Admission Requirements - Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Students

Director of Special Populations and University Outreach: Veronica Bethea-Amey
Office:  Entwood
Telephone: (661) 654-6113
Email: graduateadmissions@csub.edu
Website: https://www.csub.edu/graduate-admissions

Admission Requirements

Graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants may apply for a degree objective, a credential or certificate objective, or where approved, may have no program objective. Depending on the objective, the CSU will consider an application for admission as follows:

• General Requirements — The minimum requirements for admission to graduate and post- baccalaureate studies at a CSU are in accordance with university regulations as well as Title 5, Chapter 1, Subchapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations.
• Specifically, a student shall at the time of enrollment:
  1. Have completed a four-year college course of study and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association, or shall have completed equivalent academic preparation as determined by appropriate university authorities;
  2. Be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended;
  3. Have earned a grade point average of at least 2.5 on the last degree completed by the candidate or have attained a grade point average of at least 2.5 (A=4.0) in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted; and
  4. Satisfactorily meet the professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards for graduate study, including qualifying examinations, as appropriate university authorities may prescribe. In unusual circumstances, a university may make exceptions to these criteria.
• Students who meet the minimum requirements for graduate and post-baccalaureate studies may be considered for admission in one of the four following categories:
  1. Graduate Classified – To pursue a graduate degree, applicants are required to fulfill all of the professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards, including qualifying examinations, prescribed by the university; or
  2. Graduate Conditionally Classified – Applicants may be admitted to a graduate degree program in this category if, in the opinion of appropriate university authority, deficiencies may be remedied by additional preparation; or
  3. Post-Baccalaureate Classified (e.g. admission to an education credential program) – Persons wishing to enroll in a credential or certificate program will be required to satisfy additional professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards, including qualifying examinations, prescribed by the university; or
  4. Post-Baccalaureate Unclassified – To enroll in undergraduate courses as preparation for advanced degree programs or to enroll in graduate courses for professional or personal growth, applicants must be admitted as post- baccalaureate unclassified students. By meeting the general requirements, applicants are eligible for admission as post-baccalaureate unclassified students. Admission in this status does not constitute admission to, or assurance of consideration for admission to, any graduate degree or credential program. (Most CSUs do not offer admission to unclassified postbaccalaureate students).

(These and other CSU admission requirements are subject to change as policies are revised and laws are amended. The CSU website and the CSU admission portal are good sources for the most up-to-date information.)

Returning Students

Graduates of CSUB must reapply to the university under the same conditions and deadlines as all other graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants. However, any student who earned a bachelor’s degree at CSU Bakersfield and subsequently applies for graduate or post-baccalaureate status at this institution is not required to request and pay for transcripts from CSUB.

Seeking a Master’s Degree

Some programs may require a separate department application. Applicants to master’s degree and credential programs must apply to both the university and the program intended.

To be offered admission to a master’s degree program a student must meet general university admission requirements as well as specific admission requirements of the program.

Each graduate program has its own application deadline. Some graduate programs accept students only in the fall term. Individual programs must be consulted for deadline dates and admissions policies.

Upon receipt of all necessary documents, the university Admissions office will review the student’s eligibility based on the minimum university requirements listed above. If the student is eligible, his/her academic program will be notified. An admission letter will be sent upon completion of the departmental review of the student’s qualifications for admission into the degree graduate program.

Seeking a Credential

CSU Bakersfield offers several credentialing programs accredited by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Visit the School of Social Sciences and Education for more information.

Credentials and/or Certificates must be earned either concurrently while pursuing a bachelor’s degree or following the award of a bachelor’s degree.

Credentials are not terminal degrees. Credentials can be completed in stages and may expire. Students interested in obtaining a teaching credential must meet the graduate admission requirements above, as well as the additional requirements specified by the Department of Teacher Education.

Seeking a Second Baccalaureate Degree

An applicant who holds a recognized bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution may pursue a second bachelor’s degree in an approved major. Not all programs permit applicants seeking a second baccalaureate degree and may be limited in capacity to accommodate applicants.

Candidates for a second baccalaureate degree must apply using the graduate application.
The major may not be the same as the previously conferred degree. All students are urged to consult with a department advisor to determine whether a second bachelor’s or a graduate program better meets their needs.

Students seeking a second, or additional, baccalaureate degree must satisfy all requirements for the major. However, as post- baccalaureate students, they are also subject to additional requirements. Students must submit official transcripts from all accredited institutions, including transcripts that show courses currently in progress.

Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate English Language Requirement

All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose native language is not English and whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must demonstrate competence in English. Those who do not possess a bachelor's degree from a postsecondary institution where English is the principal language of instruction must provide the following marks listed in the table below. ). Some programs require a higher score. Several CSUs may use alternative methods for assessing fluency in English including Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP).

Graduate Admissions Test Scores

Graduate Admissions Test Scores

Test	Score
TOEFL	Minimum score of 79 iBT
IELTS	6.5 is required
Duolingo	Minimum score of 105
PTE ( Pearson Test Examination)	Minimum score of 58

Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Application Procedures

All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants (i.e., doctorate, joint Ph.D. applicants, master's degree applicants, those seeking educational credentials or certificates and, where permitted, holders of baccalaureate degrees interested in taking courses for personal or professional growth) must file a complete graduate application as described in the graduate and post-baccalaureate admission materials on the Cal State Apply website. Applicants seeking a second bachelor's degree must submit the undergraduate application for admission. Applicants who completed undergraduate degree requirements in the preceding term are also required to complete and submit an application and the $70 nonrefundable application fee. To be assured of initial consideration by more than one CSU, it is necessary to submit separate applications (including fees) to each. All CSU applications must be submitted online via the Cal State Apply website. An acknowledgement will be sent to the applicant when the online application has been submitted.

On-time applicants may expect to receive an acknowledgment from the campuses to which they have applied within two to four weeks of filing the application. The notice may also include a request that applicants submit additional records necessary to evaluate academic qualifications. Applicants may be assured of admission if the evaluation of relevant qualifications indicates that applicants meet CSU admission requirements, and in the case of admission impaction, supplemental criteria for admission to an impacted program. Unless specific written approval/confirmation is received, an offer of admission is not transferable to another term or to another campus.

APPLICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

On-time applicants may expect to receive an e-mail acknowledgement from the universities to which they have applied within two to four weeks of filing the application.  The notice may include a request that applicants submit additional records necessary to evaluate academic qualifications. Applicants may be assured of admission if the evaluation of relevant qualifications indicates that applicants meet CSU admission requirements, and in the case of admission impaction, supplemental criteria for admission to an impacted program. Unless specific written approval/confirmation is received, an offer of admission is not transferable to another term or to another university.

HARDSHIP PETITIONS

The university has established procedures for consideration of qualified applicants who would be faced with extreme hardship if not admitted. Petitioners should write to the university Admission Office regarding specific policies governing hardship admission. Link to the admission appeal website: https://www.csub.edu/admissions/Appeals