Special Major
Undergraduate Studies
Dean: Erwin Seibel
Graduate Division
Dean: Paul Fonteyn
Undergraduate Studies Office
ADM 449
415-338-2206
Graduate Division Office
ADM 254
415-338-2233
Programs
B.A. in Special Major
M.A. in Special Major
M.S. in Special Major
Program Scope
The Bachelor of Arts: Special Major is offered by San Francisco State University for those students who have unique academic goals which cannot be satisfactorily attained through one of the regularly offered undergraduate major programs of San Francisco State University or other colleges and universities in the Bay Area. The special major consists of a combination of courses planned in advance to focus on an integrative and coherent theme identified by the student. A written statement must be developed which describes the goals of the proposed major. The program must be compatible with the general objectives of the university. Courses must be chosen by the student from at least three different departments in at least two different colleges of the university. (Department means any program area of the university offering course work.)
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
Eligibility for the Program
An applicant for a special major is expected:
- To have been admitted or to be eligible to be admitted as an undergraduate student at San Francisco State University (see Bulletin requirements).
- 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.)
Advising for the Program
Advising for students pursuing a special major is provided at the Advising Center by academic advisers assigned by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies who is responsible for the coordination and overall administration of the program.
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
Budget restrictions by the State of California may close off acceptance of new students in these programs at any time without prior notice.
Eligibility for the Program
All applicants for this program must first be able to meet the general requirements for admission to post-baccalaureate study as specified in the admissions section of this Bulletin. In addition, a prospective special major student is expected to be eligible for admission to classified standing in one of the regular master's degree programs of the university. The applicant should present evidence of a minimum 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 semester units taken, and a pattern of undergraduate course work which will provide the foundation for the advanced degree work. Evidence of an acceptable level of English proficiency to undertake the proposed program will be required either at the time the program proposal is reviewed and approved or during the first term of enrollment in this program. Final approval to pursue such a program of study is made by the Dean of the Graduate Division, after all outstanding problems have been resolved.
Written English Proficiency Requirement
The university has a requirement for written English proficiency that is to be assessed at two different points in a student's program. For the special major program, the first level of written English proficiency is determined upon entrance to graduate study. A student in this program is required to demonstrate such proficiency by passing the Graduate Essay Test (GET) before, or during, the first semester of graduate study. A fee is charged for this examination. A student failing the examination is required to take a course or courses in English upon consultation with the major adviser. Failure to satisfy this requirement may be grounds for declassification from the special major program. The results of the examination are to be directed to the Dean of the Graduate Division.
The second level of written English proficiency is to be 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
The applicant is responsible for developing the program proposal and obtaining the endorsements of three regular faculty members of the university eligible to work in graduate programs as defined in the university Bulletin. The primary responsibility for academic program advising will rest with the members of this committee, especially the major adviser. The major adviser must come from a department/program in which a significant amount of the program course work is to be taken. At least one of the committee members must come from a different department/program in which course work is to be taken. The Dean of the Graduate Division is responsible for the general administration of the program in lieu of the traditional college and department.
Program Requirements
While students in the special major program have several unique requirements as stated herein, most of the master's degree program requirements are the same as those specified for other master's degree programs offered by the university. These are summarized in the section on the "Master's Degree Requirements" in this Bulletin. In addition, students in the program are expected to complete the following minimum 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.
Graduate Approved Program (GAP)
The GAP must:
- 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.
General Procedures for the Program
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.
If and when the proposed special major program is approved by the Graduate Division, the latter will initiate one of the two following actions:
- If the student is already enrolled at SFSU in some type of post-baccalaureate status, the Dean will prepare and sign the form Advancement to Classified Standing For Continuing Students. Once this action is taken, the student is admitted to the program.
- If the student is to be a new admittee to SFSU, or 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 and filed with the Office of Admissions. The latter office will not accept an application for admission to the special major program without this letter being attached. Once the application is fully processed the Office of Admissions will formally notify the student of admission to the special major program.
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.
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 the section titled "Master's Degree Requirements."
The thesis registration (Special Major 898), or creative work project registration (Special Major 894), or field research study registration (Special Major 895) is to be arranged, and registered for, in the Graduate Division in accordance with guidelines and dates applicable to other courses offered by the university. 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 questions should be directed first to the approved graduate major adviser and then to the Dean of the Graduate Division, as may be necessary.