College of Extended Learning

Extended Learning

Extended Learning is the college of the university that is responsible for all program and course offerings not supported by state appropriations. These include Winter Sessions, continuing education courses, Open University, study abroad programs, contract courses, professional training series, certificate programs, and off-campus degree programs. In contrast with degree programs which require matriculation and a degree objective, most Extended Learning programs allow any adult and selected high school students to participate. The primary objective of Extended Learning is to augment the regular university offerings and to provide further educational opportunities for all who wish to gain new knowledge and skills or to enhance those already acquired.

Courses are taught by regular San Francisco State University faculty, visiting faculty, and practicing professionals. All are specialists in their fields. Classes are offered at the 19th Avenue and Holloway campus location, and at the San Francisco State University Downtown Center, 425 Market Street (at Fremont), and the Oakland Center, 2201 Broadway in Oakland.

CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Continuing education is the medium through which the resources, skills, and talents of San Francisco State University are extended into the larger San Francisco area community. The continuing education program is designed for those who are unable to take university degree courses but who wish to pursue university-level study for purposes of resuming an interrupted or uncompleted education, to augment professional or vocational abilities, or to enhance personal growth and fulfillment.

Continuing education offerings include regularly established university courses as well as non-credit seminars and conferences, special weekend programs and travel study programs. Workshops and courses designed to meet the needs of particular groups and agencies may be initiated at various times during the year. Any adult may enroll in a continuing education course provided he/she meets the prerequisites of the course; it is not necessary that he/she also be admitted to the university.

Continuing education is self-supporting. Registration fees make possible the classes and programs offered. Therefore, individual courses or programs may be cancelled if enrollment is not sufficient.

Courses are offered during the fall, winter, spring, and summer sessions.

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY (CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT)

Many of the courses offered to regularly enrolled San Francisco State University students are also available to continuing education students through Open University on a space available basis. Students enrolling through Open University earn residence credit which can be applied with limitations toward degrees. For baccalaureate degrees, SFSU will accept up to 24 semester units of credit earned through Open University registration. For graduate degrees, SFSU will generally accept, with adviser's approval, up to six semester units of credit earned through Open University.

Matriculated (regular) students, including foreign students with F-1 visas, may not enroll through Open University. As soon as a student is admitted to and enrolled in the university, he/she is considered a matriculated student for the current semester and for the next two semesters following the current semester. Even if currently admitted students do not take classes through the regular university, they may not take Open University courses because they are still eligible to register as matriculated students.

Newly admitted students who do not pay fees and do not enroll in regular university courses (that is, they do not matriculate) may take Open University classes, but will lose their status as admitted students.

Matriculated students who register in Open University courses are disenrolled without refund of fees and do not receive any credit on their permanent records. There are no exceptions to this regulation.

Contact the Extended Learning Office for information (405-7700).

CREDIT PARTNERS (CONTRACT EDUCATION)

Extended Learning offers Bay Area employers and organizations the service of reviewing their planned or existing in-house training programs for university or professional credit.

If a course is approved by a university department, participants receive a permanent university record of either extension academic credit or professional Continuing Education Units (CEUs), depending on the nature of the training. If the training program satisfies university requirements for content and quality, contract education can provide a convenient mechanism for organizations to enhance the value of their training.

WINTER SESSION

Winter Session enrollment is open to everyone—continuing and prospective San Francisco State University students, people from the community and visitors. Scheduled during the first three weeks of January, the one-, two-, and three-unit courses are primarily designed to meet the needs of students who wish to accelerate their academic progress. Winter Session courses earn residence credit and range from both lower- and upper-division credit courses to graduate level offerings. The maximum number of units a student may earn in Winter Session is four units.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Certificate programs are designed for people who want formal recognition for completing a structured and rigorous course of study in a specific field, but who may not be interested in pursuing a university degree program.

Certificates are awarded when participants complete the required number of units or courses for the program, and other requirements, as stipulated. Students may enroll in up to nine units before applying to a certificate program.

The certificate programs can be found in the Academic Programs section of this Bulletin (see Summary of Certificate Programs for links to specific programs).

Writing Skills

The certificate programs' course content requires good writing skills. Certificate students are asked to demonstrate their writing ability soon after admission to the certificate program to satisfy the university literacy requirement. Those who do not have the necessary writing skills are referred to ENG 414, Elements of Writing (3), which is offered regularly through Open University and Summer Sessions.

Admission to Certificate Programs

To be admitted to a certificate program, students should have completed 56 units of academic credit or have sufficient experience to demonstrate they can perform upper division work. Students who do not have 56 units may be accepted on probation and are encouraged to apply.