The University of South Dakota

Graduate School Application Process

All required application materials are to be mailed or returned to:

Graduate School
The University of South Dakota
McKusick Technology Center
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD  57069-2390
www.usd.edu/grad

Materials Required to Complete a Graduate Application at The U:

• Application: Download a copy of the application, complete it and send to the Graduate School either electronically or by mail.  Faxed copies are not acceptable.  If submitting application by mail, please send the application to the address listed above.  If submitting application electronically, the applicant can submit his or her application in one of two ways:
• • If paying by credit card, submit the completed application through https://janus.usd.edu/gradapp
  • If paying with cash, check, or money order, E-mail the completed application to: grad@usd.edu

Application Form
Apply Online
Program Deadlines and Supplemental Applications

• Application Fee:  An application fee of $35.00 U.S. dollars must accompany each Application for Admission.  You may pay the Application Fee by credit card, personal check or money order, as instructed above.  The application fee cannot be waived or deferred and it is non refundable. 
  
• Transcripts:  Provide one official transcript from each prior college or university you have attended.  Graduates of The University of South Dakota or any South Dakota public university may provide unofficial transcripts.  Transcripts must be sent directly from each prior college or university directly to The University of South Dakota Graduate School.
  
• Letters of Recommendation: The completed and signed forms can be sent directly to the Graduate School by the recommender or mailed to the applicant in a sealed envelope with the signature of the recommender placed across the seal.  In the latter case, the applicant would send the sealed letters of recommendation to the Graduate School.  The requirement is three letters of recommendation for most programs with the exceptions of the MBA requiring only two letters and the PhD in Counseling and Psychology in Education requiring five letters.
  
  Graduate School Recommendation Form

• Admission Test Scores:  If test scores are required by a graduate degree program, the test score reports must be sent directly to the Graduate School from the testing center. The applicant may wish to include a copy of the test scores in the application packet.
  
• Statement of Purpose:  Applicants are encouraged to provide information about their reason for pursuing graduate studies, interest in research or creative activity relevant to their proposed graduate program, and goals for the future.  Not all graduate programs require a formal statement of purpose and instead, require supplemental information.  If the program does not have a statement of purpose requirement, the applicant should submit a general goal statement as to why he or she wants to attend graduate school.  Please attach your statement to the application.

Note: Once submitted, the Graduate School application, letters of recommendation and transcripts become the property of the Graduate School.

Use the following links to find applications and/or application guides for the Occupational Therapy, Law, Medical, Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant Studies Programs.  These applications are to be submitted directly to those departments.

• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Physician Assistant Studies
• Law School
• Medical School

Application Review

When completed, the Graduate School will forward the applications to the appropriate academic department for review.  The department will then recommend the admission status of the applicant to the Dean of the Graduate School, who will make the final decision as to admission status.  Students may be accepted to The University of South Dakota Graduate School with full admission or provisional admission.  The department or division also will recommend if an applicant is to be denied admission to a degree program. 

Upon final decision of the Dean of the Graduate School, the Graduate School will notify in writing each applicant as to his/her admission status.

Special Students

The University of South Dakota allows students who are not admitted to a graduate program take graduate courses.  Anyone holding an undergraduate regionally accredited baccalaureate or professional degree may register for individual courses at the graduate level without applying to a degree program. 

Special student are not required to furnish transcripts or recommendations & there is no minimum grade point average requirement.  A student of this classification must complete a Special Student Application and meet prerequisite conditions, as determined by the instructor, for admission into specific courses.

To apply as a special student, complete the Special Student Application.   A completed application for Special Student Status must be presented to the office of the Graduate School, at which time the student may then register for courses.  Note: Late applicants may be required to register on Special Student - Post Graduate Status.

For more information, visit Special Students Information.

If you have questions, please contact the Graduate School at grad@usd.edu or 1-800-233-7937.

* If you are a prospective student with a disability and need assistance or accommodations during the admission/application process, please contact the Director of Disability Services, 119B Service Center North, USD, Vermillion, SD  57069.  Phone: 605-677-6389  Fax: 605-677-3172
E-Mail: disabilityservices@usd.edu