Special Major

Undergraduate Studies
Dean: Gail Whitaker (Interim)

M.A. in Special Major

M.S. in Special Major

Program Scope

A special major may not duplicate any existing major programs, by name or content, which are offered at San Francisco State University, nor may it be used as a means of bypassing regularly prescribed graduation requirements. It must be planned and approved in advance, not created as an afterthought to utilize previously completed courses.

The Special Major is offered both as a Master of Arts and a Master of Science by San Francisco State University in order to meet the unique needs and interests of students that cannot be met in a reasonable manner by one of the regularly offered graduate degree programs of this university, or by the offerings of other colleges and universities in the Bay Area. It is intended primarily for students who are already enrolled at the university. The special major is normally expected to be comprised of a combination of courses focusing on a central theme from three or more regular departments/programs, and bridge two or more colleges within the university. The courses to be applied toward the degree major must be carefully selected for their interrelatedness and general applicability to the objectives of the unique major being proposed. Only major themes that can be supported with integrity by existing course work and faculty expertise will be approved. The program must be pre-planned and approved before nine units applicable to the degree have been completed, be based upon regular courses already offered in the university, and be supported by members of the faculty with expertise in the area of the theme planned. The program cannot utilize independent study or transfer credits to meet the basic, minimum requirements for the program.

BACHELOR OF ARTS: SPECIAL MAJOR

1. To have been admitted or to be eligible to be admitted as an undergraduate student at San Francisco State University (see Bulletinrequirements).

2. To have completed a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 90 semester units of university study with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) and to present records of such work; e.g., unofficial transcripts and Advanced Standing Evaluation (if a transfer student), to the appropriate academic adviser for special majors. (In unusual circumstances, a student may request a waiver of this provision.)

To initiate the special major approval process, a student must obtain Special Major Guidelines in the Advising Center and meet with a special major adviser with whom they then confer on a regular basis until their program is completed.

MASTER OF ARTS: SPECIAL MAJOR AND MASTER OF SCIENCE: SPECIAL MAJOR

Eligibility for the Program

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level Two:determined toward the end of the student's program. At this point, the major adviser, in consultation with other committee members as necessary, must determine that the student has the ability to write in a "scholarly" manner in the subject area (theme) of the program. Most often the satisfactory completion of a master's thesis, or a written field research project, will satisfy this second level requirement. How this second level requirement is being met must be indicated on the Graduate Approved Program (GAP).

Advising for the Program

Program Requirements

• Maintain close contact with the major adviser and other committee members in order to assure that the program is carefully planned, and that satisfactory progress is made toward its completion.
• A 3.0 GPA is required for course work listed on the GAP and must be maintained in all post-baccalaureate work taken at SFSU.
• A Graduate Approved Program is to be prepared and filed with the Graduate Division before permission to begin the culminating experience is requested.

• Include a minimum of 30 semester units of course work (most special major programs exceed the minimum) exclusive of special (individual) study, experimental, transfer, and credit-by-examination type of credit;
• Include twenty-one semester units of graduate-level courses in a program requiring 30-36 units, and for programs in excess of 36 units, at least 70 percent of the units required must be in graduate level courses (i.e., numbered 700 and above on this campus);
• Include no more than twelve units of course work in any one discipline;
• Make provision for a culminating experience requirement (e.g., 898, thesis; 894, creative work project; 895, field research project; etc.) that utilizes a committee of a minimum of three qualified faculty members representing at least two departments (see below), and for which no more than three semester units of credit are permitted; and
• Include the signature of the major adviser only. The Dean of the Graduate Division will review and approve the GAP in lieu of a college coordinator and on behalf of the university.

1. A prospective applicant interested in the special major program should carefully follow the instructions and complete the form, Request for Permission to Pursue a Special Major Master's Degree Program, which is available from the Graduate Division. This form specifies that the applicant must initially seek out a potential faculty adviser and two additional permanent faculty members of the campus who have the expertise and interest in advising and supporting the applicant in the proposed program of study.

2. If and when the proposed special major program is approved by the Graduate Division, the latter will initiate one of the two following actions:

a. If the student is already enrolled at SFSU in some type of post-baccalaureate status, the Dean will prepare and sign the form Request for Advancement to Classified Graduate or Credential Standing. Once this action is taken, the student is admitted to the program.

b. If the student is currently enrolled as an undergraduate student, the dean will issue a letter to the student that is to be attached to a regular application for admission to the university. The Graduate Division will not accept an application for admission to the special major program without approval by the dean. Once the application is fully processed the Graduate Division will formally notify the student of admission to the special major program.

c. A new student who is interested in developing a special major must be admitted and attend one semester as an unclassified student. This will give the student time to develop the Request for Permission to Pursue a Special Major Master's Degree Program and to become acquainted with potential faculty advisers.

3. Once admitted, the student (with the assistance of the major adviser and other committee members) should proceed to complete the proposed program requirements as approved.

4. A Graduate Approved Program (GAP) is to be developed by the student with the assistance of the identified committee members. Guidelines and requirements for the preparation of the GAP can be found in this Bulletin(see Index for page reference).

5. The thesis (Special Major 898), or creative work project (Special Major 894), or field research study (Special Major 895) registration is done through Touch Tone, as long as the GAP and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms have been approved by the Graduate Division. A three-person committee similar to the program committee must be constituted by the student to assist with and approve this final work. The membership of these two committees need not be identical, but some overlap is expected. Special study registrations (Special Major 899) are also to be registered for in the Graduate Division.

6. Special questions should be directed first to the approved graduate major adviser and then to the Dean of the Graduate Division, as may be necessary.