Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions:
About the Program
+ How long does the MHB program take to finish?
+ What fields does the MHB Program prepare for?
+ What are the admission rates for the program?
+ Where are the MHB graduates now?
+ Can I apply to start at the Spring Semester?
The GRE:
+ Am I required to provide GRE test results to be considered for admission?
+ Will GRE scores be required if I have been working as a professional for a number of years?
+ What if my GRE scores will not be available to me before the March 1st deadline?
+ Can I submit GMAT scores instead of GRE scores?
Graduate Admission Application:
+ What is the Graduate Admission Application?
+ Do my recommenders need to fill out the online Recommender Form?
+ Do I need to fill out the sections of the online application asking about researchers I would like to work with?
MHB Online Application and Document Submission:
+ What is the MHB Online Application?
+ Do I need to upload my Resume and/or Personal Statement using the online application?
+ Where should I send official transcripts and GRE/TOEFL scores?
+ Can I send my supporting documents via mail?
International Students:
+ I am an International Student. Is there anything else I need to do?
+ What is the minimum TOEFL score to qualify for admission?
Not in the FAQ? Contact us directly at mhb@dornsife.usc.edu
Q. How long does the MHB program take to finish?
A. The MHB Program takes one year to finish (two semesters and summer) if the student plans to enroll full-time. A part-time student can take up to five years to finish.
Q. What fields does the MHB Program prepare for?
A. The MHB degree applies to a variety of fields that the program specifically targets (market research, human resources, marketing, communcations, advertising) but students have applied coursework in a variety of fields like medicine, law, entertainment, social media and games.
Q. What are the admission rates for the program?
A. Check back on May 2012 for an update.
Q. Where are the MHB graduates now?
A. Details on the initial placement status of graduates for the graduation class of 2011 is now available.
Q: Am I required to provide GRE test results to be considered for admission?
A: Yes. This is true irrespective of your ethnicity, religion, country of birth, schools attended, or degrees earned. Only the Quantitative and Verbal test scores are required. Note that initial application materials require only your unofficial report of score values.
Q: Will GRE scores be required if I have been working as a professional for a number of years?
A: Yes.
Q: What if my GRE scores will not be available to me before the March 1st deadline?
A: Yes. You can send us unofficial scores (your scores displayed on the test screen for the Computer-based Test) and have your official GRE scores arrive ;later. However, decisions on admission will begin with completed applications, and there is a strong likelihood that the available seats will be filled within a few weeks after that deadline.
Q: Can I submit GMAT scores instead of GRE scores?
A: No.
Q: Do my recommenders need to fill out the online Recommender Form? Can they attach a separate letter of recommendation?
A: Yes, but they should not need fill out the online Recommender form on the Graduate Admissions Application. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the MHB Program office via our Online Application form (coming soon), email (mhb@dornsife.usc.edu) or mail.
Q: What if my GRE scores will not be available to me before the March 1st deadline?
A: If taking the computer-based GRE, your scores will be available immediately upon completion of the test. These are the scores that we ask you to self-report on the Academic Information Form. Official reports are NOT needed during the initial stage of the application process. If you did not record your scores when you took the exam, you can retrieve your scores online or by phone from the ETS. Information about these processes can be found here: http://www.ets.org/gre/general/scores/get.
Q. What is the Graduate Admission Application?
A: The first step for any MHB applicant is the Graduate Admission Application via the ApplyOnline portal. It can be found here.
Q. Do I need to fill out the sections of the online application asking about researchers I would like to work with?
A: No. You are not required to fill in this field.
Q. What is the MHB Online Application?
A. The MHB Online Application is a new system for the Master's in Human Behavior program to collect student data and application materials. This allows us to faster retrieve student records for verifying applications. This system will be available August 2012.
Q. Do I need to upload my Resume and/or Personal Statement using the online application?
A: Once the MHB Online Application is online, you need to use it upload your resume and personal statement. For now, it is not necessary to upload any documents to the online application through the office of Graduate Admissions. Your Resume and Personal Statement should be emailed directly to the MHB office (mhb@dornsife.usc.edu).
Q. Where should I send official transcripts and GRE/TOEFL scores?
A: These official documents are not necessary in the initial stage of the application process. Only when applicants are accepted into the program are they required to submit official documents, and they should be mailed to the following address:
University of Southern California
College of Letter's, Arts & Sciences
Master's in Human Behavior
3620 McClintock Ave., SGM 501
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061
ATTN: Dr. Ernest Greene
Q. Can I send my supporting documents via mail?
A: If there are any issues with sending your documents and application materials online, you may use to mail them to us using the following address:
University of Southern California
College of Letter's, Arts & Sciences
Master's in Human Behavior
3620 McClintock Ave., SGM 501
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061
ATTN: Dr. Ernest Greene
Q: I am an International Student. Is there anything else I need to do?
A: Please make sure that you have met the requirements of the Graduate School Admissions Office regarding financial support, the TOEFL and healthcare information.
Q. What is the minimum TOEFL score to qualify for admission?
A: The minimum TOEFL score for newly admitted Graduate students is 100, with no individual score less than 20 for each section of the test. For more information on this requirement, click here.
- Master’s in Human Behavior
- Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
- Seeley G. Mudd, Room 501
- University of Southern California
- Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061
- Phone: (213) 746 - 9082
- Email: MHB@college.usc.edu