Graduate Program

Culminating Experience Guidelines

• Getting Started: Thesis Proposal (PDF)
• Thesis Guidelines (PDF)

CSUN Graduate Studies Thesis/Dissertation Information
CSUN Graduate Studies Forms
CSUN Graduate Student Handbook

• University application (Cal State Apply) AND Department application (Apply Web) for FALL 2027 admission must be completed by March 15, 2027.
• Your departmental application is considered incomplete if you did not apply to the university by March 15, 2027.
• Students will receive email notification of their acceptance or denial no later than May 10, 2027. 

Only California residents are eligible to apply to the CHS Master's online program. If you are residing in any other US state besides CA, please do not apply to the CHS online program.

Application Packet consists of TWO applications: University and Departmental.

• Submit University Application via Cal State Apply.
   
• Submit CHS Departmental Application via Apply Web. 
  CHS Departmental Application consists of the following documents. Application will be incomplete if one item is missing.

1. Letters of Recommendation - Obtain two letters of recommendation from current or former professors. An optional third letter from an individual outside of academia who can speak of your work in the community can also be included. 
2. Submit a curriculum vitae or resume
3. Unofficial transcripts for the Department
4. Complete a Statement of Purpose – The objective of the statement of purpose is twofold. First, it will be used as a writing sample and provide the admissions committee an opportunity to examine your writing skills. Second, it allows you to share with the admissions committee why you want to pursue a graduate degree in our department. Please include your name on the first page of your document. The Statement of Purpose is a two to three page essay, double-spaced, and answers the following questions:
   - How did you become interested in the field of Chicana and Chicano Studies?
   - What experiences have contributed toward your preparation for further study in the field?
   - What are your future goals?
   - What are your research interests?
   - How are you a match to the program and department? That is, what faculty member(s) would you like to work with?
   - What experience do you have as an activist/scholar in the field of Chicana and Chicano Studies?
5. Writing Sample - A writing sample of a previous paper or work for a class that is no more than 10 pages.

Only California residents are eligible to apply to the CHS Master's online program. If you are residing in any other US state besides CA, please do not apply to the CHS online program.

New student applications for the Chicana/o Studies department are accepted for fall semester only. Spring admission is only applicable for returning graduate students. Students interested in applying to the graduate program must apply to the university AND to the department. Make sure to provide separate transcripts for each application.

University and CHS Department Admission Criteria

To be admitted to CSUN, as a graduate student, students must meet the following requirements:

• Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college.
• Have been in good standing at the last institution attended
• Have at least a 2.5 grade point average in the last 60 semester/90 quarter units attempted, independent of when the baccalaureate was granted.

Students enrolled in the CSUN Ethnic Studies Certificate-Chicana/o Studies program are required to complete all certificate requirements prior to applying to the MA Program.

1. Occupied America: A History of Chicanos (Rudy Acuña 9th Edition)
2. Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza (Gloria Anzaldúa)
3. The Chicano Studies Reader: An Anthology of Aztlán, 1970―2015 (Chon A. Noriega, Eric Avila, Karen Mary Davalos, Chela Sandoval, Rafael Pérez-Torres, and Charlene Villaseñor Black)
4. Chicano Studies: The Genesis of a Discipline (Michael Soldatenko)

1. Demonstrate a refined ability to think critically, analytically, and creatively beyond the undergraduate level about the Chicana/o experience in the local and global society 
2. Demonstrate strong oral, writing, and research skills
3. Demonstrate a sufficient level of expertise in a particular field within the discipline, having read most of the literature in that area, and be able to develop and teach a course in that field
4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of the creative and performance arts in the expression of Chicana/o identities and social issues
5. Master a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Chicana/o history, culture, arts, language, and socio-political issues
6. Choose an area of research within Chicana/o studies and contribute to this area through the thesis project
7. Develop further leadership skills that will promote social change in Chicana/o communities and the broader society

Can applicants from out-of-state apply to the CSUN CHS MA program?
No. Only California residents  are eligible for the MA program.

Is the program completely online?
Yes. Graduate core classes and elective requirements are fully online synchronous.  Classes meet online via zoom at a specific day and time once a week. Classes are typically scheduled from 4pm-6:45pm OR 7pm-9:45pm.

How long is the program?
On average, CHS MA students graduate in 3-4years.  The University provides students 7 years from the date students are admitted to complete the requirements.

How many classes are required?
A minimum of 33 units is necessary to graduate from the master’s program in Chicana/o Studies.

1. Core Requirements (12 units)

• 1st (Fall) semester:  CHS 500 & CHS 501
• 2nd (Spring) semester:  CHS 502
• 3rd (Fall) semester: CHS 507

2. Electives (18 units)
Students are required to take six elective courses (18 units). Three of the six elective courses (9 units) must be 500-level courses in Chicana/o Studies. The remaining three  elective courses (9 units) must be approved 400- and 500-level courses in Chicana/o Studies or may be taken outside of the department with prior approval of the MA coordinator. Refer to the Course Catalog for list of classes and their description.

3. Culminating Experience (3 units)
Students enroll in CHS 698 (3 units) or CHS 697 (3 units) during the year the M.A. is completed. A comprehensive evaluation in the discipline of Chicana/o Studies in the form of any one of the following—(a) Written thesis, (b) Comprehensive Exam, (c) Curriculum/Pedagogical Project, or (d) Creative Project—is required.

What is the cost of the program?
You should visit the following websites for information on financial matters:

Graduate Admissions

Admissions & Financial Aid: Cost of Attendance

Does the Department provide financial support?
No. The Department does not provide financial support. Department Scholarship opportunities for Graduate students are available from time to time.