Freshman FAQs

NSO is separate from Academic Advisement and registering for classes.  All new students will be contacted by an academic advisor who will assist you in selection of classes for the upcoming term.

To learn more about Academic Advisement, you can visit the CSUN Catalog by clicking here. 

Academic Colleges Description

To foster a stronger sense of academic community among students who are studying similar subjects and possess similar interests, large universities frequently divide different disciplines, majors, and programs of study into subsections called "colleges." At CSUN for instance, There are 8 traditional Academic Colleges that house all undergraduate majors/minors and program options.  As such, each college maintains its own facilities, research centers, etc., and have a set of administrative leaders like a Dean, Associate Dean, etc.

CSUN's Academic Colleges can be found here: https://www.csun.edu/academic-affairs/colleges 

Does it matter for NSO?

It does not matter what your academic college is for NSO. You can attend any NSO date that works best for your schedule! During your Orientation day, we will place you in Orientation groups with individuals from your same academic college/major so you can network and build community before classes begin in the Fall.

Academic College, Department, and Major Examples

Here are a few examples of how we breakdown a student's academic college, department, major, and program/option:

EXAMPLE 1:
DEGREE/MAJOR: Communication Studies
OPTION: n/a
DEPARTMENT: Communication Studies
COLLEGE: Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication

EXAMPLE 2:
DEGREE/MAJOR: Business Administration
PROGRAM/OPTION: Business Law
DEPARTMENT: Business Law
COLLEGE: David Nazarian College of Business & Economics

EXAMPLE 3 :
DEGREE/MAJOR: Kinesiology 
PROGRAM/OPTION: Exercise Science
DEPARTMENT: Kinesiology 
COLLEGE: College of Health and Human Development

New Student Orientation (NSO) is an engaging on-campus experience the university has created to prepare all its new students to integrate into the academic, cultural, and social context of California State University, Northridge. Throughout the orientation experience, new students will be advised on appropriate steps to take in order to achieve academic success in and out of the classroom. Students will also get a chance to meet their peers, both fellow new students and continuing CSUN students, who will offer help and suggestions to assist with a smooth transition.

A $75 orientation fee is automatically charged to every first-time freshman in the prior to the start of their first semester.  Typically, students pay this fee when they make payment for courses.  The fee should be paid as soon as possible to avoid any holds on your student account; students will be unable to register for spring semester courses until the fee has been paid.

  
To view your student account, sign in on your student portal, select the "Financial Matters" tab and select the appropriate links to view your any fees owed to the university.  

Financial aid rewards do not cover the orientation fee initially, and therefore will not be automatically deducted. If you are expecting Financial Aid, it will be applied to your current tuition charges first, then housing etc., (pending how much you are awarded). Financial aid does not get automatically applied to the orientation fee, and it will appear on your student account as a separate charge.  Fees in this category can be found here under 'non-refundable fees/charges'. 

Campus tours will be held during the orientation day as part of the NSO programming. Orientation leaders will conduct a 1 hour tour of the campus providing information on campus geography and locations for student services to promote your success. 

Please visit the NSO Orientation Day page for all the updated information on your NSO Orientation Day by clicking the link here: https://www.csun.edu/nso/orientation-day

Due to capacity, New Student Orientation programs are available for new students only.

In late September/early October, our department will offer a program for parents/family members to learn about the campus. Students will receive information about the program via CSUN email in early September. More detailed information regarding parent/family programming is available at https://www.csun.edu/nso/family-programs. 

Registration for NSO typically occurs mid-June (for students entering in the Fall term) or mid- December (for students entering in the Spring term). Students will learn about NSO registration opening through communications sent by CSUN Email.

If there is currently no registration link posted on the website, registration is most likely not open at this time. If you have received communication that registration is open and there still is no registration link available, please check back in a few days as the link for registration may have been taken off the website while we update student records. 

Emails sent to students generally provide information like this example here:

To register for Orientation, please follow the steps below:

1. Visit www.csun.edu/nso
2. Click Register button (sometimes appears as a direct link)
3. Enter your Portal Username & Password
4. Select the type of program and the corresponding date
5. Follow the prompts to complete registration
6. Print your confirmation email or have an electronic copy available for NSO Check-in

A successful registration will result in an automatic email kick-back which confirms the details provided/selected.  

Yes. NSO is a required activity for all new students. Failure to complete NSO may result with a hold on your student account. 

When you are admitted to CSUN, your CSUN student ID is issued by the Department of Admissions and Records.

This number is used to identify your academic records and your current student status. The CSUN Student ID number allows you to establish a CSUN User ID and password, to enroll online, to view academic records and check your CSUN student account.  Your CSUN ID number stays with you even if you stop attending, transfer or graduate. You can find this number on correspondence with the university, transcripts and enrollment summary documents.

If you are a student admitted to the university and you do not remember your CSUN Student ID number or password, go online to the portal at www.csun.edu and click "Forgot User ID/Password." For more information, call (818) 677-2504.

You may also sign up for your CSUN email address at your earliest convenience. If you need additional assistance please contact the Office of Student Involvement and Development at (818) 677-4100.

If your personal information is incorrect, you must correct it through Admissions and Records. For a name change, fill out the Name Change Form and return it to Admissions and Records in Bayramian Hall.

You may change your address or phone number by logging on to myCSUN Portal. Click on Student Center, scroll to the bottom and click either the address or phone number link, whichever you wish to change.

For additional matters, please visit Admissions and Records in Bayramian Hall or contact them at (818) 677-3700.