Contents
How do I change my approved GIS Program of Study?
What are the academic standards for students enrolled in the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program?
What happens if I break enrollment while pursuing my Master's degree?
What is Advancement to Candidacy?
When can I Advance to Candidacy?
What do I need to do in order to graduate?
What will my diploma say?
Contacts
Minor modifications in a GIS Program of Study 
for the Interdisciplinary Studies degree may be made after its initial approval. These modifications must be reviewed and approved by the student's relevant Graduate Advisor and must also be fully-explained in writing. The deviations from the original program must be justified academically in terms of the program as a whole. A well thought out program should require little modification. Sometimes, however, scheduled courses are cancelled or not offered, new courses are developed more relevant to the goals of a program of research and thus suggest a reorientation of focus or modification of goals. Such conditions can warrant program modification.
All requests for program modification of an approved GIS Program of Study for a Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies are submitted to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Programs on the Addendum to GIS Program of Study form.
The Director of the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program must approve any modifications of an original program after acceptance.
Commensurate with University standards, Interdisciplinary Studies Program students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in all upper division (*300- *400) and graduate (500-600) level work attempted as a post-baccalaureate or classified graduate student at this University, including all approved transfer and/or extension course credit (this means a 3.0 G.P.A. whether course work is prerequisite, program, or elective course work).
Students whose cumulative grade point average drops below 3.0 one semester are placed on "warning." Students whose cumulative G.P.A. remains below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters will be placed on "academic probation." A student who fails to attain a 3.0 G.P.A. after two semesters on academic probation will be automatically removed from the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
University policy requires that a grade of "Incomplete" automatically change to the grade identified on an Incomplete Agreement form. These grades may be below graduate level norms. Failure to make up incompletes is considered a failure to maintain academic progress and standards, and may result in "academic probationary" status.
A student who has been accepted by the University to enroll in classes during regular (Fall-Spring) sessions is a matriculated student. Matriculated status is maintained by enrollment in regular session University courses at least once each calendar year. Breaking matriculation (i.e., not being enrolled in regular session at least once per calendar year) negates all previous agreements. A student must reapply to the University and to the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program. As well, the student may be subject to any and all new University and programmatic regulations. If new requirements have been instituted, reinstatement may or may not be forthcoming. Graduate students who are advanced to candidacy are especially well advised to maintain matriculation; status both as an accepted and as an advanced candidate is negated by broken matriculation. When matriculation is broken, reapplication to the University and to the program is required, as well as a request for reinstatement of a graduate program.
Status may be assured by requesting a Leave of Absence for any semester one is to be away from the University and from official progress toward completion of the Interdisciplinary Studies Program Master's degree. Students who take a Leave of Absence must apply for readmission to the University when they return, but application fees are waived. One may request an additional semester extension to a Leave of Absence. During a Leave, students may secure library privileges by joining the Alumna Association.
Students enroll in GS 700 only when they have been advanced to candidacy and have completed all coursework for their master's degree program. GS 700 maintains residency while students are preparing for their Comprehensive Exam or completing their Thesis/Project. Graduate students must maintain continuous attendance by enrolling in a course or in GS 700 every semester, or by taking an Educational Leave.
Students must enroll in GS 700:
Advancement to candidacy is the second major step toward securing a master's degree. It is a secondary review step to determine if the confidence expressed in a graduate student at the time of acceptance has been warranted in terms of a record of graduate accomplishment consistent with expectation.
Advancement to candidacy comes with the approval of the Student Program Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Subsequent modifications to a graduate program once a student has been advanced to candidacy may require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Students are advised to Advance to Candidacy at the earliest possible opportunity. It is especially advisable that the Writing Proficiency Exam be undertaken immediately so as not to delay advancement unduly if remedial language preparation is required. At the latest, at least one semester prior to graduation, you must advance to candidacy and you must be enrolled when you are advanced to candidacy.
Once students have met all of the following requirements, they may Advance to Candidacy:
To Advance to Candidacy, please set up a meeting with the Director of the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
For more information, please visit Enrollment Services.
It will read: Master of Arts/Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (standard language): study designation title (must concur with the title on your original program of study)
Dr. Cecile Lindsay
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate Studies
California State University, Long Beach
Brotman Hall, Room 303
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840
