Master of Arts in Leadership Studies

Online Application:

• The University of San Diego Graduate School Admission Application and $45 application fee

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

Transcripts:

An 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:

• A minimum of two professional letters of recommendation from professors or employers

Resume

• Current resumé or curriculum vitae

Statement of Purpose:

• A 500-word maximum statement of purpose. Please include a brief narrative describing yourself, your career goals and the importance of graduate study at this point in your life. You may discuss influences on your intellectual development, educational and cultural opportunities (or lack of them) which 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 graduate school 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 (EPEX) Scores for International Applicants

EPEX Requirement:

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 Admissions, grads@sandiego.edu, school code: 4849.

• TOEFL minimum scores:
  • Internet-based test: 83
  • Computer-based test: 237
  • Paper-based test: 580
• IELTS minimum score:
  • Band score 7

Waiving out of the English Language exam requirement: The English Language Exam waiver may be requested if you:

1. Have submitted your online application and 
2. You meet one of the following: 
   • English is your primary language
   • You 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. 
   • You obtained your bachelor's degree in Great Britain, Canada, or Australia with an equivalent minimum 3.0 GPA. 

Be sure to promptly order official transcripts or official transcript evaluations, as they are also required to determine waiver eligibility.

If you believe you are eligible for an EPEX waiver, please email the SOLES Admissions and Outreach Office at solesadmissions@sandiego.edu. Each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

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 3.0 (on a 4.00 scale) in all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
• This program does not have any specific prerequisite courses.

Experience Requirements

Some leadership experience is helpful but professional experience is not required.