Steps For Applying to the Program

Fall 2026 Application Timeline

• Departmental Application Deadline: Closed
• CSU Apply Opens: June 1
• CSU Apply Closes: Aug. 1

1. Complete the Child & Adolescent Development program application. Within the application, upload your resume and copies of all college transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable and can also be emailed), or if you were a former or current Sac State student, contact us to see if we have access to your records.
2. Within approximately two weeks, you will receive an unofficial evaluation indicating if you are admissible to the program, and what courses you have left towards your degree.

Once you receive your evaluation results from us, we will let you know if you can move on to the formal admissions process (including the CSU Apply application for new students or change of major paperwork for current Sac State students) or if you need more prerequisites before you can begin the program.

Spring 2027 Admissions

The departmental application for Spring 2027 is now open. Submitted applications will be processed beginning in August. Stay tuned for more information and updated deadlines!

Admission Criteria

The following criteria must be met prior to admission. 

1. You must have a High School Diploma (or equivalent).
2. 2.0 GPA or higher in previous college coursework.
3. At least 45 transferable units of college-level General Education.
4. Completion of 1A Written Communication and at least one of the following: 1C Oral Communication, 1B Critical Thinking, or 2 Quantitative Reasoning (Math)
5. Three units of Human Development or Child & Adolescent Development (community college equivalency)

All Sacramento State General Education and Graduation requirements need to be met before you can graduate from Sacramento State; these are only the admission requirements for our program.  Please view the Sacramento State Catalog to review all degree requirements for graduation.

While this does not replace one-on-one academic advising with a qualified advisor, you may consider referring to Assist to help you determine which courses you may use to transfer to Sacramento State for General Education requirements.

If you need to find online options for your GE or CHAD prerequisite courses, please consider using the California Virtual Classroom search tool through the CA Community Colleges.  

We recommend submitting your application and transcripts ASAP for review so we can assist you in determining what requirements you currently meet, what requirements you still need to work on, and what specific classes we will accept for these requirements, as well as other CSU General Education requirements for graduation.

Please do not submit a formal application to Sacramento State via CSU Apply yet; wait until you are instructed to do so, as we will give you specific instructions on how to apply to the online CHAD program. 

If you decide to enroll in the program, you will be required to complete a California State University Application for Admission. Admission fees will include a $70 CSU Application Fee and a $50 CHAD Departmental Application Fee.