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In the PhD in Education, students use education to build more equitable, tolerant, and socially just societies and institutions. Thinking about how the PhD in Education online will help you achieve your goals? We invite you to view our free guide: Should I go to grad school online?
Fall Start Term
Application deadlines
$45 Application Fee
Note: Due to regulations from the U.S. Department of Education, the University of San Diego is unable to enroll students in its online programs who reside in Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
Graduate Application Process
All applicants are considered utilizing a holistic review process, including the following factors:
- Strength of academic history
- Professional and/or extracurricular experiences relevant to the program
- Content of personal statement and its connection to learning outcomes; and
- Letters of recommendation with specific examples of your competencies and aptitudes relevant to the program
Admission decisions are made approximately 30 to 60 days after each deadline.
Application checklist
Official (Degree-Granting) Transcripts
Must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission:
Office of Graduate Admission
University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
grads@sandiego.edu
Official transcripts from the university where you earned your master's degree and bachelor's degree are required at the time of application. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in all graduate coursework.
Applicants must complete a bachelor's degree and a master's or JD prior to beginning the program.
Applicants may apply prior to completing their master's degree. In this case, please submit your most up-to-date transcripts, and if admitted, submit a second set of official transcripts after your degree is conferred.
If you earned a degree from an institution outside the United States, you are required to submit an official international transcript evaluation (also called a foreign credential evaluation) as part of your application. Please note that the evaluation must be a course-by-course evaluation. You must order your official course-by-course evaluation from one of the following evaluation services.
- World Education Services, Inc. (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
- International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF)
- Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. (JSA)
- SpanTran: The Evaluation Company (SpanTran)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service (FACS)
Please be sure to carefully read the application checklist for international students found on the University of San Diego's Graduate Admission website.
Current Resume OR Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Include all relevant education and employment information to help the Admissions team make an informed decision.
Two Letters of Recommendation
From professors or individuals who can attest to your academic capabilities. We strongly recommend that at least one of the letters be from a professor who can address your academic abilities and potential and overall promise as a doctoral student. Students may submit a third letter of recommendation, but it is not required.
Statement of Purpose
Applicants should address each of the three questions, no more than four single-spaced pages:
- Why you are interested in earning a doctoral degree in Education and how does this degree align with your academic, professional and personal goals?
- What are one or two research topics that you want to investigate as part of your doctoral program and how can the work of faculty in the Department of Learning and Teaching support these research interests?
- How have your academic, professional and personal experiences made you a good fit for this program?
Standardized Testing Requirements
The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is not required for admission. If you choose to submit the GRE, test scores must be within 5 years of the test date.
There is no minimum GRE score required.
The University of San Diego’s GRE Institution Code number is 4849.
- This number must be included on test registration forms in order to have the official results sent to the university.
- Standardized testing must be completed well in advance of the deadline as it typically takes about 2 weeks for the score reports to arrive after a request is made.
For information on preparing for the GRE, visit USD's Test Prep or call (619) 260-4585.
English Proficiency Exam (EPEX) Score for International Applicants
An official score report for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of all international applicants. Official score reports must be two years old or less from the time you submit your online application in order to be considered.
Official scores can be sent to the Office of Graduate Admission, school code: 4849.
- TOEFL minimum scores:
- Internet-based test: 91
- Computer-based test: 233
- Paper-based test: 577
- IELTS minimum score:
- Band score: 7.5
The English Language Exam waiver may be requested if you have submitted your online application and meet one of the following:
- English is your primary language
- Completed a 4-year bachelor's degree or 2-year master's degree, and obtained (or in the process of obtaining) a bachelor’s or master's degree in the U.S. with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Or from a university outside of the U.S. that is regionally accredited.
- Obtained your bachelor's degree in Great Britain, Canada or Australia with an equivalent minimum 3.0 GPA.
Order official transcripts or evaluations, as they are also required to determine waiver eligibility.
Contact the SOLES Admissions and Outreach Office to learn if you are eligible for an EPEX waiver. Each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Questions?
Connect with the Office of Admissions and Outreach team to learn more information about SOLES master's and doctoral programs. Additional information for international applicants is also available.