Graduate Application and Admissions Procedures

Admission Procedures and Policies

Requirements for admission to San Francisco State University are in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 1, Subchapter 3, of the California Code of Regulations.Complete information is available on the California State University website.

All CSU applications must be submitted online on the Cal State Apply website. An acknowledgment will be sent to the applicant when the online application has been submitted.

Importance of Filing Complete, Accurate and Authentic Application Documents

San Francisco State University advises prospective students that they must supply complete and accurate information on the application for admission, residency questionnaire and financial aid forms. Further, applicants must, when requested, submit authentic and official transcripts of all previous academic work attempted. Failure to file complete, accurate and authentic application documents may result in denial of admission, cancellation of registration or academic credit, suspension or expulsion (Section 41301, Article 1.1, Title 5, California Code of Regulations).

Application Acknowledgment

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. Unless specific written approval/confirmation is received, an offer of admission is not transferable to another term or to another university.

Reservation

The University reserves the right to select its students and deny admission to the University or any of its programs as the University, in its sole discretion, determines appropriate based on an applicant's suitability and the best interests of the University.

Appeal of Admission Decision

Section 89030.7 of the California Education Code requires that the CSU establishes specific requirements for appeal procedures for a denial of admission. Each CSU must publish appeal procedures for applicants denied admission to the university. The procedure is limited to addressing university decisions to deny an applicant admission to the university.

Admission appeal procedures must address the basis for appeals, provide 15 business days for an applicant to submit an appeal, stipulate a maximum of one appeal per academic term, provide specific contact information for the individual or office to which the appeal should be submitted and indicate a time estimate for when the university expects to respond to an appeal. The appeal procedures must be included in all denial of admission notifications to students and must also be published on the university website.

Application Procedures

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.

All program-specific supporting materials for graduate applicants must be uploaded in Cal State Apply.  Retroactive admission and/or award of degree or certificate is prohibited for students who complete coursework in a program to which they have not been officially admitted. Applicants seeking prerequisites for entry to a graduate degree program should contact the Division of Graduate Studies. The Cal State Apply online application system does not allow applicants to apply to more than one San Francisco State graduate program per application term.  If you are not selected for admission to your preferred program, contact Graduate Studies for an alternate program.

Applicants seeking second baccalaureate admission must obtain written support for admission from the Academic Department Chair of the intended program of study and contact the Division of Graduate Studies for procedures and forms to be considered for admission.

Application Filing Periods

Application periods for SF State may change. For the most current information, see the Future Students page at www.sfsu.edu/future/. Please note that some major programs do not accept applications for spring admission.

Fall Semester

• Applications first accepted: October 1
• Initial filing period: October 1 to November 30

Spring Semester

• Applications first accepted: August 1
• Initial filing period: August 1 to 31

Application periods for SF State may change. For the most current information, see the Graduate Studies website.

Official Transcript Requirement

All applications are reviewed based on unofficial transcripts uploaded to the Cal State Apply online application. Applicants offered admission must provide the Division of Graduate Studies with one official transcript from each college or university attended, including community college and study abroad coursework. Separate transcripts from each college or university are required even though one transcript may show coursework taken at another institution. Transcripts for coursework completed at San Francisco State are not required. Official transcripts must be submitted in envelopes sealed by the issuing college or university. Copies of transcripts or opened official transcripts will not be accepted. Official transcripts sent electronically from authorized agencies, such as Script Safe, eScript, and etranscripts, must be sent to graddocs@sfsu.edu. Transcripts that have been submitted for admission or evaluation become the property of the University and are not returned or copied for distribution outside of the University.

Entrance Examination/Standardized Test Scores

The University does not require applicants to complete an entrance examination as a condition for graduate admission; however, many departments or programs do require that graduate degree applicants submit results of the general or area tests of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) prior to admission. Check the department website for test requirements. Applicants are responsible for having the required examination results forwarded directly to the University or department. San Francisco State’s GRE institution code is 4684. Our GMAT institution codes are F87HP99 for the M.B.A., and F87HP10 for the Master of Science in Accountancy programs.

Pre-admission Writing Assessment

The University requires that all applicants meet a pre-admission (Level I) writing standard prior to entering a graduate program. Departments or programs stipulate the pre-admission writing standards appropriate to their discipline. Departments may require a specific score range on the analytical writing section of the GRE or GMAT or faculty will assess graduate-level writing with a department/program administered writing exam or essay. Students who do not meet Level I writing standards, but meet other admissions requirements, may be admitted with specific conditions stipulated by the department. Conditions for meeting Level I writing standards should be met no later than the second consecutive semester after admission.

Program Application Materials

Letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, writing samples, and résumé materials required by the department or program must be submitted as part of your Cal State Apply online application. Check the department/program website for requirements.  All application materials submitted to the University, academic department, or graduate program become the property of the University and will not be returned. In selected cases in which an applicant has submitted a portfolio of original work for review by a program admission committee, the original works may be returned if the applicant makes the necessary arrangements with the department and provides a stamped, self-addressed envelope or package for return mailing.

Applicants from Institutions without Regional Accreditation

An applicant who is a graduate of an institution without regional accreditation, or from an institution whose degree is not considered equivalent to a baccalaureate degree from this University in terms of quality and/or content (e.g., specialized, professional, or certain international institutions), may not be admitted directly to graduate or credential status at San Francisco State. Applicants from non-accredited institutions should contact the Senior Associate Director of Graduate Admissions to determine alternative preparation for graduate study. Additional coursework at the undergraduate level may be required. Information about regionally accredited universities can be found at the Council for Higher Education website (www.chea.org). International students should review the International Student Admission Requirements section below.

Admissions information

Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Admission Requirements

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 3.0 on the last degree completed by the candidate or have attained a grade point average of at least 3.0 (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 – including San Francisco State University - 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.)

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 receive a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) PBT paper based test or 80 on the TOEFL iBT internet based test. Some programs require a higher score. San Francisco State University accepts alternative English proficiency tests for assessing fluency, including Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP).  The minimum scores for graduate study are IELTS 6.5 overall score, PTE Academic 59 overall, and a 120 overall Duolingo score.

International (Foreign) Student Admission Requirements

 The CSU must assess the academic preparation of foreign students. For this purpose, "foreign students" include those who hold U.S. temporary visas as students, exchange visitors or in other nonimmigrant classifications.

The CSU uses separate requirements and application filing dates in the admission of foreign students. Verification of English proficiency (see the section on the English Language Requirement for graduate applicants), financial resources, and academic performance are each important considerations for admission. Academic records from foreign institutions must be on file at least by the 4th week of the first term and, if not in English, must be accompanied by certified English translations.

 An official academic document is a verification of a student’s academic record issued directly from the university. A student’s academic record (transcript) and degree certificate must arrive in The Division of Graduate Studies in a sealed/unopened envelope with a university stamp or signature on the envelope flap, or sent electronically by the issuing institution.

Notice of Admission or Denial

After review of all application materials, department or program admission committees notify the San Francisco State Graduate Admissions office of their admission recommendations. Applicants are then formally notified of their admission status on receipt of the official San Francisco State Graduate Admission Notification Letter issued by the Dean of the Division of Graduate Studies. Letters of admission from the department or program received prior to the official San Francisco State Admission Notification Letter are not valid. Applicants who are denied by either the University or the academic department or program will receive notification of denial from the Division of Graduate Studies.

Admission Contingent on Award of Degree

If a student is admitted to the University before the final award of the baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree, an official transcript with degree award notation must be submitted before the end of the fourth week of the first semester of enrollment. Students who are admitted to a graduate program contingent on award of the undergraduate degree must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better in all work completed before the degree is earned or admission status may be rescinded. Any student who does not submit documentation of completion of an undergraduate degree by the end of the fourth week is subject to one or more of the following actions: cancellation of admission and registration, automatic reclassification to undergraduate status, loss of all units taken for post-baccalaureate credit, and disciplinary action if appropriate.

Expiration of Admission Offer

Admission will be canceled if an applicant is accepted by SF State for a given semester and does not enroll in that semester. Applicants who let their admission offer expire must file a new CAL STATE APPLY application, pay a new application fee, and meet the requirements for admission in effect for the new term to which they are applying. Readmission to a future semester is not guaranteed. An offer of admission may also be withdrawn by the graduate program if the applicant has not indicated their intent to enroll by the program deadline or has failed to meet a condition of admission set by the program.

Transfer Credit from Other Institutions

Graduate courses taken at another university are not automatically transferable to a San Francisco State graduate program. At the discretion of the department faculty, with support of the Dean of Graduate Studies, a maximum of 9 semester units, including any combination of transfer units or coursework through the College of Professional & Global Education, may be used to meet the requirements of a 30 unit program, or proportionally more for a program requiring 45 or more units. Students requesting transfer of units should confer with the department chair or graduate coordinator and the Division of Graduate Studies after notification of admission.

Departments/programs have the authority to determine which transfer courses will be accepted for use on the Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) form. (Review the Advancement to Candidacy section of Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures in this Bulletin for more information). Courses accepted for transfer credit by the department must meet the following minimum University requirements, but higher requirements may be stipulated by the department:

• The course content clearly meets the program’s curricular requirements stipulated in the SF State Bulletin.
• The course was taken at a regionally accredited (or international equivalent) institution of higher education.
• The course was not used to meet the requirements for an undergraduate or graduate degree awarded (excess units) at SF State or another institution.
• The course was either an upper-division or a graduate-level course at the institution at which it was taken and must be acceptable to that institution’s advanced degree program. The student may be required to provide a letter from the institution’s Registrar’s office stating the course is acceptable for use toward an advance degree-granting program and was not used toward another degree. 
• The course(s), if taken through an extension program, must be accepted as a degree course at that university. Some extension courses are not acceptable. Check with the offering institution’s Registrar’s office and with Graduate Studies for transfer assessment.
• The course was not taken any earlier than seven years from the date the student is planning to graduate. Transfer courses become invalid when they no longer meet the seven-year condition. Transfer courses exceeding the seven-year limit cannot be extended through petition. 
• The student earned an acceptable grade (C or better) in the course. A grade of C will be calculated into the student’s ATC GPA which cannot be lower than a 3.0. Most departments require a grade of B or better for transfer courses.
• Quarter units will be converted to semester units.
• Credits earned at recognized foreign universities may be transferable if course content, credit hours, and grades are determined equivalent to SF State coursework. An official academic record and certified translation must be on file in the Division of Graduate Studies.

It is the obligation of the student, the student’s advisor, and the graduate coordinator to determine that the proposed transfer course meets all of the conditions for eligibility for inclusion on the ATC form.

A student requesting to have a course taken at another institution included as part of their graduate program should do the following:

• Obtain the approval of their graduate advisor and graduate coordinator on the Request for Graduate Program Transfer Unit Evaluation form.
• If substituting for a required core course, a Waiver of Graduate Program Regulation form and a letter of support from the department will be required in addition to the Request for Graduate Program Transfer Unit Evaluation form.
• Submit the official transcript from the transfer institution with the Request for Graduate Program Transfer Unit Evaluation form to the Division of Graduate Studies for signature by the Dean or designee.
• If approved, the course may be included in the ATC. Departments may deny transfer courses.
• Transcripts that have been submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies become the property of the University and are not returned or copied for distribution.

Credit by Examination

Credit by examination is seldom granted unless a student shows a high level of prior competence in the content area of the course being challenged and passes all course requirements through formal examination. An example of a student granted credit by examination is a highly skilled nurse who is able to pass the didactic and practical sections of a nursing course final examination.

To earn credit by examination, a student must obtain approval from the department chair and graduate coordinator. Grading options will be the same as that available for the course being challenged. The examination is to be comprehensive and includes whatever activity, test or demonstration is deemed appropriate for evaluating the skills, understanding, or knowledge required by the objectives of the course. Students must be regularly enrolled during the semester they earn credit by examination. Units earned via credit by examination are counted as part of the total units registered for a given semester and appropriate fees must be paid. Grades received as a result of the examination will be recorded on the student’s permanent record and appropriate grade points assigned.

Credits Taken Prior to Admission to a Graduate Program at San Francisco State

• Credit through Open University, College of Professional & Global Education (CPaGL): No more than 6 units or 20 percent may be used as required units for the degree (proportionally more for larger unit degree programs) taken in CPaGL through Open University may be counted toward a graduate degree.
• Credit for Graduate Courses Completed as an Undergraduate: Up to 9 units of upper-division or up to 12 units of graduate work (not to exceed a total of 12 units) completed as an undergraduate may be counted toward a graduate program ONLY if the work was taken before the bachelor’s degree was earned and not counted toward the undergraduate degree. See Graduate Courses Taken as an Undergraduate Student at SF State section below for more detail.
• Credit from Certificate Programs during Post Baccalaureate Classified Status: When a student enrolls in a certificate program prior to admission to a related master’s program, no more than 12 units taken in certificate status may be applied to a certain master’s degree. Any double counting of units must be approved by the department and the Division of Graduate Studies. Not all programs permit double counting of degree and certificate units.
• Credit Completed during Second Baccalaureate and Unclassified Graduate Status: The Chancellor’s Office has restricted access to these classifications due to budget issues. Admission to either status requires review by the dean of the Division of Graduate Studies. A specific plan of coursework must be approved by the dean of Graduate Studies.  Students not following the plan of coursework will be administratively disqualified.
• Credit Completed before Admission: Applicants to post-baccalaureate study must file an application and be accepted to each program to be eligible to earn a degree, certificate, or credential. Retroactive admission and/or award of degree or certificate is prohibited for students who complete coursework in a program to which they have not been admitted.

Graduate Courses Taken as an Undergraduate Student at San Francisco State

Courses taken prior to the award of the baccalaureate degree at SF State are considered undergraduate courses. However, students who have completed all courses toward the undergraduate degree and who have applied formally for admission to an SF State graduate program may request on the Application for Award of Baccalaureate degree that up to 12 units of upper-division undergraduate or graduate work taken before the award of the undergraduate degree be granted provisional post-baccalaureate status. Units to be applied toward a graduate degree may not be counted toward the undergraduate major or minor degree requirements. Only units with a B grade or above may be petitioned for use toward the graduate degree. The inclusion of units on an Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) taken as an undergraduate must have the approval of the department/program admission committee or graduate coordinator and the Division of Graduate Studies. The number of upper-division undergraduate units must not exceed the total number of undergraduate units permitted on the ATC.

If the baccalaureate degree is not completed at the end of the term expected, the provisional post-baccalaureate status for specified courses may be voided.

If eligible units were not specified for graduate standing when applying for the award of the baccalaureate degree at SF State and the units were not used for the baccalaureate degree, students should submit a Petition for Waiver of Graduate Program Regulations to the Division of Graduate Studies.

San Francisco State Scholars Programs (FastTrack)

The San Francisco State Scholars program provides undergraduate students in selected programs with an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Students in this program pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees simultaneously. This program allows students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior year, reducing the number of semesters required for completion of a master’s degree. The SF State University Scholars program offers students additional career prospects, intellectual growth and the opportunity to deepen skills and research competencies.

San Francisco State Scholars Eligibility:

• Undergraduate students interested in an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree through the San Francisco State Scholars Program must be sponsored by a Tenured/Tenure Track faculty advisor in the degree program.
• Students must apply to the program before they complete 90-semester units toward their undergraduate degree and before enrolling in a senior capstone course in their major.
• Students must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA or 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester units.
• Students must not be declared in another major or second baccalaureate.
• Students must meet admission requirements for their intended graduate program.
• Students must submit a San Francisco State Scholars Program application that includes a Planned Course of Study to the Division of Graduate Studies.
• The dean of the Division of Graduate Studies will notify applicants of acceptance into the San Francisco State Scholars.

San Francisco State Scholars Academic Standing:

Students who enroll in the San Francisco State Scholars Program must:

• Maintain both a semester and cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better.
• Make continuous progress toward undergraduate and graduate degree objectives.

Students who do not meet these academic standards may be subject to disqualification from the San Francisco State Scholars.

San Francisco State Scholars Tuition Fees:

• San Francisco State Scholars students will be charged undergraduate tuition and fees until they complete 120-semester units. 
• Upon completion of 120 units, students may continue to take upper-division undergraduate courses but will be charged graduate tuition and fees.
• Students in a degree program that has been authorized to assess the higher graduate professional degree fees will only be charged these fees for courses required to meet the graduate degree program requirements.

Second Master’s Degree

Students seeking admission for concurrent enrollment in a second graduate degree must meet the following criteria:

1. be in good standing in their current master’s degree program,
2. must have completed at least 15 units of their current master’s degree program,
3. must formally apply and be admitted to the new master’s degree program and
4. may not use the same coursework nor complete the same culminating experience for both programs. Students studying for concurrent master's degrees may not use the same coursework, nor complete the same culminating experience, for both programs. For concurrent degrees with a common core, faculty of the programs must determine alternative core courses for the second degree.

Joint Study for Master’s Degree and Credential

Contact the Graduate College of Education, Credential and Graduate Services Center for information on current admission policies for entry into a credential program. Students intending to secure both a master’s degree and a California basic teaching credential may, in some programs, pursue these objectives concurrently, although some departments do not allow the same courses to be used for both objectives. Check with the department and Credential Office (Graduate College of Education) for the policy. If allowed by the department, no more than 12 units taken in credential status may be applied to a master’s degree.

Readmission

Readmission to a graduate program is not guaranteed. Students applying for readmission are reviewed with all other applicants during that application period and must reapply by stated program deadlines. Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) status is automatically voided after two consecutive regular semesters of absence have occurred and when no formal planned educational or serious health-related leave of absence has been granted. A leave of absence can only be taken prior to enrolling in the Culminating Experience. The Leave of Absence request form is found on the Graduate Studies website. Upon readmission, a new ATC that meets current curriculum requirements must be completed and filed. Review the Continuous Enrollment Requirements and Progress Toward Degree sections of this Bulletin for information.

San Francisco State graduate students must reapply for admission to the University and the department/program if:

1. they did not enroll in the first semester of admission;
2. they have been absent for two consecutive regular (spring/fall) semesters as a matriculated student; and/or
3. they have attended another college in any interval of their absence.

To be considered in attendance for any semester, the student must be enrolled in at least one class through the end of the twentieth day of instruction.

Readmission to a graduate degree, credential, or certificate program requires the student to apply to the University through Cal State Apply. Unofficial transcripts and required program supplemental materials must be uploaded to the online application. In order for previously matriculated SF State graduate students to be eligible for readmission, they must have earned a GPA of 3.0 or better in all coursework attempted in graduate status and, if applicable, all coursework attempted at other colleges during their absence. If more than seven years have passed since the first semester of admission, applicants for readmission must first submit a Petition for Extension of the Seven-Year Limit in order to determine whether courses taken will be allowed for use towards the degree. The dean of the Division of Graduate Studies and the department have the right to deny any previous coursework taken beyond the seven-year limit. If a student has attended any other educational institution following attendance as a matriculated student at San Francisco State, transcripts must be submitted for all academic work undertaken since the student last attended SF State. Students applying for readmission must have been in “good standing” at San Francisco State and must have been making continuous progress toward the degree before leaving their program. Students wishing to re-enter with a GPA lower than 3.0 must improve their GPA by taking courses through Open University before reapplying.

Courses Taken to Improve GPA

Courses taken to improve the GPA prior to admission to a graduate program or following academic disqualification should be selected to improve academic preparation for graduate coursework. Students may not enroll in non-degree related courses in Open University or lower-division courses to improve a deficient GPA. Coursework taken to improve the GPA will not be applied toward their graduate degree.