To qualify for admission, an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale for the last two undergraduate years. Prospective students must apply online through our departmental Web site (see below for details). The applicant should have a strong background in biological sciences. Courses in statistics, physics, chemistry through organic chemistry, mathematics through calculus, and computer applications are recommended. For applicants whose native language is not English, verbal communication with a faculty member is required so that the faculty member can assess verbal skills.
Three Letters of Recommendation:
How long has this reference known the applicant? In what capacity?
How many students has this reference been able to assess for suitability for graduate student/
Can you speak about the candidate's resilience, independence, reliability, personality, e.g., are they a good team member?
Overall assessment and applicant rating by percentile.
Please indicate your ranking of the applicant in each of the criteria below compared to other students you have known who have applied for graduate study:
Intellectual ability/capacity [e.g., Very Good (Top 10%)]
Analytical and problem-solving ability.
Oral communication skills
Written communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Ability to work well with others.
Motivation
Creativity/originality
Work ethic
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Statement of Purpose:
Describe your most meaningful research/academic experience (in class, in a research lab, at work, etc.). Please briefly describe a memorable experience from your academic career. If it involves research, what were the scientific questions or hypotheses you addressed, the experimental design/approach you used to test the hypothesis or question, your results, and the conclusions you drew. Did you conduct this research independently or as a member of a research team that conducted the research? If it is from a class, why was the experience meaningful to your academic trajectory? How did/might it influence your future research directions and interests?
Describe an obstacle/adversity you faced or a challenge you have met in your academic or personal life. What strategies did you use to overcome this challenge? If you face challenges in your future research, how do you think this experience may help you overcome the challenges?
What are your current research interests? Why is that field/area attractive to you, and which faculty member(s) in the department would allow you to pursue these interests? What about their research interests you specifically?
What are your longer-term goals? What do you see yourself doing in 5-10 years from now?

Evaluation Process:
Evaluations of applicants for the Master program are based on: students' interest, alignment with faculty, quality of reference letters, relevant coursework and research background.
International applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the Internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisaaional admission, enrollment, and, if necessary, remedial course work. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Revised TOEFL PBT July 2017 and later 60