With the convenient and fully online MARA program, students can live anywhere while they earn their graduate degrees. The master’s program is delivered exclusively online via interactive online learning technology. The multimedia format enlivens the learning experience while introducing students to the same types of tools they’ll use in their professional careers.

Additional information is available on the department website: https://ischool.sjsu.edu/. 

Program Delivery 

Online Program (Special Session)

Special Session Program Information

Academic Programs offered through Special Session are operated by Professional and Continuing Education. Registration and enrollment in a Special Session course or program are subject to special session fees and course schedules. Note that regular session students seeking to enroll simultaneously in a special session course or the program will trigger a separate and additional set of fees. This may require an additional enrollment appointment from the Registrar and it may have implications for financial aid status or requirements.

University Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit a complete graduate application by applying through the CSU Cal State Apply system and meet all the university admission requirements.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Classified

Candidates must meet all university admissions requirements. Applicants who meet the following requirements beyond university requirements will be considered for classified admission into the School of Information:

• A bachelor’s degree from any regionally accredited institution in any discipline with a GPA of at least 3.0 at the bachelor’s degree institution or in the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units.
• A general understanding of computers and technology. See Technology Literacy Requirements.
• The School requires that all students have computer access from home. See Home Computing Requirements.
• Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must achieve a minimum English-language proficiency test score as indicated on the Graduate Program Test Requirements webpage.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

The School of Information does not admit students on a conditional basis.

Advancement to Candidacy

The university requirements for advancement to candidacy  for the master’s degree are outlined in the Graduate Policies and Procedures  section. Students should seek advancement to candidacy as soon as possible for their given program and on the advice of their graduate program coordinator. Graduate students may submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy form to the Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations (GAPE) office after satisfying the following: achieved classified status; completed a minimum of nine letter-graded units with all grades “C” or higher; fulfilled the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR) requirement; achieved a minimum cumulative and program 3.0 GPA, and, graduate within the seven-year time limit for degree completion. Graduate students must submit their petition no later than one semester prior to graduating. Courses that satisfy the CGGWAR are listed in the course requirements for the program.

Students must complete and submit the Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy after completion of nine graded units and by the posted deadlines for the semester in which they plan to graduate. For additional program requirements and submission instructions, refer to the MARA Candidacy Approval Form Information website.

Program of Study Requirements 

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, and GPA requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements  section of the Policies and Procedures . Students must comply with all other graduate requirements contained in this catalog.