​When students are admitted to Cal State LA, the university looks at a variety of measures to determine their Math and English placement category. These multiple measures include high school Math and English courses, high school grade point averages (GPA); and exams scores from the ACT, SAT, SAT Subject test, or the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). 

Students who require additional support based on these multiple measures will be required to participate in the Early Start Program.

Students required to participate in the summer 2019 Early Start Program will receive an email from the Admission Office of the CSU campus you plan to attend with instructions on how to complete the declaration and registration process.

Exemptions - The following students will not be required to participate in Early Start:

• International students and residents of other states
• Students participating in the Cal State LA EOP Summer Bridge Program

​​Students may appeal if circumstances beyond their control prevent participation. Appeals should be submitted in writing including any supporting documentation to the Early Start Program email (Earlystart@calstatela.edu) Early Start Program appeal form

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Early Start Math and English courses will be available at every CSU campus and online. Incoming freshmen are encouraged to complete their Early Start Program at the campus they are planning to attend. This will afford them an opportunity to get to know faculty, staff, students and to familiarize themselves with campus resources.

​Students who pass an Early Start Math course at another CSU campus, and are approved to enter first-year math without supported instruction, will also be able to do so at Cal State LA.

Early Start programs offered at any of the CSU campuses will have a common fee. The current fee estimate is $191 per unit plus a fee of $1 for Health Facilities and $1 for the Student Union which is subject to change based on approved fee increases. Campus parking and course instruction materials may also be charged.

California residents who apply for financial aid and have an Estimated Family Contribution of $5,500 or less will be eligible for a waiver of the per unit fee.

The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU must reserve the right, even after initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees, without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by The Board of Trustees

Early Start Composition (ESC) 210 (3 weeks)
This course is an introduction to academic reading, writing and research processes, with an emphasis on written reflective analysis and active learning, through which students will gain greater comprehension of the literacy practices. This course meets the CSU Chancellor's Office Executive Order 1110, which mandates that freshmen in need of additional academic development in written communication begin their coursework before matriculation through a college-level, credit-bearing course in the Early Start Program. 

Course Credit: This 1-unit pre-baccalaureate credit course does not count toward a college degree. Graded CR/NC

Early Start Math - ESM 1082 and ESM 82 Early Start PreCalculus: Functions (8 weeks)

ESM 1082 and ESM 82 are for incoming freshmen who are in majors that require PreCalculus or Calculus. This includes most STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) majors. The content of ESM 1082 is that of a standard PreCalculus Functions class (functions, exponential and logarithmic functions; polynomials and rational functions; systems of linear equations and matrices; sequences and series including arithmetic and geometric series).  Students in ESM 1082 must also enroll in 82, a co-requisite support course designed to provide students with additional support.

Course Credit: Passing ESM 1082 will confer 3 units of college credit and fulfill the GE Block B4 requirement. ESM 82 does not carry college credit or count towards the degree.

Early Start Math - ESM 1090 and ESM 90 Early Start Quantitative Reasoning with Statistics (8 weeks)

ESM 1090 and ESM 90 are for incoming freshmen who are in majors of non-stem. The content of ESM 1090 is based on principles of quantitative reasoning, data presentation, descriptive statistics, correlation, probability, distributions of random variables, sampling distributions, interval estimation, and statistical inference with multi- disciplinary applications.  Students in ESM 1090 must also enroll in 90, a co-requisite support course designed to provide students with additional support.

Course Credit: Passing ESM 1090 will confer 3 units of college credit and fulfill the GE Block B4 requirement. ESM 90 does not carry college credit or count towards the degree.

Early Start Math - ESM 1005 Early Start Quantitative Reasoning in Today's World (2 weeks)

ESM 1005 is for incoming freshmen who are in majors of non-stem. The content of ESM 1005 includes approaches to problem solving in mathematics, logic, propositions and truth values, sets and venn diagrams, and includes understanding and critical analysis of quantitative information in everyday life. 

Course Credit: This 1- unit pre-baccalaureate credit course does not count toward a college degree.

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Ready to declare? Here are your next steps:

1. Log-in to your MyCalStateLA portal to access the GET Self Service page, and use the Early Start Program link in the Academics section of the Student Center to declare where you will complete Early Start. The Early Start page will let you know whether you must complete Early Start in English or Math, as well as financial aid waiver eligibility, and will allow you to select the campus where you will participate.
2. If you are unable to complete Early Start at Cal State LA this summer, you may complete this requirement at another campus. Keep in mind that other CSU campuses may offer online courses. See the CSU Success website for more information.
3. After confirming where you will participate in Early Start, a final confirmation page will appear and you will able to return to the Early Start Program Page where a registration link will appear if you will participate here at Cal State LA.

*Opt out - Students requiring to participate in both English and ​Math can opt out of the English portion of the Early Start Program. Students must select the opt out option when confirming their Early Start Selection.

Here are the essential steps for Early Start registration:

1. Review the information regarding your course requirements/options.
2. Log-in to your MyCalStateLA portal to access the GET Self Service page, and use the Early Start Program link in the Academics section of the Student Center to register for your Early Start courses.
3. The Early Start page comes up. Click on the 'Enroll in Early Start program' link located at the bottom of the page. A Financial Aid Waiver message will come up informing you whether you’re eligible to receive financial aid for the Early Start Program.
4. The page to add classes will come up. At the bottom of the page, make sure the ‘Class Search’ is selected then click on the ‘Green Search box’ to continue.
5. In the subject box enter the appropriate subject you need to add, ESC for English or ESM for math. Then, in the Course Number box, enter the appropriate Course Number. For example, ESC 210. You can find this information on the Early Start webpage under ‘Cal State LA Early Start Course Descriptions.’ Early Start Program must be selected in the Session box.
6. Once you’ve entered the number, click Search. On results page, a list of classes will appear showing a green circle which indicates they’re open. Make the selection that best fits your schedule and click on the 'Select' button.
7. On the next page, you will review your selection and click on 'Next' to continue.  Review your selection and click 'Proceed to Step 2 of 3'. To confirm and finally add the course, click on 'Finish Enrolling' A financial aid message may come up again. Review it and click okay to continue to add your course.
8. To see your schedule, click on the blue button that indicates 'My Class Schedule'. We will send you a detailed message about a week before your class begins with information on parking, course materials, and other details to prepare for your first class meeting.
9. Complete the designated Early Start course(s) this summer!

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