Advancing to Candidacy for the M.S. Degree

Once you have attained Classified standing, completed nine letter-graded units, and satisfied the graduate written competency requirement (NuFS 216 or NuFS 217) you will once again meet with your advisor to finalize your program and complete the Departmental Request for Candidacy petition. This form must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office no later than the posted document deadlines for the semester you plan to complete degree requirements. Check the calendar of filing dates for graduation for specific deadline information. These dates are also available at Graduate Studies and Research, located in the Student Services Center.

Advanced to candidacy means that you are nearing the completion of all requirements for award of the M.S. degree in Nutritional Science. To be admitted to candidacy, you must:

1. Attain the Classified graduate status;
2. Maintain a 3.0 GPA in course work completed after receipt of the bachelor's degree
3. Obtain approval of the English writing requirement by one of the following methods:

• Approval of writing skills in NuFS 216 - Seminar in Food Chemistry or NuFS 217 - Issues in Nutrition, Food, and Packaging
• receipt of a B grade (or higher) as an undergraduate in HPrf 100W (or equivalent) course at SJSU
• Receipt of a B grade or higher as an undergraduate in the Approved Writing Workshop course at another CSU campus
• Obtain approval from the office of graduate studies based on a published document

4. Pass the Graduate Competency Exams required by the NuFS Department
5. Select a graduate advisor, identified the graduate program objective, and your thesis or project problem
6. Select and meet with your Plan A Thesis Committee (minimum 3 members) or Plan B project committee (minimum 2 members) to discuss your thesis or project and to outline your courses for the M.S. degree
7. Your Departmental Request for Candidacy petition is circulated to the graduate committee for evaluation and approval. Your graduate advisor and the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Panfilo Belo will sign when your program has been approved by the graduate committee.
8. Submit the petition to Graduate Studies and Research at least one semester before you plan to graduate. The deadline is usually early during the beginning of the semester.

IMPORTANT: Once your Candidacy has been approved by Graduate Studies & Research, an approval letter and copy of the Candidacy form will be mailed to you with a copy forwarded to your program advisor. These are the only documents indicating outstanding program course work, you will receive prior to the clearance of your Master's degree. Refer to your Candidacy program when selecting course work toward completion of degree. If you misplace this paperwork, a copy can be obtained from your Graduate Advisor.