The California Pre-Doctoral scholarship program is designed to increase diversity within the pool of university faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of students in the CSU who have experienced economic and educational disadvantages.

The California Pre-Doctoral Program will award funds to approximately 70 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. The program places a special emphasis on increasing the number of CSU students who enter doctoral programs at one of the University of California (UC) institutions.

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:

1. Travel Funds for the student to visit U.S. doctoral-granting institutions and/or to attend professional meetings appropriate to the student's development.
2. 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.
3. A Summer Research Experience following the award of the scholarship, recipients are given the opportunity at a University of California campus or other U.S. major research 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 masters 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

Current or previously awarded Pre-Doctoral Scholars are not eligible to re-apply. Each applicant must have a faculty sponsor from the student’s home campus who will be available for the duration of the plan specified in the application.

The 2020-2021 application cycle is closed. Information about the 2021-2022 application cycle will be available in November 2020.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Students that are legal California residents
• Master's students (not available for second master's degree students or doctorate students) that are conditional classified or classified
• Completed the free FAFSA application
• Enroll in at least 6 units of graduate work related to the master's degree for the fall and spring semesters
• Maintain a 3.00 GPA
• Have at least $1,000 of financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office