Selects from among the processes in memory (short-term scheduler) that are ready to execute, and allocates the CPU to one of them
CPU scheduling decisions may take place when a process:
1. Switches from running to waiting state
2. Switches from running to ready state
3. Switches from waiting to ready
4. Terminates
Scheduling under 1 and 4 is nonpreemptive
All other scheduling is preemptive