Application Instructions

Fall 2023 Application Guidelines

Students are admitted only in the Fall.

Graduate admissions is a 2-step process. First, you must apply generally to the University via the CalState Apply application by December 15.   This application fee is $70.  You will follow the status of this application, as well as receipt of your transcripts, via WebPortal.  Second, you must apply to the individual department via the CSDCAS application by January 12.  You will follow the status of this application via CSDCAS.  Processing of the 2 steps is simultaneous but separate.  You will be sent instructions for setting up your WebPortal and CSDCAS accounts after submitting your applications.

The CalState Apply online application is open October 1 – December 15. The CSDCAS application is open October 1 – January 12.  Deadline for submission of all application materials, including letters of recommendation, transcripts, and TOEFL scores  is January 12.  Hard copies must be postmarked by January 12.  The first step in the application process is to submit the University CalState Apply application by December 15.

Begin the process early to assure consideration of your application. Admission decisions are made in March. Email notifications of admission decisions are sent by April 1.

1.  Submit the CalState Apply Online Application (the preceding wording is the link) *by December 15th*

NOTE: The CalState Apply application must be completed first. Upon completion, SDSU will e-mail you a Student Red ID # in 10-15 business days and directions on how to set up your WebPortal account.  If you already have a Red ID, you will continue to use this same number.  Via WebPortal, you will be able to follow the processing of your application by Enrollment Services. Enrollment Services will send e-mail updates every 2 weeks to students with incomplete files.

You will need to put this Red ID # on your SDSU Division of Graduate Affairs Supplemental Application.

DO NOT BEGIN SUBMITTING TRANSCRIPTS UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR RED ID #, WHICH INDICATES THAT ENROLLMENT SERVICES HAS SET UP YOUR ELECTRONIC FILE.

NOTE: As you will be submitting a Statement to the department, you do not need to complete the Statement of Purpose on the CalState Apply application. Simply write “Statement will be submitted directly to department” in this section.  Unless you are applying to another CSU program that does not require a supplemental application, you do not have to complete the Transcript Information, Experiences, and Achievements sections of CalState Apply as those items will be addressed in the supplemental application.

Cal State Apply Customer Service:  857-304-2087 or CalStateApply@liaisoncas.com

2.  Submit One Set of Official Transcripts, hard copy or electronic,  From All Institutions Attended *Must be received by Graduate Admissions or postmarked by January 12th*

• Mail hard copy to:
  Graduate Admission Document Processing Unit
  San Diego State University
  5500 Campanile Drive
  San Diego, CA 92182-7416

• OR send Electronic Copy:   If your school offers this option when requesting transcripts, choose SDSU from the pulldown menu.  If SDSU is not an option on the pulldown menu, ask your school to send to:  TranscriptsForSDSU@sdsu.edu.  Electronic transcripts MUST come directly from your school.  Electronic transcripts sent by students will not be accepted.

NOTE: Do not submit transcripts to Graduate Admissions prior to submitting the CalState Apply online application and receiving your Red ID.

NOTE: Submit transcripts for those courses completed and graded.  Do not wait until Fall grades are posted to request transcripts if doing so will cause you to miss the Jan 12 deadline.  Documents submitted or postmarked after Jan 12 will not be processed.  If admitted, you will be required to submit your final transcript during your first semester at SDSU.

NOTE: Students who received their undergraduate degree from SDSU do not need to submit an SDSU transcript as Graduate Admissions can access those transcripts electronically. If you attended any other universities or junior colleges and these grades appear on your SDSU transcript, then you do not need to submit transcripts for those schools. For all other students, you must submit transcripts from all schools attended even if the grades appear on your degree transcript.  SDSU transcripts and all other transcripts do need to be submitted to CSDCAS.

NOTE: INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTS–If you have international coursework, you must have your school send SDSU Graduate Admissions one official original-language copy of all records of academic coursework and proof of degree.  For each document you must also send a certified literal English translation, which can come directly from the school itself or from a professional, certified translator. The translation must contain all information shown on the original language documents. Country-specific guidelines can be found on the SDSU Graduate Admissions website:  https://admissions.sdsu.edu/international/graduate/graduate_country_requirements

CHINESE INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTS:  Degrees from China must also be verified by the China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC).

3.Submit the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized (CSDCAS) Application (the preceding wording is the link)
by January 12th, 8:59pm, PST

• Professional Statement and Resume will need to be uploaded to the online application.
• The Professional Statement should be no more than 3 pages, double spaced.
  Professional Statement Prompt: Please provide a statement that describes your academic preparation, scholarly/research interests, and professional goals. Within your statement, please address the following issues:
  1. What would you like to study/research in your graduate program?
  2. Please specify any emphases or specializations if the program to which you are applying offers or requires applicants to select one of these.
  3. Where would you ideally like to be professionally in 10 to 15 years?
  4. Please indicate your fit with and potential to succeed in the doctoral program to which you are applying. What sets you apart as a prospective graduate student and potential contributor to the profession?
  5. Include name(s) of any faculty members you have contacted or would like to work with.

  In addressing these issues, please have in mind that this is your professional statement rather than a creative writing or personal reflection exercise; hence, make it as focused and concise as possible.

• Official transcripts must also be mailed to CSDCAS.  Instructions for submission are on the CSDCAS website.
• Three letters of recommendation are required.  Letters from former Professors are preferred but not mandatory.  Letters are due by January 12.
• You will be able to follow the status of your application through CSDCAS to see when letters of recommendation are received.
• FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR CSDCAS APPLICATION:  

Customer Service Phone:  (617) 612-2030 Open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST.

Customer Service E-Mail: csdcasinfo@csdcas.org

Doctoral program applicants may also apply to our NIH-funded training grant:  Neurocognitive Approaches to Communication Disorders.

4. Submit TOEFL Scores and Proof of English Proficiency to SDSU (if necessary)

The GRE is no longer required,  however, TOEFL scores are still required from applicants who received or will receive their undergraduate degree at an international institution where the primary language of instruction was not English.

*Must be received electronically by Enrollment Services by January 12th*.  It takes ETS 10-15 days to send test scores to SDSU, so please plan accordingly.

• TOEFL scores are required, if applicable. Contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) http://www.ets.org and request that your TOEFL scores be sent to San Diego State University electronically. Institution Code: 4682. TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language.  This is only required for international students whose schooling thus far has been in a language other than English.
  
• Allow 1 month for TOEFL scores to be sent electronically from ETS to SDSU.
• TOEFL scores expire after 2 years.
• The University will accept TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or a DuoLingo English Test score as proof of English proficiency.
• Please see SDSU’s Admissions website for more instructions and the minimum scores for each option under Step 5

 

---

GPA Calculator

For assistance in calculating your GPA, please use this calculator (xlsx).

 

 

---