PhD in Global Leadership and Change Admission Requirements

The application form is quick and easy, taking less than 15 minutes to complete. 

Applicants to this program must possess a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in a closely related field.

Official transcripts sent electronically via one of the approved companies listed below from the institutions that awarded the baccalaureate and master’s degrees to the applicant as well as all transcripts from all other colleges or universities attended. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial admissions review; however official transcripts must be received to complete your student file.

• Electronic Transcript(s) emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
• Official transcript(s) may be sent from one of the following approved companies:
  • National Student Clearinghouse
  • Parchment
  • eSCRIP-SAFE

Hard-copy Transcript(s), in a sealed and stamped envelope, must be mailed to:

Pepperdine University-GSEP
5th Floor- Enrollment Processing
6100 Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

Two recommendations submitted directly from individuals that attest to the applicant’s academic and/or professional character and leadership experience and/or potential. Academic recommendations from professors, instructors, or academic advisors; or professional recommendations from supervisors for employment, volunteer work, internship, or related activity satisfy this requirement. The online Recommendation Form should be emailed by your recommender to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

A 1,000- to 2,000-word applicant statement of interest in the PhD program addressing such topics as the candidate’s view of leadership, ability to develop followers, evidence of a purposeful research agenda, perseverance and demonstrated achievements, future career and life objectives, and reasons for pursuing a doctorate degree emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Your professional CV or resume emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

A personal and/or group interview with a program director or designee may be required for qualified applicants who apply to the program.

A writing sample and/or critical thinking assessment may be assigned to a candidate before potential admission at the discretion of the program director.

A verified record of academic written and presented research submitted via the PhD Research Experience Form on the online application.

If your baccalaureate or master's degree GPA is lower than 3.0, please fill out this Exception Request Form and email it to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

The application form is quick and easy, taking less than 15 minutes to complete. 

Applicants to this program must possess a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in a closely related field.

All applicants who received or will receive their degree from a university outside of the US (unless the degree is from a university that is already regionally accredited within the US) are required to submit a detailed foreign transcript evaluation report from any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member, such as the International Education Research Foundation or the World Education Services, Inc.

A detailed foreign transcript evaluation report must contain the following:

• Official foreign transcripts translated into English.
• A detailed course-by-course report with the grade point average converted or calculated on a US 4.0 scale.
• A determination of US degree equivalency (regional accreditation equivalency is required).

If you are attending school outside of the US and have not completed your bachelor's degree at the time of application, we would need your current “in progress” NACES member international transcript evaluation (please see above for requirements). Upon degree completion, you are required to provide an official, updated NACES member evaluation reflecting your full and complete final courses, final cumulative GPA equivalency and US degree equivalency.

Please have the evaluation service, send your updated evaluation to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Two recommendations submitted directly from individuals that attest to the applicant’s academic and/or professional character and leadership experience and/or potential. Academic recommendations from professors, instructors, or academic advisors; or professional recommendations from supervisors for employment, volunteer work, internship, or related activity satisfy this requirement. The online Recommendation Form should be emailed by your recommender to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

A 1,000- to 2,000-word applicant statement of interest in the PhD program addressing such topics as the candidate’s view of leadership, ability to develop followers, evidence of a purposeful research agenda, perseverance and demonstrated achievements, future career and life objectives, and reasons for pursuing a doctorate degree emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Your professional CV or resume emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

A personal and/or group interview with a program director or designee may be required for qualified applicants who apply to the program.

A writing sample and/or critical thinking assessment may be assigned to a candidate before potential admission at the discretion of the program director.

A verified record of academic written and presented research submitted via the PhD Research Experience Form on the online application.

International applicants to GSEP whose native language is not English are required to provide evidence of English proficiency. You must submit a test score for the Internet-Based Test (IBT) of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination taken in the last two years with a minimum score of 85. Information concerning the availability of this test outside of the US can be obtained by contacting TOEFL, Educational Testing Services, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA or online. Our TOEFL code is 4630. As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit a score of at least 7 on the IELTS exam taken within the last two years. IELTS scores can be sent electronically by choosing "Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology" from the dropdown menu.

If your baccalaureate or master's degree GPA is lower than 3.0 or you're seeking an exception to our TOEFL/IELTS test requirement, please fill out this Exception Request Form and email it to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.