{"id":219,"date":"2023-04-03T15:43:05","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T22:43:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/phil\/?page_id=219"},"modified":"2026-08-11T18:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T01:08:13","slug":"apply-to-usc-philosophy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/phil\/apply-to-usc-philosophy\/","title":{"rendered":"Apply to USC Philosophy"},"content":{"rendered":"  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--intro-text align-center\"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--intro-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  \n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>Applications to the Graduate School of the University of Southern California are coordinated through the WebAdMIT application system. The Philosophy PhD application deadline is\u00a0January 6, 2027.<\/p>\n<p>The online graduate admission application system and instructions can be found  <a href=\"https:\/\/gradadm.usc.edu\/\"_blank\">here<\/a>. The application portal will prompt you to create a user account and will walk you through the process. It is important to note that you need not complete your application at one sitting; your application will not be complete until you hit \u201csubmit\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>If you have questions about the application process or experience difficulties with the online portal, please contact Staff Graduate Advisor Brian Eckert at <a href=\"mailto:brianeck@usc.edu\">brianeck@usc.edu<\/a>.\u00a0 If you have further questions about USC&#8217;s graduate program in Philosophy, please contact Chair of Graduate Admissions, Professor Kadri Vihvelin at <a href=\"mailto:vihvelin@usc.edu\">vihvelin@usc.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n            \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--accordions \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--accordions\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Application Elements\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>To be complete, your application must contain the components listed below.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOTE:<\/strong>\u00a0The online graduate admission application will say that certain materials must be submitted \u201cdirectly to the school, academic department or program to which you are applying.\u201d <strong>You can and should submit all required items through the online system<\/strong>, however, for example, under the heading \u201cDocuments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n      \n    <\/div>\n  \n      <ul>\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-1-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-controls=\"section-1-1-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Curriculum Vitae<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-1-Mn0afs4_9W\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-1-Mn0afs4_9W\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>There is no \u201cright\u201d approach to structuring your CV for graduate school. However, it is a good idea to take some time to identify the skills and achievements you would like to highlight for your application to the Philosophy PhD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-2-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-controls=\"section-1-2-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Academic Records<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-2-Mn0afs4_9W\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-2-Mn0afs4_9W\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>An applicant for admission normally has an undergraduate major in philosophy, but programs may be arranged for promising students who do not. You must submit transcripts for each of your previous academic institutions; these are required by the Graduate School in order to process your enrollment. Your transcript will play some role, but not the most important role, in the admissions decision. The instructions for the online graduate admission application will walk you through this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-3-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-controls=\"section-1-3-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Personal Statement<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-3-Mn0afs4_9W\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-3-Mn0afs4_9W\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Your personal statement is the primary opportunity that you have in your application to give us a picture of who you are, what motivates you, and what philosophical questions interest you. It is not a request for you to propose a research program, but don\u2019t be afraid of telling us what you find interesting about the philosophical questions which currently interest you most. It should be under two pages in length. Personal statements should be uploaded in connection with your online graduate admission application under the heading of \u201cDocuments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-4-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-controls=\"section-1-4-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Writing Sample<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-4-Mn0afs4_9W\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-4-Mn0afs4_9W\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>All applicants are required to submit a sample of philosophical written work, which should normally be between 12-20 pages in length. It should represent your very best work to date. This is the most important part of your application, so make sure to put your best foot forward. Writing samples should be uploaded in connection with your online graduate admission application under the heading of \u201cDocuments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-5-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-controls=\"section-1-5-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Letters of Recommendation<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-5-Mn0afs4_9W\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-5-Mn0afs4_9W\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The online graduate admission application contains instructions for requesting letters of recommendation (to be submitted online) from at least three, and no more than six, recommenders who can vouch for your academic and specifically philosophical promise. If for some reason your recommenders prefer to submit their letters on paper, the online graduate admission application contains instructions for how to arrange that, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-6-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-controls=\"section-1-6-Mn0afs4_9W\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Test Scores<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-6-Mn0afs4_9W\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-6-Mn0afs4_9W\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><strong>USC Philosophy does not consider GRE scores<\/strong> as a part of graduate admissions, and so applicants are requested to <strong>not<\/strong> submit these scores. And although USC Philosophy does not require the TOEFL in order to consider non-native speakers of English for the program, <strong>USC Graduate Admissions requires the TOEFL<\/strong> in order to enroll in the university. USC&#8217;s code for the TOEFL is 4852.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n          <\/ul>\n  \n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--accordions \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--accordions\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Fee Waivers\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>The Office of Graduate Admissions provides information on requesting an application fee waiver <a href=\"https:\/\/gradadm.usc.edu\/tools-resources\/fee-waivers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure to submit your fee waiver request BEFORE you submit your application. Approval of fee waivers can take approximately 3 to 4 business days, so make sure to plan accordingly and submit your request in time to meet the application deadline. The Office of Graduate Admissions takes a Winter Break from approximately December 25-January 1, so it is strongly suggested you get your request in by December 18 at the latest.<\/p>\n<p>The School of Philosophy does not supply fee waivers to applicants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n      \n    <\/div>\n  \n  \n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n    \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--contact-details \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--contact-details\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n\n          <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                      \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Contact Us\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        \n                      \n<div class=\"f--field f--link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n<a \n  class=\"link\"\n  href= https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/phil\/contacts\/\n    aria-label=\"Read more about Full contact details\"  \n>\n    Full contact details \n  <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" points=\"19.3,27.5 29.3,17.5,19.3,7.5 16.3,10.4 21.4,15.4 6.7,15.4 6.7,19.6 21.4,19.6 16.3,24.6 \"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        \n      <\/div>\n    \n    \n      <div class=\"contacts-container\">\n\n        \n                      <div class=\"contact-card\">\n\n              \n                                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n<p><strong>Mailing Address<\/strong><br \/>\nUSC School of Philosophy<br \/>\nMudd Hall of Philosophy (MHP) 113<br \/>\n3709 Trousdale Parkway<br \/>\nLos Angeles, CA 90089-0451<\/p>\n<p><strong>Email<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:philosophy@dornsife.usc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">philosophy@dornsife.usc.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Phone<\/strong>\u00a0213-740-4084<\/p>\n<p><strong>Office Hours<\/strong><br \/>\nMonday\u2013Friday: 8:30 AM \u2013 5:00 PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n              \n              \n              \n            <\/div>\n                    \n                      <div class=\"contact-card\">\n\n              \n                                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p><strong>Chair\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\nJonathan Quong<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:quong@usc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">quong@usc.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Vice Chair<\/strong><br \/>\nGabriel Uzquiano<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:uzquiano@usc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">uzquiano@usc.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Director of Graduate Studies<br \/>\n<\/strong>Mark Schroeder<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:maschroe@usc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">maschroe@usc.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Director of Undergraduate Studies<br \/>\n<\/strong>Shieva Kleinschmidt<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:kleinsch@usc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">kleinsch@usc.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Graduate Admissions<\/strong><br \/>\nKadri Vihvelin<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:vihvelin@usc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vihvelin@usc.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n              \n              \n              \n            <\/div>\n                    \n      <\/div>\n\n        \n     \n    \n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":210,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-219","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - 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