National Security Studies M.A.
Getting Started
Admission to the Program
In addition to the general requirements of the university, specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;
2. Satisfy the National Security Studies graduate admissions committee that sufficient preparation and a satisfactory course of study has been pursued in preparation for graduate study. The committee will notify individual applicants if the GRE General Test is required; (If the test is required and the GRE test results are not received in time for the entry term, admission will be in conditionally classified graduate standing.)
3. A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 overall and at least 3.0 ("B") in the student's undergraduate major;
4. Completion of the graduate entrance writing requirement;
5. Competence in the following prerequisite courses or their equivalents:
MATH 110. College Algebra
PSCI 203. American Government
PSCI 484. National Security Policy (prerequisite for the core courses)
Competence in these areas may be demonstrated by:
A. Formal completion of the course or its equivalent,
OR
B. Credit by examination (not applicable to PSCI 484. National Security Policy);
6. Submission to the National Security Studies Admissions Committee of a brief statement (one or two double-spaced typewritten pages) of the student's preparation for graduate study and professional aspirations following receipt of the master's degree;
7. Submission of three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the student's academic or professional work and potential to complete the program successfully. Letters must come directly from the writer on National Security Studies forms.
Students who meet the requirements for admission to graduate study, but who do not meet the program requirements, may be admitted to graduate study in unclassified postbaccalaureate status or to the program in conditionally classified graduate standing. When the specified deficiencies are removed, student status is changed from conditionally classified to classified. (Unclassified postbaccalaureate students may enroll, when space is available, in selected graduate courses.) No more than 20 quarter units of national security studies course work taken as an unclassified or conditionally classified graduate student may be applied to the program as a classified graduate student.
Advancement to Candidacy
To be advanced to candidacy, a student must have:
1. Achieved classified status;
2. Selected a graduate advisor to supervise the course of study;
3. Completed at least 16 quarter units of national security studies program course work at this university, and achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.0 ("B") in those courses;
4. Filed a graduate program approved by the student's advisor, the national security studies program director and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Please refer to the University catalog at http://catalog.csusb.edu for official information.