NSS Graduate Regulations & Procedures

College Rules and Regulations

Graduate Admission
CSULA no longer accepts paper admissions applications. The on-line application at CSUMentor.edu is the easiest and fastest way to apply to Cal State L.A. Many of Cal State L.A.’s graduate degree programs require a separate application in addition to the CSU Mentor application. Note that some of these programs will require that you submit a set of transcripts to the department in addition to the transcripts that you must submit to the Admissions Office. To avoid unnecessary delays in the evaluation of your application, please make sure that you request two sets of transcripts—one should be sent to the Office of University Admissions, and the other should be sent to the department.

SPECIAL ACTION ADMISSION to the Graduate Program

In unusual circumstances, a campus may make exceptions to admission criteria and grant admission by special action. For special action admission, applicants who were in good standing at the last college attended, but who do not meet the mandated admission requirements may petition for admission by special action if acceptable alternative evidence exists that they possess sufficient academic, professional, and other potential pertinent to their proposed graduate objective. Special action admission may be granted by the appropriate college graduate dean upon recommendation of both the proposed major department or division and college graduate studies committee for any of the following three reasons:

1. Applicants Who Lack Minimum Required Grade Point Average

Students admitted by special action to pursue a master’s degree program will be admitted to conditionally classified graduate status and must complete specific prerequisites and a minimum of 14 units of qualifying courses specified by the major department or division and college graduate dean with a minimum B (3.0 on a scale in which A = 4.0) grade point average, as specified under Requirements for Classified Graduate Standing later in this chapter. Students admitted to pursue a nondegree program (e.g., credential, certificate) must complete special requirements as designated by the major department or division and college graduate dean.

2. Graduates of Unaccredited Institutions

A degree from an unaccredited college is not recognized for admission in graduate standing. Graduates of such institutions may be admitted in undergraduate standing if course work completed is deemed acceptable and meets undergraduate admission requirements, and may be granted postbaccalaureate or graduate standing upon satisfaction of the following conditions:

Meet the minimum University, college, and department or division requirements for admission to classified graduate standing in a degree program.

Complete a minimum of four upper division courses (at least 14 quarter units), specified in advance by the the proposed major department or division, with a grade point average of at least B (3.0). These courses may not be 500 level. Upon recommendation of the department/division and the college graduate dean, 400-level qualifying courses may be applied to the master’s degree program.

Receive the written recommendation of the department or division in which the degree is sought and of the appropriate college graduate dean.

An applicant with a bachelor’s degree from an unaccredited institution and a master’s degree from an accredited institution may be admitted as a regular postbaccalaureate or graduate student, assuming that all other requirements have been met and that appropriate approvals have occurred.

3. Graduates of Specialized or Professional Schools

Graduates of specialized or professional schools that are professionally accredited are admitted in conditionally classified graduate status. They may be granted classified graduate standing by satisfying the following conditions:

Meet the minimum University, college, and department or division requirements for admission to classified graduate standing in a degree program.
Complete a minimum of four upper division qualifying courses (at least 14 quarter units), specified in advance by the proposed major department or division, with a grade point average of at least B (3.0).

After they have completed their faculty-approved list of qualifying courses, students may not add any additional courses, nor may they repeat any of the qualifying courses, to raise their grade point average.

Receive the written recommendation of the department or division in which the degree is sought and of the appropriate college graduate dean.

Probationary Programs

Courses not permitted on a probationary program:

Courses numbered below 300
Transferred from another institution
Independent study courses
500-level courses
Non-major courses

Prerequisite courses numbered 300 and 400 may be used as qualifying courses if approved by the department and the graduate dean.

Transfer Credit on a Master's Program

Evaluation of Marginal Transfer Courses for Use on Master's Degree Program:
When insufficient information is available for evaluation by the Office of Admissions, the course description and course-numbering system of the offering institution shall be forwarded to the CSULA major department for evaluation. The use of the course on the degree program shall require agreement by the student's major department and the NSS Graduate Dean.

IMPORTANT REMINDER TO FACULTY ADVISORS AND STAFF ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS

Before you permit your students to enroll in 596, 597, and 599; please make sure that the following requirements are met:

passed the WPE;
advanced to candidacy (is G3 status on GET);
not having more than one course remaining to complete on the master’s program;
g.p.a. requirement of 3.0 (completion of courses on the master’s degree program with an overall g.p.a. 3.0).

These are University and Title V requirements. Students will not graduate if these requirements are not met.

Comprehensive Examination Taken "In Absentia"

The department must notify the NSS Graduate Studies Office in advance of all students taking comprehensive examinations in absentia. In addition, the Report of Comprehensive Examination form should indicate clearly if a student took the examination in absentia.

Policy on Change in Selection of Thesis or Comprehensive Exam Option
Students are not permitted to change from a comprehensive examination to thesis after they have attempted comprehensive examination or change from a thesis to a comprehensive examination after they have defended the thesis.

graduate programs regulations and procedures

graduate programs
regulations and procedures