Narrative Medicine Admissions

Academic Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution at the time of matriculation
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2

Important Application Dates

	Fall 2025	Fall 2026
Consideration for Scholarships	January 10	January 9
Final Deadline	May 31	May 31

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Application Components

USC Graduate Application	https://gradadm.usc.edu/apply/ Code 1796
Personal Statement	Personal aims and interests in the program in Narrative Medicine (750 words max)
Evidence of Promise	A written work, scholarly paper, portfolio of art, course syllabus.
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters are required
Official Transcripts	All previously attended post-secondary institutions
English Proficiency	International graduate applicants are expected to demonstrate their proficiency in English

Evidence of Promise

_{This requirement may be fulfilled by submitting a writing sample in one of the following categories:}

• A scholarly paper (published or unpublished), article, or book chapter related to the applicant’s profession that is individually authored and pertains to narrative medicine, health humanities, or related fields. Include a preface explaining why you chose your work as evidence of promise.
• A creative written work that pertains to narrative medicine, health humanities, art and medicine, or related fields. This may be fiction, creative non-fiction, or poetry (Ex. A short story, poetry, a first-person essay or memoir.) Please include a brief explanation of how your work exemplifies your interest in narrative medicine.
• Literary analysis of any text that demonstrates close reading and/or application of critical theory to analyze a literary text. This writing sample does not need to pertain to medicine or the health humanities.
• A syllabus for a course the applicant has taught in narrative medicine or a related field, including an essay of no more than 1000 words describing and critiquing the course and its relationship to narrative medicine, health humanities, or art and medicine
• A portfolio of art, a film, or images of a performance piece, with an accompanying essay of no more than 1000 words explaining the relationship between the applicant’s work and narrative medicine, health humanities, or related fields

Please read through the FAQs before you begin crafting your application. If you do not have any writing samples that fit these criteria, you may contact nmed@usc.edu for a writing prompt.

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Letters of Recommendation

• _{At least two from college professors; applicants who received their bachelor’s degree more than 5 years prior are strongly encouraged to submit an academic letter of reference. Professional references will be considered in place of academic letters}
• _{Recommenders can submit/upload letters via the online application system, or email letters directly to uscnarrativemedicine@usc.edu}

Official Transcripts