California State University Long Beach: Model for a Terminal Master's Program as a Bridge to PhD.

The department of Physics {\&} Astronomy at California State University Long Beach (www.physics.csulb.edu) has redesigned its Master's program in 2008 with the goal to provide a true graduate experience in Physics. In 2013 we became one of six Bridge Sites and only non-PhD granting institution of the APS. We admitted 13 Bridge students of whom two joined PhD programs after obtaining their MS degree, three are expected to follow in 2017, and only one student was disqualified from the program. During the last five years, 46{\%} of all MS recipients (24 students) were members of underrepresented groups of the population in physics. Of all MS recipients, 42{\%} were accepted to PhD programs, 41{\%} found private-sector STEM careers, and 17{\%} decided on teaching and other paths. We will describe the structure of the MS program, its goals and its place in the University degree plan landscape. We also discuss how the APS Bridge Program has been implemented in our institution and has influenced our MS program.