Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program
Eligibility By State:
Due to regulations from the Department of Education, the University of San Diego is unable to enroll students in its online degree programs who reside in Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. The restriction does not apply to applicants interested in a campus-based program.
Online Application
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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
- Letters of Recommendation and International Transcript Evaluations must be received by the program deadline to complete your application.
- Upload the following to submit your online application
Transcripts:
Official transcripts from the university where you earned your master’s degree and bachelor’s degree are 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 or master’s degree from an institution outside the United States must submit a course-by-course degree evaluation conducted by World Education Services (WES) at the time of application.
- 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.
Statement of Purpose:
Applicants should address each of the three questions in no more than four single-spaced pages:- Why you are interested in earning a doctoral degree in Education for Social Justice 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?
Letters of Recommendation:
Three professional letters of recommendation from professors or employers. 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.
English Proficiency Exam (International Applicants Only):
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. be waived if English is the applicant’s primary language or if he or she obtained a bachelor’s degree in the U.S., Great Britain, Canada or Australia.
- TOEFL minimum scores:
- Internet-based test: 91
- Computer-based test: 233
- Paper-based test: 577
- IELTS minimum score:
- Band score: 7.5
Standardized Testing Requirements
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), but it is not required. Official 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 more information on preparing for the GRE, visit USD's Test Prep or call (619) 260-4585.
Education Requirements
- 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.
- The minimum cumulative Grade Point Average is 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) in all graduate coursework.
Experience Requirements
Professional experience is strongly recommended.
Students entering the University of San Diego and/or declaring a major during 2020-2021, should follow information contained in the printed course catalog (also known as the "catalog of record") published on April 1, 2020. Access the catalog of record at https://catalogs.sandiego.edu.
I. Core Requirements
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
First Year | ||
Fall I | ||
EDUC 601 | Critical Social Theory and Education | 3 |
EDUC 602 | Educational Research & Methods | 3 |
Spring I | ||
EDUC 603 | History of Education for Social Justice | 3 |
EDUC 605 | Language and Culture in Education | 3 |
Second Year | ||
Fall II | ||
EDUC 606 | Educational Politics & Policy | 3 |
EDUC 607 | Quantitative Research Methods and Design in Education I | 3 |
or EDUC 609 | Qualitative Research Methods and Design in Education I | |
Spring II | ||
EDUC 604 | Education and Globalization | 3 |
EDUC 608 | Quantitative Research Methods and Design in Education II | 3 |
or EDUC 610 | Qualitative Research Methods and Design in Education II | |
Third Year | ||
Fall III | ||
EDUC 611 | Social Justice Praxis in Educational Organizations | 3 |
EDUC 650 | Doctoral Seminar I | 3 |
Spring III | ||
EDUC 651 | Doctoral Seminar II | 3 |
SOLES Global Course Consult your advisor for course selection | 3 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall IV | ||
EDUC 652 | Doctoral Seminar III | 3 |
EDUC 694 | Special Topics | 3 |
Spring IV | ||
EDUC 653 | Doctoral Seminar IV | 6 |
Total Units | 48 |
II. International Experience
At SOLES, all masters and doctoral students participate in an international experience designed to support the growth of cultural competency. Our goal is to inform best practices in working with culturally diverse populations locally, nationally and globally. International experiences are approved by each student's faculty advisor.
III. Advancement to Candidacy
Student Advance to Candidacy in EDUC 651 Doctoral Seminar II where they prepare and defend their dissertation proposal.
IV. Dissertation
Successful written and oral defense of dissertation is required for graduation.
FOR ALL ONLINE COURSES | |
High-Speed Internet | A high-speed internet connection is strongly encouraged. |
Course Access and Navigation | All course-related information is posted on the Blackboard e-learning platform (https://ole.sandiego.edu/). |
Recommended Browser |
Firefox is the recommended browser for use with Blackboard on both the Mac and PC. For best results update your browser to the latest version Blackboard lists the most current browser compatibility information. If you're having browser issues or your browser is locking up, try clearing your browser's cache: view the instructions for clearing your cache on the most common browsers. If components of your course are missing or broken, check to see whether your system is running the most current version of Java.
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Plugins |
Adobe Reader Plugin is required for some content in this course. Users may need to download and install the most current version of Adobe Reader, which includes the plugin. Visit Adobe's website to download the most current version for your system.
QuickTime Plugin is required for some content in this course. Download QuickTime Plugin |
Other Software | Microsoft Office is required. If you are using Office 2003 or earlier, download and install the Microsoft Office Compatibility pack. |
Blackboard Technical Support |
Contact the Help Desk or Submit A Ticket. Phone: 619-260-7900 Business Hours: After Hours Support: Weekend Support: |
Deadlines
All application materials must be received by the Office of Graduate Admissions by the final deadline in order for your application to be considered for admission.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Review tuition rates, fees, and financial aid opportunities to start investing in yourself.
Status and Decisions
To confirm that application materials have been received, please log into the MySanDiego portal or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at (619) 260-4524. Admissions decision letters are sent via US Mail.
Submit all supplemental materials to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
University of San Diego, Manchester Hall 105
5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110-2492
grads@sandiego.edu
For questions about the admissions contact:
SOLES Office of Admissions and Outreach
Mother Rosalie Hill Hall 143
(619) 260-7988
solesadmissions@sandiego.edu
Advising Appointments