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California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) San Francisco Admission, Criteria & Application Deadlines

San Francisco, CaliforniaLocation

UniversitySchool type

Estd1968established year

1417enrollment

Private (Not for Profit)

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California Institute of Integral Studies is a private university which expands the boundaries of traditional degrees by offering transdisciplinary, hybrid, and online education models. It is a renowned institute of the US Education System that offers admissions to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to students from all over the world. It offers education in both on-campus and online pedagogical methods.

California Institute of Integral Studies offers 25 degree programs through 4 schools at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Some subject areas in which programs are offered include Psychology, Health care, Leadership, Asian Philosophies and culture, Anthropology, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, etc.

In fall, the institute had a total enrollment of 1,544 students. Out of the total students, 6% were enrolled in undergraduate programs, 50% were enrolled in graduate programs and 44% in doctoral programs. The institute hosts 6% international students from more than 47 countries.

Some points to be kept in mind while applying to California Institute of Integral Studies are as follows:

It invites admission applications for the fall and spring semesters.
Applications received after the priority deadline are also processed until seats are available.
CIIS considers applications on a holistic basis.
The institute delivers 71% programs in person while 29% programs are offered on distance learning basis.
Since it offers bachelor's degree completion programs at the undergraduate level, the enrollment information is not available.
Prospective students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 for admission.
Applicants with a lower GPA i.e. between 2.0 and 3.0 will also be considered.
TOEFL scores are accepted as proof of English language proficiency.
The institute looks for socially and culturally diverse applicants with the potential to succeed in the chosen field.
Past academic records and professional achievements as well as applicant's personal and educational motivation adds value to the application.
Most programs require applicants to appear for an interview. Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview which is mostly conducted in the months of February and March.
All admitted students are considered for scholarships. CIIS provides Diversity Scholarship, CIIS Opportunity Scholarship, etc. to international students.

Highlights

Application Portal	Online portal
Type of University	Private
Application Fee	USD 65
Total Number of Students Enrolled (Fall)	1502
Academic Calendar	Semester- based
Intake Sessions	Fall/ Spring/ Summer
Financial Aid	Scholarships/ Loans/ Grants/ Work- study
Work Experience	Required for some courses
Work Experience	Required for some courses

California Institute of Integral Studies Admission Deadlines

The institute offers a range of courses for international students at undergraduate and graduate level. The application deadlines for international applicants for Fall and Spring semesters are given below:

The admission events and important dates for students seeking admission in the fall semester are as follows:

Admission Event	Dates
Applications available from	November 15
Application deadline for Drama Therapy	January 15
Application deadline for most undergraduate and graduate programs	February 15

California Institute of Integral Studies International Student Admissions

Some additional requirements have to be fulfilled by all the applicants belonging to countries other than the US along with the general requirements which are usually the same as the requirements for the domestic applicants.

How to apply?

Application Portal: The international students will be required to apply through the University application portal.

Application Fee: USD 65

Basic Admission Requirements

Official transcripts of all the previous institutions attended earlier.
All transcripts have to be evaluated by foreign credential evaluation services.
Scores of English proficiency tests are required for all the international applicants whose native language is not English.
There are some departmental requirements also like interviews.
Letter of recommendation.
Bank statement of finances.
Affidavit of support.
Copy of Passport.

Transcripts can be either emailed to materials@ciis.edu or they can be mailed to the given address:

1453 Mission St.
Admissions Office
San Francisco, CA 94103

English Proficiency Test Scores

All those foreign applicants whose first language is not English or those who have not secured a previous degree from an institution with English as primary medium of teaching will be required to prove their proficiency in English language by submitting their TOEFL, IELTS or any other test scores. The minimum requirements for admission in undergraduate courses are given below.

Test	Minimum Requirement
TOEFL- iBT	80
IELTS	6.0
PTE Academic	53

Visa Process for International Students

International applicants will be required to get an F- 1 visa to study in the USA. The steps for obtaining the same are listed below:

California Institute of Integral Studies will issue the I- 20 form to the selected applicants.
Students will have to show proof of financial support in order to get the I- 20.
After completing the I- 20, the applicants will be required to pay the SEVIS I- 901 fee and then apply for F- 1 student visa by filling up the DS- 160 visa application.
Following documents will be required in order to complete the DS- 160 visa application are:
Passport
Photographs
Travel itinerary
International travel history
SEVIS fee receipt
Financial documents
Acceptance letter from the institute
Lastly, attend a visa interview in your country at an US consulate or embassy and get your visa approved.

California Institute of Integral Studies Undergraduate Admissions

California Institute of Integral Studies offers undergraduate degree completion programs in Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Applicants need to submit some mandatory documents to fulfil the eligibility criteria.

Where to Apply: Online Application

Application Fee: 65 USD

Admission Requirements: Applicants for undergraduate programs must fulfill the following requirements:

Completed California Institute of Integral Studies Application
Official transcripts from every attended educational institutions
Minimum GPA of 3.0 or above
English Proficiency Test Scorecard (for international applicants)
Admission Essay
One Letter of Recommendation
Pre- Admission Interview

Students who fulfill the general education requirements demonstrate preparation to enter the chosen program. The required subjects are:

3 units of college level math
9 units of humanities and art
6 units of natural sciences
6 units of expository writing
9 units of social sciences
3 units of oral communications

California Institute of Integral Studies Graduate Admissions

California Institute of Integral Studies offers many graduate degrees for international candidates seeking to study in the USA. Some of the courses offered by the institute are MA in Transformative Leadership, MA in East West Psychology, MA in Expressive Arts Therapy, MA in Integral Counselling Psychology etc. All courses have specific admission requirements. The requirements for some of the courses offered by CIIS are tabulated below:

Requirements	MA in Expressive Arts Therapy	MA in Integral Counseling Psychology	MA in Transformative Leadership	MA in Somatic Psychology	MA in Drama Therapy
Application Fee	USD 65	USD 65	USD 65	USD 65	USD 65
UG Degree	Required (GPA: 3.0)	Required (GPA: 3.0)	Required (GPA: 3.0)	Required (GPA: 3.0)	Required (GPA: 3.0)
Transcripts	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
Essay	Required	Autobiographical statement and goal statement	Autobiographical statement and goal statement	Autobiographical statement	Autobiographical statement and goal statement
Statement of Purpose	Not required	Not required	Not required	Required	Not required
Writing sample	Required	Not required	Required	Not required	Not required
Resume	Required	Not required	Required	Required	Not required
Recommendations	Required (2 letters)	Required (2 letters)	Required (2 letters)	Required (2 letters)	Required (2 letters)
Additional requirements	-	-	-	-	Background outline; Interview

The institute does not have any fixed timeframe for decision notifications. However, decisions are likely to be announced 4-5 weeks after the submission of the admission applications.

It is advised to apply at the earliest as the institute stops accepting applications for the courses in which seats get filled. Students should also apply for financial aid at the earliest to increase their chances of getting the aid. Prospective students can contact the Admission’s office for any queries at admissions@ciis.edu or 415-575-6154.

FAQs

Ques. Will my application be disqualified if my GPA is below 3.0?

Ans. No. California Institute of Integral Studies does not disqualify any applicant. Applicants with a high school GPA between 2.0 and 3.0 will be considered. Such applicants will be asked to submit a GPA statement and must also contact the Office of Admissions to discuss their options.

Ques. Does my transcript require evaluation?

Ans. Transcripts issued by institutions outside the U.S. or Canada must be submitted to World Education Services (WES) foreign credential evaluation service for a course-by-course evaluation report. The institute will also accept course-by-course foreign credential evaluation from a current NACES member.

Ques. What makes the California Institute of Integral Studies admission application strong?

Ans. Ability to think creatively and critically, writing and communication skills, good grades, professional and personal achievements are some factors that the California Institute of Integral Studies considers while selecting applicants. If an applicant has these skills/achievements, the application will automatically strong and chances to get shortlisted will increase.

Ques. Who can write a letter of recommendation for me?

Ans. California Institute of Integral Studies will accept letters of recommendation from academic advisors, professors, professional supervisors or individuals who can attest your capability to succeed at the university.

Ques. Do I have to attend an interview?

Ans. Applicants for the BA completion program, most MA programs, ACTCM, PsyD and PhD programs may be invited to an individual or group interview before admission. The format of the interview may vary from program to program.