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Division of Continuing and Global Education

Early Start 2021

Early Start enrollment at Fresno State has ended.

View the Early Start Class Schedule and Registration Guide (PDF) - a guide with currently available Early Start classes and step-by-step enrollment instructions. This guide will be updated as new classes are opened for enrollment.

Petition to Waive Early Start Requirement

Students, if you are required to attend Early Start, but did not enroll or complete the class, you may petition to waive the Early Start Requirement by filling out the form below. 

NOTE: If you chose to "opt out" of one Early Start subject and take another, you do not need to complete this form.

Submit a Petition (opens a Google Form)

Instructor Contact Information

Most Early Start instructors may be found in the University Directory. Contact David Hoff in Continuing and Global Education if you need contact information for one of the instructors.

In 2012, the Early Start Program was launched across the California State University system. The program is designed to improve English and Mathematics college readiness for many admitted CSU freshmen.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Details and dates for Early Start at other CSU campuses will vary. The dates below are subject to change.

  • March 15 - May 1: Accept/Decline admission and registration period for Dog Days: New Student Orientation.
  • March 31: Fresno State closed for Cesar Chavez Day.
  • May 5/6: Students will receive an email from Fresno State concerning their Early Start status.
  • May 31: Fresno State closed for Memorial Day.
  • June 11: Early Start registration opens. Fees must be paid by June 28th (for students without fee waivers).
  • June 11: Deadline to submit completed English and/or Mathematics Exemption Request forms, if needed. The May 5th/6th email you receive from Admissions will contain information about this form if it is required.
  • June 28: Early Start fee payment deadline. Students who do not pay by 11:59pm will be dropped and must re-enroll after June 29th.
  • June 29: Early Start registration unavailable for all students.
  • June 30: Early Start registration reopens. Fees must be paid immediately upon registration (for students without fee waivers).
  • July 5: Fresno State closed in observance of Independence Day.
  • July 6 - 30: EARLY START PROGRAM
  • August 23: First day of Fall 2021 instruction at Fresno State.

University Hours of Operation - Summer 2021

Monday - Friday
7am - 3:30pm
Closed March 31st, May 31st, and July 5th

Student readiness for college level English and Mathematics is evaluated using multiple measures (SAT, ACT, CAASPP/EAP, high school GPA and high school coursework). Students who are conditionally exempt from supported GE may request updates to their exemption statuses based upon their grades in applicable Senior Year Expereince (SYE) courses. 

You will receive an email from Fresno State Admissions about your Early Start status on May 5-6. If you participated in an eligible Senior Year Experience course, you may be required to submit an Exemption Request in that email. You may also view your statuses on the Early Start page in the MyFresnoState Student Center.

View Early Start Status

To view your Early Start status:

  1. Login to MyFresnoState
  2. Click "Student Self Service"
  3. Click the "Student Center"
  4. Click "My Academic Records & Registration"
  5. Click "Early Start"

This page allows you to:

  • View your Early Start status (exempt, recommended, required)
  • Opt out of English or Mathematics if you are required to take both
  • Enroll in classes

English Placement and Exemption

The Bulldog English Readiness standards apply to all incoming freshmen. You will be placed in one of these four categories:

Your GE requirements in English are fulfilled. You must meet at least one of the following criteria for this category:

  • Pass AP Composition/Language Exam with a 3 or higher
  • Pass AP Composition/Literature Exam with a 3 or higher
  • Pass approved community college course with a C- or better

You are ready to take a General Education (GE) English course. You must meet at least one of the following criteria for this category:

  • Score "Standard Exceeded" on EAP/CAASP/SBAC
  • Score "Standard Met" on EAP/CAASP/SBAC AND pass Senior Experience*
  • SAT: 550 and above
  • ACT: 22 and above
  • Weighted HS GPA: 3.3 and above
  • Weighted HS GPA: 3.0 - 3.29 AND pass Senior Experience*
  • Complete an approved Early Start substitute course at a California Community College (Full list: Early Start substitute course)

You are ready to take a supported General Education (GE) English course. Supported courses include a co-requisite class that provides additional academic support. You must meet at least one of the following criteria for this category:

  • SAT: 510-540
  • ACT: 19-21
  • Weighted HS GPA: 3.0-3.29 AND 4 years of English

Ready to take a supported General Education (GE) English course. Supported courses include a co-requisite class that provides additional academic support. Criteria for this category:

  • "Score "Not Yet Ready" or "Not Ready" on EAP/CAASP/SBAC
  • SAT: below 510
  • ACT: below 19

Download the Bulldog English Readiness Categories (PDF)

*Senior Experience English Exemption Request: In order to clear the “Conditional Exempt” status, you must have completed an approved one-year course in English and earned a grade of “C” or better during their senior year.
Due date: the deadline to submit this form for the 2021-22 academic year has passed.

Math (non-STEM) Placement and Exemption

The Bulldog Math Readiness (non-STEM) standards apply to incoming freshmen who have not declared STEM majors. 

NOTE: The IB and CLEP exams will not fulfill CSU General Education area B4 at Fresno State.

Your General Education (GE) requirement in math is fulfilled. You must meet at least one of the following requirements for this category:

  • Pass AP Calculus exam with a 3 or higher
  • Pass AP Statistics exam with a 3 or higher
  • Pass approved community college mathematics course with a C- or better.
  • Pass IB Exam with a 4 or higher (does not fulfill GE at Fresno State; may fulfill GE at other CSU campuses)
  • Pass the CLEP (does not fulfill GE at Fresno State; may fulfill GE at other CSU campuses)

You are ready for a General Education (GE) math course. You must meet at least one of the following requirements for this category:

  • Score "Standard Exceeded" on the EAP, CAASP, or SBAC exams.
  • Score "Standard Met" on the EAP CAASP, or SBAC exams and pass an approved Senior Experience*
  • SAT: 570 and above
  • SAT: 520-560 and pass an approved Senior Experience*
  • SAT Math Subject Test: 550 and above
  • ACT: 23 and above
  • ACT: 20-22 and pass an approved Senior Experience*
  • Graduate high school with a weighted GPA of 3.7 or higher.
  • Graduate high school with a weighted GPA of 3.5-3.69 AND pass an approved Senior Experience*
  • Graduate high school with a weighted math GPA of at least 3.0 AND pass an approved Senior Experience*
  • Graduate high school with a weighted math GPA of at least 3.0 AND have taken at least 5 years of math.
  • Complete an approved Early Start substitute course at a California Community College.

You are ready to take a supported General Education (GE) math course. Supported courses include a co-requisite class that provides additional academic support. You must meet at least one of the following criteria for this category:

  • Graduate high school with a weighted GPA of at least 3.0.
  • Graduate high school with a weighted math GPA of at least 3.3.

Ready to take a supported General Education (GE) math course. Supported courses include a co-requisite class that provides additional academic support. Criteria for this category:

  • Score "Not Yet Ready" or "Not Ready" on the EAP, CAASP, or SBAC exams.
  • Graduate high school with a weighted GPA below 3.0.
  • Graduate high school with a weighted math GPA below 3.3.

Download the non-STEM Bulldog Math Readiness Categories (PDF)

*Senior Experience Mathematics Exemption Request: In order to clear the “Conditional Exempt” status, you must have completed a one-year course in Math and earned a grade of “C” or better during their senior year.
Due date: The deadline to submit this form for the 2021-22 academic year has passed.

Math (STEM) Placement and Exemption

The Bulldog Math Readiness (STEM) standards apply to incoming freshmen who have declared STEM majors. 

NOTE: The IB and CLEP exams will not fulfill CSU General Education area B4 at Fresno State.

  • Pass AP Calculus exam with a 3 or higher
  • Pass AP Statistics exam with a 3 or higher
  • Pass approved community college Mathematics course with a C- or better
  • Pass IB exam with a 4 or higher (does not full GE at Fresno State; may fulfill GE at other CSU campuses)
  • Pass the CLEP (does not fulfill GE at Fresno State; may fulfill GE at other CSU campuses)

You are ready for a General Education (GE) math course. You must meet at least one of the following criteria for this category.

  • Score "Score Exceeded" on the EAP, CAASP, or SBAC exams.
  • Score "Standard Met" on the EAP, CAASP, or SBAC exams and pass an approved Senior Experience*
  • SAT: 570 and above
  • SAT: 520-560 and pass an approved Senior Experience*
  • SAT Math Subject Test: 550 and above
  • ACT: 23 and above
  • ACT: 20-22 and pass an approved Senior Experience*
  • Graduate high school with a weighted GPA of at least 3.7.
  • Graduate high school with a weighted math GPA of at least 3.5 ad pass an approved Senior Experience*
  • Graduate high school with a weighted math GPA of at least 3.5 and have taken at least five years of math.
  • Complete an approved Early Start substitute course at a California Community College.

You are ready to take a supported General Education (GE) math course. Supported courses include a co-requisite class that provides additional academic support. You must meet at least one of the following criteria for this category:

  • Graduate high school with a weighted math GPA of at least 3.3.

Ready to take a supported General Education (GE) math course. Supported courses include a co-requisite class that provides additional academic support. Criteria for this category:

  • Score "Not Yet Ready" or "Not Ready" on the EAP, CAASP, or SBAC exams.
  • Graduate high school with a weighted GPA below 3.6.
  • Graduate high school with a weighted math GPA below 3.3.

Download the STEM Bulldog Math Readiness Categories (PDF)

*Senior Experience Mathematics Exemption Request: In order to clear the “Conditional Exempt” status, you must have completed a one-year course in Math and earned a grade of “C” or better during their senior year.
Due date: The deadline to submit this form for the 2021-22 academic year has passed.

Glossary

  • ESP: Early Start Program
  • EAP/CAASP/SBAC: Test taken in 11th grade
  • EAP: Early Assessment Program
  • CLEP: College Level Examination Program
  • CSU GE: California State University General Education
  • HS: High School
  • IB: International Baccalaureate

PAYMENT DEADLINE: If you do not qualify for the fee waiver, you must pay fees by June 28, 2021. If you enroll after June 28, you must pay fees immediately after enrolling.

The Early Start program will be entirely online in 2021. Online classes utilize Canvas and Zoom for instruction and participation. Classes may have required Zoom meetings at set times each day.

How to Register

View the Early Start Class Schedule and Registration Guide (PDF) - a guide with currently available Early Start classes and step-by-step enrollment instructions. This guide will be updated as new classes are opened for enrollment.

View the Early Start Enrollment Instructions (PDF) - a set of screenshots showing students where to find the Early Start enrollment options in their Student Centers.

Available Classes

The following classes are offered at Fresno State. See the Early Start Class Schedule and Registration Guide for a list of available sections.

Early Start English (ESE 1): This 1-unit course will be taught over a period of two weeks.

Early Start Math (ESM 1/1L): This course offers 1-unit of baccalaureate credit and 2-units of additional support (total of 3-units). Classes are four weeks long.

Early Start Math for STEM students (ESM 1-STEM/1L-STEM): This version of ESM 1 is required for students who have declared majors in STEM fields.

NOTE: Early Start Math classes are comprised of two linked sections (e.g. ESM 1 and ESM 1L), comprising a single class. 

Dropping Classes

You may use the Student Center in MyFresnoState to drop classes. Full refunds are available for students who drop before the first day of instruction.

Drops are not permitted after the first day of class without a serious and compelling reason. (see "Late Drop/Refund Petition" below)

Program Fees

Early Start classes cost $191 per unit. Each student will also be charged mandatory University Student Union and Student Health Center fees. All program fees are covered by the Early Start Fee Waiver.

  • Early Start English (1-unit) fee: $191
  • Early Start Math (3-units) fee: $573
  • University Student Union fee: $1
  • Student Health Center fee: $1

Fee Waiver (Financial Aid)

An Early Start fee waiver is available if you have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $6,000 or less. If you are not eligible to submit a FAFSA, you should file the State Financial Aid application prior to enrolling in Early Start. A formula similar to the EFC is used to determine your waiver eligibility.

The fee waiver fully covers the Program Fees. It does not cover supplies, reading materials, parking, or room and board.

If you are a host student attending another CSU in the fall, you may check your fee waiver eligibility on your home CSU student account.

Refund Eligibility

You may receive a refund if you:

  • Drop your class before instruction begins. Submit a Schedule Change/Refund Form to receive your refund.
  • Pay fees and later become eligible for a fee waiver. Submit a Schedule Change/Refund Form to receive your refund,
  • Enroll in a class and later become exempt from that subject area (see "Placement and Exemption"). A refund will be automatically mailed to the address you have on file in MyFresnoState (no form needed).

You are NOT eligible for a refund if none of the reasons above apply and you drop your class after instruction begins.

Late Drop/Refund Petition

You may petition for late drop and/or refund consideration if you have a serious or compelling reason to drop your class (e.g. called for military service, jury duty, illness, childbirth, etc.). Submit a Schedule/Change Refund Form and include an explanation for your petition with supporting documentation (e.g. a doctor's note).

Students heading to other CSU campuses in the fall may attend Early Start at Fresno State. The program fees and expenses are the same for host students. If you are a host student, your Early Start grades will be automatically sent to your home CSU campus.

Selecting Fresno State

You must use your home CSU campus student account to select Fresno State for Early Start. Fresno State will email you (usually within 1-2 business days) with more information. You have until mid-July to select an alternate CSU campus for Early Start, but if you wait too long your desired class may no longer be available.

If you have previously applied to or taken classes at Fresno State, you will already have a student account, ID, and login credentials. Your account will be updated with an Early Start registration link after you select Fresno State as your Early Start campus.

NOTE: You may see some "leftover" notifications on your MyFresnoState account if you attended or applied to Fresno State (e.g. a notification to attend Dog Days orientation). Contact us with any questions.

Early Start Updates

Host students should continue to refer to their student account at their home CSU campus for updates on Early Start placement and fee waiver eligibility.

NOTE: Any changes to your Early Start exemption statuses or fee waiver eligibility will take 1-2 business days to update at Fresno State. 

Access to Campus Services

All Early Start students have access to campus services offered by the University Student Union and Student Health Center for the duration of the program. 

Host students may obtain a free Early Start student ID card from the Bulldog Card Office to access campus services during the program.  

Fresno State Grading Policies

Host students may review the University Catalog for detailed policies on grading and grade forgiveness.

About Early Start

Early Start is a program used across the California State University system to prepare incoming freshmen for college-level English and Math courses. 

First-time freshmen may be required to attend Early Start. View the "Placement and Exemption" tab for specifics.

Yes, you may be exempt from Early Start for a number of reasons. For more information, see the "Placement and Exemption" tab.

The Early Start Program is offered at most Cal State campuses. See below for contact information.

Yes! Community college courses are available that substitute for either Early Start or the applicable GE classes at Fresno State.

NOTE: YOU MUST forward an official transcript of the completed work to Fresno State after receiving your grade in a community college class. 

Contact Admissions if you have any questions about substituting a community college class.

Early Start Substitutes

Community Colleges courses that fulfill Early Start requirements are available online. You will still be required to take the GE courses when you attend Fresno State.

General Education (GE) Credit Substitutes

If you pass a community college course that substitutes for a GE course at Fresno State, you will not need to complete that Early Start subject. Please contact Admissions first to confirm that your course is an adequate substitute.

Yes. Please contact Admissions first to confirm that your course is an an adequate substitute.

NOTE: YOU MUST forward an official transcript of the completed work to Fresno State after receiving your grade.

You may use the Early Start Page in MyFresnoState to select another CSU campus or community college.

If you select a different CSU campus, they will contact you via Fresno State Mail within a few business days with registration information.

If you select a community college, you are required to register for classes on your own and make sure the transcripts arrive at Fresno State in a timely manner.

Yes, the entire Early Start program will be online in 2021. Some classes may have required Zoom meetings.

If you have submitted a FAFSA and have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $6,000 or less, you may be eligible for a waiver of program fees for the Early Start Program.

Students who are not eligible to submit FAFSA, including AB 540 students, should file the State Financial Aid application prior to enrolling in Early Start. A formula similar to the EFC is used to determine eligibility for the waiver.

The program fee waiver does not cover course materials, such as reading materials, room and board, or supplies.

Early Start classes offer baccalaureate credit toward your degree.

Enrolling in Early Start

Registration will open on June 11. Use the Early Start Page in your MyFresnoState Student Center to determine whether you are exempt from, recommended, or required to take Early Start.

You may add classes to your schedule on MyFresnoState. See Registration for more information.

Early Start classes cost $191 per unit. Each student will also be charged mandatory University Student Union and Student Health Center fees. All program fees are covered by the Early Start Fee Waiver.

  • Early Start English (1-unit) fee: $191
  • Early Start Math (3-units) fee: $573
  • University Student Union fee: $1
  • Student Health Center fee: $1

If you register between June 11-28, you must pay by 11:59pm on June 28. If you register on June 30 or later, you must pay immediately upon registration.

You do not have to pay program fees if you have an Early Start fee waiver.

Students with an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $6,000 or less are eligible for the Early Start fee waiver. Late or incorrect financial aid applications may cause problems with the fee waiver. 

You should confirm that there are no Financial Aid-related activities on the "To Do" list in your MyFresnoState Student Center and contact the Financial Aid Office to verify that your EFC is correct and/or determine if any required documents are missing.

Monitor your Early Start page. If the fee waiver status changes to "eligible," please submit a refund form and we will contact you with further instructions.

NOTE: If you are a host student (i.e. attending another CSU campus in the fall), contact your home campus staff for assistance with any unfinished financial aid paperwork. Monitor your fee waiver status on your home campus student account. It may take 1-2 business days for your waiver eligibility to update at Fresno State.

Students may register until the first day of class. 

NOTE: Students are encouraged to register early, as classes may fill up.

Attending Early Start

All 2021 Early Start classes will be held online.

Online Early Start classes are accessible via Canvas.
Make sure to login to Canvas using your Fresno State username and password.

We strongly encourage you to select an Early Start class that does not conflict with your Dog Days orientation.

If you do have a scheduling conflict, you are responsible for alerting your Early Start instructor of your absence and making up any missed work. 

Some Early Start classes require reading materials. Your professor will provide details about these costs when class begins. These materials are not covered by the fee waiver.

You will need a parking permit if you park on campus during the program. Permits may be purchased from Traffic Operations.

Most Early Start students will receive a Fresno State ID card during or after their Dog Days orientation.

If you are not attending Fresno State in the fall, you may receive a free Early Start ID card that will permit access to the library and pay-for-print services during the program. To receive a card, register for your Early Start classes and then contact the Bulldog Card Office.

You may request accommodations from the Services for Students with Disabilities office or call the office at 559.278.2811.

COVID-19 may affect available of many services. Click below to learn more about popular services:

University Dining Services will be available in the summer.

Campus Pointe (located on the east side of campus on Chestnut Avenue) has a variety of dining options as well. Visit the Campus Pointe website.

COVID-19 may affect available of many services.

Contact Us

Contact Admissions advisors with inquiries about English/Math placement, your Early Start status (e.g. required, optional, or exempt), or exemptions from Early Start and supported GE classes.

Contact Admissions (select "Early Start" as your question topic).

Contact Continuing and Global Education for assistance with Early Start class enrollment, payment, or drops/refunds.

David Hoff: davhoff@csufresno.edu
Martha Rodriguez: marthar@csufresno.edu

Instructor Contact Information

Early Start instructors' contact information may be found in the Early Start Class Schedule and Registration Guide.

Other CSU Early Start Resources