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The final course requirement for the MBA/MSBA program is the BUS 895, BUS 898, ACCT 895, ISYS 895, or IBUS 895 course. The semester before enrolling in one of these courses, students must file a Graduate Approved Program ( GAP) and a Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement (Proposal) before GatorReg will allow them to register. At the beginning of their final semester, students must also file the Graduation Application, a separate form, that prompts the final evaluation of their graduate program in the Graduate Division Office.
All MBA candidates must register for BUS 895 (research project), regardless of their subject matter or concentration.
MSBAs in ACCT register for ACCT 895 or BUS 898. Please check with ACCT advisors.
MSBAs in IBUS register for IBUS 895 (research project)
MSBAs in ISYS register for ISYS 895 (research project)
MSBA candidates in Decision Sciences (formerly Business Analysis), Finance, Hospitality Management, Management, or Marketing register for BUS 898 (master's thesis).
The GAP (Graduate Approved Program)
This form lists the 10 800- level (Advanced Requirements) courses which make up the student's graduate business program. No foundation or basic competency courses should appear on the GAP. MBA/MSBA GAPS are available online. A graduate academic advisor must sign the GAP, so students need to see an advisor to approve electives prior to taking them, especially MSBAs since all their classes are electives.  The GAP is turned in to Graduate Busines Office (DTC 552) to be checked for the completion of all Basic Competencies and Foundation requirements. The GAP is then signed by the program director. If any of the requirements is missing, the GAP is returned to the student until he/she can bring it back to the office with proof of fulfillment. When approved by the graduate business program director, the form is sent to the Graduate Division office (ADM 250) on the main campus, where the university evaluator checks that the GAP meets the University Bulletin requirements. When the GAP is approved by the evaluator, it is then entered on the computer. Once the Proposal is also approved and entered, the student will be allowed by the GatorReg system to register for the 895/898 class.
Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement
The Proposal describes the student's planned research project or thesis. It must be typed and signed by a tenured or tenure-track professor who has agreed to act as supervising instructor (also known as the first reader or committee chair), taking responsibility for guiding the student through the project and assigning the final grade. It must also be signed by a second reader indicating that he/she will also be involved in the project. The student must ask specifically how involved this instructor plans to be, and act accordingly. If the proposed topic or title changes substantially from the original idea, i.e., an entirely different country, industry or process will be the focus, a Revised Proposal must be filled out and signed. Readers can be changed by filing the Petition for GAP Substitution or Committee Revision (see below).
Specific language must be used to describe the Proposal; the following phrases must be used or the Proposal will be returned to the student for revision:
The purpose of this project is to study_______.
The research methods to be used consist of_______. (State the types of research methodology, for example, surveys, interviews, data analysis, literature review, etc. Be specific about the data source - how and where to collect it. How survey participants will be chosen, etc.)
The outcome of the project will be_______. (Since the research results will not be certain until the project is finished, describe the form the results will take: a report, data analysis, marketing plan, comparative analysis, or the like.)
Example:
Title: Security Challenges of Protecting Corporate Wireless Network
The purpose of this project is to study the security challenges of organizations considering deployment of wireless networks and prevention of unauthorized activities by end-users. The research methods to be used will consist of literature review through professional journals such as: MIS Qualities and JMIS, and different business organizations' web sites. All information is publicly available. The search will also include interviewing 3-5 experts in the field whose identities will not be revealed. The outcome of this project will be an analysis of advantages of deploying Intrusion Detection Systems in corporate wireless networks.
Human Subjects Protocol
In the last several years, the procedures for approving the use of human subjects in 895/898 projects have changed dramatically at SFSU. What once were routine and automatic approvals have become lengthy multi-step exercise requiring considerable care. To avoid unnecessary delays, please give this aspect of your proposal the careful attention it deserves. And please be advised at the very outset that late proposals may not be approved by the University in time for you to proceed with your research. For more information, please visit Office of Research and Sponsor Programs web site at www.sfsu.edu/~protocol.
 This form initiates the final evaluation of your graduate course work, and you will not graduate or earn your degree without filling it out. It is due at the beginning of your final semester, and signals your intention to graduate at the end of that semester.
This is a separate form from the GAP. You must have an approved GAP on file with Graduate Division in order to submit the Graduation Application. The Filing Deadline for this form is not flexible. The deadline for each semester is listed on our Graduate Calendar.
- Fill out the Graduation Application form online at: http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/degree-application/degree-application.htm
- Print out the form, sign it, and turn in to Graduate Business Office (DTC 552) at the downtown campus. The staff will check student's approved GAP and proposal for graduation eligibility.
- The Associate Director will sign on behalf of all advisors.
- Please attach a check or money order of $40 made payable to "San Francisco State University." No cash can be accepted.
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