The Master of Arts degree in Family and Consumer Sciences is designed for students seeking a master's degree, or professional enhancement, or for those wishing to pursue further graduate study. The mission of the program is to educate students to become competent researchers and practitioners who are responsive to the complex and changing needs of diverse families and communities.
The main goal of the graduate program is to provide an opportunity for students to increase competencies and knowledge within their disciplines. In addition, the program gives students opportunities to develop professional leadership and administrative skills. Students are able to work collaboratively with individuals in other disciplines as well as diverse communities to improve the quality of life.
The focus of the curriculum is to promote an understanding of theoretical approaches to the study of the disciplines within the department and the application of theories to enhance the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities. All students will get a strong background in research methods. The advanced candidate selects either a thesis track or directed project track to facilitate a selected career path. Students can expect to:
• Gain professional knowledge development,
• Develop scholarship and research abilities,
• Enhance professional development.
There are four specializations in the Master of Arts degree in Family and Consumer Sciences.
• Consumer Affairs
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education
• Fashion Merchandising
• Hospitality Foodservice and Hotel Management
Interested students should contact Dr. Mary Jacob, Family and Consumer Sciences Graduate Coordinator for Fall, at (562) 985-4516 or marjacob@csulb.edu or contact Dr. Wendy Reiboldt, Family and Consumer Sciences Graduate Coordinator for Spring at (562) 985-8250 or reiboldt@csulb.edu. On-line information can be found at www.csulb.edu/~marjacob.
Admission
Prospective applicants must comply with University requirements for admission to graduate studies as outlined in the CSULB Catalog. Students must concurrently submit applications to the University Admissions and Records office and the Department.
Admission Requirements to the Department
Admission to the Master of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences is dependent upon approval by the Graduate Coordinator. The application requirements for prospective graduate students for the Master of Arts degree are:
1. An undergraduate overall GPA of at least 3.0 and a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 undergraduate semester units.
2. A copy of the application submitted to the University Office of Admissions and Records.
3. Official transcripts of your baccalaureate degree. (These are in addition to those transcripts required for general admission to California State University, Long Beach).
4. Three letters of recommendation (preferably from previous instructors).
5. Submission of official copy of Graduate Record Examination (GRE). A minimum score of 4 on the Analytical Writing section of the GRE (taken after October 2002) is required and is an acceptable substitution for passing the Writing Proficiency Exam/Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (WPE/GWAR).
6. Additional materials that provide evidence of academic performance may be requested (at a later date) after review of applicant's file.
7. Approval of the Graduate Coordinator.
8. DEADLINES FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT GRADUATE COORDINATOR: MAY 1st FOR FALL ADMISSIONS AND
NOVEMBER 1st FOR SPRING ADMISSIONS.
If the appropriate coursework is taken in the correct sequence, the Qualifying Examination is passed with a grade of "B" and the Thesis or Directed Project requirements are completed in a timely manner, the student may be able to fulfill the requirements for the Master of Arts degree and graduate in two years (six semesters). This also requires the student to take six units every semester including two summer semesters. The Master of Arts degree in Family and Consumer Sciences offers four emphases: Consumer Affairs, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Fashion Merchandising, and Hospitality Foodservice and Hotel Management.
Prerequisites
1. Students may be admitted to the program under conditional status for several reasons. Students are responsible for meeting all conditional requirements to be removed from conditional status prior to enrolling in 500/600 level courses.
A. Students who need to bring their GPA up to 3.0 must achieve a GPA of 3.0 within one year of admission. The Graduate Coordinator, in consultation with the student and faculty advisor, will identify courses after evaluation of transcripts. Courses taken to raise the GPA may not be included in the graduate program of study.
B. The student who needs to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must do so within one year of admission.
C. The student who needs to complete prerequisite deficiencies must do so using a program of study developed with the specialization area faculty advisor and approved by the Graduate Coordinator.
2. Students from other disciplines will be required to complete prerequisites courses before enrolling in 500/600 level courses.
3. Prerequisites for all courses carrying graduate credit must have been completed within seven years of taking the graduate courses. If the prerequisite is outdated, the prerequisite(s) must be repeated or credit obtained by examination.
4. Students deficient in undergraduate preparation must take courses to remove these deficiencies at the discretion of faculty in the specified subject matter area and the Graduate Coordinator. Courses taken to remove deficiencies or raise the GPA may not be included in the graduate program of study.
Retention
1. Maintain a 3.0 or better grade point average in all graduate work completed at CSULB and all graduate work transferred to meet graduate requirements.
2. Continued satisfactory progress toward the degree objective.
Advancement to Candidacy
1. Classified status.
2. Satisfactory completion of the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE).
3. Minimum of 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA average in all units undertaken for the approval program of study.
4. Complete EDP 419; FCS 511, 563, 605, 655A, and 696.
5. Approval of the Graduate Coordinator, and Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
6. Enrolled in the semester in which the Advancement to Candidacy takes place.
Requirements
1. Completion of a minimum of 34 units of approved upper division and graduate courses with a minimum of 21 units in FCS.
2. Completion of EDP 419 and FCS 511, 563, 605, 655A, 696, 697, 692 or 698, and 9 units of Advisor approved courses in the area of specializations (Consumer Affairs or Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Fashion Merchandising or Hospitality Foodservice and Hotel Management).
3. Completion of an oral presentation of the Thesis or Directed Project report.
The Master of Science Degree in Nutritional Science offers 3 emphases: Clinical/Community Nutrition, Food Science, and Foodservice Systems Management. These provide an opportunity for students to:
1. Specialize in nutrition therapy/community nutrition, food science or hospitality foodservice and hotel management;
2. Complete a master's degree and the academic requirements to qualify for membership in the American Dietetic Association concurrently and become eligible to apply to the Approved Dietetic Internship;
3. Increase competence in food and nutrition subject matter in preparation for college teaching, research, graduate study beyond the master's degree and administrative positions in public and private agencies.
Admission Criteria
Prospective applicants must comply with University requirements for admission to graduate studies as outlined in the CSULB catalog. Students must concurrently submit applications to the University Admissions and Records Office and the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Admission to the Master of Science in Nutritional Science is dependent upon approval by the Graduate Coordinator. The applicant must submit the following materials to the Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.
1. A copy of the completed application submitted to the CSULB Office of Enrollment Services.
2. Official transcripts of all undergraduate course work.
3. Three letters of recommendation with at least two from instructors who have direct knowledge of the applicant's scholastic ability and professional qualifications.
4. A bachelor's degree with an undergraduate overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 undergraduate units attempted.
5. An official copy of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last 5 years. A minimum score of 900 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections and a minimum score of 4 on the Analytical Writing section of the general GRE (taken after October 2002).
6. THE DEADLINES FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT GRADUATE COORDINATOR ARE MAY 1ST FOR FALL ADMISSIONS AND NOVEMBER 1ST FOR SPRING ADMISSIONS. [NOTE: Dietetic internship applicants have been assigned specialized deadlines to apply for the MS Nutritional Science degree. Please refer to the information under the American Dietetic Association (ADA) Accredited Dietetic Internship immediately following the M.S. requirements section.]
Prerequisites
1. Students may be admitted to the program under conditional status for several reasons. Students are responsible for meeting all conditional requirements to be removed from conditional status prior to enrolling in 500/600 level courses.
A. Students who need to bring their GPA up to 3.0 must achieve a GPA of 3.0 within one year of admission. The Graduate Coordinator, in consultation with the student and faculty advisor, will identify courses after evaluation of transcripts. Courses taken to raise the GPA may not be included in the graduate program of study.
B. The student who needs to fulfill the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) must do so within one year of admission and must attempt to satisfy the GWAR the first semester of enrollment. A minimum of 4 on the Analytical Writing section of the general GRE (taken after October 2002) fulfills this requirement.
C. The student who needs to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must do so within one year of admission.
D. The student who needs to complete prerequisite deficiencies must do so using a program of study developed with the specialization area faculty advisor and approved by the Graduate Coordinator.
2. Students from other disciplines will be required to complete prerequisite courses before enrolling in 500/600 level courses.
3. Prerequisites for all courses carrying graduate credit must have been completed within seven years of taking the graduate courses. If any prerequisite is outdated, it may be repeated or credit obtained by written examination. Specifically, basic biological science courses and foundation nutrition and food science courses are evaluated for currency. The department administers a proficiency examination covering the content of NUTR 331A and FSCI 332 courses for students in all emphases who have not taken these courses or their equivalents within the past five years. In addition, NUTR 331B course content will be included in the proficiency examination for students in the Nutrition Therapy/Community Nutrition emphasis. Any student failing to pass the proficiency examination with a grade of "B" or better must take the appropriate course for credit.
4. Entering graduate students will meet with the Graduate Coordinator to prepare a tentative degree program. In order to enroll in any graduate course, the student must complete all prerequisites and deficiencies and must obtain approval from the Graduate Coordinator.
Advancement to Candidacy
1. Satisfy the general University requirements for Advancement to Candidacy.
2. Complete 9 units of graduate courses, including FCS 696.
3. Fulfill the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).
4. Maintain a 3.0 GPA for all course work attempted as a graduate student.
5. Complete a Program of Study in consultation with a faculty advisor.
6. Approval by the Graduate Coordinator of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
Requirements
1. Completion of a minimum of 34-36 units depending on concurrent completion of a dietetic internship;
2. An advanced statistics course: EDP 519 or H/SC 503 or KIN 590 or a course approved by the faculty advisor;
3. At least 18 units of 500/600 level courses in Family and Consumer Sciences
A. Nutritional Science without Dietetic Internship (34 units): FCS 530A, 530B, 531 or 533, 573 or 636, 696, 697, 692 or 698, and 9 units of advisor approved area of specialization courses.
B. Nutritional Science with Dietetic Internship (36 units): FCS 530A, 530B, 531 or 533, 591A (6 units), 591B (2 units), 573 or 636, 696, 697, 692 or 698 and 3 units of advisor approved area of specialization courses.
C. Food Science (34 units): FCS 530A, 530B, 532, 533, 535, 592, 597, 696, 697, 698, and advisor approved specialization courses.
D. Hospitality Foodservice and Hotel Management (34 units): FCS 573, 574, 597, 655A, 696, 697, 692 or 698, plus 9 units of advisor approved specialization courses.
4. An overall GPA of 3.0 or better;
5. A written thesis or a Directed Project; and,
6. Oral presentation of the thesis or Directed Project.
