The Master of Science Degree in Gerontology (code FCS_MS02)
Thank you for your interest in the Master of Science in Gerontology. It is designed to prepare you with a thorough background in theory and research in gerontology, as well as advanced principles in program development, management, and evaluation, to prepare you to assume a leadership role in aging in public or private sectors.
Master of Science in Nutritional Science (code FCS_MS01)
This degree offers two emphases: Nutritional Science (Nutrition Therapy/Community Nutrition) and Food
Science.
Nutritional Science
Food Science
These emphases provide an opportunity for students to:
Admission to MS Graduate Program
Prospective students must comply with University requirements for admission to the graduate studies program at CSULB as outlined in the CSULB Catalog. Students must concurrently submit applications to the University Admissions and Records Office and to the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
The requirements for prospective graduate students for the Master of Science degree are:
1. A bachelor's degree with an undergraduate overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 undergraduate units attempted.
2. A minimum score of 4 on the Analytical Writing section of the general GRE.
Institution Codes for GRE Scores:
CSULB: 4389
Nutrition: 0214
3. A passing score on the test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if the applicant's native language is not English and preparatory education was principally in a language other than English.
4. Submission of the following to the Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences:
A. A copy of the completed application submitted to the CSULB Office of Enrollment Services.
B. Three letters of recommendation, on official
letterhead, with at least two from instructors who have direct knowledge of the applicant's scholastic ability and professional qualifications.
C. An official copy of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last 5 years.
THE POSTMARK DEADLINES FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT GRADUATE COORDINATOR ARE APRIL 1ST FOR FALL ADMISSIONS AND OCTOBER 15th FOR SPRING ADMISSIONS.
Materials to send to the University:
Completed graduate application and application fee. (Applications can be sent online via csumentor.edu)
Official Transcripts.
Mail to:
Office of Enrollment Services/Graduate Admissions
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840
FCS Department Address:
Department of Family & Consumer Sciences
California State University Long Beach
ATTN: Graduate Assistant
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840-0501
The deadlines for receipt of applications to the department graduate coordinator are February 1st for Fall admissions for those students pursuing the MS+DI degree.
The postmark deadlines for receipt of applications to the department graduate coordinator are April 1st for Fall admissions and October 15th for Spring admissions for those only pursuing the MS.
If you are pursuing the MS+DI degree, please visit the Dietetic Internship
website for additional information on application procedures.
If you are applying to the graduate program to complete the Didactic Program in Dietetics, please indicate "Nutritional Science MS" as your Major Objective/Program on your graduate application.
Prerequisites
The student who needs to complete prerequisite deficiencies must do so using a program of study developed with the specialization area faculty advisor.Students from other disciplines will be required to complete prerequisite courses before enrolling in 500/600 level courses.
Prerequisites for all courses carrying graduate credit must have been completed within seven years of taking the graduate courses. If any prerequisite is outdated, it may be repeated or credit obtained by written examination. Basic biological science courses and foundation nutrition and food science courses specifically are evaluated for currency. The department administers a proficiency examination covering the content of NUTR 331A and 332 courses for students in all emphases who have not taken these courses or their equivalents within the past five years. In additional, NUTR 331B course content will be included in the proficiency examination for students in the Nutrition Therapy/Community Nutrition emphasis. Any student failing to pass the proficiency examination with a grade of "B" or better must take the appropriate course for credit;
Entering graduate students will meet with the Graduate Coordinator to prepare a tentative degree program. In order to enroll in any graduate course, the student must complete all prerequisites and deficiencies and must obtain approval from the Graduate Coordinator.
International students and students from other states:
International Students must go through the Center for International Education before they can be admitted to the University. Information can be found on their website.
*Please note the application & document deadlines may vary from those for the department/University *
A limited number of out-of-state tuition waivers are available on a competitive basis for new graduate students. Please contact the department graduate coordinator for additional information.
Student Checklist for Completion of FCS Master's Degree
Advising Sheets
Advancement to Candidacy
Advancement to Candidacy is the next step after achieving classified status and signifies approval of a plan of study by the student's major department and college. (Definition taken from CSULB Catalog.)
Students must complete the following steps to advance to candidacy before continuing his/her course of graduate study in the second year:
Satisfy the general University requirements for Advancement to Candidacy.
Completed 9 units of graduate courses (500/600 level), including FCS 696.
Successful completion of the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE). (A GRE analytical writing score of 4.0 will satisfy this requirement).
Maintain a 3.0 GPA for all coursework attempted as a graduate student.
Complete a Program of Study in consultation with a faculty advisor.
Approval by the Graduate Coordinator of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
Requirements for Completion of MS Degree
1. Completion of a minimum of 34-36 units depending on concurrent completion of the dietetic internship
2. An advanced statistics course:
Take one of the following courses:
EDP 519, H SC 503, or a course approved by the faculty advisor;
3. At least 18 units of 500/600 level courses in Family and Consumer Sciences:
A. Nutritional Science without Dietetic Internship (34 units):
Take one of the following courses:
FCS 692 Directed Project (4)
FCS 698 Thesis (4)
B. Nutritional Science with Dietetic Internship (36 units):
Take one of the following courses:
FCS 692 Directed Project (4)
FCS 698 Thesis (4)
C. Food Science (34 units):
Take all of the following courses:
FCS 530A Carbohydrates, Lipids and Proteins (3)
FCS 530B Vitamins and Minerals (3)
FCS 532 Food Analysis (3)
FCS 535 Food Processing, Preservation and Packaging (3)
FCS 592 Internship in FCS/Gerontology (3)
FCS 597 Independent Study (1-3)
FCS 696 Research Methods (3)
FCS 697 Directed Research (3)
Take one of the following courses:
FCS 692 Directed Project (4)
FCS 698 Thesis (4)
Take 6 units of advisor-approved area of specialization courses.
4. A written Thesis or a Directed Project
5. Oral presentation of the Thesis or Directed Project.Forms/Publications
* Change in Program of Study MA/MS (.pdf)
* Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (MS Word) (.pdf)
* Process for Enrolling in FCS 697 (MS Word) (.pdf)
* Petition to Enroll in FCS 697 (MS Word) (.pdf)
* Signature Page Template for Thesis/Directed Projct Proposal (MS Word)
*Petition to Earn Credit Toward a Graduate Degree in the Senior Year (PDF)
Graduate Studies (GS) 700
The deadline for graduate students to register for GS 700 is the end of the add-drop period of the semester or other session in which the student wishes to maintain continuous enrollment for the purpose of completing the culminating activity or graduating.
By policy, GS 700 can only be taken after all other coursework has been completed. If a graduate student wishes to take a semester off before resuming coursework, s/he must take a Planned Educational Leave, not GS 700.
To register for GS 700, students must have an authorization slip signed by the Graduate Coordinator. This form can be obtained from the graduate assistant (FCS 007A) or the CCPE Registration Office, located at the Foundation Building, 6300 State University Drive, Suite 100, Long Beach, CA 90815.
Directed Project Requirements (FCS 692) MS/MA
* Consumer Affairs Requirements (MA) (MS Word) (.pdf)
*Education Requirements(MA) (MS Word) (.pdf)
*FMD Requirements(MA) (MS Word) (.pdf)
* Faculty Guidelines (MS Word) (.pdf)
*Nutritional Science Requirements (MS) (MS Word) (.pdf)
.Thesis Requirements /Deadlines
After approval from Graduate Committee, submit thesis/directed project to:
Thesis Office
Library 104 West
Please refer to department bulletin board for thesis and project deadlines.
Effective with the Spring 2008 submission period, the Thesis Office has developed a new thesis author online submission form. The form can be accessed by students on the Thesis Office website at:
http://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/serv/thesis.html
This form will now be the first step of the Thesis Office submission process. Using this form, students will provide their contact and thesis information electronically to the Thesis Office. After the students complete the online author form, they will be required to bring their printed thesis to the Thesis Office before the submission deadline for that term. Students who complete the online author form, but do not bring in their thesis before their submission deadline date, will be denied thesis format evaluation for that term.
Students who have questions about completing the online form can contact the Thesis Office for assistance at (562) 985-4013.
This new online form replaces the old printed Candidate Information Sheet. Students will no longer be required to provide two copies of this sheet when they submit their thesis to the Thesis Office. However, as before,they will be required to provide two copies of their Abstract upon submission.
The online pdf University Style and Format Guidelines for Master's Theses and Project Reports (http://www.csulb.edu/library/thesis_manual/version_07.pdf) will be updated soon to include these new procedures.
For information on thesis information visit the following link
http://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/serv/thesis.html
The stududent needs to provide one bound copy of their completed thesis for their Chair, they are not required to provide a copy for the Department.
The information provided in this Handbook addresses the unique requirements, policies,
and procedures for the Master of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences and the Master
of Science in Nutritional Science degree programs offered in the Department of Family
and Consumer Sciences.
