Prospective Students
Degree Process
- Undergraduate Degree
- Graduate Application (University Eligibility Determined)
- Application Sent To Department (Major Eligibility)
- Classification Determination (Program Entry Requirements Checked)
- Advancement to Candidacy (Graduate Program Formalized)
- Application for the Degree (fee Submitted for Check of Graduation Requirements
- Culminating Experience (Thesis project, Performance, or Comprehensive Exam)
- Master’s Degree Conferred
Student Advisement
For each of the graduate programs there is a designated faculty advisor, the Graduate Coordinator, who can advise and assist you in constructing a graduate program. The Graduate Coordinators have program brochures which address specific degree requirements of particular programs. Detailed requirements for each graduate program are also outlined in the University Catalog.
Graduate Application Process
Applicants for graduate study must submit a graduate application along with all necessary official documents (see current Admission Application). If minimum university requirements are met, your application will be forwarded to the department and the Graduate Coordinator will determine eligibility for the Master's program. Students fulfilling undergraduate degree requirements at CSUN or elsewhere and intending to pursue graduate work should submit a new application to the University during their final semester of undergraduate work. Please check the current application booklet for application, document, and other deadlines.
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Graduate Status
You may be admitted as a graduate student in one of four categories: classified, conditionally classified, post baccalaureate classified.
Conditionally classified
A conditionally classified graduate student is one who has been accepted into a degree program but has not yet met all classification criteria. You must request classification with the Request for Classification form available from the Graduate Coordinator. It is important to achieve full Classified standing prior to completing more than 12 units of graduate coursework appearing in the formal program. No more than 12 units of work taken prior to attaining fully classified status will be applied to a master’s program.
Classified
Classified graduate students are those who have met all criteria for classification in their respective programs. The criteria for classification may be more stringent in some departments, but are never less than the minimum criteria listed below under Classified Status.
You must fulfill one or more of the following criteria. Some programs may have more stringent standards:
- A 3.0 grade point average or higher in all work undertaken since admission to the program;
- Hold a graduate degree from an accredited institution;
- Score at or above the 50th percentile on one of the three portions of the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), i.e., verbal, quantitative, or analytic (Normally, the GRE should be taken prior to registration for graduate work at this institution);
- Score at or above the 50th percentile on some other nationally normed University-approved examination;
- Attain a satisfactory performance on a departmental admissions assessment approved by the University;
- Passing score at the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE).
Credential
A Credential student is one who has been accepted to a credential program in the School of Education. All credential students are advised to contact the Credentials Preparation Office.