Undergraduate academic requirements
High school diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.5
Learn more about studying Ethnic Studies as an international student.

What California State University, San Marcos says about their program:
The Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies focuses on the study of the histories, experiences, cultures, and issues of racial-ethnic groups in the United States. The B.A. degree emphasizes the social and historical study of race and racism in the United States and explores systemic power relations that arise from institutional, cultural, and global productions of “race.” In this major, students gain both breadth and depth of study. Through the three thematic areas, students will engage a variety of issues that cut across various racial/ethnic communities. In so doing, students obtain insight on how issues play out both similarly and uniquely within and across racial/ethnic communities. In addition, students acquire deeper understanding of a specific historically marginalized community in the United States and/or of a thematic area by focusing electives in a particular area. The degree is structured in three themes:

High school diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.5
A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the MBA in Business Administration and MS in Computer Science, and a minimum GPA of 2.5 for Biotechnology, Mathematics, and Public Health.
Undergraduate
61 (min 19 Writing and no other subscore below 14)
5.5 ((min 5.5 Writing and no other subscore below 5.0)
50
95
Postgraduate
80
6.0 (min 6.0 Writing and no subscore below a 5.5)
65
110
Applicants must have completed at least three years of secondary education in English, either in the United States, a country where English is the majority native language, or where English is the primary language of instruction. Additionally, applicants should have completed at least 60 post-secondary credits, an associate degree, or higher from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or an equivalent institution abroad where English is the language of instruction.
Native English speakers or applicants with a Bachelor's or Master's degree from an institution where English is the principal language of instruction also meet this requirement.
English Waiver Policy by Country
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Gambia, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe

A university-sponsored partial tuition waiver for international undergraduate students at CSU San Marcos. It is aimed at F-1 visa holders in good academic standing with at least one semester of residence at CSUSM, enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit units. No minimum GPA is required; the office instead weighs the student's overall academic record and service to the campus community, and also considers diversity and geographic distribution among applicants. It is explicitly designed for currently enrolled international students, making it directly open to non-domestic undergraduates.
An annual $1,000 scholarship awarded to up to three international students in F-1 visa status who are enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at a Study California member institution, which includes CSU San Marcos (CSUSM lists this award on its own international student financial aid page). Undergraduate applicants need a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and must submit transcripts, a recommendation letter, a passport copy, and proof of admission by the program's October 31 deadline. Because eligibility is explicitly limited to F-1 international students, it is open to CSUSM's international undergraduate population rather than domestic students.
All scholarship information on Studee is provided for guidance only. Always check the for the latest information on eligibility, award amounts, deadlines, and application requirements.
US$18,160 per year
From US$17,158 to US$31,515 per year

| Category | Cost (in United States Dollar) |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed apartment in city centre | $2,176 |
| Rent, 1-bed apartment outside centre | $1,852 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water, refuse) | $132 |
| Internet (60 Mbps unlimited) | $70 |
| Mobile phone plan (data + calls) | $61 |
| Monthly public transport pass | $65 |
| Monthly grocery basket | $189 |
| Coffee shop drink | $6 |
| Cinema or cultural event ticket | $15 |
| Gym membership | $45 |
Indicative monthly costs per person.
Data sourced from livingcost.org (Crowdsourced) and numbeo.com (Crowdsourced).
Many international students will require a visa to study in the USA, and this is a vital step of your study abroad journey. Make sure you understand the requirements you may need to meet before applying.