Integrated Biosciences, M.S.

Admission Requirements

• Comply with the regular Admission Requirements  of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, which includes an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0, and
• have either:
  1. a bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences, mathematics or computer science, or
  2. a minimum of 24 credit hours in undergraduate natural science courses, or equivalents, with a minimum GPA in these courses of 3.0. Students are expected to have sufficient training at the undergraduate or post‐baccalaureate level, which could include employment‐related experience, to successfully undertake the thesis project and the program. Transcripts of applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis with input from the faculty advisor.

Applicants are also expected to have a background in a breadth of sciences, with a total of 16 credits of coursework from at least two natural science, mathematics, or computer science disciplines that are not the area of their primary undergraduate training. Other courses may be accepted with the approval of the program advisory board.

Applicants and/or their potential advisors may request special consideration for admission of students with backgrounds that do not meet these expectations. Written requests should be directed to the Program Advisory Board. In some circumstances, the program may conditionally admit students with academic backgrounds that do not meet the requirements described above. 

All Applicants must submit:

1. Graduate admission application and fee.
2. Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions.
3. An essay indicating their background, career goals and research interests.
4. Three letters of recommendation.

Applicants must have a thesis adviser prior to admission. The thesis adviser may be from any of the participating departments.  At least one thesis committee member must be from the Biology Department. All theses in the Integrated Biosciences program must meet the thesis requirements of the Biology Department. Applicants are strongly encouraged to  communicate with the thesis adviser early in the application process. To identify the adviser, students should contact a faculty member and establish the willingness of that person to serve as the adviser, as indicated by a memorandum from the faculty member to the program advisory board. This memorandum should also indicate the general area of research to be conducted by the student and provide a rationale for the fit of this research area with the mission of the MS Integrated Biosciences program.

Application Due Dates

Fall Semester Program Start - Applications will be reviewed from March 1 through May 1. Applicants interested in being considered for a fall‐awarded teaching assistantship must have all materials submitted by March 1.

Winter Semester Program Start - Applications will be reviewed from September 15 through December 1. Applicants interested in being considered for a winter‐awarded teaching assistantship must have all materials submitted by October 1.

Applications must be complete to be considered for admission. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the department and only under extreme circumstances.

Affiliated Departments

The following academic departments are affiliated with the MS in Integrated Biosciences program. Students may select elective graduate courses from these departments, and faculty from these departments with Level Three Graduate Faculty Status may chair thesis committees.

Anthropology
Biology
Clinical Sciences
Chemistry
Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences
Health and Human Performance (ES and RE courses only)
Library and Instructional Support
Mathematics and Computer Science
Sociology and Anthropology
Physics
Psychology (PSY courses only)