Graduate Admission Requirements

Admission as a fully classified graduate student to the MS program in Biological Sciences requires:

• a baccalaureate degree;
• completion of a major in biological sciences or closely related field; or completion of 24 units of upper division biological science courses or courses in closely related fields, each of which must be passed with a “C-“ or better;
• a minimum GPA of 2.75 in all biology courses and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in upper division biology courses
• GRE General Test scores;
• GRE Subject Test scores (either Biology or Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology scores are acceptable);
• a faculty member who has agreed to serve as their thesis advisor;
• two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the applicant’s potential for successful graduate study; and
• a statement of purpose;

It is strongly recommended that applicants contact faculty with whom they would like to work well in advance of the application deadline. Our experience is that students who have not obtained an agreement from a faculty member to serve as their thesis advisor (major professor) are much less likely to be admitted.

It is important to note that meeting all requirements for admission as a classified graduate student does not guarantee acceptance into the graduate program. Students who have deficiencies in admission requirements that can be removed by specified additional preparation, or who have not been accepted by a thesis advisor, may be admitted with conditionally classified graduate status. Admission as a conditionally classified graduate student does not guarantee fully classified status. Fully classified graduate status is conferred when all deficiencies identified at the time of admission are removed and a biology faculty member has agreed to serve as a student's thesis advisor. Any deficiencies in admission requirements at the time of acceptance will be noted on a written response to the admission application.

Graduate Admission Procedures

All prospective graduate students, including CSUS graduates, must file the following application materials with Office of Graduate Studies, River Front Center 206, (916) 278-6470:

• an online application for admission; and
• two sets of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State. The student must submit transcripts from junior colleges, even if the student subsequently got a degree from Sacramento State.

In addition, all prospective graduate students must submit the following application materials directly to the Department of Biological Sciences:

• an online Department of Biological Sciences Supplemental Application for Admission;
• one set of unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State. The student must submit transcripts from junior colleges, even if the student subsequently got a degree from Sacramento State.
• GRE General Test scores
• GRE Subject Test scores (either Biology or Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology scores are acceptable)
• two letters of recommendation (here is a form for the letter)
• a statement of purpose

International Student Applicants

All international applicants must submit the departmental application directly to the department.  DO NOT submit the department application to the International Admissions office.  Doing so will result in your application not being considered for admission to the Biology Graduate Program. 

Deadlines for receipt of all application materials are February 15 for admittance in the Fall semester. Note that there is no longer a general call for admissions for students to begin in the Spring semester; however, a student may petition the department to begin in the Spring. Please contact your potential supervisor to discuss this option. Approximately eight weeks after receipt of all items listed above, a decision regarding admission will be mailed to the applicant.

Updated: April 24, 2008

Department of Biological Sciences, 202 Sequoia Hall, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J. Street, Sacramento, CA 95819-6077; Tel: 916-278-6535; FAX 916-278-6993; Email: nangell@csus.edu