Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

Admission Requirements


 

Admission

Any person over the age of 18 or possessing a high school diploma or its equivalent from the USA or other nation shall be admitted unless prohibited by law. If under the age of 18, students qualify if they have 1) graduated from high school or 2) passed the California High School Proficiency Examination.

Special Part-Time or Full-Time Students

El Camino College may admit as a special parttime student anyone in grades 11 or 12 who, in the opinion of the college president, may benefit from instruction. These students will be subject to any change in regulations for dual enrolled students and all subsequent policies and procedures as adopted by El Camino College. Admission as a special part-time student for anyone in grades 11 or 12 are subject to the requirements and limitations of El Camino College Board Policy 5060 and Administrative Procedure 5011.

Students who attend private and parochial schools follow the same residence requirement. Dual enrolled students shall receive credit for community college courses which they complete. Credit may be used for high school graduation, according to Section 1630, Title 5, California Administrative Code.

Dual Enrollment Application forms, which are available in the Admissions Office, must be presented when the student files an application for admission to the college. A separate approval must be provided for each semester or summer session in which the student is enrolled. Dual enrolled students must comply with all state and college policies, and all procedures, and must meet all requirements by the published deadlines for each semester and/or session.

California Residency Definition

A California resident for tuition purposes is defined as a citizen of the United States or a person who holds a status which allows him/her to establish residency in the United States, and can provide evidence of physical presence in the state of California for at least one year prior to the residency determination date, and evidence of intention to make California his/her permanent home. Documented evidence must correspond to dates of physical presence in California. A non-resident is a person who does not meet the residency requirements of the state of California for tuition purposes or who is a citizen of a foreign country and holds only temporary status in the United States. El Camino College Board Policy 5015

Residents of other states and international students must pay out-of-state tuition. AB 540/AB 2000/SB68 allows qualified students who meet specific criteria to pay in-state tuition at California public colleges and universities. 

California Residence Waiver

AB 540/AB 2000/SB 68 allows qualified students who meet specific criteria to pay in-state tuition at California public colleges and universities. AB 540/AB 2000/SB 68 does not provide access to federal financial aid. For more information, please contact the Admissions Office. El Camino College Board Policy 5020.

Residence Requirements

A student 18 years or older who resides in California is classified as a district resident as defined by the California Education Code and may enroll in any courses for which he/she is qualified. Residence is determined based on two factors: continued physical presence in California and intent to maintain California as the legal state of residence. The student cannot have engaged in any activity that contradicts California residency law and the student may not be in a classification that by law prohibits the establishment of residence. The residence of the student under age 19 is determined by the legal residence of the student’s parents or legal guardian as defined by law.

Exceptions to Residence Determination

A list of exceptions to residence determination will be issued by the Admissions Office to each student who is classified as a “non-resident.”

Consideration will be given to appropriate evidence submitted by the student who has or is currently serving in the United States military service or who is a dependent of a member of the United States military service. The student should contact the Admissions Office for possible classification as a resident.  Administrative Procedure 5015

A student who is classified a non-resident may petition for residence in accordance with the laws and regulations of California and the policies and procedures of El Camino College. The burden of proof is on the student. The petition for residence reclassification must be filed by the published deadline.

Appeal Procedure

Any student, after a decision on residence classification is rendered, may make written appeal as provided in Title 5, California Administrative Code, within 30 calendar days of notification.  El Camino College Board Policy 5015 Administrative Procedure 5015

Admissions and Dual Enrollment

Board Policy 5010 and Administrative Procedure 5011

The District shall admit students who meet one of the following requirements and who are capable of profiting from the instruction offered:

• Any person over the age of 18 and possessing a high school diploma or its equivalent.

• Other persons who are over the age of 18 years and who, in the judgment of the Superintendent/President or his/her designee are capable of profiting from the instruction offered. Such persons shall be admitted as provisional students, and thereafter shall be required to comply with the District’s rules and regulations regarding scholastic achievement and other standards to be met by provisional or probationary students as a condition to being readmitted in any succeeding semester.

• Persons who are apprentices as defined in Labor Code Section 3077.

• High school students, as special part-time or special full-time students, who have completed the 10th grade, received parental consent, and who are recommended by the high school principal for advanced scholastic or vocational work.

The District reserves the right to determine whether a student below the 10th grade, who has parental consent and is recommended by the high school principal, is academically qualified to benefit from the advanced scholastic or vocational work in the discipline to be studied.

The District may deny or place conditions on a student’s enrollment upon a finding that the applicant has been expelled within the preceding five years or is undergoing expulsion procedures in another California community college district, and that the applicant continues to present a danger to the physical safety of the students and employees of the District.

The District shall in its discretion, or as otherwise federally mandated, evaluate the validity of a student’s high school completion. The Superintendent/President or his/her designee shall establish procedures for evaluating the validity of a student’s high school completion.

The Superintendent/President or his/her designee shall establish procedures regarding ability to benefit and admission of high school and younger students.

Denial of Requests for Admission - If the board denies a request for special full-time or part-time enrollment by a pupil who is identified as highly gifted, the board will record its findings and the reason for denying the request in writing within 60 days.

The written recommendation and denial shall be issued at the next regularly scheduled board meeting that occurs at least 30 days after the pupil submits the request to the District.

The Superintendent/President or his/her designee shall establish procedures regarding evaluation of requests for special full-time or part-time enrollment by a pupil who is identified as highly gifted.

Claims for State Apportionment for Dual Enrollment - Claims for state apportionment submitted by the district based on enrollment of high school pupils shall satisfy the criteria established by statute and any applicable regulations of the Board of Governors.

The Superintendent/President shall establish procedures regarding compliance with statutory and regulatory criteria for dual enrollment.

F-1 Visa Procedure

International Students

El Camino College is approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as an institution of higher learning for non immigrant F-1 and M-1 visa students. Prospective students may apply for admission from their homeland by requesting an application packet from the International Student Program (ISP) office. Students attending another school in the United States on an F-1 visa may request a transfer to El Camino College by contacting the International Student Program office. International Students are encouraged to visit the International Student Program webpage at www.elcamino.edu/academics/is to download the application.

It is also possible for individuals whose B-type visas are stamped, “Prospective Student” (and certain other non-immigrant visas), to file papers through the International Student Program Office to attempt to change their status to F-1. The International Student Program office can provide prospective students with information regarding this procedure and the appropriate forms to file.

All international students who are attending El Camino College for the first time must attend an orientation before registering in classes. These orientations are scheduled just before the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. New students should plan to begin their first semester at El Camino College during the fall or spring semester. International students who do not attend the orientation are subject to the loss of privileges.

International Student Application Procedures

Application deadlines are July 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester. A packet of information giving timelines and procedures for applying to El Camino College is sent when a prospective student requests application materials. A non-refundable processing fee must be submitted to the college with the application packet.

Prospective students may request an application packet by writing to the International Student Program, El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, USA or by visiting the International Student Center. The International Student Center, which houses the International Student Program and the El Camino Language Academy, is located within the Student Services Center. The application packet includes an official application, instructions for completing the application and submitting additional required documents, and other useful information. Visit the webpage www.elcamino.edu/academics/is where it is also possible to obtain the  admission application and information regarding the application process.

After all application material is on file, it is reviewed to assure that the applicant qualifies for admission to El Camino College. When accepted, applicants are mailed the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) along with further information about orientation and priority registration and helpful visa, travel and housing information. Prospective students are required to present the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20), proof of financial support, one photograph, a visa application form, and a receipt for the SEVIS I-901 fee to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply for the F-1 Student Visa.

Note: International students are not guaranteed admission to El Camino College. Once capacity for the program for that term has been reached, no further consideration will be granted. F-1 visa students who miss the published application deadline may be denied admission to El Camino College.

English Proficiency

Classes are conducted in English, so it is necessary for the prospective F-1 visa student to be reasonably proficient in reading, writing and speaking English. New students must demonstrate proficiency before being issued the I-20 by having English Proficiency Test results, or completion of the equivalent level at an accredited language program is required. Prospective students outside the United States whose first language is English, or who can demonstrate English proficiency, may ask to have the TOEFL waived by contacting the El Camino College International Student Program office. Students who have been attending a school in the United States may also be able to provide an alternate proof of English proficiency.

This is handled on a case-by-case basis by the International Student Program coordinator.

All new students will also participate in a course placement process to help determine appropriate placement in ESL or English classes.

Please note that the El Camino College code for mailing English Proficiency Test (TOEFL) results is 4302.

El Camino Language Academy (Intensive English Program)

Students who study intensive English at the El Camino Language Academy (ECLA) have an easy transition to El Camino College, where they can earn an associate degree and transfer to a four-year college or university. The ECLA program includes 14 weeks of study during the fall and spring semesters and eight weeks in the summer.

Students who do not meet the minimum English requirements for El Camino College, or who want to improve their English language skills, can enroll in the El Camino Language Academy. ECLA applications are available at the International Student Program Office or through the El Camino Language Academy directly at www.elcamino.edu/commadv/langacad/. All visa types are accepted.

Transcripts

Students applying for admission from outside the United States should send translated copies of transcripts for all high school and college work they have completed.

Students already attending school in the United States should direct the admissions offices of any high schools, colleges or universities in the United States which they are attending, or have attended, to mail an official transcript directly to the International Student Program at El Camino College. Transcripts translated into English from any high schools, colleges, and technical or vocational schools attended in the student’s native country must also be sent to El Camino College.

Housing

Although there are no dormitories available at El Camino College, assistance for F-1, M-1, and J-1 students in locating housing is available through the International Student Program Office. Information regarding housing is included in the information packet sent to students when they are accepted to the college or may be found at www.elcamino.edu/academics/is.

Estimated Expenses

For the 2018-2019 academic year, approximately $4,525 is required for tuition, fees, and mandatory medical insurance for each 16-week semester or $9,050 per academic year.

Textbooks and supplies are approximately $600 for each semester or $1,200 per year. Room and board expenses vary depending upon the type of housing chosen, but may be estimated for the 10-month academic year at $10,300.

An estimate of total expenses for the 10-month academic year, including fees, textbooks, supplies, room and board, and insurance is $20,300. This does not include personal spending money.