Application

Application Procedures

We welcome your application. Following is a guide for a successful application to our Joint Doctoral Program. Applying to the program is a multiple-step process. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please note that this is a research-focused doctoral degree, not clinically focused.

We welcome your questions!  Please reach out to us if you have questions about the admission requirements before beginning the application process.

1) Contact Us

• Prospective applicants should email [email protected] stating interest in the program and await instructions PRIOR to beginning steps 2 to 4 below.
• Please label the email subject line “INTEREST IN JDP IRSU”. Include in the email, any pertinent information such as a CV and any specific questions you may have.

2) Submit the Cal State Apply Online Application starting October 1, 2025

Applicants will now apply to both UCSD and SDSU during the same application window. The UC San Diego application should now open and close on the same dates as the SDSU application. The UCSD application fee will continue to be waived.

Applicants will be responsible for submitting complete applications when they apply to both campuses.

Completed applications will be reviewed by the JDP Admissions Committee as they are received, so we encourage you to apply early.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applications can continue to be submitted through April 1, 2026. Applications submitted after April 1, 2026 will be considered only if an admissions slot opens up.

• When applying through Cal State Apply, please select: “Interdisciplinary Research on Substance Use” as the major.
• The application fee is $70 (nonrefundable)
• Within two weeks of submitting your Cal State Apply application, you will receive an email from San Diego State University that includes your SDSUid (an identification number for your application).
• Once you have your SDSUid, visit my.sdsu.edu and select Login to my.SDSU. Enter your SDSUid and password, and select Sign In to log in to my.SDSU. You will be able to check your application status here.

3) Submit Official Test Scores and Official Transcripts to SDSU Graduate Admission

• Official GRE* (optional) and TOEFL (if applicable) test scores must be sent by ETS directly to SDSU (institution code: 4682).
• Physical or electronic official transcripts from all colleges attended must be sent to 

SDSU Graduate Admissions 
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8225

OR

E-mail address for official transcripts from institution to SDSU:
[email protected]

*PLEASE NOTE: As of 2020, applicants are no longer required to submit test scores to our program. Applicants can optionally submit scores for the GRE General Test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections) and/or an applicable GRE Subject Test. 

4) Submit the Supplemental Program Application via SLATE

After submitting the Cal State Apply application, you will be prompted to complete a supplemental application.

Applicants will be emailed a direct link to their supplemental application, with information already preloaded including their program, contact information and prior schools attended already integrated into the application (saving time and avoiding applicant reconciliation challenges).

Students will view a customized list of items that they need to submit according to the requirements of their program (letters of recommendation, test scores, personal statement, etc.).

• Additional required application documents:
  
  • Statement of Purpose
    • Please limit your statement to no more than 2 pages, single-spaced, 11-point type.
    • In your essay, please state your purpose in deciding to pursue a PhD in research in substance use, how the degree will support you in your career aspirations.
    • Discuss your fit with this program, your research experience ( e.g., research skills, field work and research methods training), and your specific research interests in the field of substance use. Be sure to indicate specific courses you have taken and your applied training in statistics (e.g., types of software you have experience using and statistical analyses you have conducted outside the classroom). Indicate dates that you applied your statistical skills.
      
      Please be aware that if your statistics experience is greater than 2 years since you have used this, you may be asked to take a biostatistics course prior to entering into the program.
    • Please see our list of faculty; you are encouraged to indicate JDP faculty mentors with whom you would be interested in working during your graduate training.
    • Highlight the experiences related to substance use that you view as most relevant, formative, or illustrative of your potential and any aspects of your experiences that may not be summarized well on a CV or in a checklist.
  • Resume/CV
  • Unofficial Transcripts (for colleges/universities you attended where you received a degree)
  • Three Letters of Recommendation (requested through Interfolio)
  • Writing Sample (e.g., peer-reviewed publication; unpublished essay; thesis; writing submitted for coursework)

5) International Applicants

• Prospective International Applicants please check out the application requirements here.