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SPED SF State Scholars Deadlines

  • November 1 (Spring admission)
  • April 1 (Fall admission)

Eligibility Requirements

Undergraduate SF State students must meet all of the following eligibility requirements to apply to the SPED SF State Scholars programs.

Hold a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA or 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester units.

Declare a major in one of the following undergraduate degrees (depending on the SF State Scholars pathway you want to pursue):

  • Child & Adolescent Development (concentration in Early Care & Education)
  • Child & Adolescent Development (concentration in Elementary Education Teaching Pre-Credential)
  • Kinesiology (concentration in Exercise & Movement Science)

You cannot be declared in another major or second baccalaureate.

Apply to the program as an SF State undergraduate before completing 90-105 semester units.

We recommend applying during your junior year (junior = 60-89 units completed) – if you are a senior (senior = 90+ units completed), the program may possibly be beneficial for you depending on your current degree progress.

Obtain CAD or KIN Tenured/Tenure Track faculty advisor sponsorship (depending on your major).

See Application Process & Guidelines (below) for information on how to obtain Tenured/Tenure Track faculty advisor sponsorship.

Meet admission requirements for SPED graduate programs:

  • Two letters of recommendation
    (e.g., employer, SF State faculty, volunteer supervisor)
  • Resume
  • Statement of interest
    (2-3 pages; indicate past relevant experiences, why you are interested in this graduate program, and your future professional goals)
  • SPED faculty interview
    (see Application Process & Guidelines for more details)
  • Basic Skills Requirement
    (most likely met through undergraduate courses)
  • Subject Matter Competency – ECSE and Orientation & Mobility programs are exempt
    (CAD EETP majors can meet through concentration coursework)

The following requirements can be met after applying for the SF State Scholars Programs (but before students transition to the graduate level after 120 units):

  • Fingerprint Clearance with California CTC
  • Written English Proficiency Requirement Level 1 (CSET Writing Skills Test)

Application Process & Guidelines

Prospective Undergraduate SF State students need to complete the application steps based on their major.

  1. Book a 1:1 CAD Faculty Advising appointment to get an Undergraduate Faculty Sponsor; during your meeting discuss the following: 
    1. Review your eligibility  
    2. Decide which pathway is right for you (ECE/ECSE or EETP/ESN pathway) 
    3. Determine if you need to change your major and/or bulletin year to meet the eligibility - if needed, submit a request to change your major and/or bulletin year
    4. Review the roadmap & determine when you would complete your CAD BA degree (semester & year needed for application) 
    5. Ask the CAD Faculty Advisor if they will be your Undergraduate Faculty Sponsor 
  2. Request to initiate the SF State Scholars Application Form via DocuSign
  3. If you haven’t already, create your SF State DocuSign account so you are able to complete the application via DocuSign 
  4. Start to gather your SPED graduate program application materials: 
    1. Two letters of recommendation [e.g., employer, SFSU faculty, volunteer supervisor]  
    2. Resume 
    3. Statement of interest [2-3 pages; indicate past relevant experiences, why you are interested in this graduate program, and your future professional goals] 
    4. Basic Skills Requirement & Subject Matter Competency Requirement Waiver Form [list courses you have taken, are in-progress of completing, and plan to take]
  5. Complete the SF State Scholars Application Form via DocuSign. Be sure to upload/include your SPED graduate program application materials.  
  6. After initial screening and review of your application form and required SPED graduate program application materials, you will be contacted for a SPED Faculty interview. Please be prepared to discuss why you are interested in the SPED graduate program. Interviews are conducted by faculty to assess the applicant’s communication skills and behaviors required to meet professional standards. 
  7. If your application gets approved on DocuSign, you will receive an automated email.
  8. After your current term semester grades are posted, the Division of Graduate Studies SF State Scholars Coordinator will double check that you still meet eligibility requirements, send you a formal acceptance/welcome email to the SF State Scholars Program, and complete your graduate program CSU application for you. 
  9. Once accepted, a faculty advisor will create your final roadmap to complete your program requirements.  
  1. Meet with Dr. Matt Lee to ask them to be your Undergraduate Faculty Sponsor; during your meeting discuss the following: 
    1. Review your eligibility  
    2. Review the roadmap & determine when you would complete your KIN B.S. degree (semester & year needed for application) 
  2. Request to initiate the SF State Scholars Application Form via DocuSign
  3. If you haven’t already, create your SF State DocuSign account so you are able to complete the application via DocuSign 
  4. Start to gather your SPED graduate program application materials: 
    1. Two letters of recommendation [e.g., employer, SFSU faculty, volunteer supervisor]  
    2. Resume 
    3. Statement of interest [2-3 pages; indicate past relevant experiences, why you are interested in this graduate program, and your future professional goals] 
    4. Basic Skills Requirement Form [list courses you have taken, are in-progress of completing, and plan to take]
  5. Complete the SF State Scholars Application Form via DocuSign. Be sure to upload/include your SPED graduate program application materials.  
  6. After initial screening and review of your application form and required SPED graduate program application materials, you will be contacted for a SPED Faculty interview. Please be prepared to discuss why you are interested in the SPED graduate program. Interviews are conducted by faculty to assess the applicant’s communication skills and behaviors required to meet professional standards. 
  7. If your application gets approved on DocuSign, you will receive an automated email.
  8. After your current term semester grades are posted, the Division of Graduate Studies SF State Scholars Coordinator will double check that you still meet eligibility requirements, send you a formal acceptance/welcome email to the SF State Scholars Program, and complete your graduate program CSU application for you. 
  9. Once accepted, a faculty advisor will create your final roadmap to complete your program requirements.  

Transition to Graduate Level

After being accepted into the SF State Scholars Program, students will need to complete the following to transition to the graduate level.

Maintain eligibility & academic standards: 

  1. Overall cumulative GPA 3.0 or above OR GPA 3.0 or above in the last 60 semester units 
  2. Complete roadmap/program requirements 

Complete remaining additional SPED graduate program application requirements: 

  1. Fingerprint Clearance with California CTC
  2. Written English Proficiency Requirement Level 1 (CSET Writing Skills Test)

View your roadmap, and consult with advisors, on when you will apply for graduation for your B.A./B.S. in your Gateway Student Center. Registrar’s office graduation application steps & deadlines.

  • The DPR will not reflect which courses were taken in undergraduate standing that will be used towards your graduate program. SF Scholars program coordinators will work with you to verify which classes you plan to use for your master’s degree. While in undergraduate status, students may only count 15 units toward their master’s degree (12 graduate units may be double counted towards the undergraduate degree).