Online Application Submission

Completed applications must be submitted by the following deadlines:

Fall 2026

Application period opens: October 1, 2025

• Cal State Apply University Application due date: December 1, 2025
• MyCED Program Application due date: December 12, 2025

Applications are not accepted after the deadline.

NOTE: Access to MyCED is permitted after submitting the University application in Cal State Apply. 

Use Cal State Apply to apply and be sure to complete all components of the application by the published deadline.

The Cal State Apply dashboard is divided into four sections:

• Personal Information: contact information, biographic information and financial information, etc.
• Academic History: colleges attended, GPAs, etc.; do not hand-enter transcript information
• Supporting Information: enter “I am not adding any experiences”
• Program Materials: enter "I am not adding any program materials" (these will be submitted on MyCED)

Please refer the tutorial on the Graduate Programs Advising Tips & Tutorials for Applying website for tips on filling out these sections of Cal State Apply. Please also refer below for detailed information for what documents to submit for the program materials.

Lastly, there is a non-refundable $70 application fee. Your application will not be processed until this fee has been paid. Please note that the CSU system does not offer a fee waiver for graduate level applications.

Important: you may only apply to one graduate program per CSU. If you are unsure about which program is best for you, please connect with Graduate Programs Advising Staff.

For technical assistance with Cal State Apply, please contact the Cal State Apply Help Desk: (857) 304-2087, via email, or visit the Cal State Apply Applicant Help Center. Cal State Apply Application Support is available Monday – Friday, 6:00AM – 5:00PM PT.

Access to MyCED is permitted after submitting the University application in Cal State Apply. 

After you complete and submit the CSULB Cal State Apply application, please upload supplementary program application materials via MyCED by the MyCED program application deadline:

• Statement of purpose (prompt provided below)
• Résumé
• Johnson Endowed Fellowship application (optional) 

Please refer the MyCED tutorial on the Graduate Programs Advising Tips & Tutorials for Applying website for general tips on filling out the MyCED application.

Please email ced-gradstudies@csulb.edu if you need technical support navigating MyCED.  

Statement of Purpose Prompt

Write a 3-4 page, double-spaced, focused presentation of yourself as a prospective student affairs professional or professional counselor in higher education. We seek a clear and comprehensive introduction to you as well as a sample of your writing. We also want to know how your career goals align with the mission and objectives of SDHE. Please organize your statement according to these sections, using them as headings to separate each section:

• BACKGROUND: Describe your educational, work, and volunteer experiences, including the interpersonal relations, interests, and special skills and knowledge you possess that you believe are necessary to enter and practice the profession of higher education/student affairs/counseling. If your prior experiences are primarily in PK–12 or other settings, please explain how those experiences connect to and prepare you for a career in higher education.
• PROFESSIONAL/CAREER GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS: Describe your career goals, expectations, and aspirations in higher education/student affairs and how the SDHE program will assist you in realizing them.
• SIGNIFICANT EVENTS/PEOPLE: Describe 1-2 events, individuals, or life lessons that were critical to your decision to pursue this profession. Connect the significant experiences to your goals/expectations and how the SDHE program can help you to achieve them.
• STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES: Describe yourself candidly in terms of your emotional, social, and intellectual strengths and areas for growth and how SDHE can influence your development.

Need help with writing your Statement of Purpose? Visit our website for tips and resources: Graduate Programs Advising Tips & Tutorials for Applying website.

Resume

Please upload the most recent copy of your résumé. When preparing your résumé for admission, please ensure that you highlight your relevant experiences connected to higher education, student affairs, and student support. These may include:

• Professional Experience: Full-time or part-time professional (paid) positions in higher education or related fields.
• Volunteer and Leadership Roles: Involvement in student organizations, campus/community service, mentoring, or leadership positions that demonstrate your commitment to supporting students.
• Applicable Skills and Training: Experiences with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; program planning; advising/counseling; event coordination; or assessment/research in educational contexts.

For each experience, please clearly present the following:

• Position Title: (e.g., Coordinator, Resident Assistant, Peer Mentor, Academic Advisor, Volunteer Coordinator).
• Employer/Organization: Name of the college/university, department, student organization, or community agency.
• Duration: Indicate the years (or months) you served in that role.
• Responsibilities & Contributions: In 1–2 sentences, describe your key responsibilities, focusing on how you supported or contributed to student learning, development, engagement, or success.
• Multilingual Abilities: Indicate any languages you speak, read, or write.

Need help with updating your resume? Visit our website for tips and resources: Graduate Programs Advising Tips & Tutorials for Applying website.

Supplemental Materials - Optional Submission

This part of the SDHE application is OPTIONAL. It is to be used by applicants who wish to be considered for the Johnson Endowed Fellowship. If you do not wish to be considered for these financial support/work opportunities, please disregard this portion of the application. Please note that at the time of posting these applications, it is unknown how either opportunity may be impacted by logistical and financial concerns in Academic Year 2025-26.

Johnson Endowed Fellowship instructions: 

On a separate page, please respond to both prompts below in a total of 250 words or less:

• The SDHE program is committed to access and equity in higher education and the promotion of social justice for all students. How does your prior work and academic experience align with this philosophy?
• As a potential student, how will you build on this philosophy in your studies and fieldwork opportunities to prepare for a professional career?

Access to MyCED is permitted after submitting the University application in Cal State Apply. 

Be prepared to enter the names and e-mail addresses for two recommenders. Recommendations due by December 12, 2025. You may complete and submit your MyCED application before your recommenders submit their letters.

Who to ask
Be prepared to enter the names and e-mail addresses for two recommenders.

Recommendations are preferred from recommenders who are familiar with your work, i.e., faculty members, supervisors, or mentors with sufficient experience to offer an informed and compelling statement of your skills and qualifications. We encourage (but do not require) you to submit one letter from a faculty member who can speak to your academic abilities and potential for graduate study; and one letter from a professional in student affairs (e.g., current or former supervisor) who can address your professional skills, leadership, and/or potential to contribute to higher education/student affairs. We encourage you to seek the strongest possible letters regardless of the source. Therefore, we suggest speaking with your recommenders before completing this section.

Once you have entered and saved information for a recommender, an email request from MyCED will automatically be sent to the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder, as emails do occasionally get filtered out.

Your recommenders will be instructed to respond to the following statement:

Please provide an accurate assessment of the applicant’s skills, strengths, and areas in need of improvement relevant to being successful in graduate school and in a career in higher education. Your candid comments will enhance our ability to more effectively evaluate the applicant’s file and are greatly appreciated.