FAQs
The Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment has compiled some of the frequently asked questions from students who seek a graduate program at CSUSB.
The complete graduate student policy and procedures are found at http://gradstudies.csusb.edu/policies.html
- Is it possible CSUSB would not honor my bachelor’s degree?
- Are there any courses I may need to take before I can be admitted as a graduate student?
- Do I have to be admitted to the program before I can begin taking courses?
- Who will decide if I am accepted to CSUSB?
- Are there any specific tests I need to take for admission into my desired program?
- Are there other options if I have not met the CSUSB graduate admission requirements?
- What is considered a full time academic load for graduate students?
- How do I change the master’s degree program or concentration I have been admitted into?
- Are there any impacted graduate programs at CSUSB?
Is it possible CSUSB would not honor my bachelor’s degree?
Baccalaureate degrees received at regionally accredited institutions will be honored. Regional accreditation includes the Western, Middle States, North Central, New England, Northwest and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.
Graduates from non-accredited schools who give evidence of unusual promise and superior background may petition the dean of Graduate Studies for admission as unclassified post-baccalaureate students. Such students who wish to enter a specific graduate program must then petition the appropriate department for admission to conditionally classified graduate status. http://gradstudies.csusb.edu
Applicants who have completed baccalaureate degrees at foreign universities which require at least 15 years but less than the equivalent of 16 years of formal education must complete a minimum of 45 quarter units of additional work upon admission to CSUSB as an undergraduate student. Students must receive prior approval from International Admissions located inside of the Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment.
Are there any courses I may need to take before I can be admitted as a graduate student?
Graduate students must fulfill the Graduate Entrance Writing Requirement before they can be fully classified into a graduate program. The requirement can be satisfied through one of the following:
- Completion of one of the upper division writing courses offered at CSUSB or an equivalent course from another institution, with a grade of “B” or better, taken within seven years prior to acceptance into the program. The Office of Graduate Studies must approve courses taken at an institution other than CSUSB.
or
- Satisfactory completion of the Writing Requirement Exemption Examination (WREE) offered at CSUSB, taken within seven years prior to acceptance into the program. Further information about the WREE is available from the Testing Center http://www-ugs.csusb.edu/testing or from the Office of Graduate Studies http://gradstudies.csusb.edu
Do I have to be admitted to the program before I can begin taking courses?
Most graduate applicants must be admitted to their desired graduate program before they can begin taking any courses. The exceptions include students applying to any programs in the College of Education (including those seeking master’s degrees or credentials) and students in post-baccalaureate unclassified status.
Who will decide if I am accepted to CSUSB?
The program you are applying to will make the final decision about your application. After the Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment determines you have met the minimum requirements to be admitted to CSUSB, your application will be forwarded to the appropriate department for review.
Are there any specific tests I need to take for admission into my desired program?
Each master’s program and/or concentration has its own professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards for graduate study, including qualifying examinations. Typical tests that are required for graduate applicants include the GRE, GMAT, CBEST, MAT and TOEFL..
Our Graduate Student Test page shows you what tests are required for each graduate program and will refer you to our campuses testing office for registration sites.
Are there other options if I have not met the CSUSB graduate admission requirements?
Yes. An applicant who does not meet university requirements for admission may be admitted by special action by the graduate coordinator of the program the students wishes to enter, or if unsure, by the dean of Graduate Studies. Such admission may be in a probationary status, if in the opinion of the graduate coordinator, the student is likely to succeed in the program.
What is considered a full time academic load for graduate students?
Full time academic status for a post-baccalaureate or graduate student is 8 units of 500- or 600-level courses or 12 weighted units.
Full time/12 weighted units determined as follows:
500- and 600- level courses weighted at 1.5 units
300- and 400- level courses weighted at 1.0 units
100- and 200- level courses are not counted unless the course is
required as a condition for admission to a graduate program.
How do I change the master’s degree program or concentration I have been admitted into?
Each master’s program and/or concentration has its own professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards for graduate study, including qualifying examinations. All admitted graduate students must submit a g raduate c hange of p rogram form and a fee of $55 in order to change master’s degree programs or concentrations/options/tracks within a program. The form is available at (link to our Forms page) and in the Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment.
Please note: Graduate Change of Program forms must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment before the first day of the quarter in which you would like the change to take place.
Are there any impacted graduate programs at CSUSB?
The standards for graduate study are generally more complex and demanding than undergraduate study. For that reason, all of the graduate programs at CSUSB may be considered impacted. Some are more competitive than others. Most programs have incorporated standards that are higher than the minimum admission requirements for graduate students.
