Admission Criteria

The Graduate School at USC requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 averaged across all college courses. Most who are admitted to the MHB^® program shortly after graduating will have an overall GPA that is substantially higher than this, but we will not automatically reject an applicant who can document superior levels of academic ability and potential for professional success.

The Graduate School sets a minimum standard for performance on the GRE exam. 

For GRE tests taken on or after August 1, 2011 the Graduate School minimum standards are 144 for Quantitative Reasoning and 153 for Verbal Reasoning. Most students admitted to the MHB program have scores well above these levels. Scores from the Analytic or Advanced Subject sections of the GRE test are not required.

For GRE tests  taken before August 1, 2011, the minimum is 1000 (combining the verbal and quantitative scores). GRE test scores from as far back as five years are acceptable. Scores from the Analytic or Advanced Subject sections of the GRE test are not required.

Although there is no required major for admission to the MHB program, most of those who are admitted will have completed substantial coursework in the social sciences, and success in the program will require a working understanding of major concepts and research methodolgies associated with the study of human behavior. Those who have insufficient relevant background may be considered for admission, subject to satisfactory completion of preparatory coursework. That background work must be completed before the student can be admitted to a graduate course where the background is essential. If approved, the preparatory course(s) may be taken at a college or university other than USC.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

The program is open to those graduating in countries other than the United States. However, those admitted to the program must be fluent in English. The MHB Admissions Committee bases its judgment of these skills on the written portion of the GRE exam, and on personal interviews. The University will require TOEFL scores for applicants from a number of countries where English is not the native language. The Graduate International Admissions Office (GIA) determines what level of performance is satisfactory for admission to the University, and that office should be consulted for any information about this requirement. We have been told that receiving an undergraduate or graduate degree from an English-speaking college or university eliminates any requirement for a TOEFL test score. If you think this might waive the requirement for you, please check with GIA to get confirmation that the requirement would be waived.