Program Frequently Asked Questions

Common FAQs

• How do I enroll in a class?

  • Prior to each semester, the Program Specialist will send students the specific course codes. With these course codes, you can enroll in the courses online via MySJSU. You must pay special attention to fee payment deadlines for public programs.

• What does Cohort Style mean? 

  • Cohort-style learning means that a group of students enroll in a degree program at the same time, take all of their classes in sequence, and graduate together after finishing their courses. 

• Do the public programs support F-1 student Visas?

  • At this time, the only public programs that are open to international students and support F-1 visa requirements are: MSSE Specialization in Data Science, MSSE Specialization in Cloud and Mobile Computing, and MSSE Specialization in Enterprise Technology. 

• How can I find my textbooks?

  • The Program Specialist will send students the syllabus before each class begins.

• Where can I obtain more general information regarding graduate studies?

  • The Office of Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations performs the administrative and evaluative functions to maintain and implement the policies and procedures related to admissions, advancement to candidacy, graduation, and university level program requirements for all graduate students. A Graduate Student Success Coordinator and an International Graduate Student Advisor also support graduate students at the College of Engineering by providing college and university general information and resources. Please check our website for contact information. 

• Where can I find more information about Financial Aid?

  • For financial aid information, please refer to the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office. 

• Can I transfer credits from other institutions or programs?  

  • You can transfer up to 3 courses (9 units) from SJSU's Open University or another university towards your degree program. Transfer courses must be approved by the Academic Program Coordinator. 

General Info and Taking Classes

• What is the best way to contact the Graduate & Extended Studies' office? 

  • If you have a question regarding single or dual degree programs, please send an email to engineering-extended@sjsu.edu . If you have a question regarding corporate degree programs, please send an email to engineering-extended@sjsu.edu. If you have a question regarding main campus resources, please send an email to engineering-grad-success@sjsu.edu .

• What is the minimum course load?

  • Since this is a cohort program, all students take courses together throughout the program. A student will lose their active status if they do not take a class for two consecutive semesters. Students must file a Leave of Absence Form prior to the first semester of leave to avoid losing active status while on leave. Otherwise, the student must reapply to the university to regain active status.

• I am a working professional in Silicon Valley. Is it feasible for me to attend classes? 

  • Yes. Most courses are offered after 6:00 p.m. and/or on Saturdays.

• I am not working and do not have any professional experience. Is a public program the right fit for me? 

  • For the past five years, approximately 60% to 70% of the students in our public programs are working professionals, while the remaining 30% to 40% are full-time students. Our programs are designed for both working professionals and motivated full-time students.

• Are classes conducted with online learning modality? 

  • It depends on the program. Please check with your Program Specialist.

• Who do I contact with registration problems?

  • If you cannot login to your MySJSU account or experience difficulties registering, please contact the Information Technology Support Services (ITS). If you need to manually add your course(s), please contact the Program Specialist who manages the specific program in which you are enrolled.

• Do I need to attend an advising appointment before enrolling in any classes? 

  • If a student's overall GPA is 3.0 or higher, a pre-registration advising appointment is not necessary. A student with an overall GPA below 3.0 may be asked to seek the advice from the Academic Program Coordinator before enrolling classes.

• Due to business travel or a family emergency, I missed class last semester. What can I do? 

  • You can take the same class with another cohort (if available). You must contact the Academic Program Coordinator of the program to arrange making up a class.

• I would like to meet with an International Advisor. Where do I go?

  • The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) includes all immigration advising to our F and J visa holders as well as overseeing the International House. ISSS is located at the Student Union in the CPGE office. Advising hours are posted on their website. For general information about campus resources and guidance on academic and non-academic concerns relevant to international engineering graduate students, please contact our International Graduate Advisor.

• The Institution of higher education I attended only issues summary transcripts (mark sheets), but SJSU requires term-by-term transcripts. What should I do? 

  • Since GAPE requires that all international applicants provide a WES (World Education Services) evaluation for any educational work taken outside of the U.S. & Canada, WES will submit the evaluation to SJSU in a format that is accepted by the university. Mark sheets/transcripts/degree certificates must be sent directly to WES for evaluation. SJSU must receive the academic record and the evaluation directly from WES.

Degree Requirements

• I received a C in a course. Do I have to repeat the course? 

  • No. C is considered a passing grade for a graduate course (a C- is not). However, you must maintain a 3.0 GPA overall in order to avoid probation. 

• What are Academic Notice and Disqualification? 

  • Students with a GPA below 3.0 will be put on Academic Notice. If a student on Academic Notice continues the subsequent semester with a GPA below 3.0 that student will be Disqualified. If you are on Academic Notice or Disqualified, you MUST consult with your program’s Academic Program Coordinator (Advisor) as soon as possible.

Master Project

• What are the requirements for enrollment in Master Course A?
  • • Completion of all admission conditions and in good standing.
    • Completion of core courses
      Submission of an advancement to candidacy form. (requires faculty graduate advisor's signature)
    • A minimum 3.0 overall SJSU graduate course GPA
    • A minimum 3.0 overall GPA for all grades received in the courses listed on the Candidacy Form. (except writing course)
    • Completion of graduate writing assessment requirement (e.g., completed ENGR 200W; see degree requirements section above for additional options) or concurrent enrollment in ENGR 200W.
      
      
• What are the requirements for enrollment in Master Course B?
  • • Approved Advancement to Candidacy (with satisfied writing requirement), which must be approved by GAPE.
    • Completion of core course.
    • Completion of Master Course A.
• Due to an unforeseen situation, I can't complete a project course this semester; what should I do?

  • Alert BOTH your faculty advisor and program specialist as soon as possible regarding your situation.

• Last semester, I received an "RP" grade in CMPE 295A (or CMPE 295B). What do I need to do to change my grade?

  • A student who has received an RP (Report in Progress) grade must complete an RP Grade Contract and follow the policy described in the contract.

Graduation and Diploma

• When should I apply to graduate? 

  • Please be sure that you have an *APPROVED* candidacy form on file PRIOR to submitting an application for graduation. Deadlines to apply for graduation. 

• Will my area of specialization be listed on my degree diploma or transcript? 

  • The diploma of a main campus or public program student only states the general degree name, e.g. Master of Science in Software Engineering. Per university policy,  "specialization" is not included on diplomas or transcripts. However, a "concentration" is officially listed on both diplomas and transcripts. Check each program's individual page for degree type.

• Will my diploma indicate that I have studied at an off-campus location? 

  • No, all public programs offered by Engineering Extended Studies are conferred by San José State University, and thus receive the same diploma as main campus degree programs.

• Are separate commencement ceremonies hosted for main campus and public programs?

  • The San Jose State University hosts a commencement ceremony each semester for the College of Engineering for both main campus and public program students. Both main and public program students will gather, photograph, march, and sit together with others earning the same degree during the commencement ceremony. Some corporate programs host a separate celebration ceremony for their employees, however students are still welcome to participate in the commencement ceremony.

• I want to invite family members from abroad to attend the commencement ceremony. Does the Davidson College of Engineering provide invitation letters for tourist visas?

  • Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a nonimmigrant tourist visa. If you do choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember that it is not one of the factors that we use in determining whether to issue or deny a nonimmigrant tourist visa.

    
    The Davidson College of Engineering does not provide invitation letters to students for use in inviting relatives to visit them. If you choose to write your own letter, below is a template that you may use:

    
    "My name is (your name). I am an F-1 international student at San José State University pursuing a Master of Science in (major). I expect to complete my degree as of (month, year; May, August, or December 2013). I would like to invite my family to come to (choose: either #1: witness my University graduation on (specific date); or #2: visit me during my studies in the United States.May I request that visitor's visa(s) be issued to my following family members:

    Father: Mr. First Last Name DOB: Month-day-year
    Mother: Mrs. First Last Name DOB: Month-day-year
    Thank you for your consideration."

• My employer is asking for degree verification. Where do I request this document?

  • Degree Verification Letters may be requested from the University's Office of the Registrar. Further details.

Scholarships 

• Engineering Extended Studies Scholarship

  • Applications are now open for the 2024-2025 school year!

    Scholarship Application

    Deadline: 4/15/2024

    Application Login Guide [pdf] [pdf]

Cost

• How much do EES Special Session degree programs cost?

  • Effective Fall 2025, Public, EES Special Session programs will cost $973/unit. Classes are typically three units, for a total course cost of $2,919. All Programs require completion of 30-33 units. This does not include the price of books/other materials. Costs are subject to change based on University-mandated fee increases.

Location

• Where are the public courses held? 

  • Classes are offered through online hybrid options and offered at SJSU main campus. Check each program's individual page for location details.