Instructions for the 3 Primary Applications

In order to apply to San Diego State University School of Public Health, an application must be submitted to the Cal State Apply system. This application is for the purpose of applying to San Diego State University itself. This is in addition to applying to SOPHAS. You may not choose to do one application over another. Both must be submitted in order to be considered a complete application for the San Diego State University School of Public Health.

Applications are processed through the San Diego State University Graduate Application** (via Cal State Apply)

Please make sure to complete your application by the following deadlines.

Final DEADLINE: December 1, 2025 at 11:59pm PST

Apply for admission to graduate study at San Diego State University via Cal State Apply with the application fee of $70.00 payable by credit card only.

Official Transcripts: Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended are required. Electronic transcripts are acceptable. Please ensure that you indicate this preference when making your request. If you are required to provide an email address to send the secure online document to SDSU, please use transcriptsforsdsu@sdsu.edu.  If you are submitting paper copies of official transcripts, please mail them to:

Graduate Admissions
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

Note: Please do not send transcripts before submitting the Cal State Apply application, as this may result in processing delays. Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
 
International applicants, please see additional requirements for international transcripts and diploma/degree certificate.

Applicants with international coursework are required to submit an international evaluation report from one of the following:

• IERF—course by course detail report with course level identification
• WES—course by course (WES ICAP)

The evaluation report must be sent electronically, directly by IERF or WES to Graduate Admissions and must include copies of the international documents used to complete the evaluation. If admitted, additional documents will not be required unless a degree is in progress.

Note: Please do not send transcripts before submitting the Cal State Apply application, as this may result in processing delays. Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.

• GRE scores: NOT REQUIRED FOR FALL 2026 ADMISSIONS CYCLE. If you would like to submit your GRE scores, you can request them from the Education Testing Service (ETS) to SDSU. SDSU Institution Code 4682 . www.ets.org

• TOEFL: If the medium of instruction was in a language other than English, TOEFL score must be submitted to SDSU, Institution Code 4682. www.ets.org

Please note that letters of recommendation are not submitted as part of the San Diego State University Graduate Application.

Letters of recommendation are submitted to SOPHAS and your UC San Diego application only.

After you have submitted the online graduate application, you can track your application status via my.SDSU.edu. Please check back on a regular basis to make sure that all required items have been received.

** International students, the TOEFL test score is required if post-secondary instruction is in a language other than English. TOEFL scores are sent to Admissions and Records, Institution Code 4682, Department Code 0000.

The San Diego State University School of Public Health is participating in SOPHAS, the Schools of Public Health Application Service. All Ph.D. applicants must apply on-line through SOPHAS. Please make sure to complete your application by the following deadlines.

Final DEADLINE:  December 1, 2025, 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time

What is needed to submit along with my SOPHAS application?

1. Your Statement of Purpose and Objectives (approximately 1500 word limit) should address all of the following items:

•  Describe those experiences that have shaped your interest in public health. Comment on your current orientation or preferences in the public health field.
• Describe the one academic experience that has meant the most to you in your educational career.
• Outline your professional goals, both immediate and long term.
• Discuss why you are interested in the SDSU-UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health, the strengths you bring with you, and those areas in which you would like to increase your expertise and personal growth.

Note: Your Statement of Purpose should be submitted with your SOPHAS application only. While there is a space in the SDSU Graduate Application for a Statement of Purpose, you do not need to submit another Statement of Purpose for the SDSU Graduate Application; instead, simply indicate in the space provided for the Statement that you have submitted it with the SOPHAS application.

2. Test Scores:

• TOEFL: If the medium of instruction was in a language other than English, TOEFL score must be submitted to Code 5688 SOPHAS, Massachusetts

3. Transcripts:

• One copy of official transcripts (sent directly by the institutions) from all colleges and universities you have attended must be sent to SOPHAS at the following address:
  
  SOPHAS
  P.O. Box 9111
  Watertown, MA 02471

• Students with international coursework must submit to SOPHAS an evaluation report from the following organization instead of official transcripts (note: SOPHAS will not accept official transcripts for international coursework; only the evaluation report will be accepted): World Education Services (WES) (Course-by-Course Report) http://www.wes.org
• Applicants who have attended SDSU, please note that you must submit to SOPHAS transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including SDSU.

4. Recommendation Letters:

Three letters of recommendation are required. Two should be academic references, from professors who have taught you in class. The third letter can be another academic reference or a professional reference (employer, volunteer work, etc.). Letters of recommendation must be submitted to SOPHAS directly. Please see the SOPHAS application instructions for details.

Note: Letters of recommendation are to be submitted with your SOPHAS application only. On the SDSU Graduate Application, you may list your recommenders in the space provided, but you do not need to submit your letters of recommendation for the SDSU Graduate Application.

5. CV or Resume:

Your resume or CV must be uploaded as part of the SOPHAS application.

After you have submitted the SOPHAS application, you can check the status of your application via the status menu. You are encouraged to check back frequently to make sure that all of the materials required for your application have been received.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all required materials are submitted in a timely manner.
Once your SOPHAS application is complete, it will be forwarded to the School(s) of Public Health to which you have selected to apply.

UCSD Application Process

All Ph.D. applicants must also apply online through UCSD Grad Apply. Please make sure to complete your application by the following deadline:

Final DEADLINE:  December 1, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time

To complete your admission to the doctoral program in Public Health, please use the UCSD Application through the UC San Diego Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. UCSD uses a web-based application to apply for graduate study. 

What is needed to submit along with my UC San Diego application?

You are welcome to use the same Statement of Purpose and Objectives, and Letters of Recommendation used on your SOPHAS application. 

1. Your Statement of Purpose and Objectives (approximately 1500 word limit) should address all of the following items:

• Describe those experiences that have shaped your interest in public health. Comment on your current orientation or preferences in the public health field.
• Describe the one academic experience that has meant the most to you in your educational career.
• Outline your professional goals, both immediate and long term.
• Discuss why you are interested in the SDSU-UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health, the strengths you bring with you, and those areas in which you would like to increase your expertise and personal growth.

2. Test Scores: GRE/English Language Proficiency

• FOR THE FALL 2026 ADMISSION CYCLE WE ARE WAIVING THE GRE REQUIREMENT.

• School/Institution Code: 4836

  • TOEFL minimum score of 80 iBT/550 PBT.
  • IELTS overall score of 6.5 or higher.
  • Duolingo is not acceptable for applicants to joint doctoral programs.

3. Transcripts:

• Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universites you have attendned

• Students with international coursework must submit an evaluation report from the following the World Education Services (WES) (Course-by-Course Report) http://www.wes.org

4. Letters of Recommendation:

Three letters of recommendation are required. Two should be academic references, from professors who have taught you in class. The third letter can be another academic reference or a professional reference (employer, volunteer work, etc.). 

5. CV or Resume:

Your resume or CV must be uploaded as part of the UCSD application

Richness through Diversity

We enthusiastically welcome applications from students with culturally diverse backgrounds. We believe that the richness of a graduate program is increased by an ethnically broad student population. Our goal is to ensure that all admitted graduate students thrive and succeed in the public health community. To this end, our program assists and supports graduate students in a variety of ways. For example, faculty mentors interact with the incoming students to smooth the transition into graduate school. Also, we work closely with the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs and other University departments to create and maintain a greater sense of the campus community.