Admission Requirements
- Graduate School application and $40 fee
- Submission of all postsecondary academic transcripts
- Successful completion of a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment
- GPA of at least 2.8 on 4.0 scale preferred
- International Applicants: Proof of English Proficiency, minimum requirements are TOEFL (79), IELTS (6.5) or equivalent
- Statement of Purpose: A personal letter/statement summarizing the applicant’s preparation and experience leading to the undertaking of a master’s program of study at SIUE, and outlining the applicant’s academic and career goals, highlighting the role that a master’s degree in biological sciences at SIUE will serve in meeting those goals.
- At least two letters of recommendation, not including the prospective faculty mentor, preferably from instructors and/or individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional preparation for undertaking a master’s program in the biological sciences (submitted directly by the recommenders).
- A faculty mentor’s written agreement, submitted directly by the SIUE faculty member, must be secured before admission to the program is finalized. (This agreement is not submitted with the initial application. Prospective students may contact specific biology faculty members whose areas of research interest them after submitting a completed application. A list of faculty members can be found on the department website.)
- Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 2.8 on a 4.0 scale should provide additional justification for admission with clear evidence of potential for success. This may include, but is not limited to: General GRE scores completed within the previous two years, documented relevant work experiences, additional justification by a prospective faculty mentor, explanation of prior coursework record, and successful relevant graduate coursework. These applicants should contact the Graduate Program Director (bio_grad@siue.edu) on initiating an application with notice of the additional items that will be submitted for review.
Program application materials may be uploaded during the application process, but official transcripts must be sent directly from the school attended and test scores must be verifiable with the appropriate testing service. Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office with questions regarding the application submission process at graduateadmissions@siue.edu.
All applicants must have a faculty member agree in writing to serve as a graduate mentor in order to be considered for acceptance. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to identify and contact prospective graduate mentors, preferably when all other application materials have been submitted, and to contact the biological sciences graduate program director (bio_grad@siue.edu) for assistance, if needed.
Students accepted into the biological sciences graduate program are expected to have completed coursework equivalent to the SIUE undergraduate biology degree requirements, or they may be expected to resolve any deficiencies by completing coursework beyond that required for the graduate degree. Upon admission to the program, the student shall consult with his/her mentor to review the student's academic record and develop a plan of coursework that will address any academic deficiencies.
For full consideration for assistantship support, all application materials including the mentor's written agreement should be submitted by February 1 for the following fall semester, and September 1 for the following spring semester. Applications received after these dates will be considered for any remaining funding. The February 1 and September 1 dates are strongly recommended for all international applications to permit sufficient time for the approval process and visa requirements to be completed.
Review the SIUE Admissions Policy for more information.
