Section 1: The Office of the Registrar

Services provided by the Office of the Registrar

Transfer of Credit

Charleston Southern accepts transfer credit from other institutions of higher education based on the following considerations: It must have been taken at a regionally accredited college or university with a final grade of C or better. It must meet the time limitations set by academic departments. It must not exceed the maximum number of transfer hours as outlined below: Junior, community and technical colleges: 68 semester credit hours maximum, including all nontraditional credit accepted. Senior colleges and universities: 89 semester hours maximum, including any credit accepted from all other sources (including “1” above, and all nontraditional credit accepted). We must receive the official transcripts sent directly from your former college before we can grant credit.

Transcripts and Grades

Grades (midterm and final) are available through the student portal, MYCSU.

Permission to take classes at another institution

If you are a current student of record at Charleston Southern and plan to take a course at another institution during any term, you must receive prior permission. To receive permission you must complete either a Request to Take Courses at Another Institution form or a Cross Registration Form. Students may request permission to earn credit (hours only) at approved out-of-town institutions when our fall and spring semester’s are not in session, and the student’s permanent address is outside the greater Charleston area.

Permission to take CLEP/Challenge Exams

These exams may be presented for credit any time with the exception of the term in which the student graduates, and are subject to the following limitations: A maximum of eight (8) hours may be earned in one’s major.  A maximum of four (4) hours may be earned in one’s minor.  A maximum of twelve (12) hours may be earned in the areas of liberal arts core and general electives.  For more information on the CSU CLEP Policy.

Graduation

For questions, please contact the Registrar's office at 843-863-8060; email register@csuniv.edu or  visit the Registrar's office in the Hunter Reception Center.

Attendance Policy

The policy is mandatory for 100-level and 200-level classes; professors teaching 300-level or 400-level courses may choose to suspend the policy. By the act of enrollment, the student is responsible for all coursework, the student is expected to attend regularly and punctually all classes, labs, convocations, and assemblies. Online courses have special requirements. Contact the instructor for details. The instructor will automatically drop the student from a class with a grade of FA (Failure for Absences) when the student has missed 25 percent of the class meetings. The following reflect the number of absences at which you will receive the grade of FA:

• Classes meeting five times per week – 19
• Classes meeting four times per week - 15
• Classes meeting three times per week – 11
• Classes meeting two times per week – 7
• Classes meeting one time per week – 4
• Accelerated classes – 6
• CAPS cohort classes – 2

An absence is defined as nonattendance for any reason including illness, emergency or official leave.

Three (3) instances of tardiness are equal to one absence.

All classes missed due to late registration also count in the attendance policy.

Please see the Undergraduate catalog for a full description of the attendance policy.

FERPA, Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act: Applies to all currently enrolled and formerly enrolled students (regardless of age or parental dependency status) Design to protect the privacy rights of student records and to ensure the accuracy of education records, by act of enrollment.

MYCSU is the student portal. Students have access to most of their academic and financial information.  Some examples are:

• View student’s class schedule
• View chapel credits
• Find their Academic Advisor
• View eBill and eRefund
• View their Financial Aid
• Access the L. Mendel Rivers Library database
• Register for classes (sophomore and above)
• View unofficial transcripts
• Check grades, view housing information, access work-study forms
• Declare a major or minor
• Withdraw from CSU

 How do you log into MY CSU? In order to log into MY CSU you need the following:

• Go to MYCSU online
• Student ID – this is provided to you once you have been accepted to CSU
• PIN – You can retrieve your ID number and  PIN number by accessing PASSWORD HELP on the main My CSU page.

Registration

New students who complete this Online Orientation and submit the New Student Registration Information Form found at the end of the orientation will be placed in classes based on the following:

• Acceptance status
• Major
• Transfer credit (if applicable)
• Your preferences (listed on the New Student Registration Information Form)
• Course prerequisites
• Class availability

Please see MYCSU for class availability – sign on as a Guest if you have not received your pin number!

Typical Freshman Schedule Includes (16 hours):

• ENGL 111 – English Composition I (3 hours)
• MATH 105 – Intro to Math Structures or MATH 111 – College Algebra (3 hours) or MATH 110 - Extended College Algebra (4 hours)
• GNED 101 – Freshman Seminar (1 hour)
• Introductory course for your major (as long as you have met the prerequisite) (3 hours)
• Two classes in the Liberal Arts Core (6 hours)

Transfer Student’s Schedule Information:

Transfer students MUST have their transfer credit evaluated by the Registrar’s Office before choosing a class schedule

Go to the Academic Advising website to find the Major Course Guide for your chosen major.  This will list all of the classes that are required to complete your degree at CSU.

Then access a list of open classes from MY CSU.

Include the classes you would like to take on the New Student Registration Information Form and submit it.

Registration (Continuing Students):

Continuing students must meet with their Academic Advisor before registering for classes.

The following students must be registered by their Academic Advisors:

• Freshman
• Students with a major in the Horton School of Music
• Students on Academic Probation

All other continuing students can register for classes on MY CSU after meeting with their Academic Advisor.  The exception to this policy are people who have the following restrictions:

• Students with a Business Office Hold on their account
• Students who have not met a prerequisite for a course
• Adding or Dropping Classes from a Schedule

Courses may be dropped or added to a schedule during the first 5 days of a term.  This is called the Drop/Add Period.

Dropped courses do not count toward the three (3) attempts allowed to complete a course.

Withdrawing From a Class

Students may withdraw from a class after the Drop/Add Period and receive a grade of W (withdraw), WP (withdraw passing), or WF (withdraw failing).  The grade you are given will depend on the date you withdraw (see the Academic Calendar) and the grade you are making at the time of the withdrawal.

You must fill out a request for schedule change form to withdraw.

You will need the following signatures on the form:

• Professor of the class in which you are withdrawing
• Your Academic Advisor
• Student Athlete Success Coordinator (required for athletes only)

After receiving all of the signatures, the Office of the Registrar will withdraw you from the class and assign your grade.

Section 2: The Student Success Center

Services provided by the Student Success Center

Academic Advising

Faculty members serve as Academic Advisors at CSU. Academic Advisors are assigned to a student based on their chosen major.  Academic Advisors will help students with registering for classes and direct students to resources that enable sound career and personal choices.

Testing Center

Designed to provide a supervised testing environment for students who must take a test out of schedule. This includes special needs students and students who are representing the university on official business (all other students must receive permission from their professor).  Testing appointments must be made 24 hours in advance.  Students must present their student id cards to use the Testing Center.

Intervention for Probation Students

The Coordinator of Student Intervention works with all students who have not met Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and are currently on Academic Probation. Staff works closely with professors to identify potential problems with students who miss too many classes, making poor grades, and having social issues.  This is accomplished through the Student Outreach System, S.O.S.

Student Success Programs

Workshops are offered each semester.  Some examples are: Personal Responsibility, Make Your Textbooks Work for You, Money and College Life: Cash Management and Spending Plans, Wise Note Making.

Disability Services

In accordance with sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and The Americans with Disabilities Act, CSU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for disabled students who are “otherwise qualified” to pursue college level work.

Section 3: Student Life

Services provided by Student Life

The Career Center

Offers a broad range of services and programs designed to enhance student career development. Services include (but not limited to):

• Career counseling
• Personality and skills assessments
• Mock Interview Video recording
• Resume and professional image preparation
• A Career Library

A free full-service career center for current students and alumni.

Counseling Services

We offer professional mental health services in the form of personal counseling from a Christian perspective. The counseling covers a wide range of issues such as:

• Anger Management
• Anxiety and Depression
• Academic Problems
• Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution
• Depression and Loneliness
• Relationship Issues
• Stress
• Time Management

Recreational Services

An athletic program of physical fitness and recreation is provided for every student, Facilities and instruction are available in a wide variety of sports, intramural sports are designed for both on-campus and commuting students.

Campus Security

CSU has a Crisis Response Team and a comprehensive plan in place to respond to a variety of emergencies. The University’s security staff is augmented by North Charleston police in the event of an emergency. Immediate Response Information System (Buc Alert) is used to alert students, parents, faculty, and staff when a credible threat has been identified.  Please register/update your information through MYCSU.

Residence Life

After acceptance to CSU, send completed housing forms & deposit to Enrollment Services Office:

• $300 Enrollment Deposit;
• Roommate Questionnaire - must be done electronically
• Immunization Form -Can be faxed or mailed
• Housing Assignments can be found in the new student tab on MYCSU account.

It is very important to complete your housing forms early. These are based on a first come first serve basis.

Student Activities

The academic year at Charleston Southern University will offer a large variety of student activities. Check out our 50+ student organizations. To see a complete list of activities visit our events calendar.

Campus Ministries

Campus Ministries provides a network of resources to connect students with opportunities to serve the local community, to minister throughout the United States and even to be a part of international missions!

To allow students the opportunity to grow in the Holy Word of God, we have organized ministries that lead small groups, worship services and provide access to spiritual growth conferences. Our Residence Life staff also leads res life small groups in our residence halls. Our Chapel services are designed to connect all faculty, staff and students to God's word.

Elevating Jesus is our priority in Campus Ministries. Every Thursday night at 8 in the cafeteria we offer a campus wide worship gathering called Elevate. Elevate is a beautiful time where the CSU family becomes unified in worshiping (elevating) our Savior, Jesus. It is a powerful time of student-led worship where all the ministries on campus come together to worship the One we seek to elevate - Jesus Christ.

Section 4: Campus Resources

• Student Handbook 

Check out the Student Handbook for more information about regulations, the Student Code of Conduct and everything you need to know about student life at Charleston Southern. 

• Student Employment 

The Student Employment office works with University departments and the community to create work-study employment opportunities for students. Meeting the work-study employment needs of students is our job, and we work diligently to ensure our joint venture has lasting benefits. We look forward to working with you. 

• Student Accounts

Pay your bill online, tuition, tax and refund information and more. 

• My CSU 

My CSU is the student portal for accessing information about financial aid, academics and more. 

• Financial Aid 

Find information about scholarships, loans, your award letter, Financial Aid LIVE and more. Remember, currents students must submit the FAFSA and apply for financial aid every year. Apply early! 

• Campus Security  

Campus Security offers a range of services to enhance your security and well-being on campus. Whether you need information on signing up for Buc Alert, want to know how to engrave your valuables, or want to request a security escort, you'll find it at Campus Security. 

• L. Mendel Rivers Library 

You can now search, research and study virtually. Visit Charleston Southern University's L. Mendel Rivers Library online.

• Bookstore

Visit Charleston Southern University's bookstore online.

Continue to the next page to complete the registration process. You will be required to log in to your student portal.