Graduate Programs, Coordinators and Requirements
Learn about the master’s degrees offered by Chico State. Each graduate program has a faculty member serving as a graduate program coordinator. You are encouraged to contact the program coordinator for specifics about courses, requirements, career paths, and research opportunities.
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Applications are now being accepted! U.S. News & World Report has ranked Chico State a top 10 U.S. public university in the West for over a decade. With one of the lowest average student debt amounts in the country, Chico State offers one of the nation’s highest return on investment.
International applicants (those requiring a J-1 or F-1 visa) should consult with our office of International Admissions & Outreach for additional requirements.
Agricultural Education (MS) - Online
Application Deadlines
- Fall: July-1
- Spring: No spring admission
Requirements
Statement of purpose.
Program Coordinator
Mollie Aschenbrener
Anthropology (MA)
Options
Option in Museum Studies
Application Deadlines
- Fall: January-10
- Spring: No spring admission
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, curriculum vitae, and writing sample. GRE test no longer required.
Program Coordinator
Matthew O'Brien
Art (MA)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: March-1
- Spring: October-1 (September-16 for international applicants)
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and two upper division art history papers.
Program Coordinator
Rachel Middleman
Art (MFA) - SUSPENDED
Biological Sciences (MS)
Options
Option in Botany
Application Deadlines
- Fall: March-1
- Spring: October-1
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, curriculum vitae, and statement of purpose. Contact and identify a faculty mentor.
Program Coordinator
Christopher Ivey
Business Administration (MBA) - Campus-Based or Online
- Business Administration Course Catalog
- Business Administration Website
- Business Administration Brochure
- Online MBA
Options
- General MBA (GEN)
- Project Management (PRMG)
- Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) - now a STEM Degree; only offered campus-based, not online
- Heath Services Administration (HSA) - only offered online, not campus-based
Application Deadlines
Campus-Based
- Fall: April-29 (April-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: November-1 (October-10 for international applicants)
Online MBA
- Fall: July-5
- Spring: December-10
Requirements
One letter of recommendation, statement of purpose, and resume.
Program Coordinators
- Campus-Based - Jenn Duggan
- Online MBA - Ken Chapman
Communication Sciences and Disorders (MS)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: January-15
- No spring admission
Requirements
In addition to the Cal State Apply application, submit three letters of recommendation, resume, personal essay, and transcripts using the CSDCAS application(opens in new window). GPA of 3.0.
Program Coordinator
Susan Steffani
Communication Studies (MA)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: June-1 (April-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: November-1 (October-1 for international applicants)
Requirements
Three letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, two writing samples, and GPA of 3.0.
Program Coordinator
Jennifer Malkowski
Computer Science (MS)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: February-15
- No spring admission
Requirements
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for Fall 2022 admissions (graduates of an ABET accredited program in computer science are exempt from this requirement). A GRE score of 300 or higher is preferred. Two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose are required.
Program Coordinator
Tyson Henry
Education (MA)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: May-1 (April-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: December-1 (October-1 for international applicants)
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation and a writing assessment. See this application process website for detailed instructions.
Program Coordinator
Ben Seipel
Information on the dual MA Teaching / Credential program (CLASS) can be found on the CLASS web page.
Educational Technology & Distance Learning Certificate
Application Deadlines
- Fall: July-1
- Spring: No spring admission
Requirements
Statement of Purpose
Program Coordinator
Tal Slemrod(opens in new window)
Electrical and Computer Engineering (MSECE) - SUSPENDED
Requirements
Fall Admission Only. Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose and department letter of recommendation access waiver form (PDF). CSU, Chico graduates are not required to submit letters of recommendation or statement of purpose.
Program Coordinator
Kathleen Meehan
English (MA)
Certificates
The Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: March-1
- Spring: September-16
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and analytic writing sample. Additional creative writing sample required for creative writing applicants.
Program Coordinator
Erin Kelly
Environmental Science (MS)
Options
Professional Science Master's Option
Application Deadlines
- Fall: March-1 (February-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: November-1 (October-1 for international applicants)
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, curriculum vitae, and statement of purpose. Contact & identify a faculty mentor.
Program Coordinator
Kristen Kaczynski
Geosciences (MS)
Options
Option in Hydrology/Hydrogeology
Application Deadlines
- Fall: March-1 (February-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: November-1 (October-1 for international applicants)
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, curriculum vitae, and statement of purpose. Contact & identify a faculty mentor.
Program Coordinator
Kristen Kaczynski
History (MA)
Certificates
Certificate in Advanced Study in History
Application Deadlines
- Fall: April-1
- Spring: November-1 (October-1 for international applicants)
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and writing sample.
Program Coordinator
Stephen Lewis
Interdisciplinary Studies (MA/MS)
- Interdisciplinary Studies Course Catalog
- Interdisciplinary Studies Website
- Interdisciplinary Studies Brochure
Emphases
- Wildland Management emphasis
- Regenerative Agriculture emphasis
Application Deadlines
- Fall: May-1 (April-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: November-1 (October-1 for international applicants)
- No Spring admission for Wildland Management emphasis
Requirements
For general IDST and the Regenerative Agriculture emphasis: One letter of recommendation, justification statement, and a Program Plan Approval form (PDF).
For Wildland Management emphasis: One letter of recommendation, justification statement, and resume.
Program Coordinators
General IDST
Sharon Barrios
Wildland Management
Eli Goodsell
Regenerative Agriculture
Garrett Liles
Kinesiology (MA)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: April-1
- Spring: October-1
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and an article critique.
Program Coordinator
Aubrey Newland
Mathematics Education (MS) - SUSPENDED
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and writing assessment. Applicants must hold a teaching credential in mathematics and GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 units.
Program Coordinator
Nursing (MS) - Online
Options
- Nurse Educator
- Nursing Leadership
Application Deadlines
Nurse Educator option - Fall admissions for odd years only (Fall 2023)
Nursing Leadership option - Fall admissions for even years only (Fall 2022)
- Fall: May-10
- Spring: No spring admission
Requirements
Statement of purpose, College level inferential Statistics within the last 5 years, BSN from an accredited Nursing program, and CA Nursing License.
Program Coordinator
Sarah Brown Blake
Nutritional Science (MS)
Options
- Nutrition Education
- General Nutritional Science
Application Deadlines
- Fall: May-1 (April-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: October-1
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, department pre-requisite course clearance form, writing sample, and resume.
Program Coordinator
Keiko Goto
Political Science (MA)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: June-1 (April-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: November-1 (October-1 for international applicants)
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation and statement of purpose.
Program Coordinator
Nicole Sherman
Psychology (MA & MS)
Options
- Psychological Science
- Applied / School Psychology
- Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) - The MS in Psychology degree meets the educational requirements for the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license in the State of California.
Application Deadlines
- Fall admission only
- Psychological Science: January-20 (December-20 for international applicants)
- Applied / School Psychology: February-15 (January-15 for international applicants)
- Marriage and Family Therapy: January-1 (December-1 for international applicants)
- No spring admission
(1) Three letters of recommendation, (2) Application for advancement to classified status (MFT; Applied/School Psych), (3) Statement of purpose (MFT) or written interview (Applied/School Psych; Psych Science)
See department website for guidelines.
Program Coordinator
Dave Hibbard
Public Administration (MPA)
Options
- Health Administration
- Criminal Justice
Application Deadlines
- Fall: June-1 (April-1 for international students)
- Spring: November-1 (October-1 for international students)
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation and statement of purpose.
Program Coordinator
Charles Turner
Recreation Administration (MA) - SUSPENDED
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation and statement of purpose.
Program Coordinator
Laura McLachlin
Social Science (MA)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: April-15 (March-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: October-1
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation and statement of purpose.
Program Coordinator
Darin Haerle
Social Work (MSW)
Application Deadlines
- Fall: January-15 (December-15 for international applicants)
- No spring admission
Requirements
Three letters of recommendation and a personal statement
Program Coordinator
Meka Klungtvet-Morano and Chelsea Cornell
Language Teaching (MA)
Option
- Dual MA and Single Subject Credential (Spanish) - No spring admission
Certificates
TESOL Graduate Certificate
Application Deadlines
- Fall: May-15 (April-1 for international applicants)
- Spring: December-1 (October-1 for international students)
Requirements
Three letters of recommendation and statement of purpose.
Program Coordinator
Friederike Fichtner
Notes
- International applicants are not eligible to apply for the Agricultural Education, Math Education, Online MBA, and Nursing Programs.
- All graduate applicants whose native language is not English, must complete the TOEFL (minimum scores 550 PBT, 80 iBT), IELTS (6.5 band score) or PTE Academic (minimum score 59).
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