Marital and Family Therapy Program

Online Application:

• Submit the University of San Diego Graduate School Admission Online Application and $45 application fee

  • Upload the following to submit your online application
    • Statement of Purpose
    • Resume
    • Recommenders’ Contact Information

Transcripts:

Official transcript from the university where you earned your bachelor’s degree is required at the time of application.

Note:

• Official E-Transcripts are acceptable only if emailed to grads@sandiego.edu.
• Transcripts from study abroad courses and transfer credits are not required.

Degrees Earned Outside of the United States:

• Students who earned their bachelor’s degree from an institution outside the United States must submit a course-by-course degree evaluation must submit a course-by-course degree evaluation at the time of application. Applicants can elect from:
  • World Education Services, Inc. (WES) - Preferred
  • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
  •  International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF)
  • Josef Silny Foundation, Inc. (JSA)
  • SpanTran: The Evaluation Company (SpanTran)
  • Foreign Academic Credential Service (FACS)
• Applications for students educated outside the United States will not be considered complete nor can an admissions decision be made until this degree evaluation has been submitted.

Letters of Recommendation:

• Two letters of recommendation are required at the time of application. If possible, one letter should come from a professor who can speak to your academic strengths, while the other should come from an employer or professional mentor. Letters should not be submitted by a family member or friend. The letters of recommendation should share how they know you, how long they’ve known you, and how they are familiar with your work. We encourage recommenders to share specific anecdotes that help explain how they think you will be successful in a program and in your career. 

Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV):

• Your résumé or CV should be a summary of your qualifications and transferable skills related to the program. You are encouraged to highlight your professional accomplishments and relevant experiences, including volunteer experiences. In addition, you can submit a cover letter with your resume to provide context to your relevant experiences and share their connection to the program.

Statement of Purpose:

• 500-words maximum: Please include a brief narrative describing yourself, your career goals, and the importance of graduate study in marriage and family therapy at this point in your life. You may discuss influences on your intellectual development, educational and cultural opportunities (or lack of them) that have been available to you, and the ways in which these experiences have affected you. This should not be a recording of facts already listed on the application; it should give the Admissions Committee a better sense of who you are and why you are applying to the marriage and family therapy program at the University of San Diego. If you are in a graduate program at another university, please explain why you wish to leave.

English Proficiency Exam for International Applicants:

• Official score reports for the  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)or the  International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of all international applicants.
  • TOEFL minimum scores:
    • Internet-based test: 83
    • Computer-based test: 237
    • Paper-based test: 580
  • IELTS minimum score:
    • Band score 7

Education Requirements:

• 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.
• The minimum cumulative Grade Point Average is 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in all undergraduate and graduate coursework.

Experience Requirements:

Interview Requirements:

After an initial review of applications to the Marital and Family Therapy program, the most qualified candidates will be invited to USD for a group interview with the MFT faculty.

If Admitted:

• The program requires the three pre-requisite courses for students to enroll in their second semester of courses: (1) Human or Life Span Development, (2) Counseling or Personality Theories, and (3) Research Methods.
• Students who have not taken these courses in their undergraduate studies can complete these requirements by taking a course prior to beginning the program or during their first semester at USD, either through an online program or in a traditional classroom setting. 
  • An affordable option to fulfill this course work can be found at study.com