Graduate Admissions
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Fall 2024 Graduate Programs |
Spring 2025 Graduate Programs |
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*Accelerated, through Extension and International Programs
***NOTE: Students seeking an F1 Visa are not currently eligible to apply for online graduate 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
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. - Please review the Graduate Student Application Checklist
- New International Degree-Seeking Students
**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.
**ALL APPLICANTS: Due to document processing times, we HIGHLY recommend submitting official documents immediately after submitting the online application. This will avoid the withdrawal of your application due to incomplete application. Document processing may take up to 4 weeks. Official documents and required English Language Proficiency test scores must be submitted and processed before document deadlines.
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
What do I do after I submit my Cal State Apply application?
After submitting your application, submit the official transcripts from the college or university from which you earned your Bachelor’s degree. Additional official transcripts may be requested. Please check your Tasks in the CSUF student portal to ensure there are no outstanding items needed to complete your application.
How do I send official transcripts?
Transcripts should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions in electronic format (preferred method) via transcript delivery service or the original sealed envelope. Applicants should not open envelopes that contain official transcripts. If possible, please legibly write your name and CSUF student ID (CWID) on the outside of the sealed envelope.
What if I have not yet graduated with my Bachelor's degree?
If you are in progress (in your last year) 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.
What if my official documents are not in English?
Students must submit the official original-language transcript or mark sheets, as well as a word-for-word certified English translation if documents are not in English. Or, submit a full credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or SPANTRAN. Evaluations from any other third-party source must be accompanied by Official Transcripts.
Please view International Graduate Eligibility Requirements.
Note: Current CSUF students or alumni do not need to request official transcripts from CSUF.
**IMPORTANT: All academic records received become official records of the University and cannot be returned or re-issued.
International Applicants
***NOTE: Students seeking an F-1 Visa are not currently eligible to apply for online graduate programs.
International Status:
• You must follow the international admission requirements if you have an F-1 or J-1 student visa.
• Please refer to Eligibility Requirements to find more information about transcripts and English language proficiency requirements. Applicants can visit International Student Services for questions about travel, visas, and other application requirements. General questions for international students can be directed to (iss@fullerton.edu).
Bachelor's Degree Transcript and Degree Certificate:
• After online application submission, submit supporting documents (official transcripts or marksheets, degree certificate, TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores). Refer to English Proficiency Test Scores below for more detailed instructions on how to submit official English Language Proficiency test scores.
• Submit official transcript and degree certificate from the college or university where you earned your bachelor’s degree. Transcript must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions in the institution’s original, sealed envelope (not opened by student).
• Check your Tasks in your online CSUF student portal for any additional transcript requests.
In-Progress Bachelor's Degree Transcript:
• If your Bachelor’s degree is in progress, submit an official transcript showing classes earned up to the current point.
• If admitted, a final official transcript must be sent before starting the graduate program.
• After your Bachelor's degree is awarded, you will need to submit official degree certificate.
3-Year Bachelor's Degree:
• CSUF will only accept 4-year degrees or equivalent. If you have a 3-year degree, you can submit a World Education Services (WES) report that can verify your degree is equivalent to the U.S. Bachelor’s 4-year degree. If you previously obtained an international Diploma or Master's degree, for additional document submission instructions please contact the Office of Graduate Studies (gradstudiesrecept@fullerton.edu).
If Official Documents Are Not In English:
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.
Document Handling:
• All academic records received become official records of the University and cannot be returned or reissued.
**NOTE: Refer to Submission for Admission below for more detailed instructions on how to submit official transcript and degree certificate.
English Proficiency Test Scores
English Language Proficiency Requirement:
Regardless of citizenship, all applicants whose native language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency. Information about English proficiency requirements can be found on the International Admissions website. Your scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. If two years have passed since completing the test, you will need to re-take the test and submit new scores.
Minimum test scores to be admissible for our graduate programs:
• TOEFL → Internet 80 / Paper 550
• IELTS → 6.5
• PTE → 58
How to Submit English Language Proficiency Scores:
You have two options to submit your test score:
1. Have your test score sent by the testing service to CSU Fullerton (the school code is 4589).
2. Submit an official scorecard (original sealed envelope from testing service) along with your supporting documents to the University's Office of Admissions.
English Language Proficiency Waiver:
Country of Instruction Qualifying for Automatic Wavier include countries with English as the ONLY language of instruction.
The English Language Proficiency is automatically waived for the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Ascension, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, England, Eritrea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Wales, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
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
Students who received Bachelor's degree in U.S.:
- Submit online Cal State Apply application.
- Submit your official transcript from the college in which you received your Bachelor’s degree. In addition, submit official transcript of colleges attended after receiving Bachelor's degree. We are able to accept official transcripts both electronically (preferred method) and by mail.
Electronic Delivery:
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.
Mail Delivery:
Please use the following mailing address:
California State University, Fullerton
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 6900
Fullerton, CA 92834-6900
Office Address (for in-person drop off):
California State University, Fullerton
Office of Admissions
Langsdorf Hall Room 111
800 N State College Blvd
Fullerton, CA 92831
Students who received Bachelor's degree at international institutions:
- Submit online Cal State Apply application.
- Submit all of your supporting documents (official transcripts or marksheets from all institutions attended, degree certificate, and official TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores). 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. Please note that official documents can take up to 2 or more weeks to process.
We do not accept documents sent through email, fax, printed, or opened. Official documents must be sent in the institution’s original, sealed envelope in order to be considered official.
CSUF Office of Admissions accepts official college transcripts sent in either of 2 ways: electronically via a third-party transcript service (World Education Services or SPANTRAN) or via mail courier.
If going with the electronic option via the third-party transcript service, then please select our university as the intended recipient. If the third-party transcript service needs an email address for the intended recipient, then you may indicate admissions@fullerton.edu. In this way, the third-party transcript service will directly deliver your electronic official transcript to us.
If going with the mail courier option, please reach out to the registrar’s office at your college to obtain a paper copy of your official transcript in a sealed envelope. This can be mailed to the Office of Admissions, or if you are able to, you can deliver it in-person at the CSUF Office of Admissions (please see above mailing and in-person drop off addresses).
Early application and supporting documents submission is strongly advised, due to strong demand for programs.
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.
