California State University, Northridge
PA-7: Support for Future Faculty Diversity

The California Pre-Doctoral Program is designed to increase the diversity of the pool from which the California State University draws its faculty. It does so by supporting the doctoral aspirations of CSU students who have experienced economic and educational disadvantages. A special emphasis is placed on increasing the number of CSU students who enter graduate programs at one of the University of California campuses. Each of the applicants selected will be designated a Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar and will work closely with a CSU faculty sponsor to develop an overall plan which leads ultimately to enrollment in a doctoral program. The plan should be tailored to the specific goals and career objectives of the student. In addition the program provides: Travel Funds for the student to visit U.S. doctoral-granting institutions and/or to attend a professional meeting appropriate to the student's development. Funds for other related activities, such as student membership in professional organizations and subscriptions to journals, graduate school application and test fees, GRE preparation, and the cost of minor research materials. A Summer Research Internship opportunity at a University of California campus or other major research university, fully funded by the Pre-Doctoral Program, so that the Scholar can participate in doctoral-level research. General Eligibility and Selection Criteria Applicants to the California Pre-Doctoral Program must be upper division or master's degree students who are enrolled at a CSU institution as of Spring 2016 and who will also be enrolled at a CSU campus for at least one semester or two (2) quarter terms of the academic year 2016-2017. Applicants will be selected on the basis of three major criteria: potential for success in completing a doctoral program, probable effectiveness of the student/faculty plan, and level of economic and educational disadvantage. All applicants must be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of application. Current or previous California Pre-Doctoral Scholars are not eligible to apply. Each applicant must have a faculty sponsor who will be available for the duration of the plan specified in the application. The program is designed for students interested in obtaining research doctorates. Students interested in obtaining professional degrees (law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or an MBA degree) are not eligible. For more information about the program and to submit an online application: http://www.calstate.edu/PreDoc/