Division of Graduate Studies

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Advancement To Candidacy (ATC) Procedures

The ATC lists the specific requirements you must complete before your degree can be awarded. Once the ATC is approved, you are advanced to candidacy.


Steps to Completion:

  1. Submit your ATC after completing at least nine semester units, but no later than the semester before graduating.
  2. Fill out your ATC online - no handwritten materials accepted.
  3. Have your ATC approved by your adviser and the graduate coordinator of your program, and submit it to the GradStop according to deadlines.

Make sure your ATC includes:

  • A minimum of 30 semester units, or more if required by your program.
  • A 3.0 GPA is required for course work listed on the ATC and in all post-baccalaureate work taken at SFSU.
  • No lower division course work (100-299).
  • No prerequisite course work.
  • Only courses with grades of C or better (grades of C- and lower may not be included).
  • A minimum of one-half of the units at the 700-899 level.
  • No more than 12 semester units of work taken before you obtained classified status.
  • The ATC may not have more than 30% of the work with CR grades.
  • A maximum of 6 semester units of credit in special study courses (699, 899) or experimental courses (674, 677, 874, 877).
  • A maximum of 4 student teaching units.
  • A maximum of 6 semester units of any combination of extension work, credit by examination, and/or transfer work, in a 30-unit program.
  • The ATC must specify how the student has met the two-level written English proficiency requirement.
  • The ATC must specify a final demonstration of competence such as a thesis, a field research project, a comprehensive examination, or an approved culminating experience.
  • Complete your Graduate Program within a seven year limit as specified by The California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Education.

7 year-time-limit chart below

First Requirements   Time Limit
on ATC begun   ATC will expire:
Fall 2000 ........................................ August 2007
Spring 2001 ........................................ January 2008
Summer 2001 ........................................ June 2008
Fall 2001 ........................................ August 2008
Spring 2002 ........................................ January 2009
Summer 2002 ........................................ June 2009
Fall 2002 ........................................ August 2009
Spring 2003 ........................................ January 2010
Summer 2003 ........................................ June 2010
Fall 2003 ........................................ August 2010
Spring 2004 ........................................ January 2011
Summer 2004 ........................................ June 2011
Fall 2004 ........................................ August 2011
Spring 2005 ........................................ January 2012
Summer 2005 ........................................ June 2012
Fall 2005 ........................................ August 2012
Spring 2006 ........................................ January 2013
Summer 2006 ........................................ June 2013
Fall 2006 ........................................ August 2013
Spring 2007 ........................................ January 2014

 

Units in Residence/Transfer Work

  • Maximum of 6 semester units of transfer work allowed in a 30-unit program.
  • Work taken in Winter Session may be counted as residence credit.
  • Credit by examination or extension work is not considered resident study.
  • SFSU will not accept transfer work when the institution offering the course work does not accept it for its own advanced degree program.
  • No transfer work over 7 years old may be used on the ATC.
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