Frequently Asked Questions
What is the contact information for Graduate and Research Affairs (GRA)?
What is the most important thing a graduate student can do to be successful?
What if I have been admitted conditionally?
When the conditions of admission have been met, how do I request classified standing?
How do I register for classes?
What is a Program of Study (POS)?
How do I change my Program of Study (POS) once it has been approved?
What does it mean to be advanced to candidacy?
How soon should I think about thesis?
Is graduation automatic once all degree requirements are completed?
What is the contact information for Graduate and Research Affairs (GRA)? (Back to top)
Division of Graduate Affairs
Graduate and Research Affairs
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8220
Campus: SSE 1410
Phone: (619) 594-5213 Fax: (619) 594-0189
What's the most important thing a graduate student can do to be successful? (Back to top)
Refer to the Graduate Bulletin often. Read all e-mails/WebPortal information coming from Graduate and Research Affairs (GRA). They provide important information and deadlines. The Graduate Bulletin is available in the Aztec Bookstore and online.
What is a Red ID Number? (Back to top)
The Red ID Number (a 9-digit number, beginning with the number "8," shown on your admission letter) is the reference number used to identify you and your student record. If you do not have this number, or have misplaced it, contact the Registrar's Office, (619) 594-7800.
What is classified admission? (Back to top)
Students admitted with classified standing have met all university and department requirements for admission. Classified students are fully eligible to proceed with courses for their graduate program of study, and should not be required to take any prerequisites or meet any additional requirements beyond those listed in the Graduate Bulletin for all students.
What if I have been admitted conditionally? (Back to top)
Students admitted conditionally have not met all university or department requirements for admission. Conditionally admitted students are typically required to take prerequisite courses or maintain a minimum GPA during their first several semesters of attendance. The specific conditions, and the allotted time period for completing them, are set by the student's department. If you have been admitted conditionally, please contact your graduate advisor for specific information regarding your conditions.
When the conditions of admission have been met, how do I request classified standing? (Back to top)
Adequate completion of a student's conditions is determined by the department. If you believe that you have satisfied your conditions, or would like to request more time to meet them, download the Change of Status form at classgradstand.html. Once this form has been signed by the Graduate Advisor, it should be returned to GRA for final evaluation.
How do I register for classes? (Back to top)
Registration for classes is completed online through the Web Portal. However, prior to registration, required fees must be paid. Payment may be made either (1) by check made payable to SDSU; (2) online using personal checking account information or with a credit card through CASHNET SmartPay. Once fees are paid, you may access registration through your Web Portal account.
What is a Program of Study (POS)? (Back to top)
The Program of Study (POS) is essentially a contract between the student, the department, and the university. The POS consists of the complete list of courses a student will take in order to satisfy the requirements for the degree. It includes both required coursework and electives. The POS can only be submitted by students with classified graduate standing. The graduate advisor and student consult about the Program of Study. Once an agreement is reached, the advisor submits the POS to the Graduate Division electronically for review. If the POS meets all university requirements it is given final approval by the Graduate Dean and becomes binding.
How do I change my Program of Study (POS) once it has been approved? (Back to top)
If you wish to alter an approved POS, a Petition for Adjustment of Academic Requirements must be supported by the graduate advisor and approved by GRA. You must complete the Petition, obtain the signature of the graduate advisor, and submit the Petition to GRA. When approved, a copy will be mailed to you.
How many units of transfer, extension, or foreign university credit may be used on a Program of Study (POS)?(Back to top)
In most graduate programs the maximum transfer credit allowed is 9 units. This includes coursework taken through the SDSU College of Extended Studies (refer to page 35 of the 2009-2010 Graduate Bulletin for specific exceptions). All transfer credits must have been taken at an appropriately accredited university and approved by the graduate advisor and the Graduate Dean.
What does it mean to be advanced to candidacy? (Back to top)
A student who has been advanced to candidacy has been officially recognized by the university as a candidate for the degree. In order to be advanced to candidacy a student must have an approved Program of Study (POS) on file, completed a minimum number of POS units, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students are typically nominated for advancement by their department, and reviewed for advancement by GRA at the time the POS is submitted. If approved for advancement to candidacy, the student becomes eligible to file the Appointment of Thesis/Project Committee form in preparation for enrollment in thesis (Plan A), or to sit for the comprehensive examination (Plan B). For a list of advancement requirements, and for exceptions to the rules listed above, please refer to page 72-73 of the Graduate Bulletin.
How soon should I think about thesis? (Back to top)
It is never too early to start thinking about the thesis. Preparing a dissertation or thesis (from the proposal development stage to the final manuscript) requires advance planning. Purchase and read the SDSU Dissertation & Thesis Manual (available from the Aztec Bookstore) as soon as possible. Beyond the research and writing of the thesis, a student is required to efficiently manage a wide array of resources. As you progress through the Program of Study, a topic of interest will develop. Seek out the advice and counsel of faculty members within your academic department and determine their willingness to chair your thesis committee. Two additional members (one within your department, one from outside your department) must also be secured in order to complete the thesis committee. If the research involves human or animal subjects, prior approval must be obtained from the appropriate university office, i.e., the Institutional Review Board or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Once a student has been advanced to candidacy, the Appointment of Thesis/Project Committee paperwork may be filed, and the final step in the culminating experience (writing and publication of the thesis) can officially begin.
Is graduation automatic once all degree requirements are completed? (Back to top)
No, graduation is not automatic once you have completed all degree requirements. You must apply for graduation the semester in which you wish to graduate. There are graduation application deadlines on the Graduate and Research Affairs website as well as in the Graduate Bulletin (page 4-5). These deadlines are enforced. If you miss the semester’s deadline and you wish to graduate, you must apply for the following semester’s graduation.
