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Your Educational Goals and Options

Although it is typical for new students to be unsure about majors and specific educational paths, it is important to determine educational goals early in your college career. We recommend that you devote time to research decisions regarding goals in the first semester and be able to clearly identify goals within the first year of attendance. In this regard, it is important to work with a College Counselor/Advisor to review options and make decisions. Consider taking a CRER 120, 121, 122, 123, or 680 course to help with this process. To put off the declaration of your educational goal will lengthen the overall time you spend in college. Now let's review

 What is a major?

A major is comprised of a group of related courses in a specialized, or "major", area of study. Courses required for majors are listed in the College Catalog.

CSM Majors

What is an Associate Degree?

An Associate's Degree signifies the completion of at least 60 semester units of college applicable work; General Education, Major, and "Elective' coursework.

A.A./A.S. Degree Requirements

What is a Certificate?

A short-term course of study which focuses exclusively on coursework designed to prepare you for a specific occupation or area of employment and does not require a general education component.

Certificate - General Info

UNIVERSITY TRANSFER

Many students attend the College of San Mateo to complete the first two years of university work (the freshman and sophomore years) and then transfer to a 4-year college or university to complete the junior and senior years and receive a Bachelor’s degree. Did you know that the majority of bachelor’s degrees awarded by the California State University system and over 30% of the bachelor’s degrees awarded by the University of California system go to students who began their college studies in community colleges? Students also transfer from the College of San Mateo to Independent Colleges and Universities, and out-of-state locations. For more information see Transfer Planning.

UNDECIDED? Don't know what you want to do with your education yet?

Many college freshmen do not have a defined educational goal when they begin their college studies. In these cases, it is essential to explore and research educational options and decisions. BUT, given you are UNDECIDED now, how do you plan your first semester? We suggest you begin by doing the following:

Take courses that will build your ACADEMIC SKILLS! This may mean that you take English, writing, reading, math, library, key boarding and computer classes…all courses that will improve your ability to succeed in college coursework.

Enroll in Career and Life Planning (CRER) courses to explore your interests, skills, values, motivation, potential, personality traits, and more to identify strengths and educational and career goals.

Build your MATH SKILLS. Associate degrees and transfer programs require math competency so don’t put this off!

Explore your interests! Look at courses and subjects that are of interest to you and “try them out” as potential majors.

Consider beginning to take courses that will complete a GENERAL EDUCATION pattern for the Associate degree or for transfer.

STUDENT EDUCATIONAL PLAN (SEP) - Your tool for success!

Work with a counselor/advisor as early as possible to develop a personalized Student Educational Plan. Your SEP creates a “map” of your educational path and plots out, semester by semester, the courses you need to complete your educational goals. Your SEP lists courses, correct sequences of courses, as well as units required, and illustrates the length of time it will take to complete your goals. It may also list resources and services that the counselor/advisor recommends you use to enhance your educational successes and experiences

After the SEP is developed, you are required to meet with a counselor/advisor at least once a semester to monitor progress and make modifications to the SEP as needed. The SEP should remain a clear and accurate map of your educational path. You keep a copy for your reference and Counseling Services maintains a copy as well.