Application

NOTE: Please read ALL of the following instructions prior to beginning the application process.

Deadline for Fall 2013 applications is on March 1, 2013.

Unless exempted by special petition, applicants who have less than two years of job-related work experience are required to take the Psyc 550a,b course sequence, and therefore must begin the program in the fall.

Those who have more than two years of full-time work experience can apply to begin in either the fall or spring. Those who wish to be admitted in the Spring semester should submit a completed application by December 1 of the prior year. For either fall or spring admissions, keeping class size in a range that allows for effective graduate education is of prime importance, and there will be many fine candidates that we will not be able to accept.

Click here for a summary and checklist of the application process detailed below.

One begins by applying to the USC Graduate International Admissions Office online.

The online application consists of the following sections:

          1) *Biographical Information  
          2) *Contact Information
          3) *Application Information
          4) *Financial Aid
          5) *Academic Background
          6) Test Information
          7) Employment Info/Resume
          8) *Language Background
          9) *Additional Questions (numbers 1-4 only)
          10) Supporting Documents
          11) †International Applicants

For the first 10 sections of the list, please complete only the sections of the online GIA application that are marked in BLUE and also with an asterisk (*). You must complete the required fields in these sections. It is not necessary to submit a personal statement, letters of recommendation, or respond to any of the essay questions that are part of the Supporting Documents section of the online application process.  Some USC schools and departments want this material to be in the GIA records, but the MHB program prefers to have such information sent directly to the program offices. Do NOT send official transcripts or official GRE scores to GIA at this time.  You will be asked to do so if you are admitted to the MHB program.

Please note that the international section is for international applicants only (marked in GREEN and with a cross †).  All other applicants can skip this section and submit the application if all other required sections are complete.

You must locate the correct program, which is filed alphabetically under Human Behavior, and it may be helpful to know that the post code for the program is 1365. Fill in the requested information and when complete, submit the application by paying the $85.00 application fee using a major credit card (fee waivers may be granted in certain circumstances, please refer to the online application FAQ). On closing out this portion of the application process, you will receive an email message from the Director that outlines subsequent steps, which are also given below.

Once the application process has been initiated through GIA, submit the following materials by email directly to the MHB^® office. These include an Academic Information form, a one-page resume, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and electronic copies of all transcripts. Unofficial copies of the transcripts will be accepted at this stage of the application process. Note that you must provide GRE scores (verbal and quantitative), and your unofficial report of the scores is given on the Academic Information form.  Please note that GRE scores are required of ALL applicants, irrespective of whether the applicant already has a post-baccalaureate degree, from what schools the degrees were earned, or the number of years of full-time work since receiving one's degree(s).  If your native language is not English, the Graduate International Admissions office may require TOEFL scores.  If you are not sure if this applies to you, check with the GIA office.  If they are required, you should include an unofficial report of the TOEFL scores with the other material being sent directly to the MHB office.  All documents should be submitted via email to MHB@college.usc.edu. If it is not feasible to submit materials as electronic documents, they can be mailed to the MHB office. Applications will not be evaluated until all materials have been received.  Please include your USC I.D. number (which you will be given through the Graduate International Admissions online application) with the submission of your materials to the MHB office.

Letters of Recommendation: For those that have less than two years of full-time work experience, at least one recommendation should be from an academic professor. It is strongly recommended that the second letter be from someone (such as a work supervisor) who can assess your potential for success in a non-academic career that is consistent with the mission of the MHB program. For those with two or more years of full-time work experience, both letters can be from senior professionals, with a supervisor or someone at a higher rank being a better choice than a colleague.  Please have the recommenders send their letters directly to the MHB office.  Email is preferred, but postage is acceptable if email is not feasible.

Personal Statement: The personal statement should describe the kind of career options you believe to be desirable and attainable within the next five years and explain how your background and skills have made this a suitable choice. The statement should be between 400-500 words.

List of Relevant Courses: The Academic Information form asks for a list of relevant courses. Here you should list any courses that have contributed to your knowledge of human behavior, whether or not they were offered by a traditional social science department. Be sure to include any quantitative courses that have provided you with knowledge of statistical and research methods that are or can be used for the study of human behavior.

Applicants who are judged as acceptable for admission by the MHB Admissions Committee must then return to the Graduate Admissions Office website for instructions on how to submit those materials that are required by the University. This includes official transcripts, official GRE score notification, and for many international students, official TOEFL scores. Please note that you will NOT have to complete the online application again, nor submit a personal statement or letters of recommendations. Admission is contingent upon proof of continued satisfactory academic performance and payment of a nonrefundable application fee.

Note that requests for financial assistance are handled by the Financial Aid Office. This office will not provide any information on qualification for assistance unless and until you have been formally admitted by the University. You should be aware, also, that the College does not provide any fellowships, grants, or tuition reduction for master's level students.