Admission Process for the Master's Program

Master's Program Requirements

  • Four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or GPA of 3.0 in last 60 units. The application review process allows us to consider experiences, attributes and other academic metrics as well as the value an applicant would contribute to learning and teaching. If you do not currently meet the minimum GPA requirements, we still encourage you to submit an application.
  • Successful Completion of a Teacher Credential Program. For information about obtaining a teaching credential, view our credential program information.
  • If an applicant has not completed a credential program, the department will consider equivalent experience in lieu of a credential.
  • Equivalent experience would include several years teaching in a school setting. *If you feel you have equivalent experience, please complete and submit the verification form.

University Application

STEP ONE: Your first step is to submit the university application to gain admission to Cal State Fullerton. Head over to CalState ApplyOpens in new window  and start the admission process to Cal State Fullerton.

Additional Steps:

Applicants who are planning to apply for financial aidOpens in new window should not wait until admission is granted. Apply for financial aid as soon as possible.  Applicants who are applying to the credential program must mark 5th year undergraduate on the FASFA form.  Applicants applying to the combined credential/masters program, must check graduate on the FASFA form. 

IMPORTANT: All credential and graduate students who intend to enroll at California State University, Fullerton must accept their offer of admission and pay a non-refundable $250 enrollment deposit. The deposit will offset a portion of the Registration Fees for the first semester.  This is NOT an additional fee.  Once paid, this deposit will reduce the cost of fall tuition by $250.

Applicants must accept admission and pay the enrollment deposit through the Student Portal, within the Student Center.   Under the Admissions area of the Student Center, click on the Application Status link. The Accept/Decline button will be displayed. Click on the Accept/Decline button to accept your admission to CSU Fullerton.  Accepting admission and paying the enrollment deposit are required to confirm intent to enroll at CSU Fullerton.

Our College-wide deadline for final payment of the $250 enrollment deposit is July 15th.

Candidates with financial aid will have the enrollment deposit waived until financial aid is awarded.

For further questions regarding this process, please visit the University's Admissions siteOpens in new window .

The Graduate Program in Secondary Education does not require GRE scores.


Departmental Program Application

STEP TWO: After reviewing our Departmental Application, email a scanned version of your completed departmental application and all accompanying documents to Raquel Clovery, Admissions Assistant to the MSE Degree in Secondary Education.  (The Departmental Application is a Google Doc, so you will need to download or make a copy of the application so that you can complete it.)

Her email address is as follows: rclovery@fullerton.edu
Telephone: (657) 278-4028
Fax: (657) 278-2785

  • If you have not attended CSUF previously, please have all of your official transcripts sent directly to: CSUF Office of Admissions; P.O. Box 6900; Fullerton, CA 92834-6900. Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended are required (including community colleges and any additional graduate or post graduate coursework).
  • Your application is not complete until all transcripts have been received, reviewed, and entered into the system by the Office of Admissions.
  • Once the Admissions evaluator reviews your file and you meet the university's GPA requirement, they will send your file to the program for review.
  • An entrance interview needs to be completed prior to a final admissions decision being made.
  • The Department of Secondary Education reviews files on a rolling basis. Once a decision is made you will be notified of that decision.
  • If accepted, the Admissions Office will send an acceptance offer notification by e-mail. This e-mail will also provide instructions on how to accept the offer and pay the acceptance deposit. Additionally, the Department of Secondary Education Program will e-mail you and send you a hard copy letter within formation about registration and the prerequisite course (EDSC 501) that is designed to orient incoming graduate students to the program.