Graduate Admissions
Spring 2024 Graduate Programs |
Fall 2024 Graduate Programs |
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*Accelerated, through Extension and International Programs
How to Apply
You must submit an online application and pay the $70 application processing fee at Cal State Apply. An application fee waiver is not available.
Questions?
As you begin your graduate admissions journey, we are here to help along the way!
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at ecsgrad@fullerton.edu or (657) 278-7786. You may also visit our office at CS-311.
Admission Deadlines
Spring 2024
- Admission Opens → August 1, 2023
- International Admission Closes → October 1, 2023
- International Deadline to submit all documents for all programs → October 15, 2023
- Domestic Admission Closes → November 1, 2023
- Domestic Deadline to submit all documents for all programs → November 15, 2023
- Deadline to accept and pay deposit fee for all programs → December 1, 2023
*If you are admitted after December 1, you have 10 days from the date you were admitted to accept your offer of admission.
Fall 2024
- Admission Opens → October 1, 2023
- International Admission for Computer Science Closes → January 15, 2024
- International Deadline to submit all documents for Computer Science program → January 29, 2024
- International Admission (other than Computer Science) Closes → April 1, 2024
- International Deadline (other than Computer Science) to submit all documents for all programs → April 15, 2024
- Domestic Admission Closes → May 1, 2024**
- Domestic Deadline to submit all documents for all programs → May 15, 2024**
- Deadline to accept and pay deposit fee for all programs → June 1, 2024
*If you are admitted after June 1, you have 10 days from the date you were admitted to accept your offer of admission.
**Domestic Computer Science applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by January 15, 2024 and submit all documents by January 29, 2024 because of high application volume.
Requirements
In order to meet the minimum requirements for admission, you must have completed a four-year college course of study and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association, be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended, and have attained a minimum/cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (4 point system) from your coursework.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 → If you graduated from U.S. institutions (non-ABET accredited) and/or with undergraduate degrees other than engineering or computer science or if you graduated with undergraduate degrees from non-ABET accredited international institutions.
- Minimum GPA of 2.5 → If you graduated from ABET accredited U.S. institutions with undergraduate degrees in engineering or computer science or if you graduated from ABET accredited international institution with undergraduate degrees in engineering or computer science.
ABET accredidations will be verified by the ECS Graduate & International Admissions Office.
Please do not submit any of the following items as they are not required for admission:
- Personal Statements
- Letter of Recommendations
- High School Transcripts
- Certificates of Accomplishments / Trainings
- Resumes / Work Experience
- GRE or GMAT Scores
Official Transcript
Submit all required official transcripts. Required transcripts needed will appear in your Tasks in the CSUF student portal. Submitting your transcripts as soon as you apply is extremely important. Transcripts should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions in electronic format (preferred method) by the institution or a sealed envelope (if electronic transcripts are not available). Applicants should not open envelopes that contain official transcripts.
Upon application submit the official transcripts from the college or university from which you earned your bachelor’s degree. Additional transcripts may be requested, please check your Tasks in the CSUF student portal to ensure there are no outstanding items needed.
If you are in progress with your bachelor’s degree, then send an official transcript showing classes earned up to this point. If you are admitted, you will be required to send a final official transcript showing the degree was earned before you begin your graduate program.
Some programs may also require another transcript sent to their department or provided in the Cal State Apply application. Current CSUF students or alumni do not need to request official transcripts from CSUF. Once we receive your documents, they become official records of the university; such transcripts therefore cannot be returned or reissued. International transcripts must be accompanied by certified English translations or a full credential evaluation, visit here for more information.
International Applicants
You are considered under the international admission requirements if you have received your degree outside the U.S., regardless of your visa status, or if you are currently living in the U.S.
Please be aware of the deadlines and GPA requirements that are specific to international applicants.
International students are not currently eligible to apply to online programs.
If you earned a 3-year Bachelor’s degree outside of the US, you would need to submit a diploma supplement in order to have your application reviewed or provide a credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or SPANTRAN indicating US equivalency of a 4-year degree.
English Proficiency Test Scores
If you have received your degree outside the U.S. then you are required to present the results of an acceptable English test assessment such as the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. You must submit TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores even if you are a US citizen or have been living and working in the United States for many years since you received your degree. The CSUF policy is based on where you attended school, not your citizenship or how long you have been in the United States.
Minimum test scores to be admissible for our graduate programs:
The English test assessment requirement can be waived if you have completed at least 72 college semester units at a majority English-speaking country (U.S., UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia) or graduated from a U.S. institution.
You have two options to submit your test score:
- Have your test score sent by the testing service to CSU Fullerton (the school code is 4589).
- Submit an official scorecard along with your supporting documents to the University's Office of Admissions.
Application Status
To check on the status of your application to our graduate program, please view your online CSUF student portal.
If you have questions, please email the CSUF Office of Admissions at admissions@fullerton.edu. Your email must include your first and last name, CWID (Campus Wide ID#), and the name of the program that you have applied to.
Submission for Admission
If you earned your Bachelor's degree in the US, transcripts should be sent directly to CSUF Office of Admissions in electronic format (preferred method) by the institution or a sealed envelope (if electronic transcripts are not available). Please refer to your college's transcript ordering website for available options.
Official physical transcripts can be mailed to:
California State University, Fullerton
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 6900
Fullerton, CA 92834
When ordering a transcript select "California State University, Fullerton" from the drop-down list. Please avoid selecting "OTHER" or manually entering email addresses. However, if your institution does not already have CSUF’s contact information on file, please use admissions@fullerton.edu to complete your order.
International students, after submitting your application online, please submit all of your supporting documents (official transcripts from all institutions attended, marksheets, degree certificate, and official TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores).
Early application and supporting documents submission is strongly advised, due to strong demand for programs.
Send only official college transcripts. Official transcripts must be delivered sealed in the original envelope to be considered official. It may not be opened by the student.
If your institution offers electronic delivery, send electronic transcripts via World Education Services (WES) or SPANTRAN.
International students must submit one of the following official original-language transcript or mark sheets, as well as an official English translation if documents are not in English:
- A word-for-word certified English translation along with the official original-language transcripts.
- A full credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or SPANTRAN. Evaluations from any other third-party source must be accompanied by an official transcript.
Additional Resources & Frequently Asked Questions
For more information on:
- General graduate admissions → Office of Admissions & Graduate Studies Office
- Student visas, health insurance, and financial documents → CSUF's Extension and International Programs
- Fees → Student Business Services
Can I attend part-time?
Yes! Many of our graduate courses are offered in the evening to accommodate working professionals. The Software Engineering and Environmental Engineering programs are offered entirely online and therefore fit anyone’s schedule. International students must maintain their full-time student status.
How long does it take to receive my Master's Degree?
All of the master's programs require 30 units to receive your degree. There are many factors that affect how long it will take to receive your degree; the most important factors are how many courses you plan to take per semester and if you have any deficiency (prerequisite) courses to complete before beginning the required 30 units. The one exception is the Software Engineering program; the program consists of two courses per semester for five semesters (22 months).
Can I apply to a program I have already earned a Master's Degree in?
No. If you have already earned a Master's Degree in a particular field you ARE NOT ELIGIBLE to apply to the same program within CSUF's College of Engineering and Computer Science (Example: if you have an M.S. in Computer Engineering you MAY NOT apply to the CSUF gradaute Computer Engineering program).
Can I be admitted if I don't have a Bachelor's Degree in the same major?
Yes! You can still be admitted if you do not have an academic background in the field you are applying for. You will be assigned deficiency (prerequisite) courses by an advisor in the department. You can take these courses as a master's student at CSUF before beginning the 30 units required for the master's degree.
Can I transfer courses I took at another university into the Master's Program?
You can request to apply a limited number of transfer courses towards unit requirements for a master's degree. The maximum number of units that can be transferred to a master's program is nine.
Can I take a class without being admitted to a Master's Program?
Yes! Anyone can enroll in undergraduate and graduate-level classes through Open University. Registration is provided on a space available basis. If a course has prerequisites you must have met the prerequisites in order to be eligible to enroll. If you decide to apply for a master's program at CSUF you may be able to transfer courses taken through Open University. Visit Open University for more information.