Sofia University

📍 Locations: California

🔖 Day 1 CPT Programs: DBA; MBA; MBA - Data Analytics; MS Computer Science

🎖 Accreditation: WASCi

🎱 Type: Private For-Profit

💰 Program Tuition: from $24,120

⏱️ Program Duration: 23 months

🚖 On-Site Visit: Monthly

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University Overview

Sofia University's Accreditation

Locations

Palo Alto: 1069 E. Meadow Circle, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Costa Mesa: 3333 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626

CPT Policies at Sofia University

Currently, Sofia University provides Hybrid Professional Program options for 3 of their graduate-level programs, MSCS [STEM], MBA and DBA.

With only three Hybrid Professional Programs, Sofia is still one of the most popular university providing Hybrid Professional Programs in the region. This is due to its accreditations, scholarship opportunities, and low RFE rate.

F1 students are required to take 2 courses per semester to maintain their full-time student status. 1 of them is online, and the other one is on-site.
Online course takes place every week, usually scheduled on a weekdays
MSCS (STEM), MBA & DBA support CPT: MSCS requires 42 credit hours to complete, MBA requires 36 - 48 credit hours to complete, and DBA requires 54 credit hours to complete. This brings the average time to graduate to 18 - 48 months depending on whether the students choose to take a break in between.

Sofia University adheres to USCIS regulations to authorize CPT for international students.

You can work 365 days a year: Sofia University has 4 quarters/year (11 weeks/quarter).

Students can choose to take a break for a quarter after completing 3 quarters of study consecutively. They can still work full-time under CPT during the break. Also, there is no gap between each quarter, which means the student can work 365 days a year.

CPT Details

CPT authorization needs to be renewed every term.

Sofia University requires international student attend onsite residency class monthly.

Sofia University's courses use a hybrid model that includes one online course and one onsite course. Onsite course attendance is mandatory for F-1 students; failure to attend may result in the termination of F1 student status. The university requires students to participate in classes on campus once per month (a total of three times per quarter). Onsite classes are generally held from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays or Sundays. During the first semester of the MS CS program, students are required to come to campus twice a month.

Tuition

Tuition Fee

$24,120 - $51,300

Program	Tuition Per Credit	Annual Tuition	Total Tuition
Master's	$670	$16,080	$24,120
Doctoral	$950	$22,800	$51,300

Other Fees

Application Fee: $75 (Contact Us to waive)
One Time Fees: $475 (Orientation Fee: $50;Acceptance Fee: $200;Digital Badge Fee (paid by all MBA and MSCS new students): $50;Graduation Fee (participation in commencement is included): $175)
Recurrent Fees (Per Term): $290 (Student Services Fee)

Payment Plan

✅ Available

Sofia University offers students in good financial standing a 3-month, interest-free quarterly payment plan to spread tuition and fee costs into manageable installments. Students must enroll in the plan each quarter during the registration to add/drop period, with an administrative fee of $50 per quarter. Payments are due on the first day of classes and monthly thereafter. Late or missed payments may result in fees and loss of eligibility for future plans. Enrollment is managed by the Student Business Office.

Academic Calendar

Terms	Application Deadline	Semester Start Date	CPT Start Date
Summer 2025	06/16/2025	07/07/2025	07/07/2025
Fall 2025	09/08/2025	09/29/2025	09/29/2025
Winter 2026	12/08/2025	01/12/2026	01/12/2026
Spring 2026	03/16/2026	04/06/2026	04/06/2026

Initial F1 Students: 3 months before the first day of the term. If you missed the deadline, please get in touch with us.
If you missed the deadline, please contact us. We are the official recruitment partner of Sofia University; we can help you accelerate your application.

Day 1 CPT Programs at Sofia University

Doctor of Business Administration

This DBA provides continual immersion in an integrated program designed for business leaders interested in engaging academic methods to solve real-world problems.

Possible Career Outcomes Include: Executive Business Leadership, Global Team and Project Leadership, Professor in Global Business, Coach and Mentor of Global Business Leaders, and Executive Global Business Strategist & Policy Analyst.

Students will take one fully asynchronous online course with faculty and students. Students will also take one course in a hybrid residential format at either Costa Mesa or Palo Alto for 6 hours, three times a term.

To receive a Doctorate in Business Administration degree, a total of 54 units is required for graduation. There would be two courses, each 10 weeks, covering 2 credit courses with 2 hours of synchronous engagement and 3 credit courses with 3 hours of synchronous engagement.

The following are the specific degree requirements for the Domestic DBA:

Phase I: Global Business and Transformational Leadership Engagement (18 units)

Term 1:

GDBC6000 Critical Thinking and Business Communication (2)
GDBC6040 The Entrepreneurial Mind and Transpersonal Psychology (3)
DBA5011 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Term 2:

GDBC6010 Quantitative and Qualitative Research and Business Opportunities (3)
GDBC6020 Methods of Leading Change (2)
DBA5012 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Term 3:

GDBC6030 Mixed Methods Research for Business Opportunities (2)
GDBC6050 Transpersonal Leadership and Action Research (3) (GPHD7210)
DBA5013 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Term 4:

GDBC6020 Seminar: Business Challenges and Opportunities (2)
GDBC6900 Directed Studies (1)
DBA5014 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Phase II: Business Value and Global Leadership Program (18 units)

Term 1:

GDBC7000 Psychology of Organizational Transformation (3)
GDBC7010 Globalization and Sustainability (2)
DBA5021 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Term 2:

GDBC7020 Technology, Innovation and Creativity in Business (3)
GDBC7030 Leadership and Ethics in the Global Economy (2)
DBA5022 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Term 3:

GDBC7040 Leadership by Design (2)
GDBC7050 Transformational Leadership in Organizations and Communities (3)
DBA5023 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Term 4:

GDBC7060 Doctoral Project & Leadership Opportunities (2)
GDBC6910 Directed Studies (1)
DBA5024 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Phase III: Leadership Responses to Global Business Changes (18 units)

Term 1:

GDBC8100 Doctoral Project Proposal & Pitch (2)
GDBC8200 Doctoral Project Leadership Plan (2)
DBA5031 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Term 2:

GDBC8300 Doctoral Project Implementation (2)
GDBC8400 Conflict and Innovation Lab (2)
DBA5032 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Term 3:

GDBC8500 Doctoral Project Evaluation (2)
GDBC8600 Leadership Plan for the Future (2)
DBA5033 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Term 4:

GDBC8700 The Business Congress & Leadership Engagement (6)
DBA5034 Business Integration Practicum - BIP (0)

Master of Business Administration

Core Courses (21 units)

The Core consists of courses that aim to provide students with both the human relations and quantitative decision-making skills to lead business operations.

MBA2001 Personality and Motivation (3)
MBA2002 Positive Psychology for Business (3)
MBA2003 Decision Science (3)
MBA3002 Finance(3)
MBA3005 Operations (3)
MBA3006 Business Law and Ethics (3)
MBA3008 Marketing (3)

Advanced Courses (12 units)

Advanced courses allow students to explore issues of innovation,
technology, and advanced topics in transpersonal psychology,
leadership and organizational behavior. There are 4 advanced
required courses:

MBA4302 Organizational Psychology (3)
MBA4401 Technology Innovation and Product Management (3)
MBA4601 Marketing and Consumer Psychology (3)
MBA4602 Sustainability and Global Leadership (3)

MBA Capstone (3 units)

The Capstone is the final component of a student’s graduate studies.

MBA4001 Capstone (3)

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Based Internship Program or Elective (0 Units)

Students pursuing the MBA Degree Program are required to pass Sofia University’s 0-credit internship class, Work Integrated Learning (WIL). WIL is a graduation requirement and an integral part to a student’s degree program. Additionally, after completion of the WIL internship class, students have the option to re-enroll in following terms, which will aid them on their continued internship journey while in the MBA program.

Master of Business Administration - Data Analytics

This program features an advanced curriculum centered on Data Analytics. As a STEM program, this program not only equips students business insights but also technical skills that are central to the contemporary business environment.

Core Courses (21 units)

The Core consists of courses that aim to provide students with both the human relations and quantitative decision-making skills to lead business operations.

MBA2001 Personality and Motivation (3)
MBA2002 Positive Psychology for Business (3)
MBA2003 Decision Science (3)
MBA3002 Finance(3)
MBA3005 Operations (3)
MBA3006 Business Law and Ethics (3)
MBA3008 Marketing (3)

Advanced Courses (12 units)

MBA4302 Organizational Psychology (3)
MBA4401 Technology Innovation and Product Management (3)
MBA4601 Marketing and Consumer Psychology (3)
MBA4602 Sustainability and Global Leadership (3)

MBA Capstone (3 units)

The Capstone is the final component of a student’s graduate studies.

MBA4001 Capstone (3)

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Based Internship Program or Elective (0 Units)

Data Analytics Concentration (Optional, 12 Units)

Students seeking to expand their skill set can incorporate a Data Analytics concentration into their MBA program. This specialization in Data Analytics is achievable by opting for any four (equivalent to 12 units) selected MSCS courses. These additional courses help students broaden their analytical capabilities, a skill increasingly valued in today’s data-driven business world.

MSCS 2401 Data Science
MSCS3019 Data Visualization
MSCS3020 Mining Massive Data Sets
MSCS3805 Statistical Analysis for Computer Science
MSCS3809 Advanced Data Science
MSCS3807 Data Modeling in Python and R

MS Computer Science

MSCS at Sofia University is an accredited day 1 CPT STEM program, which grants its graduates 3 years of OPT after graduation. The program requires students to complete 42 credit hours of study.

The available concentrations are designed based on market demands, attempting to help students adapt to the industry's needs as quickly as possible. The currently available concentrations are Artificial Intelligence - Data Science and Cybersecurity and Information Assurance.

Mandatory Core Courses（24 credits）

The following are the program core courses:

MSCS 2103 -Systems Programming
MSCS 3801 -Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science
MSCS 3802 -Automata, Computation, and Complexity
MSCS 2401 -Data Science
MSCS 2202 -Machine Learning
MSCS 2101 -Software Engineering
MSCS 3804 -Cyber Security and Information Assurance
MSCS 3019 -Data Visualization

Concentration Courses（12 credits）

Students will select one of the following concentrations. All courses in the concentration must be completed to earn that concentration. Substitution of courses is permitted with Program Chair approval.

Artificial Intelligence

MSCS 3805 -Statistical Analysis for Computer Science
MSCS 2201 -Artificial Intelligence
MSCS 3008 -Introduction to Robotics
MSCS 3806 -Advanced Topics in AI and Machine Learning

Cyber Security and Information Assurance

MSCS 3920 -Cyber Security: Defense
MSCS 3921 -Cyber Security: Forensics and Attack Analysis
MSCS 3922 Applied Cryptography
MSCS 2219 -Advanced Threat Analysis

Data Science

MSCS3020 Mining Massive Data Sets
MSCS3805 Statistical Analysis for Computer Science
MSCS3807 Data Modeling in Python and R
MSCS3809 Advanced Data Science

Elective Courses (3 credits)

A total of 3 units of electives in the computer science, psychology, or business programs must be completed.

Work Integrated Learning-Based Program (0 Unit)

WILC5000 Full-Time Internship in Computer Science

Capstone Course (3 credits)

The Capstone Course is mandatory and should be completed in the final or next-to-final term of study.

MSCS 1022 -Technical Writing and Analysis for Computer Scientists: Capstone

Application to Sofia University

Before Enrollment

Step 1. Book a free consultation with us

Step 2. Prepare the following documents for your application:

Transcript - Highest Transcript
Resume
Passport
Financial Proof
Statement of Purpose

Having trouble with the application? Contact us.

After Enrollment - CPT Application

After receiving the acceptance letter, confirm with your advisor the SEVIS transfer time and fill out the SEVIS transfer form to transfer SEVIS from your original school to Sofia University.

FAQ - CPT at Sofia University

MBA
MBA - Data Analytics
MSCS
DBA

Once a month.

The onsite instruction of the hybrid course will take place on weekends (Saturday or Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Moving Humanity Forward Scholarship - $2,000
Merit-Based Scholarship - $5,000
Entrepreneurship Scholarship - $2,000
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Scholarship - $4,000
Honoring Heroes Scholarship - $2,000
International Students Scholarship - $2,500
Community Engagement & Social Advocacy Scholarship - $2,000

Each program has a different cost per credit and graduation requirement, the whole program might cost approximately $24,000 to $51,300.

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It usually takes 1 - 2 weeks to process the CPT application after students get enrolled.

If you live in California, especially in the Bay Area, Sofia is a great choice for you due to its ideal location. At Sofia University, you can use CPT all year round without any Gap. The only downside of choosing Sofia is that it only has three Hybrid Professional Programs. Please make sure that your JD and your background fit these three majors to fulfill the CPT requirement.

Contact our expert immediately. We are the official partner of Sofia University and provide expedited application service. Our consultant will follow up on your case and get the optimum result. We can also advise on alternative choices.

*The deadline for F1 transfer students (F1/OPT/CPT) is 4 weeks before the first day of the term.

For other students, it is 3 months before the first day of the term.

🚨Disclaimer: The term "Day 1 CPT Universities" commonly refers to universities that allow students to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) at the start of their first semester. However, getting CPT approval on the first day of the program is not automatic or guaranteed and depends on submitting a complete application on time. In most cases, CPT approval takes 5 to 15 business days after the university receives the required documents.

✓ One-on-One Free Consultation

✓ Personalized Hybrid Professional Master's Programs List

✓ Application Fee Waiver & Application Assistant

✓ Scholarship Opportunities

✓ Connecting to the Admission Officer to Get Pre-Approval

✓ Premium Process - Get an Offer and I-20 within 3 days [added-value service]

*Our consultants are committed to providing a seamless experience. Once you initiate a case with us, you will be assigned a specific consultant who will thoroughly understand your case, ensuring that there's no need for you to repeat information each time you call. We will not change your consultant unless you request it.