence will result in forfeiting the appeal. Involved faculty, if present, may also present their case. The burden of proof is on the student. The Committee may not meet without at least four members present
   
   Based on the evidence, the Committee may decide:
   1. No action, initial grade will remain unchanged.
   2. To recommend the grade change if at least four of the Committee members agree.
   3. That the student may replace lost or damaged work within the timeframe determined by this Committee. If the student’s work is not submitted within the timeframe, the initial grade will stand.

If a change of grade is recommended, the dean will sign and file the grade change form. If replacement work is recommended, the Committee will establish a reasonable timeline for completion of the replacement work and the dean will appoint a faculty member from the same discipline or school to evaluate the replacement work and decide the student’s final grade.

The Committee chair will prepare a summary of the appeal and the reasons for their decision and each Committee member will sign indicating concurrence or dissent from the Committee’s decision. Within one week of the hearing, the summary will be sent to the student, the faculty member, the department chair/head, and the school dean.

 

Credit/GPA and General Education Core Requirements

All candidates for graduation must earn a minimum of 30 credits for a certificate of achievement, 60 credits for an associate degree and 120 credits for a bachelor’s degree. Candidates for graduation must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Candidates for graduation must complete a minimum of 15 semester credit hours within CSN. For the Associate of Applied Science degree, a minimum of 15 credits must be earned in the special program requirements. Nontraditional credit, credit transferred from another institution, or credit earned through the course challenge process may not be used to establish the 15-credit residency requirement.

CSN General Education Core Requirements

Completing general education at CSN results in fulfilling the following student learning outcomes in the categories of English composition, mathematics, analytical reasoning, constitution, communication, literature, natural science, social science, values and diversity, humanities and fine arts.

• Construct college-level academic and professional writing using appropriate conventions;
• Employ research methods including how to obtain and use information via both print and electronic media;
• Solve problems in quantitative mathematical reasoning including probability, statistics, geometry, and consumer mathematics;
• Experience or interpret cultural, social and other differences, present in our society;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical foundations of analytical reason and its connection to natural language;
• Examine and interpret the United States and Nevada constitutions;
• Demonstrate general academic literacy applied to oral communication appropriate to different audiences and purposes;
• Use critical reading skills to engage and analyze literary texts;
• Define and apply basic concepts in one or two scientific disciplines;
• Acquire appreciation or introductory knowledge about social sciences and their insights about individual or group behaviors;
• Acquire appreciation or introductory knowledge of the humanities or languages, and at least one of the fine arts.

CSN General Education Core Distribution:
Core Content	AA	AB	AS	AAS
English	6	6	6	3
Literature	3	3	3
Fine Arts	3*	3	3	3**
Humanities	6*	6	6	3**
Analytical Reasoning	3	3	3
Mathematics	3	3	3	3
Natural Science	6	6		3
Social Science	9*		9	3**
Constitution	4	4	4	4
Communications				3
Human Relations				3
*Distribution depends on emphasis **Fine Arts/Humanities/Social Science Requirement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Comprehensive Degree Requirements, use the following links below:

AA/AB/AS General Education Requirements  

AAS General Education Requirements  

 

Course Numbering Information

All undergraduate courses in the NSHE must be common course numbered with equivalent courses offered throughout the System.

A system-wide course numbering rubric for all institutions shall be maintained so that baccalaureate transfer courses are clearly identified for student reference prior to registration under the following general course numbering parameters:

Remedial/Developmental Courses	001-099
Lower-Division Courses	100-299
Upper-Division Courses	300-499

 

 

 

 

Course numbers with a “B” suffix may be nontransferable for a NSHE baccalaureate degree, such as ACC 223B.

 

Graduation Requirements

Periodic revisions of degree requirements are made because of advances in knowledge, changes in occupational or professional qualifications, or the expectation of accrediting authorities. Such requirements may necessitate adherence to the degree requirements of a recent or current catalog. Institutional catalogs do not constitute contractual agreements or commitments.

To ensure students graduate with current knowledge in their chosen fields, CSN requires that students must meet degree or certificate course requirements that are listed in a CSN catalog.

Students must:

• Select the catalog under which the student first completed CSN courses, or
• Select the catalog under which the student officially declared or changed major, or
• Select the catalog under which the student will complete the curriculum requirements for a baccalaureate degree or an associate degree or certificate of achievement, or
• Select a degree that is offered for the first time after the student has enrolled. The student must choose the catalog year in which the degree or major was first offered.

The selected catalog cannot be more than six years old at the time of graduation for students receiving an associate degree or certificate, and not more than ten years old at the time of graduation for students receiving a baccalaureate degree.

Students must know:

• When pursuing a bachelor’s degree, the student must complete a minimum of 120 credits, depending on specific program requirements, of various courses meeting general education and program-specific requirements.
• When pursuing an associate degree, the student must complete a minimum of 60 credits, depending on specific program requirements, of various courses meeting general education and program-specific requirements.
• When pursuing a certificate of achievement, the student must complete a minimum of 30 credits, depending on specific program requirements, of various general education and certificate specific requirements.
• Must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average (CUM GPA) of 2.00 at CSN.
• Complete all course requirements by the last day of final examinations of the candidate’s final semester. Students cannot have pending grades of I or NR. A final graduation grade point average must be posted.
• Not have a grade of D+, D, D- in the major occupational area for the Associate of Applied Science degree or Certificate of Achievement.
• Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 15 semester credit hours in residence at CSN. Students must complete the appropriate 15 semester credits in the Special Program Requirements for the Associate of Applied Science degree and the Certificate of Achievement,
• Credits completed by exam at CSN, including CLEP, as well as other transfer courses do not count towards CSN’s residency unit requirement or factor into CSN’s GPA.
• Non-Traditional Education (NTE) credits can only be used towards the Special Program Requirements in Associate of Applied Science degree, Associate of General Studies degree, or Certificate of Achievement.
• Not have any outstanding financial obligation with any NSHE institution.
• In no case, may one course be used to meet more than one requirement except for the Values and Diversity general education requirement. (refer to Honors Program ) 
• Course numbers less than 100 cannot be used towards any degree.
• Course numbers with a B suffix cannot be used toward the Associate of Arts, Associate of Business, or Associate of Science.

Dual Degrees/Certificates

Students seeking to earn two certificates or degrees subsequently or simultaneously must satisfy the following dual degree policy requirements:

• File a separate Application for Graduation for each degree.
• Complete all curricular requirements for each degree.
• Complete 15 credits in residence beyond the requirements for the first degree; therefore, the student must complete a minimum of 75 semester credits if pursuing a second associate degree or 45 semester credits if pursuing a second certificate. Thirty semester credits of which were earned in residence at CSN.
• Students earning dual degrees may use a course only once to fulfill each certificate or degree requirement.

Application for Graduation

CSN awards the following degrees upon successful completion of all requirements: Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Business, Associate of General Studies, Associate of Science and the Certificate of Achievement. Diplomas and transcripts indicate the degree and any emphasis, if applicable.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic counselor prior to applying for graduation to ensure all academic requirements have been met. Students may apply for and receive diplomas for one of three semesters: summer, fall, or spring. Students requesting a duplicate diploma must submit a graduation application and mark “DUPLICATE DIPLOMA” and pay the $15.00 duplicate diploma fee.

Students transferring credits completed at other institutions toward their CSN degree or certificate must have their transcripts evaluated prior to applying for graduation. Any student who fails to meet graduation requirements in any given semester must file a new application with the Office of the Registrar.

Commencement exercises are held once a year in May. Students who graduated during the preceding summer or fall semesters and potential spring graduates will be listed in the commencement program and may participate in the May commencement. Students must file an application for graduation with the Office of the Registrar during the semester in which they plan to complete requirements for graduation. The deadline for filing is included in the Academic Calendar, available online at csn.edu/calendar-catalog-schedule.

High Honors/Honors

All students graduating from CSN are considered for High Honors or Honors based on their CSN cumulative grade point average. A High Honors diploma requires a cumulative GPA of 3.6. An Honors diploma requires a cumulative GPA of 3.4. All honor students receive recognition on their diplomas, academic transcripts, and in the commencement program.

 

Course Substitution

A student can apply to substitute a course if he/she completed a course that is similar in content to a required course. The student is not granted any additional credit but is merely allowed to substitute a course not listed as a requirement for a course which is required.

The course substitution cannot overrule the mandatory 15 credit CSN residency requirement.

Course Substitution Procedures

1. Students will need to see their advisor/counselor to submit a substitution request.
2. Advisors/Counselors must attach a degree sheet with correct catalog year a copy of the student’s unofficial CSN transcript or a copy of the student’s transfer credit report, and a catalog course description to the substitution request form. Upon submission of the form, the request is electronically routed to the degree granting chair.
3. The degree-granting chair recommends approval or denial and routes the substitution request to the required course department chair.
4. The required course department chair reviews and recommends approval or denial of the substitution request. The request is then routed to the Office of the Registrar.
5. If there is a disagreement between the degree granting department chair and the required course department chair, the request is routed to the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs for final approval or denial.
6. The student will receive notification via email on the completion of the process. This process can take up to four weeks.

 

Academic Renewal

Academic Renewal allows students to request that as many as two consecutive semesters’ grades not be included in the calculation of their cumulative grade point average (CUM GPA), academic standing and eligibility for graduation. The student must submit an Academic Renewal Form to the Office of the Registrar. If Academic Renewal is awarded, then it must include all the courses for that given semester(s). If summer courses are to be included in the work disregarded, then course work from all summer terms of the same calendar year shall count as one semester. Academic renewal can only occur once during a student’s academic career. To maintain a true and accurate academic history, all work will remain listed on a student’s permanent academic record. The record will be annotated to indicate that work taken during the disregarded semester(s), even if satisfactory, will not apply toward graduation requirements. There will be no reimbursement of fees for the semester(s) which academic renewal is granted. Course work disregarded under this policy may continue to be used for the calculation of eligibility to receive financial aid and scholarship. Other institutions and employers may include the disregarded semesters in their decision-making.

Eligibility for academic renewal shall be subject to the following conditions:

• At the time the petition is filed, a minimum of five years shall have elapsed since the most recent course work to be disregarded was completed.

• In the interval between the completion and the filing of the petition, the student shall have completed a minimum of fifteen credits of course work from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on all work completed during that interval. Courses taken during this interval may be repeats of previously attempted college work.

 

Matriculation Date

The term “matriculation date” is the date of the first day of instruction in the semester or term in which enrollment first occurs and continues through the completion of at least one academic course. Enrollment in CSN non-credit courses, which are not state-funded, shall not be used in determining “date of matriculation” for evaluation of residence.

 

Remediation Requirements

1. Placement testing should take place prior to matriculation. Additionally, English and mathematics testing must take place no more than two years prior to matriculation.

2. All degree-seeking students who place in developmental/remedial coursework must take the prescribed sequence of courses until remediation is completed.

3. Students requiring remediation must complete all required remediation coursework prior to completion of 30 college-level credits unless otherwise authorized by the institution.

4. The Nevada System of Higher Education reserves the right to cancel the admission or registration of any individual whose attendance at CSN, in the opinion of the appropriate administrative officer and the President, would not be mutually beneficial to that individual and the college.

 

Name Change

Students who wish to change their name on record at CSN will need to complete the Request to Change Personal Identification Data Form available at the Office of the Registrar and provide appropriate documentation such as government-issued picture ID, marriage certificate, divorce decree or other court documents. Students must submit the form and supporting documents in person. Name changes are processed for currently enrolled students only.

 

Transcript Request

Students may request official transcripts for their own personal use or have transcripts sent to another institution. Official transcripts are printed on security paper and bear the CSN seal and signature of the Registrar.

Requests for official transcripts can only be accepted from a student him/herself unless the student gives written authorization for release to another person or organization. Students can request official transcripts online, by mail, or in person. Transcript ordering instructions can be found on our website at www.csn.edu/transcript-information.  Allow 3-7 business days for processing and an additional 3-7 days at the beginning of each semester.

Students can print unofficial transcripts via MyCSN. Unofficial transcripts are computer printouts and do not bear the CSN seal or signature of the Registrar.

 

Notice for Practicums, Internships, Etc.

Practicums, Practical Experience, Practical Application, On-the-Job Training, Cooperative Education, and Clinical Experience Students may be required to take practical training courses in the form of internships, practicums, or residencies depending on the academic discipline in which they are enrolled. This training may be accomplished at College of Southern Nevada (CSN) facilities or at offsite locations, depending on the specialty. All such courses share commonalities, including:

• Students must register in advance.

• CSN instructors are responsible for developing course requirements and supervising the progress of students.

• Regular meetings between students and instructors provide opportunities for guidance and evaluation. These interactions are generally held on a weekly basis.

• Practical training experiences require significantly more time than a regular course.

• Students are evaluated on their progress and assigned either a letter grade or a satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade, as determined by the appropriate academic department. The satisfactory grade is not calculated into the student’s GPA.

• All practicums, internships, or residencies are granted full credit toward graduation, do not extend degree requirements, and are mandatory in several degree and credential programs.

 

Final Examinations

Final examinations are held at the end of each semester. Students are required to take the final examination at the time and place scheduled by the instructor in order to receive credit for the course.

 

NSHE Placement Policy

(Title 4, Chapter 16 page 2-4) Rev. 280 (09/18)