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Sonoma State University

Santa Rosa, CA

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About This Campus

Sonoma State University has a tradition of promoting intellectual, cognitive, social and personal growth, leadership opportunities, and technological proficiency, while offering its students a friendly, safe, and informal atmosphere on a beautiful campus setting. The faculty and staff provide collaborative relationships with students and an education that fosters ethical exploration, civic engagement, social responsibility, and global awareness combined with a solid foundation in an academic discipline. Many classes average fewer than 40 students, allowing close interaction between students and faculty. SSU has a commitment to educating students who have the ability to think critically and ethically. There is a strong move to develop a global perspective in much of the curriculum to prepare students for the needs of the 21st century. With 33% of the student body living on-campus in lovely apartment and residential style suites, it is one of the most residential campuses of the CSUs.

Location Information

Sonoma State University is 1 hour north of the San Francisco Bay Area and just 30 minutes from the beautiful Lost Coast. The closest city is Santa Rosa, population 167,815, located just 10 minutes from campus. Sonoma County represents the best of Northern California with more than 425 wineries, miles of rugged Pacific coastline, towering redwood forests, over 50 local craft breweries, farm-to-table dining, rivers, lakes, plus over 50 state and regional parks. https://www.sonomacounty.com/

Helpful Information

Sonoma State is an impacted campus and securing courses can be competitive. This is why we have been able to secure priority registration for incoming NSE students, though it is imperative that students follow instructions carefully and complete all required materials on time. SSU is a community-oriented campus, perfect for students looking to get involved, develop as leaders, and explore all Sonoma County has to offer. Check out our online exchange student handbook: ssunewstudents.wordpress.com

2020/2021 Placement

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Host Payment (A)
Excellent
Home Payment (B)
Very Good

Learn more about Chance of Placement
and choosing alternate options.

Campus Links

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Campus Homepage
Outgoing Student Info
Incoming Student Info

Fast Facts

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Location | Santa Rosa
Population | 42,838
Enrollment | 9,408
Language | English
Calendar | Semester
Canada | Both (A/B)
Term Dates
Fall | 08/20-12/13
Spring | 01/21-05/15

Campus Diversity

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White | 47%
Black | 2%
Hispanic/Latino | 28%
Asian | 5%
Native/1st Nation | 1%
Hawaiian/P.I. | 1%
Two or more | 7%
Other | 9%

Academics

-- Campus Catalog --

Registration Priority
  • Before seniors
Closed Programs
Chemistry, Nursing, Hutchins Program (Structured Liberal Studies Program), and all credential programs.

Limitations
Communications, Political Science, Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, Psychology, Kinesiology, and Business/Wine Business are all high demand majors, therefore access to courses may be limited and specific classes could be restricted. Students in these majors should have flexibility in the classes they wish to take. Students wishing to take Business courses should refer to the "Conditions" tab for more information. Students wishing to study Biology must have advising meetings with Biology adviser, (over the phone, internet, or other prior submitting course requests.)

Notable Academic Programs

  • Business - Something very special happens when humanist psychologists create a school of business and economics. It attracts a different kind of faculty that aren't just teachers, and aren't just researchers: it attracts faculty who are reachers. It nurtures educators, students, alumni and staff to teach, support, and learn well beyond their specific discipline. http://sbe.sonoma.edu/
  • Psychology - The SSU Psychology department was a pioneer in the field of Humanistic Psychology. The program has evolved to include contemporary topics such as health and wellness, mindfulness, ecopsychology, optimal development, and multi-cultural competence. http://web.sonoma.edu/psychology/home/history.html

Unique Academic Programs

  • Wine Business - Sonoma State offers a concentration in Wine Business Strategies as part of the undergraduate degree in Business Administration. The degree includes a pre-business program and a set of core course requirements that cover the basics of business operations. The concentration will provide an opportunity for a comprehensive education in wine production, operations, marketing and array of electives. Sonoma State is the first in the United States to offer an undergraduate degree (since 1998), an MBA (since 2008), and most recently an Executive MBA (since 2012) focused on the business of wine. http://www.sonoma.edu/sbe/wine-business-institute/
  • Holocaust and Genocide Studies - https://www.sonoma.edu/holocaust/history.html

Undergraduate Majors Open to NSE Students
Anthropology: American Indian Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, Ethnic Studies, Evolutionary Anthropology, Forensic Anthropology

Area Studies: African American Studies, American Multicultural Studies, American Studies, Art Studies, Chicano/Mexican American Studies, Cinema and Cultural Studies, Comparative American Studies, European Studies, Gender, Ethnicity and Multicultural Studies, Hispanic Studies, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, International Studies, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Mexican American Studies, Multi-Ethnic Studies, Native American Studies

Art/Design/Fine Art: Applied Art, Art, Art History, Arts Administration, Ceramic Art/Ceramics, Commercial and Advertising Art, Digital Arts, Drawing, Fine Art, Illustration, Media Arts, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Studio Art, Theater Art, Visual Arts

Athletics: Adapted Physical Education, Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Fitness and Sports Science, Fitness Management, Health and Fitness Teaching, Movement Studies, Physical Education

Biological Sciences: Applied Biology, Aquatic Biology, Biology/Life Science, Botany/Plant Sciences, Cell Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Physiology, Zoology

Business: Accounting, Advertising, Business, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Finance and Operation Management, Finance/Banking, International Business, Management, Marketing, Marketing Communication, Public Relations, Wine Business

Communications: Broadcasting, Communication, Film, Journalism, Journalism and Contemporary Media, Newspapers, Print Media, Radio and Television Studies, Writing/Editing

Computer Science: Computer Science, System Administration

Criminal Justice: Crime and Society, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Juvenile Justice, Law Enforcement/Police Sciences, Systems of Justice

Earth Sciences: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Earth Science, Geology, Geosciences, Physical Sciences, Planetary and Space Sciences, Science

Economics: Applied Economics, Economics

Education: Child Development, Childhood Studies, Early Childhood, Elementary Education

Engineering: Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering

English: Classical Studies, Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, English, Film Studies, Language and Literacy, Literature, Writing

Environmental Studies: Conservation, Energy/Environmental Policy, Environmental Education, Environmental Health and Safety, Environmental Management, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, Environmental Technology, Natural Resources, Natural Resources/Science/Management, Renewable Natural Resources, Resource Recreation Management, Sustainability Studies

General Studies: Arts and Science, Classical Studies, Gender Studies, Humanities, Liberal Studies, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Social Studies, Spanish Literature

Geography and Urban Studies: City Planning, Community Development, Environmental Planning, Geographic Information Sciences & Emergency Management, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography, Planning, Urban Planning, Urban Studies

Geology: Geology

Health and Safety Sciences: Exercise Science, Gerontology, Health Science, Kinesiology

History: History

Information Studies: Applied Computer Science, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Computer Technology, Information Technology, Systems Programming

International Studies: International Relations, International Studies

Languages: English as a Foreign Language, French, French as a Foreign Language, German, Language and Culture, Languages, Spanish

Marine Sciences: Marine Biology

Mathematics: Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, Statistics

Performing Arts: Acting, Ballet, Choral Music, Dance, Design/Technical, Jazz Composition, Modern Dance, Music, Music Education, Music History, Music Performance, Music Theory and Composition, Music/Jazz Studies, Performance, Technical Theater, Theater Arts/Drama, Theater Production

Philosophy/Religious Studies: Ethics, Humanistic Studies, Philosophy

Physics: Applied Physics, Astrophysics, Geophysics, Physics

Political Science: American Political Science, Government, International Affairs/Relations, International Studies, Peace Studies, Political Science, Public Administration/Affairs, Public Policy Studies

Psychology: Child Psychology, Human Development, Psychology

Sociology/Social Work: Applied Sociology, Community Services, Gender Studies, Social Change and Development, Social Science, Sociology, Women and Gender Studies, Womens Studies

Technology: Computer Technology

Theater: Performance and Directing, Theater

Conditions

Quick Links GPA and Other Academic Requirements
  • No students accepted from NSE members within my own state
  • 2.5 GPA
  • Students must meet the individual requirements for any courses they wish to take. It is often a requirement for students to be declared that or a related major. Students wishing to take upper-division Business courses must meet all of the Pre-Business course requirements:Introduction to Macroeconomics, Introduction to Microeconomics, Introduction to Finite Mathematics or Calculus, Business Statistics or Elementary Statistics or Statistics for Economics and Business, Legal Environment of Business, Financial Accounting, and Managerial Accounting
Exchange Preferences
  • Full-year exchange Accepted
  • Single term exchange Accepted
Mid-Year Exchange (Exchange that begins with the Spring/Winter Term)
  • Available
Non-Native English Speakers
  • TOEFL: must have a score of 500.00 paper, N/A computer or 61.00 Internet
  • IELTS: must have a score of 6.00
Summer Exchange
  • Plan A with full-term enrollment
International Students (Visa Students)
  • Will accept on Plan A/B

Tuition / Fees

-- Campus Budget --
  • Fees are subject to change without notice.
  • Two semesters = one academic year
  • Three quarters = one academic year
Tuition and Fees Per Semester - Host Payment (Plan A) Students
  • Figures are current as of 06/14/19.
  • Estimated cost: $3940.
  • Expect 5-15% increase for the subsequent academic year.
  • Figures are based on 15 hours. Actual costs may be greater or less depending upon your actual enrollment.
  • Figures do not include costs you will incur for course specific enrollment (e.g., laboratory courses, student teaching, studio art)
  • See below for credit hour restrictions and/or miscellaneous fees applicable to Host Payment (Plan A) students.
Tuition and Fees - Home Payment (Plan B) Students
  • No tuition/fees are paid to the host campus.
  • Figures do not include costs you will incur for course specific enrollment (e.g., laboratory courses, student teaching, studio art)
  • See below for credit hour restrictions and/or miscellaneous fees applicable to Home Payment (Plan B) students.
Maximum Credit Hours Per Semester
  • Host Payment (Plan A): 18
  • Home Payment (Plan B): 18
Miscellaneous Fees - Per Semester
Figures are current as of 06/14/19.

Purpose Amount Period Plan Status
Housing Deposit $300 Year Plan A & B Optional
Parking Fee $94 Semester Plan A & B Optional

Important Notes: Please visit this website, http://www.sonoma.edu/registration/fees and scroll down to 'List of campus-based fees' to view the breakdown of each one.

Exchange with Canada - Health Insurance
Students must purchase campus health insurance at $500 per semester.

Financial Aid

Host Payment (Plan A)
For Plan A U.S. students, aid is awarded by and disbursed from your host campus. Students apply for federally funded financial aid by using the FAFSA code of their host campus. Host campuses award aid to eligible incoming Plan A students on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds are available. Ask your home campus NSE coordinator if your campus awards aid to their own outgoing students. If so, do not apply for aid from your host campus.

For eligible Plan A applicants U.S. federal financial aid may be available in the following programs:

  • Pell
  • CWS
  • Perkins
  • SEOG
  • DL
  • Plus
Use FAFSA CODE: 001156

Home Payment (Plan B)
For eligible Plan B students, aid is awarded by and disbursed from your home campus.

Canada
Regardless of Payment Plan, students exchanging to or from Canada, apply for financial aid at their home campus.

Room / Meals

Figures are current as of 06/14/19

On-Campus Housing Per Semester
  • 33% living on campus
  • Apartment: $7605 (includes meals)
  • Per semester unless otherwise noted
  • On campus living is limited
Off-Campus Housing
  • Approximate monthly cost: $1000
  • Proximity to campus: 1 mile
  • Local Public Transportation Available to Campus
Notes About Housing
On-campus housing is strongly encouraged for all incoming NSE students due to limited, competitive, and costly off-campus housing. Space in housing is generally available for students who are placed at the March conference. Any student accepted post-conference cannot be guaranteed a space in on-campus housing, though usually we are able to offer every student a spot. Housing contracts are signed for a full year. Students who are staying for only one semester must hand in the "Petition to Vacate" by November 15 to avoid a $250 fee. For on-campus housing information: http://www.sonoma.edu/housing/

Meal Plans Per Semester

  • Meal purchase is not required for on campus living.
Notes About Meal Plans
A description of the meal plans available is listed here: http://www.sonoma.edu/culinaryservices/mealplans.html

All data in this document is the responsibility of the campus and has been provided by the campus NSE coordinator.
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