California Pre-Doctoral Program
The California Pre-Doctoral Program is designed to increase diversity within the pool of university faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of students in the CSU.
Upcoming Pre-Doctoral Program Info Workshops
The College of Graduate Studies is will be hosting three workshops for current Master's students and any interested junior or senior undergraduate students who would like to apply for the 2025-2026 cycle on the following dates:
- December 11, 2024: Presentation from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. and Q&A from 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. in SSE 1410 and via zoom (hybrid).
- January 7, 2025: Presentation from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. and Q&A from 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. in SSE 1410 and via zoom (hybrid).
- January 24, 2025: Presentation from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. and Q&A from 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. via zoom only.
If you are interested in attending one of these workshops please sign up via this Google Form.
Description
The California Pre-Doctoral Program will award funds to approximately 75 juniors, seniors and graduate students in the CSU. These funds are designed to enable current 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, in the judgment of the review panel, demonstrate academic excellence while having experienced economic or educational disadvantage, and who are committed to a career in teaching and research at the university level. All matriculated students enrolled on a CSU campus are eligible to participate.
Students who are chosen for this prestigious award are designated Sally Casanova Scholars as a tribute to Dr. Sally Casanova, for whom the Pre-Doctoral Scholarship is named. As a Sally Casanova Scholar, students will have unique opportunities to explore and prepare to succeed in doctoral programs. Students will have the benefit of direct one-on-one guidance afforded from faculty members from within the CSU, and the opportunity to work with faculty from doctoral-granting institutions. In addition the program provides:
- Travel Funds for the student to visit U.S. doctoral-granting institutions and/or to attend professional meetings appropriate to the student's development.
- Development Funds for other related activities, such as student membership in professional organizations, subscriptions to academic journals, graduate school applications and test fees, GRE preparation, and the cost of minor research materials, for example.
- A Summer Research Experience following the award of the scholarship, recipients are given the opportunity to do research at a University of California campus or other U.S. doctoral granting university, fully funded by the Pre-Doctoral Program, so that the scholar can participate in doctoral-level research prior to enrolling in a Ph.D. program.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Juniors, seniors, and master's degree students (Students interested in obtaining professional master's or doctoral degrees such as law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or an MBA degree, for example, are not eligible)
- Must be enrolled at a CSU campus for at least one semester of the academic year that they apply for the scholarship
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Important Reminder
The Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities (CSRR) and the student’s home college will be consulted to ensure that the student is in compliance with the Student Code of Conduct and/or their program’s Graduate Professional Standards.
Award nominees: A potential awardee is subject to being deemed ineligible for an award if (a) it is determined by CSRR that the student is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct and/or (b) if the program notifies the College of Graduate Studies that the student has violated their program’s Graduate Professional Standards.
Current awardees: A current student awardee is subject to having their fellowship or scholarship rescinded if (a) it is determined by CSRR that the student is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct and/or (b) if the program notifies the College of Graduate Studies that the student has violated their program’s Graduate Professional Standards.
Application Information
The application for the 2025-2026 Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholarship will open in December 2024. The College of Graduate Studies will update this webpage when the application deadlines are available.
Please contact [email protected] should you have any questions.
