Pathways to Excellence: Program Description
Pathways to Excellence is your key to success as an incoming freshman!
When you sign up for Pathways to Excellence (P2E) during our annual sign-up period, our P2E team will guide you to one of the following program options, or pathways:
- Matador College Excellence
- Matador STEM Excellence
- Matador Summer Transition to Engineering and Computer Science Program (M-STEP)
All P2E programs share the common goal of supporting your transition from high school to college while welcoming you as a new member of the CSUN community. P2E will introduce you to university resources and give you a better understanding of what you’ll need on your journey to completing your major and CSUN degree.
All P2E programs options include these features:
- Free of charge!
- Start and end dates, July 6 to Aug. 2, 2024
- Matador Early Connections component, where you’ll regularly meet with CSUN student peer mentors, learn about university life, tour campus resources and more.
Upon signing up for P2E, check your CSUN email regularly for your recommended pathway. To receive our email, you must activate your CSUN Portal and email account.
Questions?
- Visit Find Answers to P2E FAQs.
- Contact the Pathways to Excellence team at p2e@csun.edu.
Learn more about P2E pathways in the rows below.
If you’re a first-time freshman who has not declared a major in science, technology engineering or mathematics (STEM), you’ll probably be recommended to the Matador College Excellence option.
As a participant in Matador College Excellence, you will:
- Focus on the transition from high school to college.
- Meet professors, classmates, staff, and CSUN student peer mentors.
- Attend workshops and panels on exploring careers, managing time, reading your Degree Progress Report, informed decision making and more.
- Discover your strengths and interests.
- Receive support throughout your first year at CSUN.
| P2E Option |
Matador College Excellence |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 8 to Aug. 2, 2024 |
| Days & Times |
Meets on the CSUN campus twice a week for two hours a day. Choose from Mon & Wed, or Tues & Thurs classes in the morning or afternoon at the following times: Mon & Wed: 9 to 11 a.m. OR 1 to 3 p.m. OR Tue & Thu: 9 to 11 a.m. OR 1 to 3 p.m. |
| Mode | This program option meets on the CSUN campus. If coming to campus doesn’t work for you, an online option may be available for select students. Learn more at Are P2E classes offered online or in person? |
| Activities & Benefits |
Matador College Excellence introduces you to:
Activities:
|
| Units | This program does not offer college credit. However, it will prepare you for your first-year classes and provide support throughout the year. |
| Cost | The summer Matador College Excellence program is free of charge to participants. |
You’ll probably be recommended to the Matador STEM Excellence pathway if:
- You’ve declared a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) major in fields such as biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, kinesiology, mathematics, nutrition/dietetics/food science, physics, etc.
- You've declared a major in accountancy, business administration, or economics. Although they are not STEM majors, Matador STEM Excellence will introduce you to two essential classes that you'll take in your first year at CSUN:
If you’ve declared one of the majors in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, we’ll recommend M-STEP for you, not Matador STEM Excellence. See the separate M-STEP accordion row on this page.
If you participate in Matador STEM Excellence this summer, you will:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of essential math skills for your major.
- Set the stage for your future degree pathway.
- Be introduced to university life here at CSUN.
- Meet CSUN professors, classmates, staff and peer mentors.
| P2E Option |
Matador STEM Excellence |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 8 to Aug. 2, 2024 (four weeks) |
| Days & Times |
Choose one of the following three schedules: 1) Intensive in person: Four on-campus meetings per week:
2) Medium in person: Two on-campus meetings per week, including Matador Early Connections with peer mentors and ALEKS for math:
|
| Mode | This program option meets on the CSUN campus. However, if coming to campus doesn’t work for you, an online option may be available for select students. Learn more at Are P2E classes offered online or in person? |
| Activities & Benefits |
Matador STEM Excellence introduces you to:
Activities:
|
| Units |
This program does not offer college credit. However, your math level may increase from participating, which will potentially give you a head start on completing your major's Road Map degree requirements this fall, saving you time and money. |
| Cost | The summer Matador STEM Excellence (M-STEM) program is free of charge to participants. |
The Matador Summer Transition to Engineering and Computer Science Program (M-STEP) option is for first-time freshmen who have declared one of the majors in the CSUN College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), including:
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Information Technology
- Computer Science
- Construction Management
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering Management Technology
- Manufacturing Systems Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Join other incoming freshmen in a variety of CECS majors to:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of essential math skills for your major.
- Meet members of over nine CECS student clubs.
- Set the stage for your future degree pathway.
- Become acquainted with university life here at CSUN.
Check out our video recap of the summer 2023 M-STEP experience on the CECS M-STEP webpage.
| P2E Option |
Matador Summer Transition to Engineering and Computer Science (M-STEP) |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 8 to Aug. 2, 2024 (four weeks) |
| Days & Times |
Mon through Thurs (four days a week) 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. including:
|
| Mode | All classes meet in person on the CSUN campus. Refer to the row above. |
| Activities & Benefits |
Matador STEP (M-STEP) introduces you to:
Activities:
|
| Units | This program does not offer college credit. However, your math level may increase from participating, which will potentially give you a head start on completing your major's Road Map degree requirements this fall, saving you time and money. |
| Cost | The summer M-STEP program is free of charge to participants. |