You can view the schedule of classes by academic subject, by college, or by general education category. The lists are updated regularly to reflect additions and changes.

Once you've selected your course and wish to register, use the following information found on the class search results page when filling out the Open University registration form.

Course = Subject and Catlg Nbr
Class Number = Class Nbr
Section Number = Sect

Spring 2025

• Open University students can take up to 18 units per term.
• Up to 24 units of Open University credit may apply toward an undergraduate degree at CSULB.
• At the option of the appropriate college and department, up to 9 units of academic credit may be applied toward a graduate degree at CSULB.
• Graduate and undergraduate students who have been academically disqualified from CSULB will be limited to 6 units or two courses, as long as enrollment in these two courses does not exceed 7 units.

If you are interested in taking a course in the College of the Arts, and the course has prerequisites, you may not be able to enroll yourself through self-service registration. The instructor will need to verify that you meet the prerequisite requirements and give you permission to enroll in the course.

The instructor will either assign you a permit or permission number, allowing you to register through MyCSULB Self-Service Registration; or they will provide their approval via email, so that you may register via the CSULB Open University Registration Form (when available), attaching the instructor’s email.

Please contact the instructor for approval before submitting your registration form.

If the course is full, you will first need to contact the instructor to receive permission to add the course. Next, you will need to contact the Department Chair for final approval. You can then submit your information via the online CSULB Open University Registration Form, attaching the email string from the instructor and department chair. However, if the department issues a permit, and you have access to self-service registration, you can register and pay online on MyCSULB.

Note: If the course is full, do not submit your registration form until you've received the instructor's approval. The approval must be included with your registration form.​

College of Business (COB) courses are heavily impacted. Students interested in registering for undergraduate business courses may do so at the start of the online registration period. Please email the instructor to request permission to enroll. Once approved, please attach your approval AND unofficial transcripts to the online Open University registration form. Your information will be submitted to the College of Business for department approval. 

It is highly recommended that you attend the first and subsequent days for a course you are interested in. Trying to add a course without first attending may not be possible.

Please read the guidelines below if you wish to enroll in an undergraduate business course:

• Degree-seeking students who are matriculated at other four-year institutions are eligible for registration, as long as they have met course prerequisites and there is space in the class.
• Students who are pursuing graduate work and need to register in 300 or 400 level courses may also take COB courses as non-matriculated students, as long as they have met course prerequisites and there is space in the class.
• Students who are academically disqualified or denied admission from CSULB must meet with an advisor before registering. Please contact COB-CSS@csulb.edu to meet with an advisor.

If you are interested in taking a course in the College of Education, and the course has prerequisites, you may not be able to enroll yourself through self-service registration. The instructor or department will need to verify that you meet the prerequisite requirements, and will then give you permission to enroll in the course.

If they approve, please complete the CSULB Open University Registration Form (when available) and attach the email approval from the instructor. Or, the instructor may assign you a permit so you can register online through MyCSULB​ if you have access to self-service registration.

If the course is full, you will need to wait until the first day of class to contact the instructor obtain approval before submitting a CSULB Open University registration form.

Please do not submit your registration form until you've received the instructor's approval. The approval must be included with your registration form.

If a course in the College of Engineering has prerequisites, you may not be able to enroll through self-service registration.

Please complete the CSULB Open University Registration Form (when available) and include your transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).

Once you submit your information, please allow 1-2 business days for a response. You may be required to submit further documentation to determine your eligibility, so it is important for you to check and respond to email correspondence. If we determine that you are qualified to take a course, we will send you further information on how to register.

If the course is full, you will first need to contact the instructor to receive permission to add the course. Next, you will need to contact the Department Chair for final approval. You can then submit your information via the CSULB Open University registration form. However, if the department issues a permit, and you have access to self-service registration, you can register and pay online on MyCSULB​​.

Note: If the class is full, do not submit your registration form until you've received the instructor's approval. The approval must be included with your registration form.

If a course in the College of Health and Human Services has prerequisites, you may not be able to enroll through self-service.

If the course has prerequisites, please complete the CSULB Open University Registration Form (when available) and include your transcripts.   

Once you submit your information, please allow 1-2 business days for a response. You may be required to submit further documentation to determine your eligibility, so it is important that you check and respond to email correspondence. If we determine that you are qualified to take a course, we will send you further information on how to register. 

If the course if full, you will first need to contact the instructor to receive permission to add the course, or contact the department to receive a permit so that you may register through MyCSULB​ if you have access to self-service registration. If you do not have access to enroll through self-service registration, please submit your information via the CSULB Open University Registration Form and include your transcripts.

Note: Do not submit your registration form until you've received the instructor's approval. The approval must be included with your registration form.

If a course in the College of Liberal Arts has prerequisites, you may not be able to enroll through self-service registration.

Please contact the instructor to receive permission to add the course, prior to submitting a CSULB Open University Registration Form.

Once you submit your information, please allow 1-2 business days for a response. You may be required to submit further documentation to determine your eligibility, so it is important for you to check and respond to email correspondence.

If the course is full, you will first need to contact the instructor to receive permission to add the course, or contact the department to receive a permit so that you may register through MyCSULB, if you have access to enroll through self-service registration. If you do NOT have access to self-service registration, please submit your information via the Open University Online Registration Form.

Please note: Do not submit your registration form until you've received the instructor's approval. The approval must be included with your registration form.

If you are interested in taking a course in the College of Natural Science and Math, and the course has prerequisites, you may not be able to enroll yourself through self-service registration. The instructor will need to verify that you meet the prerequisite requirements and give you permission to enroll in the course.

The instructor will either assign you a permit or permission number, allowing you to register through MyCSULB Self-Service Registration if you have access; or you will need to complete the CSULB Open University Registration Form (when available).

Please contact the instructor for approval before submitting your registration form.

If the course is full, you will need to wait until the first day of class to contact the instructor to obtain approval before submitting a CSULB Open University Registration Form. Please do not submit your registration form until you've received the instructor's approval. The approval must be included with your registration form.

Fees are due within 24 hours of your enrollment or within 24 hours of being able to activate your account.

Students can pay via MyCSULB (instructions can be found on the How-to Guides page). New students will be sent instructions on how to access their MyCSULB account online account within 1-2 business days of registration.

Credit Card

• Payments can be made via MyCSULB (MC, Disc, AMEX, & VISA).
• Have Campus ID ready
• The university has contracted with TRANSACT SmartPay to accept credit card payments. SmartPay charges a 2.65% service charge on all payment transactions. There is no convenience fee to pay by E-Check at MyCSULB
• If a credit card charge is disputed, a $20 dishonored credit card fee will be charged to your account. Contact the CPaCE Student Services Center via email at cpace-info@csulb.edu before disputing a credit card charge through your bank. If your payment for registration fees is dishonored or disputed, your classes may be cancelled. Personal checks will not be accepted for repayment of disputed credit cards.

E-Check

• Payments can be made via MyCSULB
• Have Campus ID ready
• Have banking information ready (account & routing numbers)

Check or Money Order

• Personal check, cashiers check or money order
• Payable to: California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)
• Payable in $USD and must be written in blue or black ink.
• If a check is returned for any reason, a $20 dishonored check fee will be charged to your account. Personal checks will not be accepted for repayment of dishonored checks. If your payment for registration fees is dishonored, your classes may be cancelled.

If a company or organization wishes to pay your fees, a sponsorship agreement and authorization of services must be received by CPaCE Student Services Center via email, cpace-info@csulb.edu, prior to registration. If your sponsor does not pay some or all of your fees, it is your responsibility to pay or your classes may be canceled, a financial hold placed on your record, and services withheld until fees are paid.

If you are a veteran or dependent of a veteran, you may be eligible for financial assistance for your higher education. For more information, contact the Veterans' Affairs Services office at 562-985-5115 or click here to visit Veterans Services. 

Regardless of how your education is funded, you are personally responsible for making sure that your tuition and mandatory fees (and any other fees or charges) are paid on time.

Payment Plan contracts are offered to assist students with paying their course fees by dividing fees into equal payments. Payment plans are set up at the time of registration. If you register online, please attach a completed Open University Payment Plan contract when you submit your online registration form, and a CPaCE Student Services Representative will set up the payment plan for you. If you register using self-service, you will set up your payment plan online through MyCSULB. A non-refundable $33.00 administrative fee is charged for participation in a payment plan. 

The last day to sign up for the Spring 2025 payment plan is February 17.

If you do not pay your payment plan by your first due date, you may be dropped from your class or classes due to non-payment of fees.

Download the Open University Payment Plan contract here.

Payment Deadlines:

• First Payment: January 21
• 2nd Payment: February 21
• 3rd Payment: March 21
• Final Payment: April 21

Once you enroll in a payment plan, changes to your academic load, subsequent fee increases, or new charges may affect the amount of your payments, which are not necessarily distributed evenly. It is your responsibility to check your account for any such changes.

The payment plan does not cover some fees, such as library fines or course fees from a previous term. These fees will need to be paid prior to enrollment in a payment plan. If the student is not eligible, a student's account will not allow them to enroll.

It is the student's responsibility to check their MyCSULB account to ensure the payment plan is successfully enrolled, and to verify due dates. Enrollment in a payment plan is available once you submit a registration form.

If your balance becomes delinquent, you may be placed with an outside collection agency. You will be responsible for any additional fees. As required by law, you are hereby notified that a negative credit report on your credit record may be submitted to a credit reporting agency if you fail to resolve this matter immediately.

If you have additional questions, please email cpace-paymentplans@csulb.edu.

Spring 2025: January 7-January 20 

To drop a course before it begins, submit the Open U Drop Request Form. 

Spring 2025: January 21 - February 3 

No signatures or department stamps are required to drop a course during the first two weeks of instruction. 

To drop a course within the first two weeks, submit the Open U Drop Request Form. (This form is no longer available since the deadline has passed.)

Students can also drop their courses through MyCSULB. Visit Enrollment Services' Using Academics page for instructions on dropping a course in your student center. 

Spring 2025: February 4 - April 18 

In order to withdraw from a course, both instructor and department permission are required. Additionally, a ‘W’ will be posted to the student’s transcript. 

For more information on the Withdrawal Petition process, visit the Student Records Dropping and Withdrawing page. 

Spring 2025: April 19 - May 9 

In order to withdraw from a course within the final three weeks of the semester, the student will need to submit a Catastrophic Withdrawal. Only extenuating circumstances will be considered. You are required to obtain approval from the Instructor, Department Chair, and Dean on your completed form before submitting it to Enrollment Services. Enrollment Services will then forward the form to the University Provost to seek final approval. Additionally, a ‘W’ will be posted to your transcript. 

Withdrawals are not permitted during the final week of instruction.   

Spring 2025: May 9 is the last day of class before final exams begin and is the last day to submit a Catastrophic Withdrawal request. 

Up to 24 units of Open University credit may apply toward an undergraduate degree at CSULB, and up to 9 units for a graduate degree. Beyond these limits, additional units may be taken for personal enrichment or to transfer to another institution, but they will not be applicable to CSULB degree programs.

Open University provides an opportunity for people who are not currently admitted to CSULB to enroll in courses offered by the university during the Fall and Spring semesters.

There is no difference between the courses. The courses that Open University students take are the same courses that matriculated students take. Open University students can seek permission to enroll in any classes listed in the schedule of classes.

The class schedule is available at http://www.csulb.edu/schedule. Classes can be viewed by subject. Information is updated nightly.

Current catalog course descriptions can be found at http://catalog.csulb.edu.

A matriculated student is one that is admitted to the university. If you are not sure whether or not you are admitted, please check with the Office of Enrollment Services (562) 985-5471 or inquire with Enrollment Services. If you are not admitted (non-matriculated), you can enroll as an Open University student through the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE).

Yes. High school students are welcome to attend CSULB through Open University as long as a letter of recommendation from the high school principal or counselor is attached to the registration request form specifying if the credits earned are for college credits or high school credits.

You can register for Fall and Spring Open University in a few different ways.  To see all the options please visit our How to Register page.

Our regular business hours are:

• Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

CPaCE accepts only Visa, MasterCard, American Express, checks and money orders. Cash is not accepted at CPaCE. Payments must be made via MyCSULB.

Yes. Please read the refund page for dates and deadlines.

A CSULB transcript can be ordered through the Enrollment Services. For more information visit https://www.csulb.edu/student-records/transcripts-current-students.

If you do not have a CSULB ID, we will create one for you upon registration. When filling out the registration form, you can leave this space blank if you do not yet have an ID number. A campus ID number is issued to all new students by the university for registration and identification purposes. If you are a current Open University student or have taken a course previously, you will continue to use your existing ID number that was assigned to you.

Once you are registered for classes, you are able to purchase a semester parking permit through the Parking and Transportation Services website.

Open University students with a student ID card have access to the library and computer labs. They can also gain access to other campus resources, such as the Student Health Center and Recreation Center for an additional fee.

Over a thousand students register for classes each semester through Open University, so there are many course options available. However, there is no guarantee that students will be able to get into a specific course. 

As non-matriculated students, federal student financial aid is not available for students taking courses through Open University. Students can apply for private continuing education loans.

As a regionally accredited institution, most classes will transfer to another institution. Students will want to speak to a representative from the institution to which they plan to transfer, in order to determine how those classes will be articulated. 

Canvas is the online learning environment used at CSULB. Instructors may use it to post assignments, hold discussions, or for other functions. Once students are registered into a class, they will generally get access to Canvas within 24 hours.