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Graduate
Programs
Graduate programs in the College of Natural and Social
Science feature a modern curriculum, close contact with faculty
at the forefront of knowledge in their specialties, special programs
which provide access to
the most modern facilities, and collaboration with major institutions
and organizations in the Los Angeles basin. There is an emphasis on acquiring
knowledge and skill in a collaborative and supportive environment
through intensive exposure to real-life activities expected of career
professionals.
 NSS graduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in research.
and to present their findings at student research conferences and
professional meetings and to write them up for publication in professional
journals. Communication of knowledge is a professional responsibility
and essential to the School's philosophy of graduate education. NSS
faculty have been very successful in obtaining funds to support these
professional activities. Consequently, our master's degree holders
have been extraordinarily successful in pursuing doctoral and professional
degrees as well as in their post-graduate careers.
The School of Natural and
Social Sciences offers fourteen master's degree programs in the natural
and social sciences and two postbaccalaureate certificate programs.
Departments
Certificate Programs
- Biotechnology
- Industrial
Chemistry
Admission Requirements
Each department in the College of Natural and Social Sciences
has a two-step graduate admission process. In order to qualify
for classified graduate status, applicants must apply to the major
department for admission to its graduate program in addition to
being accepted by the University for graduate study.
Students can apply online
through the CSUMentor system.
More information about applying to the
university can be found on the following university websites:
Special Action Admission
The NSS Graduate Studies Office requires the following documentation for those students applying for special action admission:
1. When incoming GPA on last 90-quarter units is below 2.5.
a. verification of having passed the WPE;
b. department letter of support;
c. three letters of recommendation from former professors or employers;
d. a complete set of undergraduate transcripts if applicant is not a graduate of CSLA;
e. a copy of the Denial Letter from the Office of Admission (form D2) if information is not on Student Records System;
f. record of recent coursework;
g. qualifying courses assigned.
2. When student comes from an unaccredited institution:
a. The Admissions Office notifies the student that since he/she is from an unaccredited institution, the major department must be contacted. Admissions will enter the student in bachelor's rather than graduate status.
b. The major department Principal Graduate Advisor specifies a qualifying list of 14 units of upper division courses which the student must complete with a 3.0 g.p.a. None of these courses may be 500 level nor may they be used on a graduate program.
c. After the qualifying courses are satisfactorily completed, the grades are recorded and a department recommendation is forwarded to the NSS Graduate Studies Office. When the student satisfies all requirements for conditional classification, a memo will be forwarded to the Director of Admissions requesting that the student's admission status be changed to graduate.
3. When student comes from an institution that used non-traditional grading. The major department collects all of the student's documentation and forwards it with the departmental recommendation and transcripts to the NSS Graduate Studies Office to be agendized for the next NSS Graduate Studies Subcommittee meeting for review and recommendation. If the petition is approved, a written request is sent to the Director of Admissions to admit the student to graduate status.
Eligibility of Courses on Probationary Programs
Not Eligible for Probationary Purposes:
1. Courses numbered below 300 level
2. Transferred from another institution for use on a master's degree program
3. Independent study courses
4. 500-level courses
5. Non-major courses
Prerequisite coursework is applicable to a probationary program but not for master's degree program.
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.
NSS Graduate Studies Office
It is the role of the NSS Graduate Studies
Office to assist the Departments in the College of Natural and Social
Sciences and their graduate students in interpreting State, System,
University, and College regulations and procedures, and to provide support
for all graduate programs in the College. The NSS Graduate Studies Office
is responsible for ensuring compliance with University and College policies and procedures; approving graduate students' programs; reviewing
and processing requests for program changes; approving special major
programs; granting classified graduate standing and advancement to
candidacy; notifying graduate students of probation, removal from
probation and disqualification; approving petitions (e.g. to extend
incomplete grade); and performing other related duties as assigned
by the Dean.
The Graduate Studies Office is responsible
for processing the documents listed below:
- Change of Program (GS-5 form)
- Report of Foreign Language Reading Examination
- Advancement to Candidacy Application
- Comprehensive Examination Report
- Establishing Thesis Committee (GS-12)
- Validation of expired courses by examination
- Planned Student Leave Petition
- Forwarding Graduation Application
The NSS Graduate Studies Office is responsible
for conducting the following procedures and ensuring compliance with
all rules and regulations related thereto:
- Applications for foreign student tuition waiver program
- Special Action Admission
- Verification of eligibility of courses on probationary program
- Verification of the Graduate Writing Proficiency Examination requirement
- Transfer credit on a master's degree program (GS-1A)
- Processing the master degree thesis
- Maintaining records of comprehensive examinations
- Request to change from comprehensive examination to thesis option and vice versa
- Validation of expired courses on a master's degree program
- Forwarding Graduation Checks.
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