Program Overview

Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program

The Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program offers graduate degrees in Molecular & Cellular Biology. The program is designed for students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology, with a focus on research and academic excellence.

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Undergraduate or Master's Degree, in biology or closely related discipline
• GPA of 3.0 or better in most recent degree program
• Three letters of recommendation from current or prior professors
• Resume or Curriculum Vita (CV) with employment and research experience, including part-time and/or unpaid volunteer or internship experiences
• Personal Statement that includes an autobiographical sketch and statement of intent and a list of two to three MCB faculty members whose research you find especially interesting and would consider as potential mentors

English Language Proficiency Requirements

The program has English proficiency requirements that are higher than the minimum university requirements. The minimum score is a TOEFL-iBT of 95.

Application Deadline

It is recommended that students enter the program in the fall semester. Completed applications are to be received no later than January 7 for entrance in the fall semester.

Program Codes

The program codes for the Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program are as follows:

• MCB & Biological Sciences: PH6947
• MCB & Chemistry & Biochemistry: PH6946
• MCB & Plant Biology: PH6949

Admission Criteria

Admission to the program is based on a variety of factors, including:

• Course work completed
• Grades
• Letters of recommendation
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (optional)
• English Language Proficiency Requirements

Home Departments

The program is affiliated with several home departments, including:

• Biological Sciences
• Chemistry & Biochemistry
• Plant Biology Each home department has its own requirements for admission and graduation.

Degree Requirements

The program offers a Ph.D. degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology. The degree requirements include:

• Completion of coursework and research requirements
• Passing of comprehensive exams
• Defense of a dissertation

Research Areas

The program offers research opportunities in a variety of areas, including:

• Molecular Biology
• Cellular Biology
• Biochemistry
• Plant Biology
• Biological Sciences

International Students

International students, for whom English is not their primary language, should have earned a minimum grade of 620 written or 260 computer on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).