A bachelor's degree is required for ALL master's, C.A.S., Ed.S., and doctoral programs.
Official transcript of all previous college or university work
TOEFL iBT - 80, IELTS - 6.5, TOEFL PBT - 550
Applicants to graduate programs in Biology and Ecology are expected to hold a Bachelors degree in a biological science, including coursework in associated sciences (mathematics, chemistry, and physics with associated laboratories). We do not exclude students with other backgrounds, but deficiencies in a student's background in biology and other sciences may have to be rectified with coursework taken without graduate credit. As a rule, we use the requirements for our own undergraduate majors as a guide to assessing the background of graduate applicants. These are listed in the Undergraduate Programs page. We encourage applicants to identify an area of research interest and a potential advisor on the application, students contemplating applying should feel free to contact members of the faculty (see faculty research information and faculty addresses) to discuss possible research projects even before submission of the application. A research project is a central part of both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.
One copy of the Application for Admission to the Graduate School. (This and other official forms are available on the Web at
One copy of official transcripts from each institution attended.
Three letters of recommendation (on the Graduate School's recommendation form) from persons in a position to judge the applicant's preparation for and ability to undertake graduate study. The letter writer should send his or her letter directly to the Graduate School (address below) and in duplicate.
Application fee (non-refundable).
Official report of scores achieved on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aptitude tests (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical tests). (An Advanced Biology test is not required.)
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit official report of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Graduate School requires a score of 550 on the TOEFL or the equivalent on the computer-based TOEFL (CBT). Applicants for a Teaching Assistantship must score at least 580. Applicants with scores below 550 can be admitted provisionally and will then be required to take English language training.