UT Tyler Biology Department

Graduate Program

Biology Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate study, the requirements for admission to the Master of Science in Biology are as follows:

• Bachelor’s degree in science with a major in biology or a closely related field from an accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average of 3.0/4.0 or equivalent.
• A satisfactory score on TOEFL or an equivalent test for applicants whose native language is not English.
• Approval by departmental Graduate Affairs Committee and the Graduate Program Coordinator.
• Consideration is also given to one or more of the following: the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, first generation college graduate, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and family responsibilities. These considerations do not exempt students from the academic requirements but will serve to strengthen the student's application.

General Information

Prior to applying to the program, you should introduce yourself to the biology faculty with whom you share strong research interests. If there is more than one faculty member whose research interests you, then you should introduce yourself to all of them. Don't be afraid to contact the faculty. They would like to hear from you.

Thesis Option: Students accepted into the UT Tyler biology graduate program will be required to complete a thesis research project. Each student will select a primary faculty advisor to supervise their research and serve as chair of the student's graduate committee prior to admittance.

Non-Thesis Option: Students accepted into the UT Tyler biology graduate program will be required to complete a literature review project. Each student will select a primary faculty advisor to supervise their research and serve as chair of the student's graduate committee prior to admittance.

Your success as a graduate student will largely depend on finding a faculty mentor that is a good fit for you. Before applying, spend as much time as necessary to get to know the faculty. During your discussion with potential faculty mentors, you should consider several things. Do you share research interests? Is the faculty member accepting new graduate students? Does your learning style fit the degree of structure or independence offered by a particular faculty member?

When considering a faculty advisor, it is very important to talk with current graduate students in the biology program. The students know what it is like to be in the program. So, ask students about their experiences, and be sure to get in contact with students working with the faculty member you are considering as a potential mentor.

When to Apply

Most graduate students are accepted during the spring semester for enrollment in the fall. In addition, most financial support is awarded before the fall semester. Applications for enrollment should be before the application deadline for the given semester. Any application received after that date will be considered in the following semester. 

Students applying to the biology graduate program are strongly encouraged to contact faculty members in their area of interest before or during the application process.

What to Include in the Application

Please visit the How to Apply page.