The process outlined below is intended to sync with the curriculum deadlines outlined in the CSS 595 and CSS 596 syllabi. It is the student’s responsibility to complete all requirements below in addition to the requirements outlined in their 595 and 596 course syllabi. Failure to meet these requirements may impact a student’s intended graduation. CSS 595 and CSS 596 must be taken consecutively. Please see the Graduate Advisor to ensure you are scheduling your courses to match the intended quarters the project courses are offered.
Step 1: Request an Entry Code
Students who intend to take CSS 595 must submit a request for an entry code to the CSS Graduate Advising office. Students who meet the minimum requirements for the course (satisfactory completion of 25 credits of CSS Master’s Degree coursework, including all core courses) will be sent an entry code to register. Students who desire to start their project coursework earlier may file a petition to the CSS Associate Director of Graduate Studies.
Step 2: File Formal Project Plan
By Friday of the fourth week, a student is registered for CSS 595, the student must submit a project plan approved by their faculty advisor to the CSS Graduate Advising Office. The plan should briefly address the goals of the project, and the methods used to fulfill these goals. Included in the plan should be a timetable showing how progress will be made in completion of the project. There are no penalties for deviations in the approved plan or failure to meet the estimates in the time table. The project plan simply provides a well-defined start for the remainder of the project.
Step 3: File a Formal Status Report
By the Friday of the last week of the quarter a student is registered for CSS 595, the student must submit a one page update, approved by their faculty advisor, detailing the overall project plan, progress and intended outcomes to the Associate Director of Graduate Students for review. A copy must also be filed with the student’s record in the CSS Graduate Advising office. Once the copy is received by the Graduate Advisor, the student will be sent a registration code for CSS 596.
Step 4: Submit Executive Summary
By the last day of the quarter a student is registered for CSS 596, the student must submit a one page executive summary of the entire project requirement to the CSS Graduate Advising Office.
Master’s Degree Request
From the 1st day of the quarter to Sunday of the seventh week of the quarter the student intends to graduate, the student must file a Master’s degree request online. For a large majority of students, this will be when they are registered for CSS 596. If students miss the deadline, they may submit a request until the Sunday (midnight Pacific Time) of the 9th week of the quarter they expect to graduate, if they pay a late fee. If degree requirements are not met in the requested quarter and/or students neglect to pay the late fee, they must submit another degree request for the quarter in which they expect to complete their degree requirements. When completing the Master's degree request, the CSS Program will automatically run a degree audit to inform the student of any unsatisfied Graduate School Requirements. Students must be registered for credits during the quarter they want to graduate.