How to Apply

Ph.D. Application Requirements

Prospective students will need to submit the following materials:

Online Admissions Application: Begin the application process by submitting an online application and paying the non-refundable $65 application fee.

Degree Requirement: A master's degree from an accredited college or university. The master’s degree must be conferred to begin fall semester classes but may be in process during application to the program.

Minimum GPA: A GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous coursework is required. However, a GPA below 3.0 does not automatically disqualify an applicant and CIIS will consider a prospective student whose GPA is between 2.0 and 3.0. These individuals are required to submit a GPA Statement and are encouraged to contact the Admissions Team to discuss their options.

Transcripts: Official transcripts from all accredited academic institutions attended where 7 or more credits have been earned. If transcripts are being mailed to CIIS, they must arrive in their official, sealed envelopes. Transcripts from institutions outside the US or Canada require a foreign credit evaluation through World Education Services (WES) or CIIS will also accept foreign credential evaluations that are in a comprehensive course-by-course format from the current members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Admissions Essays:

Please answer the questions below.

1. What does critical sexuality scholarship mean to you? How do you see doctoral study in human sexuality at CIIS advancing your professional goals? (500-word maximum; Note: The admissions committee will consider both the content and writing style of your written responses to all questions.)
2. Describe the research or topical interests that inspire your work in our program. Propose an area of study for your dissertation topic and a tentative research question. Mention or cite the names of scholars or academics, either those teaching within the Human Sexuality department at CIIS or those whom you have either read or worked with as a way to show us that you understand what doing doctoral-level work means. (500 word maximum)
3. Please describe any relevant experience you have had working on the subject of human sexuality in your current or past employment and/or volunteering (e.g., in your work as a therapist, as a volunteer at an LGBTQIA center, working on issues of sex trafficking, teaching sex education in schools, activist work on transgender rights, running sexual harassment trainings/workshops, etc.). (200-word maximum)
4. Please comment on how you will balance the demands of a doctoral program with your other obligations (e.g., employment, caretaking, volunteering, self-care, etc.). Be sure to include whether you participated in any form of distance education (e.g., fully online, or hybrid meaning part in-person and part online) coursework and how you manage to stay on task and motivated while in coursework. (350-word maximum)
5. Goal Statement: A 500-word (typed, single-spaced) statement of your educational goals including your potential dissertation topic and the scholars (CIIS Human Sexuality Faculty or other scholars) you would like to work with on this project. Please also consider answering where you see yourself professionally after you graduate with this doctoral degree.

   Resume/CV

   Two Letters of Recommendation: One letter must be from an academic reference and one letter must come from a professional reference. Recommendations should use standard business format and include full contact information including name, email, phone number, and mailing address. If an applicant has been out of school for more than five years, two letters may be submitted from professional references.

   Academic Writing Sample: A writing sample that demonstrates your capacity to think critically and reflectively and demonstrates graduate level writing abilities. A sample that uses outside sources must include proper citations based on a style guide of your choice (i.e. APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.). You may submit copies of previous work, such as a final project paper, an academic paper, article, or report that reflects scholarly abilities.

   Group Interview: After an applicant submits a complete online application and all supplemental documents are received, the Human Sexuality department will review the application materials and will conduct group interviews with viable candidates.