Office of Graduate Studies and Research

• If you are currently at a community college, take the following steps to align yourself for success.
• Use websites such as onetonline.org and www.mynextmove.org to research occupations and careers.  Narrow your interests, but keep a few options on the table. Note the kind of degree you will need for the career(s) you are exploring. CSUMB Advising and Career Center resources can help organize your search.
• Work with your academic and career advising services to complete the lower division courses you need for a clean transfer to a four-year college (where you will complete the last two years of your undergraduate degree).
• Explore the California State University and University of California campuses to find the right undergraduate degree. CSUMB has many undergraduate and graduate degree options.   
• As soon as you transfer, you will need to become recognized as a student who will succeed in graduate school. You need to be noticed by your favorite professors.  Why? They will be the people you ask to write a strong letter of recommendation—which is one of the keys to graduate school admission. Transfer students have less time to connect with a professor than native students. Start early!
• If you have transferred to CSUMB, follow the roadmap to success in the CSUMB Graduate School Checklist.
• Continue your search for an appropriate graduate program by consulting with a CSUMB career advisor.

Graduate school applications are unlike undergraduate applications.  Each program has their own minimum GPA. Most require letters of recommendation from two or three of your professors and a well-crafted letter of application from you. The details of what each program needs can be found in the catalog and here: Graduate School Programs Table.  The Graduate Admissions Office has all the information you need.  Also review the timeline for applying for financial aid.

Applicants must meet both the university and the graduate program’s individual admissions requirements.

The minimum requirements for admission to graduate and post-baccalaureate studies at a California State University campus are:

• Have completed a four-year college course of study and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association, or shall have completed equivalent academic preparation as determined by appropriate campus authorities,
• be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended,
• attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 in an acceptable earned baccalaureate degree, or a grade point average of at least 2.5 in the last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) attempted, or hold an acceptable post-baccalaureate degree earned at a regionally accredited institution.

Individual graduate departments may have higher admission standards for their programs. Some departments may have earlier application deadlines than those published, additional forms and documents to submit. Contact your academic department or the admissions office for up-to-date  information.

Applicants applying to the programs listed below, must download the Recommender Reference Form. Use the program's application tool to submit recommendation requests. You should provide your recommender the program's reference form to complete and submit through the program application. You will be given access to your program application after you applied to the university through Cal State Apply.

Recommender forms are required by the following programs to be completed during the Application process. Recommender forms can be downloaded below.

Teacher Education Credential Program

Master of Arts in Education with teaching credential

Master of Arts in Education: Curriculum and Instruction (for experienced teachers)

Master of Arts in Education: School Psychology Credential

Master of Arts in Education: Special Education (for experienced teachers)

Review your program's website for details and submit any required documents.  Submit official transcripts from each university/college attended to the Office of Admissions.  Pay your application fee within 30 days of applying

 Domestic applicants who have studied outside the U.S. must also submit official course-by-course foreign credit evaluations for each non-U.S. college/university attended and, if applicable, official word-for-word, line-by-line English translations. Please refer to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) for approved organizations that provide foreign credit evaluation services.

If you are not a California resident, check to see if you are eligible for in-state tuition.