Departmental Acceptance Criteria | Department of Biological Sciences
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Departmental Acceptance Criteria

Completed applications for graduate programs in the Department of Biological Sciences are reviewed by the faculty and committees. Only applicants selected by a faculty member who agrees to act as the student's major professor (i.e., advisor) for the thesis or dissertation are eligible for admission to a graduate program in Biology or Environmental Science. Applicants for degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology may be admitted by one of two options: selection by a faculty member who agrees to act as the major professor, or selection by an entrance committee that approves students to initiate research rotations through the laboratories of multiple faculty members (the research rotation coordinator for the 2022-2023 academic year is Dr. Brian Ayre). Students in the Professional Science Master's program may select a major professor after admission.

MASTER'S DEGREE (MA/MS)

  • Unconditional admission to the Toulouse Graduate School.
  • Complete application.
  • A letter of intent to the department, including the specific program and degree sought (MA, MS, or PSM,); faculty members contacted as prospective professor/advisor; professional goals and objectives; the reason(s) for choosing UNT, the Department of Biological Sciences, and the specific area of interest (Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or Environmental Science).
  • Three letters of recommendation to the department from former professors if the applicant is a recent graduate. One letter may be from an employer if the applicant has been employed for more than one year since graduation.
  • Undergraduate GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 overall or greater than or equal to 3.2 in the last 60 hours.
  • Submission of GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections) is currently recommended. The program views GRE scores as indicators of potential success; low GRE scores do not exclude candidates who demonstrate positive indicators in other areas. Applications submitted without GRE scores may be considered incomplete and may not be reviewed for an admission decision.
  • The appropriate GRE subject test is recommended for diagnostic purposes, not admission. In addition, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) may also be considered in lieu of GRE scores at the discretion of the department.
  • Bachelor's degree with 24 hours, 12 of which are advanced, in life science or appropriate related science is required for programs in either Biology or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
  • For the Environmental Science program, the bachelor's degree must be in an appropriate field related to Environmental Science, with course work in life science, chemistry, and mathematics. Please visit this link for prerequisite requirements specific to the Environmental Science Program.
  • A score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or equivalent, that meets or exceeds the International Admissions Office requirements for international students whose native language is not English.
  • International applicants needing confirmation of teaching assistantship eligibility must provide passing scores on either the Test of Spoken English (TSE) administered by the Educational Testing Service (minimum score of 50) or the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) Speaking Section (minimum score of 26).
  • Agreement by a faculty member to serve as the applicant's major professor (i.e. advisor) is required for MS degree programs in Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Environmental Science.
  • Provisional admission to non-thesis master's degrees for applicants not meeting all of the criteria, except for the requirement for a major professor, may be considered at the discretion of the Department. However, such students are advised to explore the Graduate School's non-degree (GNDE) program until satisfying departmental criteria. Provisionally accepted students must satisfy all admission provisions, including deficiency courses, within the time designated by the Department at the time of admission or they will be dismissed from the program.

DOCTORAL DEGREE (PhD)

  • Undergraduate GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 overall and greater than or equal to 3.2 in the last 60 hours.
  • GPA greater than or equal to 3.4 overall for any prior graduate work.
  • Complete application.
  • A letter of intent to the department, including the specific program; faculty member contacts as prospective professor/advisor; professional goals and objectives; the reason(s) for choosing UNT, the Department of Biological Sciences, and the specific area of interest (Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or Environmental Science).
  • Three letters of recommendation to the department from former professors if the applicant is a recent graduate. One letter may be from an employer if the applicant has been employed for more than one year since graduation.
  • Submission of GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections) is currently recommended. The program views GRE scores as indicators of potential success; low GRE scores do not exclude candidates who demonstrate positive indicators in other areas. Applications submitted without GRE scores may be considered incomplete and may not be reviewed for an admission decision.
  • The appropriate GRE subject test is recommended for diagnostic purposes, not admission. In addition, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) may also be considered in lieu of GRE scores at the discretion of the department.
  • A score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or equivalent that meets or exceeds the International Admissions Office requirements for international students whose native language is not English.
  • International applicants needing confirmation of teaching assistantship eligibility must provide passing scores on either the Test of Spoken English (TSE) administered by the Educational Testing Service (minimum score of 50) or the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) Speaking Section (minimum score of 26).
  • Bachelor's degree with 24 hours in a life science or appropriate related science, 12 of which are advanced; a master's degree in a life science with a research-based thesis is desirable for programs in Biology or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
  • For the Environmental Science program, the bachelor's degree must be in an appropriate field related to Environmental Science, with course work in life science, chemistry, and mathematics. Please visit this link for prerequisite requirements specific to the Environmental Science Program.
  • Agreement by a faculty member to serve as the applicant's major professor (i.e. advisor) is required for PhD degree programs in Biology and Environmental Science.
  • Applicants for PhD degree programs in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology may be admitted by one of two options: selection by a faculty member who agrees to act as the major professor, or selection by an entrance committee that approves students to initiate research rotations through the laboratories of multiple faculty members (the research rotation coordinator for the 2022-2023 academic year is Dr. Brian Ayre).