The California Pre-Doctoral Program
The California Pre-Doctoral Program provides financial assistance for students interested in exploring and preparing for a doctoral program. These funds are designed to enable current CSU students to explore and prepare to succeed in doctoral programs in their chosen field of study. Awards are based on competitive review of student applications and given to current upper-division or graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence while experiencing economic or educational disadvantage. The funds may be used for students to visit U.S. doctoral-granting institutions, obtain membership in professional organizations, subscribe to academic journals, GRE preparation, and to cover the cost of graduate school application and test fees, and also provides an opportunity to participate in a funded summer internship opportunity.
Dollar Amount: $5,000 + opportunity to apply for a funded summer internship.
Want to learn more? Attend one of our upcoming virtual information sessions:
Upcoming information session dates: 11/30*, and 12/11*. All sessions are from 12 - 1 p.m.
*These sessions are hybrid, so feel free to attend in-person (CE 354) if preferred. Light snacks will also be served to in-person attendees.
Can't attend a information session. Sign up anyway and information will be sent to you, or watch a previous information session by clicking on the link below to watch the Zoom session:
Recorded Zoom Session, Passcode: *c?aGWc7
Application Deadlines:
- December 2023: Online Application opens. (Pending)
- January 19, 2024: Application Due Date for Internal Campus Review*
- February 23, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.: Online Application Submission Deadline.
*The Internal Campus Review is not required but strongly recommended. Your application draft will be reviewed by a CSUSB faculty review committee who will then provide feedback on your application. You can then review their suggestions, make any desired updates and then submit by the January 31 deadline.
Application: This is a sample application packet to help guide you through the process. You will submit your application online by the due date (link and internal deadline coming soon). While you are not required to go through a preliminarly application review, we encourage you to submit your application early so our faculty review committee can provide feedback before you submit it.
Application Questions: For more information or questions regarding your application please contact the program coordinator, April Lane, or call (909) 537-7381.
Awarding: Sally Casanova Scholars are selected by the Chancellors Office 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.
Congratulations to our 2023-24 CSU Sally Casanova California Pre-Doctoral Scholars: Serenity Chavez, Negin Ghaffari, Mishon Johnson, Kenya Luna, Veronica Morales, David Murillo, and Brionne Zamril-Garland! Read more about our prestigious Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars!
Chancellor’s Office Website: CA Pre-Doctoral Program