Fill - Free fillable GRADUATESPECIALMAJOR CALIFORNIASTATEUNIVERSITY,SACRAMENTO ProspecvestudentsseekingtoobtainamastersinSpecialMajorshouldcontactanadvisorinoneofthe departmentsinwhichthemajorityofthecourseworkwillbetaken PDF form

GRADUATESPECIALMAJOR

CALIFORNIASTATEUNIVERSITY,SACRAMENTO



Prospecvestudentsseekingtoobtainamaster’sinSpecialMajorshouldcontactanadvisorinoneofthe

departmentsinwhichthemajorityofthecourseworkwillbetaken.



WhatisaSpecialMajor?

AgraduateSpecialMajorisa30‐unitindividualizedinterdisciplinaryprogram.Individualstudentsdesigna

programdrawingoncoursesandadvisorsfromatleasttwodepartments.TheSpecialMajorprogramis

permiedonlywhenanestablishedSacStatedegreeprogramcannotachievethestudent’sgoal.

ASpecialMajorisalsomorecomplextoplan‐

 Sincegraduatestandardsfrommorethanonedepartmentmustbemet,SpecialMajorscommonlymust

completemoreprerequisitesthanstudentsinregularprograms.

 AlldepartmentsinwhichSpecialMajorstakegraduate courseworkmustagreetothemajor,asmustthe

threefacultymembersonthestudent’sSpecialMajorCommiee.SincetheSpecialMajorinvolvesmore

thanonedepartment,itmaytakesomemeforstudentstobecomewellacquaintedwiththediﬀerent

programsandtochoosethefacultytheywishtohaveforthiscommiee.

 SpecialMajorsdonothavethesecuritythatthedepartmentwilloﬀerallcoursesrequiredfortheir

program.DepartmentswhoacceptSpecialMajorstaketheirresponsibiliesseriously,butcourse

cancellaons,sabbacalsorrerementsmayeliminatecoursesintheSpecialMajoragreement.Inthat

case,thestudentandthecommieemustadjusttheprogram.

WhataretherequirementsforaSpecialMajor?

SpecialmajorsmustmeetthegeneralSacStaterequirementsforadmissionasagraduatestudent,and

 HaveanundergraduateGPAof3.0orbeerintheirlast60unitsandoverall.

 CompleteanyprerequisitesfortheirprogramwithaminimumGPAof3.5.

 Takeaminimumofeighteen(18)unitsofregularlyscheduled200‐levelcourses;anaddionalnine(9)

unitsmaybeupper‐divisioncourses;three(3)unitsforprojectthesiscompletethethirty(30)unit

program.SpecialMajorsmaytake299(independentstudy),butthosecoursesdonotcounttoward

meengthe200‐levelminimum.(3)unitsofinternshiporﬁeldworkmaybesubs

tutedforone200‐level

course.

InterestedstudentsshouldﬁleboththeonlineUniversityApplicaonaswellastheSpecialMajorApplicaon

bytheSpecialMajordeadline.Theonlineapplicaoncanbefoundhere:

csumentor.edu

MoreinformaononGraduateStudiesatSacSta

tecanbefoundonline:

csus.edu/gradstudies

Graduate Special Major Program

California State University, Sacramento

Purpose of the Program

The Master’s in Special Major provides an alternative for superior students whose special needs and

interests cannot be adequately met by any one of the existing master’s degree programs of the

University. The Special Major consists of a combination of courses from two or more departments and

may bridge two or more colleges within the University. The courses must be carefully selected for their

applicability to the objective of the proposed major. The program must be compatible with the

objectives of the University and supportable by courses already offered in the existing degree

programs and by the expertise of members of the faculty.

Eligibility for the Program

The Special Major is restricted to superior graduate students who are eligible for admission to

classified standing in one of the existing master’s degree programs of the University. Applicants must

present evidence of an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better in their last 60 semester units and overall.

Applicants must show patterns of undergraduate coursework that will provide the foundation for the

advanced degree sought. If undergraduate coursework does not adequately prepare a student for the

Special Major, acceptable prerequisite courses as determined by the student’s committee will be

required prior to classification. Courses taken to fulfill the prerequisite requirement must be

completed with a minimum GPA of 3.5, and they may not be counted toward the degree requirements.

The Associate Dean of the Office of Graduate Studies must approve any exceptions to these

requirements.

Admission Procedures

1. Complete the attached Graduate Special Major Application and Special Major Declaration and

submit with the University Application. Proposals must have the following characteristics in

order to qualify:

a. A coherent course program that meets the student’s objectives and is academically sound.

b. A statement of the rationale for the Special Major that demonstrates in clear language the

relationship of the Special Major program to the wider intellectual context of advanced

study in the candidate’s field.

2. Only six units of coursework taken prior to approval of the program can apply to the degree.

3. Obtain a faculty sponsor who has expertise and interest in the proposed study program.

4. With the assistance of the faculty sponsor, select two additional faculty members (representing

the areas in which most of the course work is to be taken) to serve collectively as the graduate

committee for advising and for directing the thesis or project. Committee members must

normally come from at least two departments and be full time, tenure-track faculty.

5. The student’s committee must approve the completed application. The student shall then

consult with, and obtain the approval of, the graduate coordinators or department graduate

committees (or department chairs, in departments without graduate degree programs) in the

departments from which the student’s committee is drawn and in those departments in which

the student plans to take graduate-level coursework.

6. After obtaining the above signatures, submit the application to the Office of Graduate Studies

(River Front Center, Rm. 215). After review by the Associate Dean (or designee), copies of the

approved program will be sent to the student and faculty sponsor.

7. Requirements for advancement to candidacy for the Special Major Master’s degree are the

same as for other degrees, as stated in the Graduate Studies section of the University Catalog.

The student must also secure the approval of all three committee members. All general

requirements (e.g., GPA, number of units, level of coursework, etc.) applicable to other

master’s degree programs apply to Special Major Programs. The application for advancement

to candidacy is to be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies for final review and approval.

Requirements for the Degree

1. Minimum upper division and graduate level units: 30.

2. Of the minimum number of units required for the degree, eighteen (18) must be in regularly

established lecture or seminar courses at the 200 level (not to include 299 courses). Where

appropriate, 3 units of internship or fieldwork may be substituted for one 200-level course.

3. No more than 3 units may be in Independent Study (299 or similar courses).

4. No more than 6 units shall be in any one or in any combination of:

a. approved extension credit or

b. transfer credit, for work carrying graduate degree residence credit at another accredited

institution.

5. No more than half the units for a Special Major can be in any one department.

Culminating Requirement

A thesis or project (3 units) shall be completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements. The

student’s committee in consultation with the student will make the selection of the culminating

experience topic. The student will enroll for thesis/project credit in the department of the faculty

sponsor.

GRADUATE SPECIAL MAJOR APPLICATION

California State University, Sacramento

* All information in areas 1-12 must be typed.

* Completed applications must be accompanied by two letters, one from the faculty sponsor and

one from another member of the committee. The letters should attest to the academic validity of

the proposed program, the appropriateness of all listed courses in the program, the non-duplication

of other programs presently offered on this campus, and the preparation and ability of the

particular student to succeed in the proposed program.

********

1. ________________________ ______________________ ______________________________

(First name) (Middle Name) (Last Name)

______________________________________________________________________________

(Mailing Address)

Phone: ___________________________________________ _____________________________

(Home) / (Business) (Student ID)

2. Colleges and Universities Attended:

Institution From/To Major Degree Date of

Earned Degree

__________________________________ __________ _____________ _________ ________

3. Special Honors or Achievements:

______________________________________________________________________________

4. Faculty Sponsor: ___________________________ Department: ________________________

5. Additional Committee Members:

__________________________________________ Department: ________________________

6. Proposed title of Special Major degree (four words or less):

______________________________________________________________________________

7. Proposed title of Thesis/Project (20 words or less):

______________________________________________________________________________

8. List all courses below that will be used to meet requirements for the degree. Read the

instruction sheet carefully. Do not list prerequisites for a class. Lower division courses are

unacceptable.

Department & When to be

Course Number Course Title Units taken

_____________ _______________________________________ _________ _______________

9. Rationale for Special Major Program. Describe the course of study you intend to undertake and

indicate its intellectual significance. (Attach additional sheets if necessary.)

______________________________________________________________________________

10. Describe your academic or professional purposes in undertaking the degree.

______________________________________________________________________________

11. Specifically identify any related master’s degree programs offered on this campus which you

have reviewed and found unsuitable for meeting your needs. Briefly indicate why these

programs won’t meet your needs.

______________________________________________________________________________

12. In what departments do you plan to take most of your work?

______________________________________________________________________________

13. I understand that I must be currently attending California State University, Sacramento as a Post

baccalaureate of Graduate student.

Student signature: __________________________________ Date: ______________________

(Required approval signatures on next page)

14. I have conferred with this student regarding the proposed program for the Special Major

Graduate Degree and agree to act as sponsor for the student.

Signature of

Faculty Sponsor: ____________________________________ Date: _______________________

15. I have conferred with this student regarding the proposed program for the Special Major

Graduate Degree and agree to serve as a committee member.

Signatures of

Committee Members: _______________________________ Date: ________________________

_______________________________ Date: ________________________

16. Approval by either the Graduate Coordinator or Chair in the departments where the student

plans to take graduate-level coursework:

__________________________________________ Department: ___________________________

17. Approval by Associate Dean of the Office of Graduate Studies:

__________________________________________ Date: _________________________________

Comment:

_________________________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL MAJOR DECLARATION

I have read the description of criteria for admission and the program proposal for a Master’s

degree in Special Major. I understand that the degree cannot be conferred unless my program

meets these criteria.

If I need to request any changes to my original program as approved by the Associate Dean of the

Office of Graduate Studies, I understand that:

• These changes must conform to the program structure of the Special Major as outlined in

the catalog.

• Any requests for changes must be presented on the Petition for Exception and must include

the recommendation and signatures of each committee member.

• Unauthorized substitutions for coursework will not be allowed and may result in

cancellation of my program.

_____________________________________ ______________________________

Signature Date

NOTICE: A Master’s degree in Special Major is based upon availability of faculty expertise and

appropriate graduate coursework. Please be aware either of these resources could be discontinued

at any time, thus leaving your program at risk.

Student: It is your responsibility to make a copy of this document before submitting to the Office of Graduate Studies.

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