Academic Standing and Requirements
Minimum Grade Point Average
The University requires that all graduate students maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative
grade point average (GPA) or they may be subjected to Academic Notice. Each program
may determine higher GPA requirements but must have them listed in their program handbook
and/or in the University catalog.
Graduate Milestones
In addition to completing all course requirements, graduate students will be required
to complete three (3) Milestones: Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement, Advancement to Candidacy and Culminating Experience.
Each program will delineate what requirements must be met to fulfill each milestone
and student may track their milestone progression by viewing their Academic Requirements
Report (ARR).
Advancement to Candidacy
Advancement to Candidacy occurs when a master’s program has approved a student to
proceed toward completing the final requirements for the master’s degree, e.g., final
coursework, and culminating experience (thesis, project, or comprehensive exam).
Culminating Experience
Every Master’s degree program is required to include a culminating experience. The
form of this experience differs according to degree programs, but all Master’s students
must satisfactorily complete either a thesis, a project or a comprehensive examination.
A finished Master’s thesis or Master’s project is a scholarly work that is the product
of extensive research and related preparation. The University will make Master’s theses
and Master’s projects publicly available online in the University’s institutional
repository, ScholarWorks at CSUSM. Electronic theses and projects provide increased
visibility of research produced at the University. The immediate and widespread availability
provides worldwide access to scholarship. Students should consult the University’s
guidelines for electronic Master’s theses and Master’s projects at the University
Library web site.
Apply to Graduate
Students must apply to graduate for the term that they anticipate completing all of
their program requirements. This will trigger the process for your file to be reviewed
for final degree conferral. You may do so through your Student Center at myCSUSM and
deadlines to apply to graduate.
