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Graduate Programs

PLEASE NOTE

Due to the California State budget crises, all CSU campuses have been directed that they may not accept any admission applications for the Spring 2010 term for any enrollment category.

  • For Fall 2010, a number of majors have been added to the list of impacted majors. Specific information can be found below.

Who is a graduate student?

You are considered a graduate student if you have received final admission to a specific field of study that will lead to a Master's or Ph.D. degree.

What graduate programs are offered at CSULB?

Visit the University catalog online for specific information about the many Master's programs offered at CSULB.

Currently, CSULB has two doctoral programs available.

The Ph.D. in Engineering and Industrial Applied Mathematics is offered jointly by the CSULB College of Engineering and The Claremont Graduate University (CGU). Students receive advisement and program supervision for the engineering portion of the program from CSULB and for the mathematics portion from CGU.

CSULB also offers an Ed.D. program, available through the College of Education. The Ed. D in Educational Leadership is an independent doctoral program that addresses the demand for highly qualified educational leaders for P-12 school districts and community colleges.

Can I take graduate courses without declaring a major?

No. You must be admitted to a specific Master's degree or Ph.D. program. If you wish to take classes and participate in academic work beyond a Bachelor's degree but NOT earn a graduate degree, then you need to enroll through College of Continuing and Professional Education.

Do I have to reapply for admission if I recently graduated from CSULB?

Yes! You must reapply to the University under the same conditions and deadlines as all other students.

How do I qualify for graduate admission?

Master's Program

To be offered admission to a Master's degree program you must meet general university admission requirements as well as specific admission requirements of the program. The general university minimum requirements are:

  • Completion of a four-year college course of study and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.

  • Good standing at the last college or university you attended.

  • Meet the minimum GPA requirements for admission to the university. This can be met in any of the following ways:

    • Hold an advanced degree

    • Hold a baccalaureate degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (A=4.0)

    • Hold a baccalaureate degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 in the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units you attempted, excluding lower-division and/or extension coursework attempted after the baccalaureate degree.

    • Students in the progress of completing a baccalaureate degree may be admitted on a provisional basis, subject to proof of degree completion by the established deadline, if their cumulative GPA is at least 2.7 or if the GPA in their last 60 semester or 90 quarter units are calculated at a 2.5 or higher.

  • Satisfaction in meeting the professional, personal, scholastic and other standards for graduate study, including qualifying examinations, as prescribed by the program.

Please check with the department to which you are applying for information regarding additional requirements to qualify for admission to their respective Master's program.

Ph.D. Program

To be offered admission to the Ph.D. program in Engineering and Industrial Applied Mathematics you must meet the following requirements:

  • Complete an admissions application to CGU in addition to your application to CSULB.

  • Complete a Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in science, engineering or mathematics from an accredited institution.

  • Demonstrate good academic standing at all colleges or universities you have attended.

  • Present confidential recommendations that indicate you are well qualified to pursue, with distinction, advanced study and research.

  • Submit your score from the General Section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to both CSULB and CGU.

  • Submit your score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your native language is other than English or present proof of your Bachelor's and/or Master's degree from an accredited U.S. university.

Ed.D. Program in Education Leadership

To be considered for the Ed.D in Educational Leadership, please view the College of Education website for details.

How do I apply for graduate admission?

As a Master's or Ph.D. applicant, you must submit a Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate Admissions Application, accompanied by the $55 nonrefundable application fee. You must also submit official transcripts of all college coursework to Enrollment Services/Admissions, CSU Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840. Check with the specific program for additional documents and requirements.

We strongly encourage you to apply online by visiting CSUMentor. If you don't have access to the Internet, you may obtain an admissions application from CSULB or another CSU campus.

When is the application deadline?

Master's Program

Each department determines specific application deadline dates for the Master’s programs. You should check with the department in which you are seeking a degree for the application deadlines. Supplemental applications to the programs are required by some departments. Refer to the list of Academic Programs to view the application deadlines for each department, information on supplemental applications and other department specific information.

Ph.D. Program

Application deadlines for the Ph.D. in Engineering and Industrial Applied Mathematics programs at CSULB are:

Semester Deadline
Fall - April 1
You must submit applications and be admitted jointly to both CSULB and CGU to pursue this Ph.D. degree.

Ed.D. Program in Educational Leadership

Applications deadline is January 15th.

How will I know that you received my application?

You will receive written confirmation that acknowledges receipt of your application within two to four weeks. However, it may take four to six weeks beyond our acknowledgement letter for an admission decision. Processing time depends on when all required documents have been received and whether it is the peak period of application processing. Those peak periods are: February, March and April for Fall applications, and September and October for Spring applications.

You may also call our automated phone system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (562) 985-2500 to find out the current status of your application. Have your 9-digit student identification number handy when accessing this system.

When will I be notified of my admission status?

Upon receipt of all necessary documents, the University Admissions office will review your eligibility based on the minimum university requirements listed above. If you are deemed eligible, your academic program will be notified. An admission offer will be sent upon notification by the program that you have also met their requirements for admission.

What's the next step?

Visit Housing and Residential Life to learn about all our various campus options. Also check out Financial Aid to explore the various programs that can assist in making CSULB affordable. Be sure to review the application procedures and priority deadlines for both of these programs.