Graduate Education Handbook

Graduate Student Handbook - Download PDF

Cal Poly Graduate Student Handbook

General Requirements

GWR

All students shall attempt to satisfy the graduation writing requirement during the first quarter of enrollment.

Maintain Grades

A student shall maintain a grade point average of 3.0 (grade of B on a scale where A = 4.0), or better, in all courses in the formal program of study for the degree. A course in which no letter grade is assigned shall not be used in computing the grade point average.

Culminating Experience

A student shall successfully complete a culminating experience (thesis, project and/ or comprehensive examination).

Formal Study Plan

A student shall file an approved formal study plan before the twelfth unit of graduate study is completed. A student shall complete all of the graduate work in the formal study plan within the seven-year period preceding the date when all the requirements for the degree have been met.

Professional Standards

A student shall maintain satisfactory scholarship and professional standards. Only those graduate students who continue to demonstrate a satisfactory level of scholastic competence and fitness, as determined by the appropriate university authorities, shall be eligible to continue in such curricula. Students whose performance is judged to be unsatisfactory by the authorities of the University may be required to withdraw from all graduate degree curricula offered by the University.

Culminating Experience Approval Form Deadlines

A student shall submit a Master’s Thesis Approval Form, Master’s Project Approval Form, and/or Master’s Exam Approval Form by the following dates in order to be considered eligible to graduate in the specified quarter:

Fall December 15, 2023
Winter March 22, 2024
Spring June 14, 2024
Summer September 6, 2024

For more on general policies, you can check out the Cal Poly Catalog.

CSU Student Internal Complaint Process & Contact Info

Pursuant to the United States Department of Education’s Program Integrity Rule, each institution of higher education is required to provide all prospective and current students with the contact information for the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state. Students are encouraged to utilize California State University’s internal complaint or review policies and procedures prior to filing a complaint with a state agency. View a copy of the CSU International Complaints Process. Should the student wish to file a complaint in their home state please select the state contact from the “Consumer Protection State Contacts” list to file a complaint directly in their state.