Admissions Requirements

General Requirements for Admission:

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:
  • 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;
  • Be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended;
  • 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
  • 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.

Please visit the CSUSB Catalog for more information.

GPA Requirement:

If the applicant holds only a Bachelor’s degree:

1. If the cumulative GPA on the Bachelor’s granting transcript has 60 or more semester units or 90 or more quarter units listed and is 2.5 or above, then the GPA is acceptable.
2. If the cumulative GPA is below 2.5, then the GPA will be calculated using the last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units.  If the calculated GPA is 2.5 or above, the GPA is acceptable. 
3. If the cumulative GPA and the last 60-semester unit or 90 quarter unit GPA are both below 2.5, then all undergraduate transcripts will be used to calculate both a total cumulative and a last 60-semester unit or 90 quarter unit GPA.  If either GPA calculation is 2.5 or above, then the GPA is acceptable.
4. If both calculated GPA’s (cumulative and last 60 or 90) are below 2.5, then an appeal is required. 

If the applicant has 12 or more semester or 16 or more quarter Graduate units or a Graduate Degree:

1. If the cumulative GPA from the highest degree is 3.0 or above, then the GPA is acceptable.  If below 3.0, then an appeal is required.
2. If no graduate degree has been earned but 12 or more semester or 16 or more quarter graded, graduate units have been received, then calculate GPA on all graduate units.  If 12 or more semester or 16 or more quarter units GPA is 3.0 or above, then the GPA is acceptable.  If below, then an appeal is required.
3. If the applicant has any CSU graduate units and the GPA is below 3.0, then an appeal is required.
4. If an applicant has a minimum of 8 graduate units from CSUSB in the graduate program to which the applicant is applying, with a GPA of 3.0 or above, they are admissible. 

*The Office of Graduate Studies performs all GPA calculations on a case-by-case basis and these best practices are meant as a guide.  As always, special circumstances arise and not every situation can be listed.  If all attempts to achieve an acceptable GPA are unsuccessful, the applicant will be denied.  If the department wishes to pursue the applicant further, then an appeal will be required. 

If particular programs have higher GPA requirements than 2.5, the GPA requirement can be tailored to that program’s requirements.

Applicants must be in good standing in the last institution attended to be admissible.

Regarding the appeal process, applicants have a right to appeal the decision within 15 days of the denial notification. Applicants must submit a written appeal to the Office of Graduate Studies. Appeals will be reviewed by the graduate program and answered before the last day of registration for the term to which you have applied.

Standardized Testing Requirements:

Most CSUSB graduate programs have suspended standardized testing requirements, such as GRE and GMAT. Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies or the program to which you are applying to confirm application requirements.

Unofficial Transcripts:

To expedite your graduate application, you must submit the following unofficial transcripts (if applicable):

• An unofficial transcript from the undergraduate institution where your bachelor’s degree was earned (required)
• Unofficial transcript(s) for all post-baccalaureate coursework
• An unofficial transcript from the last college or university you attended

Upload your unofficial transcript(s) to the DOCUMENTS section in Cal State Apply (photographs of transcripts are not acceptable). Failure to upload your unofficial transcript(s) may result in missed application and registration deadlines. If you are unable to upload your transcripts for any reason, we encourage you to finalize your application and email your unofficial transcripts to gradadmissions@csusb.edu as soon as possible.

If requested, you must submit unofficial transcript(s) from any additional institutions you have attended.
 
If admitted, please keep in mind that receipt of official transcripts has no bearing on your ability to register for classes. However, if you are taking financial aid, you should send your official transcripts to us as soon as possible to ensure that your financial aid disburses by the first day of class. You are required to submit official transcripts for your first semester of enrollment. If you do not do so, we will place a hold on your registration for the following semester, and your admission could be revoked. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.

* All deadlines are subject to change

If you are an international student, all required documents must be submitted to the Office of International Admissions. Check the To-Do List on your MyCoyote portal to determine the due date of all required official transcripts and documents. Once you receive your official notice of admission, please make arrangements to have your official transcripts sent to:

California State University, San Bernardino
Attn: Office of Graduate Studies, CE-356
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407

Email Electronic Transcripts To:
gradadmissions@csusb.edu
Electronic transcripts must be emailed by the institution you attended to be considered official transcripts.
Please allow at least two weeks for ordering paper and electronic transcripts.

You may contact our office at (909) 537-5058 or gradadmissons@csusb.edu with any questions regarding your graduate application.

International Students: Please submit all required official transcripts and documents to the Office of International Admissions. You may contact them at (909) 537-5288 or international@csusb.edu.

Applicants with Bachelor’s Degrees in Progress:

Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in progress are admissible to postbaccalaureate programs at CSUSB if they have at maximum one semester plus summer term or two quarters plus summer term of remaining coursework.