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Fresno State, Insert Program Name – 2010 Program Assessment
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Guidelines for the Completion of the
Advancement to Candidacy Petition
This information is provided to assist you in the completion of the Petition of Advancement to Candidacy form. It will be
necessary for you to make an appointment with your graduate adviser, and, if needed, obtain a copy of your California State
University, Fresno transcript from the University Records Office to refer to when filling out the advancement petition.
Complete both sides of the attached petition. If more space for listing coursework is needed, attach an additional
advancement petition with the required signatures as a second page to this form. Return the petition to the Division of
Graduate Studies office, Thomas Administration Building, room 132. You will receive a written response of approval or
denial from one of the evaluators in the Division of Graduate Studies within six to eight weeks after submission of the
petition.
Filing Deadline
Advancement to candidacy gives a student permission to proceed toward qualifying for the master‘s degree and should be
accomplished as soon as you are eligible. Your Petition of Advancement to Candidacy must be received in the Division of
Graduate Studies no later than the sixth week of the semester prior to the semester in which you register for the
culminating experience (thesis, project, or comprehensive exam) or apply for the master‘s degree to be granted. Check the
Academic Calendar in the current California State University, Fresno General Catalog for exact deadlines.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for advancement to candidacy you must have accomplished the following: attained classified
standing; completed at least 9 units at Fresno State toward your proposed program; achieved a minimum grade point
average of 3.0 in all coursework listed on the Petition of Advancement to Candidacy; fulfilled the Graduate Writing Skills
Requirement; passed the Subject GRE (if required); passed the Department Qualifying Examination (if required); and
completed the foreign language requirement (if required).
Degree Title
List the official degree title and designated option (if applicable) of your graduate program.
Classified Graduate Standing
If you were admitted to your program with conditionally classified graduate standing, you will need to attain classified
graduate standing. You may do so by contacting your graduate coordinator and requesting the submission of the Classified
Graduate Standing Request form to the Division of Graduate Studies. Please note that no more than 10 units (including
transfer and postbaccalaureate credit) completed before achieving classified graduate standing may be listed on the Petition
of Advancement to Candidacy.
Graduate Writing Skills Requirement
In keeping with the university‘s graduate-level writing proficiency requirement, all graduate students must demonstrate
their competence with regard to writing skills prior to advancement to candidacy. Each graduate program has a different
method for fulfilling the writing requirement. Consult with your graduate adviser to determine how this requirement is met,
and indicate the date this requirement was completed in the appropriate section of the advancement petition.
Subject GRE
The Subject GRE is required prior to advancement to candidacy by the following programs: Physics and Psychology. List
the exact date the Subject GRE was taken on the advancement petition. Please note that the Subject GRE is not the same as
the General GRE that is required prior to admission to a graduate program.
Departmental Qualifying Examination (DQE)
The DQE is required prior to advancement to candidacy by the following programs: Art, Civil Engineering, Computer
Science, Kinesiology, Linguistics, Mathematics, Plant Science, and Viticulture and Enology. List the exact date the DQE
was passed on the advancement petition.