Frequently Asked Questions

Is CSUN accredited?

Yes, CSUN is accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Is the Public Sector Management Degree Program accredited?

Yes, as part of California State University, Northridge, the program is accredited through CSU, CPEC and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

When did the program begin?

The program began a cohort in the Santa Barbara area in November 2003, in partnership with the Employees' university of the County of Santa Barbara. A second cohort began in the Antelope Valley in April 2004, with Los Angeles County taking the role of partner. A third cohort in partnership with Los Angeles County began in Alhambra in early 2005. Additional cohorts in these and other locations are being started or developed in an ongoing basis.

Must I have an A.A. or A.S. degree to qualify?

No, although it is certainly beneficial to have completed an associate's degree, the only requirement for admission to PSM is that you can be admitted as a matriculated CSUN student. This requires:

• that you are either General Education certified from a California community college or have met CSUN' s lower division GE requirements, or have nearly satisfied one of these requirements;
• that you have completed or are close to completing 60 semester units transferable to the CSU system with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

The following question gives more complete details about the GE certification.

I have a lot of lower-division units (or even an A.A. or A.S.), but I still don't know if I have all of the courses I need to be admitted to a CSU. How can I find out?

The best thing to do is to have a counselor at your last school prepare a GE certification for you. This does not replace transcripts, but it is valuable to include an official, unopened certification as part of your application to the University.

If you attended a California community college, you can get an excellent idea of your standing by using a resource on the internet. You will need a listing of all the courses you have successfully completed and their unit value (e.g., an unofficial transcript).

Go to: www.assist.org
Click on: Start Assist
Click on: the menu button that says "Click here to select an institution"
Select: the community college that you attended
Select: the last year you attended that community college
Click on: Continue
Click on: CSU GE-Breadth Certification List**
Click on: the menu button under By Area that says "Click here to select an area"
Select: All Areas
Click on: Printer Friendly Version (if applicable)

The document that you print will provide the information you need to determine which of your lower-division courses satisfy GE requirements for the CSU system and will indicate how many units you need in each area. The minimum requirements for admission to the CSU are successful completion of areas A1, A2, A3, and B4 and 56 transferable units.

Next, go back to the page in www.assist.org noted above with two asterisks **. Select: "CSU Transferable Courses" and continue through to the document. With this new document, you can determine if any of the classes that were not acceptable for GE certification are nevertheless transferable units. Units from both areas are summed to determine the number of units transferable to the CSU system. A total of 60 units and GE certification are required to be admitted to the university.

NOTE: Although not required for admission to the university or the program, prior to graduation, students must satisfy both the lower- and upper-division AIR (American Institutions Requirement) also known as Title V. This is separate from the GE CSU admission requirements. The Public Sector Management program completes all upper-division course requirements, including general education. However, you will want to ensure that you have satisfied all lower-division requirements as well, including the AIR, so that you can graduate with the rest of your cohort.

Must previous class work be in a specific field?

No. The competencies needed to be an effective public sector manager will be obtained in the PSM coursework. The program is structured such that classes are offered in a planned, pre-ordered sequence with electives chosen by the partnering agency. Thus, you may find that your lower-division units offer an opportunity to explore and experiment with a variety of disciplines. If, however, you have only a class or two to complete the lower division units and would like suggestions as to appropriate coursework, we will gladly discuss that with you.

How can I determine my eligibility for the program?

Other than being eligible for admission to the university as a transfer student, applicants for the program are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Will I need a computer?

You will definitely need access to a computer to complete assignments. See the computer requirements listed in the following question.

What are the specifics of the computer requirements needed?

You should be reasonably comfortable navigating through the usual software programs such as Word and Excel as well as sending and receiving e-mail and using the internet for research. The equipment/software requirements are:

• Minimum Hardware Requirements:
• 800 MHz Pentium or comparable processor.
• 256 MB of RAM.
• 500 MB of free hard disk space.
• DSL, Cable, T1 or other Broadband Connection.
• 16-bit sound card with good quality speakers.
• CD/DVD-ROM drive.
• Recommended: 100 MB zip drive.
• Internet Service Provider Requirements:
• Internet access from a reliable ISP with live technical support and a high-speed connection, such as DSL or Cable. Although it is possible that students may be able to work with a connection that is not as fast as DSL or cable, it is strongly recommended to have access to such a connection to avoid frustration and unproductive time.
• Personal e-mail account.
• Software Requirements:
• Microsoft Office XP recommended (97 or above required).
• RealPlayer One.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0.
• Internet Explorer 6.
• QuickTime.
• FTP client (WS-FTP or CuteFTP).
• It is required that any computers you will be using for the program be installed with antiviral software, such as Symantec Norton Antivirus 2003 for Windows.

Will I have to attend any on-campus classes at CSU, Northridge?

No.

How long it will take to complete the program?

Depending upon the schedule approved by the partnering agency, the program will generally be completed in approximately two and one-half years.

If I live outside of California, can I still apply to this program?

At the current time, cohorts will be held only in the Southern California area. We are hoping to add an on-line option at some point in the future, so keep in touch.

Will I be able to access student services?

Yes. You will have access to student services such as financial aid, library, counseling, and the Career Center, etc.

Will I get a CSUN degree just as residential students do?

Yes, your baccalaureate degree will have the same standing as that of on-campus students.

Is it possible to transfer to the upper division requirements units taken in related courses or hours already completed?

No. This interdisciplinary degree is available only through The Tseng College at CSUN and, as a consequence, the 60 upper-division units comprising the PSM degree are mandatory. Although courses may seem to be the same or similar to classes available outside this program, the information, focus, methodologies and materials are unique to PSM.

How do I know if this program would be "right" for me?

Past experience indicates that this program, with its accelerated format, requires a student to be highly motivated and organized. However, the program offers obvious benefits not found in other degree completion programs.

You should strongly consider this program if:

• You desire an opportunity to "finally" complete your bachelor's degree but have found that juggling work and professional demands creates hurdles that seem to preclude accomplishing this goal;
• You aspire to career advancement and wish to improve your professional skills.

Will I be eligible for Financial Aid?

Yes, if you meet the criteria. It is anticipated that most PSM students will enter the program as working, mid-career adults. Therefore, the financial assistance you are eligible to receive may be limited to student loans. For additional information, please consult the CSUN Financial Aid Web page.

Who are the instructors in the program?

Current CSUN faculty members with scholarly and teaching expertise relevant to the program, complemented by faculty from other universities and professionals respected in their fields, will instruct courses.

How relevant to my job will coursework be?

A primary feature of PSM is coursework that is not only of the highest quality, but also addresses issues currently predominant in the public sector arena. Internships, field assignments and reports will concentrate on actual concerns in the student's own areas of responsibility or issues facing other departments.

My career or aspirations are outside the public sector. How relevant will the coursework be for my goals?

Again, although much of the coursework will focus on partner agency issues and topics of interest, the analytical, administrative, communication, and leadership instruction provided by the unique combination of disciplines will provide a sound basis for a career in any field. Internships and field studies will be tailored to your particular career goals.

What sort of assignments should I anticipate?

Assignments are based on topics relevant to the functions and challenges of the partner agency or agencies, thereby offering focused, practical application in the classroom and opportunities for daily work issues to be seminal subjects for on-going discussion.

What is a cohort and how does it work?

In PSM's cohort model, a group of students advance through the program together, taking a specified set of courses in a predetermined sequence through to the conclusion of the degree. This model has increased the retention and graduation rates among working adults in other programs composed of part-time students. Another advantage of this model is the bonding and collaboration that is likely to occur with individuals who share not only similar goals and the associated demands of the program, but also common knowledge of their work environment. The cohort itself develops a personality and style that will become an additional support as well as a problem-solving tool as the students move toward achieving their goals.

How do I graduate from the program?

To earn a Bachelor's Degree in Public Sector Management, students must:

• Complete all lower-division coursework equivalent to not less than 60 units;
• Complete the 60 semester units as prescribed in the program with a GPA of 2.0 or above;
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0;
• Pass the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Examination.

Note: All upper-division GE is part of the PSM coursework.