Social and Multicultural Foundations Advancing to Candidacy

When students are first admitted to the program, they are not yet candidates for the master's degree. Advancing to candidacy is the process through which students create a contract with the program and the university regarding the planned course of study, secure their "catalog rights," and become degree candidates. Securing catalog rights is important because it locks in the program requirements of the current CSULB Catalog, and protects the student if the program requirements should change. Students are advised to advance to candidacy as soon as they are eligible to do so, and must advance one semester prior to enrolling in the courses to complete either of the exit requirements (EDP 697 + comprehensive examination or EDP: 698 Thesis). Students must have completed the following steps in order to advance to candidacy:

1. Completed one semester as a matriculated graduate student at CSULB.
2. Completed all prerequisites.
3. Completed (6) units of program courses (SMF Program Courses, Research Methods or Electives).
4. Fulfilled the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR), generally by passing the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE).
5. Maintained a 3.0 GPA in all program coursework, including prerequisites.
6. Completed any incomplete grades.
7. Filled out the Advancement to Candidacy form, available from the Graduate Studies Office (ED1-7), the student's advisor, or the SMF Program Coordinator.
8. Met with the student's advisor.

Please note that students must be enrolled during the semester in which they apply for advancement to candidacy. Students submit the completed advancement form, signed by the student's advisor, to the Graduate Studies Office in the College of Education (ED1-7). The Graduate Studies Office will then process the form and send it to the student for a final signature. The form will then be sent to Enrollment Services.

Last update: 7/5/07