The Tseng College

• Dean: Joyce Feucht-Haviar
• Bookstore Complex (BK) 200
• (818) 677-5005
• tsengcollege.csun.edu

Staff

• Julia Potter (Executive Administrative Assistant)

Mission

The mission of The Tseng College is to expand the influence of and enhance access to the distinguished scholarship and teaching of CSUN and its faculty. The Tseng College focuses on post-degree professional (graduate) education, international programs and partnerships, and midcareer education for professionals and their employers. The college enrolls more than 25,000 students per year in a rich array of degree, certificate and other programs. The Tseng College works with university faculty and distinguished professionals to design, deliver and support degree and nondegree programs with special features that make them accessible and appropriate for adult students – whether local, regional, out of state or overseas – who are place bound, time constrained and/or at a mid- to senior level in their careers.

Fees for Self-support Programs

All Tseng College offerings – credit and noncredit – are fully self-supporting. (i.e., they are not underwritten by California State General Fund tax dollars.) This policy allows the university to use its state funds to support on-campus programs and services designed to serve more traditional full- and part-time regional students. Fees for Tseng College offerings vary according to program features and are subject to change. All Tseng College fee changes are reviewed by the campus student fee committee and approved by the university president.

Degree, Credential and Credit Certificate Programs for Midcareer Professionals

Through The Tseng College, CSUN offers bachelor’s degree-completion, master’s degree, credential and credit certificate programs for the midcareer professional. The Tseng College also works with employers to bring university degree and credit certificate programs to their organizational sites and/or to custom-design program components to make them highly effective for staff education.

The Distinctions of University Degree Programs Offered Through the Tseng College

University degree programs offered through The Tseng College are traditional university degree programs in terms of academic rigor, oversight, accreditation, student records and instructional excellence. They differ from other CSUN degree programs primarily in that their curricula, formats and delivery modes have been designed and developed – in collaboration with university faculty – to ensure that midcareer students achieve the specified educational objectives and graduate prepared to put their new knowledge and skills to work in the desired professional context.

University degree programs offered through The Tseng College are designed to be convenient and easily accessible to midcareer professionals. Courses are scheduled for evenings and weekends and taught at various regional locations, including corporate and public agency sites. Some programs are offered fully online, making them accessible without travel or meeting-time limitations.

The Tseng College provides exceptional support services for participants in its programs to ensure that midcareer professionals are able to complete their degrees quickly and successfully. In each program, a dedicated coordinator or manager serves as a single point of contact, resolving program-related issues promptly and helping participants to access the full range of university services.

Most university degree programs offered through The Tseng College are structured in the cohort format, in which participants enter the program as a group and proceed through the course of instruction together. This format facilitates learning because each course builds on those that preceded. It also provides participants with a strong support network of faculty and fellow students who come to know one another well.

As a result of appropriate instructional strategies, clearly defined and assessed learning outcomes and superior student support services, university degree programs offered through The Tseng College programs are highly effective for midcareer professionals, with on-time graduate rates for cohorts in master’s degrees from 80 to more thatn 95 percent.

Master’s Degree Programs

Communication Disorders and Sciences, Speech and Language Pathology (M.S.) An online program. Contact: Elaine Saler at (818) 677-2822. Educational Administration (Educational Leadership and Policy Studies) (M.A.) An online program. Contact: Karena Senchack at (818) 677–6405. Engineering Management (M.S.) An online program. Contact: Myriam Cedeno at (818) 677-7707. Knowledge Management (MKM) An online program. Contact: Tyler Blake at (818) 677–6406. Public Administration (MPA) Contact: Alice Lu at (818) 677–5635. Social Work (MSW) An on-campus program. Contact: Henrik Minassians at (818) 677-4618. Taxation (M.S.) An on-campus program. Contact: Jennifer Kalfsbeek at (818) 677-5943.

Bachelor’s Degree-Completion Programs

These programs are designed for those who have completed at least two years of college and wish to earn the bachelor’s degree often required for career advancement or expanded career alternatives. These programs also serve midcareer professionals who already have a college degree but wish to earn a second degree in another field.

Public Sector Management (B.A.) Contact: Pat Lyon at (818) 677–7763.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

These programs are designed to serve degree-seeking students by enabling them to add another area of focus to their degree study. Many post-degree professionals also use these programs for advanced study opportunities in areas of importance to their careers.

Board-Certified Behavior Analyst Program – An upcoming on-campus university-credit program. Contact: Jennifer Kalfsbeek at (818) 677-5943

Business Administration – An on-campus university-credit program. Contact: Jennifer Kalfsbeek at (818) 677-5943.

Instructional Design and Adult Development Certificate – An online university-credit program. Contact: Barbra Frye at (818) 677- 6404.

Nonprofit Management – An on-campus university certificate program. Contact: Henrik Minassians at (818) 677-4618.

Performance Measurement and Productivity – An on-campus certificate program. Contact: Henrik Minassians at (818) 677-4618.

Distance Learning Programs

The Tseng College designs distance learning (DL) programs for working professionals who desire to earn degrees or certificates for career advancement without the geographic or logistical constraints of attending an on-campus program.

DL Degree Programs Communication Disorders and Sciences, Speech and Language Pathology (M.S.) Contact: Elaine Saler at (818) 677-2822. Educational Administration (Educational Leadership and Policy Studies) (M.A.) Contact:Karena Senchack at (818) 677–6405. Engineering Management (M.S.) Contact: Myriam Cedeno at (818) 677-7707. Knowledge Management (MKM) An on-campus and online program. Contact: Tyler Blake at (818) 677–6406 DL Certificate Programs Instructional Design and Adult Development Contact: Barbara Frye at (818) 677-6404.

Requirements for the Master’s Degree

A. Admission Requirements

Applicants may be admitted to the University in classified graduate standing by satisfying the following:

1. B.A. or a B.S. from an accredited college or university
2. Minimum 2.5 grade point average in the last 60 semester or (90 quarter units) attempted
3. Graduate Record Exam – required for applicants whose GPA is below 3.0. Acceptable GRE scores must be in the 50th percentile or above in any one of the three portions: verbal, quantitative or analytical
4. Successful completion of the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE)
5. Two years of work experience

B. Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 33 semester units of approved graduate courses
2. Completion of at least 24 of these units in residence
3. Completion of all coursework with a grade-point average of at least 3.0 (B)
4. Completion of a comprehensive examination equivalent to three semester units (in addition to the above 33 units of course work)

Students entering the program are required to declare their interest in at least one of the four tracks/specializations that are offered: Public Sector Management and Leadership; Non-Profit Sector Management; Public Policy Analysis and Management; and Performance Management and Productivity in the Public Sector.

1. Required Core Courses (15 Units)

• MPA 610 Seminar in Public Administration and Its Environment 3
• MPA 620 Research Methods for Public Administration 3
• MPA 630 Organization Theory and Human Behavior (3)
• MPA 644 Public Budgeting and Financial Administration (3)
• MPA 650 Seminar in Public Policy Process (3)

2. Elective Courses: (18 Units)

Public Sector Management and Leadership Track

• MPA 622A Policy Implementation and Program Evaluation (3)
• MPA 623A Seminar in Effective Public Sector Management (required)* 3
• MPA 623B Approaches and Methods in Program Evaluation (prerequisite: MPA 620) (3)
• MPA 623D Human Resources and the Basics of Competencies Measurement in Government (3)
• MPA 632A Organizational Leadership (3)
• MPA 632B Strategic Management (3)
• MPA 632C Communication in Public Organizations (3)
• MPA 642B Public Sector Labor Relations (3)
• MPA 643 Human Resources Management. 3

*This is a required course for this track only.

Non-Profit Sector Management Track

• MPA 632D Overview of Nonprofit Organizational Management (required)* (3)
• MPA 632E Strategic Planning, Needs Assessment and Program Design 3
• MPA 632F Issues and Problems in Human Resources, Board and Volunteer Management in Non-Profits 3
• MPA 632G Non-Profit Finance and Financial Management (3)
• MPA 632H Funding and Resource Development for Non-Profit Organizations (3)
• MPA 632I Program Implementation and Management for Non-Profit Services (3)
• MPA 640 Public Policy Analysis (3)
• MPA 642A Ethics and Professionalism (3)

*This is a required course for this track only.

Public Policy Analysis and Management Track

• MPA 612A Intergovernmental Relations (3)
• MPA 622A Policy Implementation and Program Evaluation (3)
• MPA 623A Seminar in Effective Public Sector Management (3)
• MPA 623B Approaches and Methods in Program Evaluation (prerequisite: MPA 620) (3)
• MPA 623C Performance Reporting Measures in Government (3)
• MPA 632B Strategic Management (3)
• MPA 640 Public Policy Analysis (required)*(3)
• MPA 642A Ethics and Professionalism (3)
• MPA 642D Community and Economic Development (3)

*This is a required course for this track only.

Performance Management and Productivity in the Public Sector Track

• MPA 623A Seminar in Effective Public Sector Management (required)* (3)
• MPA 623B Approaches and Methods in Program Evaluation (prerequisite: MPA 620) (3)
• MPA 623C Performance Reporting Measures in Government (3)
• MPA 623D Human Resources and the Basics of Competencies Measurement in Government (3)
• MPA 623E Performance Budgeting in the Public Sector (3)
• MPA 632B Strategic Management (3)
• MPA 632C Communication in Public Organizations (3)
• MPA 640 Public Policy Analysis (3)

*This is a required course for this track only.

3. Culminating Experience (3 Units)

MPA 697S Comprehensive Examination (3)

Special Sessions Public Administration Graduate Credit Certificate Option:

There are two graduate certificate options available for individuals who are not seeking a master’s degree in public administration but who wish to update and expand their skills. Students must successfully complete all units of coursework in the field in which they wish certification. The options are described below. However, it is mandatory for students to make formal application to the program and to meet with staff in the department office to receive advisement prior to enrolling for courses.

Non-Profit Sector Management: MPA 632D, MPA 632E, MPA 632F, MPA 632G, MPA 632H, and MPA 632 I, a total of 18 units, are the classes required for students to earn the graduate certificate in this track.

Performance Management and Productivity in the Public Sector: The required courses for the certificate in this track are MPA 620, MPA 623A, MPA 623B, MPA 623C, MPA 623D, and MPA 623 E, a total of 18 units.