Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with English translation) must accompany an application. Official transcripts of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for all students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
Completion of a baccalaureate degree in English or its equivalent is required. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States: Applicants who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institutionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the following English-speaking countries: United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Australia, and New Zealand are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, For all other applicants, a minimum score of 105 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or 620 Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 260 (computer test) or 11 on the TOEFL Essentials , a minimum IELTS Academic score of 7.0, or a minimum PTE score of 70 is required for admission.
Applicants are required to submit a 1 to 2-page statement of purpose.