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Quality Assurance B.S. (Online)
Quality Auditing
Software Quality Engineering
Quality Assurance in Service
How MSQA Classes Work
Once You're Registered in a MSQA Class
MSQA FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the California State University system?
Is the MSQA program accredited?
Where is California State University Dominguez Hills?
What is the College of Extended and International Education and what is their relationship to the MSQA Program?
Why did you decide to put the MSQA Program on the Internet?
What is the history of the Master of Science in Quality Assurance?
Who is the MSQA designed to serve?
What are the Degree requirements for graduation from the MSQA Program?
What are the requirements for entering CSUDH and the CSUDH MSQA Graduate Program?
What if English is not my primary language?
Approximately, how much does it cost to earn the MSQA Degree?
Who should I contact about military or veteran funding?
How do I obtain textbooks and other materials?
Can I take courses before becoming a fully enrolled (matriculated) CSUDH MSQA graduate student?
Can I transfer credits from courses I've taken at other colleges and universities?
Can I waive certain program requirements if I have already taken similar courses?
How does the MSQA program differ from the traditional classroom?
Is the MSQA just another "correspondence" learning program?
How do I register for courses in the MSQA program?
May I register after class has begun?
What happens after I register?
What rights do I have? What if I have a complaint?
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The California State University was first brought together under an independent Board of Trustees by the Donohoe Higher Education Act, in the early 1960's. It currently consists of 23 campuses covering the state from Humboldt in the north to San Diego in the south. Current enrollment for all CSU campuses exceeds 484,000 full and part-time students with a faculty of more than 52,000.1
1https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/about-the-csu/facts-about-the-csu/Documents/facts2018.pdf
Yes! All the campuses (and their programs) in the CSU system are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); the western member of a nationwide network of educational accrediting bodies. The MSQA was one of the first Internet degree programs approved by the WASC Substantive Change Process.
Where is California State University, Dominguez Hills?
California State University, Dominguez Hills is housed on a picturesque 346-acre site in southwest Los Angeles. The land, part of the oldest Spanish land grant in the Los Angeles area, was originally deeded to Juan Dominguez in 1784 and remained with the family until being acquired by the University in 1967.
CSUDH on Google Maps
What is the College of Extended and International Education and what is their relationship to the MSQA-Internet Program?
The College of Extended and International Education, a self-supporting branch of the University, offers courses for the continuing education of professionals in business, government, service industries and education, and programs for personal enrichment. The Division supports an extensive distance learning program, and is nationally recognized as a leader in Distance Education. The MSQA Program and the College of Extended and International Education have a long-term partnership for delivering Quality Assurance courses, Certificate Programs and the Master's Degree via distance learning technologies.
Contained within the CSUDH formal mission statement is the commitment to "offer our programs at times and places accessible to the populations we serve on campus, off-campus, and those sites best served by state-of-the-art technologies." To fulfill this commitment, the MSQA Program became part of the distance learning program in 1989. In 1995, we moved MSQA onto the Internet - a move which has greatly expanded our ability to reach the community of Quality Professionals we serve.
The MSQA began in 1978 as one of several consortium programs under the direction of the CSU Chancellor's Office. In 1987 the consortium was disbanded. Due at least in part to the university's unique location in the technological and industrial heartland of Southern California, the authority for the MSQA was transferred to CSUDH. In 1995, the MSQA became the first online masters program ever approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Online classes began in January 1996.
The Master of Science in Quality Assurance (MSQA) is designed to prepare working professionals in quality, engineering, science, management, health care, government and service industries for career advancement. In order to help manage and lead today's company toward the objective of "total quality," an interdisciplinary approach is taken to blend study in management, quality concepts, and statistical tools. Relevant theoretical and practical coursework, independent study, interaction with fellow students and leading Quality professionals from industry, government and service, and a culminating project are used to provide a well-rounded learning experience. A unique feature of the MSQA program is the opportunity students have to customize their program of study to include areas of personal and professional interest. During the course of the program, students acquire knowledge and skills from among the following areas, which were selected to appeal to professionals seeking a unique and satisfying interdisciplinary experience:
Managing a quality organization
Planning and implementing a quality assurance program
Troubleshooting and solving quality problems
Incorporating quality concepts and human factor techniques in the design of organizational operations
Creating and managing supplier control systems
Developing and analyzing statistical process control charts
Developing and analyzing acceptance sampling plans -- Design of experiments (analysis of variance techniques)
Performing quality cost analysis
Performing reliability maintainability, and safety system reviews
Performing quality system audits
The ISO 9000 Series of Quality System Standards
What are the Degree requirements for graduation from the MSQA-Internet Program?
To be awarded the Master of Science in Quality Assurance, students must:
Complete 33 units of approved graduate course work.
Successfully complete the major courses listed as required.
Complete all course work with a grade point average of at least 3.0 (B).
Complete a Culminating Project.
Satisfy the Graduate Writing Competency requirement.
Complete all other requirements for the degree as described in the current CSUDH catalog.
CSUDH Entrance Information:
A candidate for the MSQA degree must meet CSUDH graduate admission requirements.
Apply online: CSU Mentor ►
MSQA Requirements and Entrance Information:
A candidate for the MSQA degree will hold a baccalaureate degree in a technical field from an accredited institution or if in a non-technical field, receive approval from the Quality Assurance Academic Program Committee. He/she should have a background which includes preparation in both college level mathematics and computer concepts. (In some cases conditional admission to the program will be considered subject to completion of undergraduate prerequisite course work. All conditional admissions are subject to approval by the Quality Assurance Program Committee.)
Candidates should have achieved a grade point average of 2.75 (on a four-point scale) or higher in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units completed and should be in good standing in the last institution attended. In addition to the above, all candidates must fulfill all additional admission requirements as specified in the current CSUDH catalog.
Students not meeting these requirements need to obtain special permission by contacting the MSQA Academic Program Coordinator at (310) 243-3880 or by e-mail at msqa@csudh.edu.
All graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must demonstrate competence in English. Those who do not possess a bachelor's degree from a post secondary institution where English is the principal language of instruction must receive a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For information on taking the TOEFL in your area please contact TOEFL/TSE at PO Box 6154, Princeton, NJ 08541-6154, USA or by telephone at (609) 771-7100. Applicants whose academic credentials are from a country other than the United States are required to submit a certified English translation along with the academic records.
Over the approximate two and a half years it takes to complete the Masters Degree it is estimated that it will cost a student between $13,000-$15,000 (US). This includes tuition, fees, books and materials but does not include costs associated with computer software or hardware or Internet access which is the responsibility of the student. Detailed list of costs.
Students who have access to military funding should contact Michelle Ortega-Bacalso, Military & WIOA Adviser at (310) 243-3606, or by e-mail at wioa@csudh.edu.
Textbooks and other materials can be ordered online at https://www.bkstr.com/csudominguezhillsstore/
Yes, anyone may take classes (up to 6 credit units) before officially entering the MSQA graduate program as long as basic course prerequisites are met and approval is received from the MSQA Academic Advisor at (310) 243-3880 or by e-mail: msqa@csudh.edu. You must obtain this approval prior to enrolling in the class.
Yes, upon receiving written approval from the MSQA Academic Advisor, graduate credits (500 level or above) taken from another university or college which were not used to satisfy another degree would be transferred into the MSQA program. Credits approved for transfer are included in the 9 credit hours students are allowed to transfer into the program including courses taken prior to matriculation. The student must provide official transcripts and the syllabus for the course(s), must have a "B" or better grade, and must satisfy the 5 year time limit.
If the student would like to discuss possible transfer credit, please contact the MSQA Academic Advisor as soon as possible at msqa@csudh.edu or at (310) 243-3880.
Yes. The MSQA Academic Advisor must be contacted if you feel that you have the required academic background to waive any of the required courses and substitute them with MSQA electives.
Even courses are waived, students seeking the degree must still achieve 33 credit units (combined approved transfer and CSUDH MSQA units). Elective courses will be substituted for core courses waived by the Academic Advisor. If you have any questions regarding these policies please contact the Academic Advisor at (310) 243-3880 or msqa@csudh.edu.
Utilizing private and group e-mail and the CSUDH Blackboard LMS, an ongoing interaction between instructor and students and students with each other is fostered. Because successful completion of each course requires all students to participate in these ongoing discussions throughout the semester, students actually spend more time interacting than they would in a traditional classroom. We've also found that the quality of the interaction is much improved because everyone participates and because they have more time to think through and compose their comments and responses.
No! In contrast to mail-based "correspondence" programs which typically provide a "solo" non-interactive environment, students participating in the MSQA online program become a part of a dynamic interactive learning community.
You may register via my.csudh.edu or via phone. MAKE SURE WHEN REGISTERING THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS(ES) and that you have clearly indicated you are with the MSQA Program. Once you've registered please read the instructions as to what to do next.
No. The last day to register for each term is the Friday before the week class begins. Class always begins on a Tuesday. Please check published schedules for dates and other information. Contact the MSQA office at MSQA@csudh.edu to obtain further information.
Upon receiving your registration we will provide you with Registration Confirmation via e-mail. MAKE SURE THAT YOU PROVIDED US YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS or ADDRESSES WHEN YOU REGISTERED. You should immediately follow the instructions outlined.
SPECIAL NOTE: If you have not been contacted within 3 business days (M-F), or if you cannot access the Web (you will need to have Web access to participate in the courses), or if you have trouble gaining access to the URL we sent you, immediately contact the MSQA office for assistance, via e-mail: MSQA@csudh.edu or by phone: (310) 243-3880.
Refunds are granted in accordance with the California State refund schedule. If a course is canceled, the entire course fee will be returned. If you withdraw 24 hours prior to the first class meeting, 100 percent of the course fee will be refunded (less a $10 processing fee). If you withdraw after the first class and before 25 percent of the course has elapsed (the 24th day of a 13 week course), 65 percent of the total fee will be refunded. After 25 percent of the course time has elapsed (the 25th day and later of a 13 week course), no refund will be made, however a withdrawal form must still be filed. A stop payment on a check is NOT an acceptable withdrawal from the course(s) and will result in financial penalty.
You have a number of rights as a student of California State University, Dominguez Hills.The links below will take you to the appropriate CSUDH webpage. Before you begin a formal appeal, grievance, or petition process, please attempt to resolve the issue with your instructor and/or the MSQA office (310-243-3880) as appropriate. Be sure to communicate directly with the MSQA Coordinator early in the process. Part of the Coordinator's job is to help resolve complaints. See the Contacts page for a full list of faculty contact info.
Student Rights and Responsibilities overview
Grade Appeals Procedures
Student Grievance Procedure
Petition for Exception. Students may petition for exception to certain University academic regulations only when unusual or extenuating circumstances exist.Request a Petition form from the HUX office, and return the completed form to HUX for submission to the university-wide committee that considers such appeals.