Frequently Asked Questions

Our Frequently Asked Questions are divided into the categories shown by the blue links below. You may browse throughout the page, or jump to a particular section by clicking on one of the links.

How many schools comprise Alliant International University?
The Alliant family of schools is comprised of three major schools that span multiple campuses:

• the California School of Professional Psychology(CSPP)
• the Graduate School of Education (GSOE)
• the Marshall Goldsmith School of Management, which has divisions of Business and Managment, Organizational Psychology and International Studies
• the School of Forensic Studies.

Undergraduates are offered bachelor's degrees focused on career tracks into professional positions and also to advanced degrees by the Alliant Center for Undergraduate Education, (CUE). In San Diego, CUE offers a degree completion program for transfer students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate work and for students from Alliant's earlier undergraduate programs. A four-year bachelor's program is offered on the Alliant Mexico City campus.

Do academic programs have specific prerequisites?
Yes. Please review the appropriate viewbook for specific requirements, or inquire at the individual campus for
details.

If I don’t have the prerequisites at the time of the application, can I still apply?
Yes, but you would need to meet the prerequisites before starting the actual program. Applicants may be accepted on a contingency basis and would be expected to satisfactorily complete the prerequisites before starting the program.

Can I apply to more than one campus?
An applicant can be considered at all campuses, although not concurrently. Please indicate a preference.

Can I transfer credits from another institution?

Undergraduate applicants:
Yes. A minimum of 12 semester units is required to be considered a transfer student. A maximum of 138 quarter units (90 semester hours) of credit may be accepted for transfer from a recognized undergraduate institution.

Graduate applicants:
Yes. A maximum of 30 semester units (40 quarter units) of graduate coursework in which a grade of B or better was earned may be accepted if taken at a regionally accredited institution; 45 semester credits may be accepted from an A.P.A. accredited institution.

Can I attend Alliant as a part-time student?
Some of our programs are offered part-time. Please refer to the list of Graduate Programs in the Academics section for specific information.

Does Alliant use a semester or a quarter system?
Currently, Alliant is running on both a traditional semester and a quarter system. Programs at Fresno, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as San Diego’s clinical psychology programs are on a semester system and enroll students primarily in the fall. Former USIU programs in Irvine, San Diego and Mexico City run on a quarter system and admit students four times a year.

Can I start a program at a time other than the fall session?

• California School of Professional Pyschology: No. PsyD and PhD Clinical and MFT programs are designed for Fall enrollment.
• Marshall Goldsmith School of Management: Yes. Business students may apply for Winter Intensive, Spring, Summer and Fall sessions. Organizational Psychology students may begin all programs in Spring so long as they have no prerequisite classes to fulfill.
• Graduate School of Education (GSOE): Yes. Students may apply to most graduate programs (exception: School Psychology Program) in Spring, Summer and Fall. Please refer to an advisor.
  GSOE School Psychology Program: The MA/PPS program starts in Fall only. The doctorate program (for those that are currently school psychologists holding PPS credential) can theoretically start in Spring or Summer; however, this would be on a case-by-case basis and should be cleared through the program director.

Does Alliant offer special services for people with disabilities?
Yes. Please see the disabilities services page on this website and then contact the person listed for the campus that interests you.

Does Alliant offer housing/residence halls (dorms)?
Yes. We offer on-campus housing at our San Diego Scripps Ranch Campus; please visit the housing & food service page attached to the San Diego Campus area of this website for more information. We do not, however, offer a campus-wide housing system.

Admissions: Undergraduate Applicants

What are the application requirements?

• Application
• As of 8/21/2006, the admission application fee will be $45 for undergraduates
• Official high school and college transcripts with a GPA of at least 2.75 (Note: Applicants who have received their AA degree do not need to provide high school transcripts.)
• Official SAT or ACT scores – no minimum score required

What are the application requirements?

• Application
• Application fee - as of 8/21/2006 the admission application fee is $55 for master’s programs and $70 for doctoral programs
• Supplementary materials required by the school or college program may include (but are not limited to) recommendation letters, essay or statement of purpose, resume, and a program specific application supplement.  
• GRE is required for IR; GMAT for graduate business.

What graduate programs are offered at each specific site?
You can find a list of graduate degree programs by specific campus location in our Academics & Degrees section of this website.

Can I transfer credits from another institution?
Yes. A maximum of 30 semester units (40 quarter units) of graduate coursework in which a grade of B or better was earned may be accepted if taken at a regionally accredited institution; 45 semester credits may be accepted from an institution accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

What is the difference between a PsyD and a PhD?
The PhD is traditionally the more academic, research-oriented degree, while the PsyD degree develops skills associated with clinical practice. The PsyD usually takes about four years to complete while the PhD requires five. For more information on the difference between PsyD and PhD degrees in Clinical Psychology, visit the and PhD overview page on this website under the CSPP section.

Can I apply to both a PsyD and a PhD program?
No. Students may not apply to both a PsyD and a PhD program in clinical psychology in the same year. Though a student can apply to the PsyD program in one discipline (e.g. Forensics) and the PhD program in another discipline, we encourage applicants to research their field of interest and apply to one program that best meets their career objectives.

Admissions: International Applicants

International students applying to Alliant should check out the services offered by the Office of International Student Services by clicking this link. Answers to many frequently asked questions appear below.

What are the additional requirements for international applicants?

Undergraduate applicants:
TOEFL score of 213 (computer based) or 550 (written)

Graduate Applicants:
Masters candidates: TOEFL score of 213 (computer-based) or 550 (written).
Doctoral candidates: TOEFL score of 250 (computer based) or 600 (written) and a score of 5 or higher on the Test of Written English for the California School of Professional Psychology, the Graduate School of Education and the Center for Undergraduate Education. Students in the Marshall Goldsmith School of Managment's Business and Management Division must submit a TOEFL of at least 233 (computer-based) or 575 (written).

* International students who are applying to the San Diego Campus and who do not meet the minimum TOEFL score will be allowed to take our English proficiency exam once arriving to the University. If that test is not passed, then the student will be required to take our ESL classes before beginning his/her program.

What additional materials must I submit?

All international applicants:

• TOEFL scores
• Copy of passport
• Alliant Financial Certification Form with Original Bank Statement

International applicants who have previously attended a college/university in the US:

• Transfer Verification Form
• Copy of I-20
• Copy of I-94

What is Alliant’s code for receiving scores?

Alliant’s TOEFL code is 4128.

What are the application fees?

As of 8/21/2006 the admission application fee will be:

• Undergraduate programs: $45
• Masters programs: $55
• Doctoral programs: $70
• Counseling psychology, community development, part-time organizational masters and credential programs: $35

Is there an out-of-state fee?
No. Tuition and application fees are the same for California residents and residents of other states.

Is financial aid available?
Yes. The Office of Financial Aid, (858) 635-4559, will make every attempt to meet the cost of attendance through grants, federal assistance (student loans), state grants, and scholarships. Financial aid is available for graduate students primarily through federal student loans; however, graduate students are encouraged to pursue grants and private scholarships as well. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid; however, they may qualify for scholarships or grants at the San Diego or Irvine campuses.

Does Alliant offer scholarships?
Alliant master’s programs in Business, Psychology and International Relations offer scholarships to qualified students based on GPA and test scores.

Please visit the Financial Aid section of this website for detailed information and more FAQs.

Online Courses

What skills do I need to be successful in an online course?
 Please visit http://online.alliant.edu/ and visit the Student Support site. There you will be able to take a test entitled “Is Online Learning for Me?” and evaluate your potential as a student in an online course.

What computer hardware and software do I need to take an online course?

• Internet service provider (ISP)
• E-Mail account
• PC (Windows 98/2000/NT/ME/XP;128 MB of RAM;Minimum 56K Modem) or MAC (Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X; 128 MB of RAM; Minimum 56K Modem)
• Java and Cookies-enabled versions of Internet Explorer or Netscape. Please note: Windows XP does not come with Java. Download Java: click here
• AOL subscribers need to upgrade to latest version
• Internet connection speed: a minimum of 56.6Kbps
• Microsoft® Office 97/2000/XP
• Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5.0 or higher. (To get the latest version of the free Acrobat Reader software, click here. Select an operating system then click on the "download" button.)
• RealOne Player

What are your libraries like?
For information about Alliant's Libraries, please visit the Alliant Libraries page.

• Fresno
• Irvine
• Los Angeles
• Mexico City
• Sacramento
• San Diego
• San Francisco

How do I contact each site?
You may contact admissions by emailing admissions@alliant.edu or calling (866) U-ALLIANT.

General phone numbers and addresses for our locations are:

Fresno Campus
5130 East Clinton Way, Fresno, CA 93727
425 University Avenue, Suite 201, Sacramento, CA 95825 
Phone: 559/456-2777
Fax: 559/253 2267

Irvine Campus
2500 Michelson Drive, Suite 250
Irvine, CA 92612-1548
Phone: (949) 833-2651
Fax:( 949) 833-3507

Los Angeles Campus
1000 South Fremont Avenue, Unit 5, Building 7
Alhambra, CA 91803-1360
Phone: (626) 284-2777
Fax: (626) 284-0550

Sacramento Site 
2030 West El Camino Ave. Suite 200

Sacramento, CA 95833
(916)565-2955 or 
(559) 456-2777 x2255

San Diego Scripps Ranch Campus
10455 Pomerado Road
San Diego, California 92131-1799
Phone: (858) 635-4772
Fax: (858) 635-4739

Systemwide Admissions Processing Center (APC)
10455 Pomerado Road
San Diego, California 92131-1799
Phone: (858) 635-4461
Fax: (858) 635-4555

San Francisco Campus
One Beach Street, Suite 100
San Francisco, California 94133
Phone: (415) 955-2000
Fax: (415) 955-2061

Mexico City Campus
Universidad Internacional de Mexico, A.C.
Alvaro Obregon #110
Colonia Roma, CP 06700
Mexico City, Mexico
Phone: 52-5-264-2187 - Fax: 52-5-264-2188
Email: admissions@usiumexico.edu

What is the history of Alliant International University?
On July 1, 2001, the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) and United States International University combined to form Alliant International University, an independent, not-for-profit institution of higher learning.

CSPP, was founded in 1969 with help from the California Psychological Association (CPA), to meet an unmet need for clinical psychologists. It was the first professional school of clinical psychology and is the largest in the country. CSPP graduates are leading practitioners, researchers and consultants throughout California, the U.S. and all over the world.

USIU had a history in San Diego of almost 50 years. Its San Diego campus ranked among the top three US universities with the highest percentage of international students, and it had sites in Mexico City and Nairobi, Kenya.

What is Alliant’s reputation?
Alliant is well respected for its graduate level training in psychology and related areas. The faculty in all Alliant programs adheres to the highest levels of academic excellence. The University has an international and multicultural orientation, which invigorates our mission.

Is Alliant accredited?
Yes. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits our sites. The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits our eight doctoral psychology programs. The MFT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Click here for links to these organizations on our accreditation page.

How many schools comprise Alliant?

The Alliant family of schools is comprised of three major schools that span multiple campuses:

• California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP)
• Graduate School of Education (GSOE)
• Marshall Goldsmith School of Management (MGSM), which has divisions of Business and Management, Organizational Psychology and International Studies
• School of Forensic Studies (SFS)

The Center for Undergraduate Education (CUE) offers two-year undergraduate transfer programs in San Diego and four-year programs in Mexico City.

How many students attend Alliant?

About 3,700.

What is Alliant’s commitment to the community?

Alliant International University is not about ivory towers, but rather about people creating an impact on society and about results that make a difference to individuals. Our emphasis has always been on multiculturalism and internationalism. We train students to become professionals in a diverse and globalized world. Our institution has always applied scholarship to the solution of social problems.

What are our faculty accomplishments?

Our faculty are recognized around the world for research that helps improve the lives of real people from parents who want violence-free classrooms for their children to corporate employees who need to embrace change during  a merger. Our faculty-supervised clinics help ordinary people address a wide range of everyday challenges, from the businessman overcoming a fear of flying in our Virtual Reality Treatment Center to the pioneering psychologist who are the first in their nation to begin to address problems such as child abuse and domestic violence.