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Graduate Degree Information

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Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum university requirements for admission as well as the standards established by the program. Exceptions to the minimum university requirements can only be granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies based on the recommendation of the program faculty. The offer of admission may be ‘provisional’ if requirements are in progress at the time of admission that must be completed prior to enrollment in the program (e.g., earning a Baccalaureate degree). Failure to meet the terms of the admission offer may result in the rescission of the offer.

To meet the minimum requirements for admission to graduate and postbaccalaureate studies at CSULB, a student shall at the time of enrollment: (1) have completed a four-year college course of study and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association, or have completed equivalent academic preparation as determined by appropriate campus authorities; (2) be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended; and (3) have attained an acceptable grade-point average in any of the following ways: (a) hold an advanced degree; (b) hold a baccalaureate degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (A = 4.0); (c) hold a baccalaureate degree with a GPA of at least 2.5 in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted. Lower-division courses or courses taken in extension (except in adjunct enrollment at CSULB in the upper-division level) after obtaining the baccalaureate degree will be excluded from the calculation.

Students in the process of completing a baccalaureate degree may be admitted on a provisional basis, subject to proof of degree completion by the established deadline, if their cumulative GPA is at least 2.7 or if the GPA in their last 60 semester or 90 quarter units are calculated at 2.5 or higher.

For information on the specific requirements for admission to a given program, see the catalog section for that program.

These and other CSU admissions requirements are subject to change as policies are revised and laws are amended. The CSU website, www.calstate.edu and the CSU admissions portal www.csumentor.edu are good sources of the most up-to-date information.

Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

Admission to Conditionally Classified Standing: Applicants who show promise of success but who have deficiencies in prerequisite preparation which, in the opinion of the program faculty, can be met by specified additional preparation, including qualifying examinations, may be offered admission with a Graduation Standing of "Conditionally Classified" on a space available basis. The academic unit granting the degree must notify the applicant of the specific preparation required including minimum grades and the time frame for completion within two weeks of the University offer of admission. Prerequisites should normally be completed in two semesters. Requests to allow a student longer than two semesters must be approved in advance by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Standing - Classified

Admission to Classified Standing: Applicants who satisfactorily meet the professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards for admission to the graduate degree curriculum, including qualifying examinations, are admitted with a Graduate Standing of "Classified."

Academic unit(s) granting the degree(s) are required to monitor the progress of students in "Conditionally Classified" status each term. Upon the successful completion of the identified preparation, the academic unit granting the degree must notify Enrollment Services and the student that they have earned a Graduate Standing of "Classified." If the student fails to complete the required preparation within the timeframe established, the student may be immediately dismissed from the program. The academic unit granting the degree may grant additional time based on special circumstances with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies. The academic unit granting the degree must notify the student and Enrollment Services of the decision to dismiss for failure to achieve "Classified Standing" in a timely manner.

Post-Baccalaureate Standing - Classified

In this status a student is eligible to enroll in a credential or certificate program, provided that such additional professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards, including qualifying examinations, as may be prescribed for the particular credential or certificate program by the appropriate campus authority, are satisfied.

Admission to the University

For admission requirements, see the Admissions section of the catalog.


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