Graduate Admissions
Prospective graduate students may apply for admission to either the MA or PhD program prior to the December 7 application deadline for fall admission. Financial support for accepted students is provided in the form of fellowships or traineeships from federal agencies such as NIH and NSF, departmental teaching fellowships, and/or University fellowships, which are available to qualified students. Generally the department does not accept new students for the spring semester, although in special circumstances this may be arranged for students in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. While late applications may be accepted, complete applications should be submitted before the December 7 deadline to receive full consideration for admissions, financial aid decisions, and invitations to visit.
Applicants should choose one Graduate Program Area —1) Cell & Molecular Biology; 2) Neurobiology; 3) Ecology, Behavior & Evolution; or 4) Marine Biology — in the “Specialization” area on the first page of the Graduate School Application. If your interests span two program areas, please indicate both. Applicants are encouraged to contact one or more faculty with whom they might wish to pursue their dissertation research. This is especially important for students interested in the EBE and Marine Biology program areas, where applicants are typically admitted to work specifically with one or more faculty members. The CM and Neurobiology program areas require laboratory rotations during which students can explore their interests, but it is often useful to contact a faculty member. Contacts with faculty may be listed on page two of the Graduate School Application.
Application Requirements and Recommended Prerequisites
All applicants to either the MA or PhD program must submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (General Test plus Subject Test in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or Chemistry). Visit the GRS Academic Admissions page and the GRS Online Bulletin for more details on admission procedures and requirements.
Information for international students on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and other requirements is available on the GRS Academic Admissions page and on the GRS FAQ for International Students page.
Applicants to the graduate program should have completed seven college-level courses in biology, one in calculus, two in general chemistry, one or two (depending on the graduate program area) in organic chemistry, and two in general physics. Equivalent courses will be evaluated by the Graduate Committee which if necessary may require fulfillment of additional prerequisites to be completed at BU without graduate credit. Mastery of a foreign language is not required for a PhD in Biology.
The Department of Biology does not have absolute grade point average or examination minimums, but we do favor applicants with both strong academic records and previous laboratory or field research experience. Thus, we consider letters of recommendation in general and especially those from individuals who can address prior research experience as a very important part of your application.
Grad Students
Tracy Pritchett works with Dr. Kim McCall reseacrching the process of cell death and the role of cell signalling. Dr. McCall is in the graduate Cell and Molecular Biology program.
Jeff DaCosta works with Dr. Michael Sorenson in the area of avian ecology and behavior. Dr. Sorenson is in the graduate Ecology, Behavior, & Evolution program.
Katie Kovitvongsa is interested in the bioacoustics of fish and works with Dr. Phil Lobel. She is a part of the graduate Marine Biology program.
Heather Yu has been studying the role of serotonin in the vocal behavior of Xenopus laevis (the African Clawed Frog). She is a part of the graduate Neurobiology program.