Academic Preparation
Overview
All 23 statewide CSU campuses determine admitted first-year students' general education (GE) written communication and math/quantitative reasoning course placements and identifies students requiring supportive instruction through the following multiple measures:
- Standardized assessment scores: ACT, AP, CAASPP, CLEP, IB, SAT
- College transfer and/or high school college preparatory coursework
- Weighted high school and/or math/quantitative reasoning GPA
Important: Admitted students' initial readiness categories for English and/or math may change between their application date and Admissions receiving final high school/test transcripts.
Academic Preparation for Students Admitted from High School
The CSU requires first-time freshmen to demonstrate preparedness for GE English and math through multiple measures: Test scores, high school/math GPA, and college preparatory coursework.
Most students will enroll directly into GE coursework. Students with applicable AP, CLEP, or IB test scores and/or college credit may advance to the next level courses required by their majors.
Some students may require additional development in English and/or math, and may still enroll in GE courses with embedded supportive instruction. You can learn more about your math and English status on the Academic Preparation webpage.
For more information, please contact the Early Assessment Program at (707) 654-1081 or eap@csum.edu.
Readiness Categories
The CSU places admitted first-year students in readiness categories for GE courses based upon which multiple measures or combinations thereof they fulfilled in high school per subject.
Students need only fulfill one listed option to qualify for a readiness category in that subject. Please view the following options for fulfilling multiple measures by readiness category:
Advanced Placement (AP) Scores and Assigning Credit
AP scores should arrive in the Admissions Office by approximately July 15, 2025.
- What credit do I get for AP test scores? You get college credit for every test score of three or above. The table that shows
for which Cal Maritime course you receive credit is Cal Maritime's Catalog. Click here for a link to that section of the catalog.
- How will I know when credit is assigned into my student record? We will e-mail you a PCE (Prior Credit Evaluation). This should happen by mid-August.
- What if I am already registered in the course for which my AP score now gives me credit? You can still take the course, you can replace the course with a different course, or you can withdraw from the course and reduce that semester's course load. Please remember to remain enrolled in 12 units or above to maintain full-time status.