Graduate Student Orientation Presented by Graduate Studies, a division of the Office of Graduate & Undergraduate Programs Dr. David K. Bruck Associate Dean of Graduate Studies

Life Cycle of a Graduate Student Admissions Requirements Advancement to Candidacy Culminating Experience Graduation/Degree Conferral

Academic success Meet with your advisor Know your program requirements Map out the courses you will be taking Meet other students in the program Get to know your professors Welcome to California www.sjsu.edu/studentaffairs/current_students/welcome_to_califor nia/

Advancement to candidacy Prerequisites completed Conditionally classified status changed to classified status Minimum GPA in minimum of 9 graded units GWAR = Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Advancement to candidacy Usually second semester; deadline semester prior to graduation Student contract with university “Candidacy form” = Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy Listing of courses in degree program Transfer course credit Once course taken, cannot be removed Overall GPA & candidacy GPA computed No grade forgiveness at grad level; grade averaging

Satisfying GWAR Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement Take approved SJSU GWAR course See gradstudies website for list Hold a CSU bachelor’s degree Sole-authored professional publication or thesis Advisor must submit Outside course Advisor must submit; see website or university catalog

Academic Standing Probation & Disqualification Academic Probation Graduate GPA below 3.0 Must maintain term GPA of 3.0 until back to good standing Academic Disqualification: Panic? No: Reinstatement Yes: 2X fatal Administrative Academic Probation & DQ Programmatic requirements that exceed those of university Consult departmental websites for policies

Culminating EXPERIENCE Thesis – more extensive research and writing, requires Graduate Studies review and approval Project – departmentally designed and evaluated, 1-semester duration, additional course required Comprehensive Exam – required or by choice, depending on program

Your final SEMESTER Complete culminating experience Graduation/Degree Conferral Degree check Graduation application Re-apply to graduate if you cannot graduate in your intended semester RP policy of continuous enrollment

Progress through PROGRAM 7-Year limit Leaves of absence Consult university catalog Info.sjsu.edu, pull down Catalog to Policies, select Graduate Information and Policies

Forms & Information Available at our websites www.sjsu.edu/gape www.sjsu.edu/gradstudies