Office of Graduate Studies and Research

All CSUMB master’s students are invited to attend an initial public speaking training session. 

The competition is open to all CSUMB master’s students who have progressed far enough in a thesis or other significant research project to have clear results in hand. Competing graduate students will have access to more detailed public speaking training and workshops.

The topic is open to any field of study!  

• Hone your "Elevator Talk"
• Showcase your research and creative activities.
• Create a video of your presentation to add to your LinkedIn account for employers and colleagues to view.
• Improve your professional speaking and presentation skills.
• Earn the opportunity to participate in a CSU-wide competition.
• Win fabulous prize money!
  
              First Place: $500
              Second Place: $300
              Audience Choice: $200

• Semifinalists will be chosen based on their applications.
• Semifinalists will submit a pre-recorded presentation in a video format.
• Semifinalists will be shown how to record their presentations in zoom.
• Judging will not be based on the rubric shown above, not on the technical quality of your video.
• Judges will score the videos based on the rubric.
• Up to ten finalists will compete LIVE using presentation skills learned in our workshops! The 2024 competition will be live on Zoom, not on a stage.
  
• The first place, second place, and third place winners will be announced and publicized after the CSUMB Grad Slam.
• The top two finalists will compete in CSU-wide Grad Slam event. 

Send questions to gradstudies@csumb.edu

You are invited to attend one of several live information sessions to see how it all works and to answer any questions you have.  

Information Session Dates:

Wednesday, March 5th - 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Thursday, March 6th - 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting
https://csumb.zoom.us/j/83309715177

Come to one of our workshops to learn what makes a compelling speaker and an engaging talk. There are two sessions open to all graduate students.  We will also offer more workshops and personalized training for our Grad Slam participants.

TBA

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any kind; the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum. Competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be delivered in traditional presentation style.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when presenters start their presentation through movement or speech.
• Each presentation will be judged using the rubric shown below.

Clarity:  Did the speaker provide adequate background knowledge to make the talk and the importance of the project understandable?

Organization: Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?

Language matches audience:  Was the topic and its significance communicated in a language appropriate to an interested, but non-specialist audience? (For example, did the speaker avoid or explain discipline-specific jargon?)

Significance:  Did the presenter explain why the project mattered, addressing the impact and results of the research?

Delivery:  How was the delivery, including pace, enthusiasm, confidence, body language, and dynamism of vocal delivery?

Visual:  Did the slide enhance the presentation and help to emphasize the primary points of the talk?  Was the slide well designed, clear, legible and concise?

Engagement:  To what extent did the talk speak to your intellectual curiosity?  Did it make you want to learn more about the topic?

• March 7, 2025 at 9 p.m.: Deadline to submit Grad Slam competition application  (https://forms.gle/Ewj59uFdQY9G8KoN8)
  
• March 28, 9:00 PM Deadline for submitting video!
• April 16: Optional one-on-one rehearsals through Zoom (finalists will sign up)
• April 18, 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.: CSUMB GRAD SLAM FINALS live on Zoom
  
• May 1: Registration Deadline for State-wide competition (information on how to register here: https://www.csusb.edu/graduate-studies/events/csu-grad-slam-2025)
• May 9: 4th Annual CSU Grad Slam competition, via Zoom, hosted by Cal State San Bernardino - All audience members/guests must register for the competition via this link by 9:30am on Friday, May 2, 2024.