Admissions Requirements

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 bachelor’s degree are required at the time of application. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate coursework.

Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree prior to beginning the program. Applicants may apply prior to completing their bachelor'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)
• SpanTran: The Evaluation Company (SpanTran)*
• International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF)
• Foreign Academic Credential Service (FACS)
• Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., International Education Consultants (JSA)

_{*The SpanTran link leads to a custom application with discounted rate for USD applicants.}

Include all relevant education and employment information to help the Admissions team make an informed decision.

A minimum of two professional letters of recommendation from a current supervisor or a professor attesting to both academic and personal skills, and if possible, to teaching abilities.

Address each of the following three questions in a maximum of 750 words (250 words per question). When writing your response please remember that this is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your writing skills and academic readiness.

1. Read the mission of the Department of Learning and Teaching. What does this mission mean to you? How would you contribute to this mission as a teacher candidate within USD's Department of Learning and Teaching?
2. Describe your purpose for becoming a school teacher. How do you hope to impact students and communities?
3. Attending a rigorous master’s and credential program while working in classrooms/completing observations and student teaching experiences, passing required assessments, and maintaining relationships can be a delicate balance. What will you do to prepare and support yourself throughout the program?

If you are applying for the Teacher Residency Program, please also address the following prompts at the end of your personal statement.

1. Why do you feel the residency program is a good fit for you?
2. How can the residency program support your goals for becoming a school teacher?

After an initial review, applicants will be invited to interview with program faculty and San Diego Unified School Administrators.

1. The state of California requires a Certificate of Clearance and a negative TB test before practicum. Fall and Spring applicants will begin practicum during the first semester. We strongly suggest obtaining the necessary clearance before enrollment so there is no delay in starting your classroom observations.
2. Applicants are required to meet Subject Matter Competency before student teaching. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing allows candidates to meet this requirement via undergraduate degree, coursework, and/or CSET exam. The Credential Department will conduct an evaluation within the first 60 days of admission and assist you with determining the best path to meet this requirement.
3. Applicants must demonstrate Basic Skills in reading, writing, and math prior to student teaching. This requirement is met through the completion of your bachelor’s degree. Applicants will no longer be required to pass the CBEST exam. Teaching experience is helpful, particularly for applicants to the 12-month program of study but is not required for admission.