Admissions
Application requirements
To be considered for admission, applicants must show promise of ability to pursue advanced study, have adequate preparation in the field, and be fluent in the English language.
Admission to graduate programs in Animal Biosciences requires the following coursework to be completed:
• Two semesters of chemistry to include general chemistry, organic and/or biochemistry, with labs;
• Two semesters of biological sciences (e.g., anatomy, biology, physiology, animal sciences, botany, nutrition, food science, cellular and molecular biology, or microbiology); and
• One semester of math (precalculus or calculus) or statistics.
The following standards and coursework are recommended, especially for PhD applicants:
• GPA of at least 3.0 or equivalent
• One year of undergraduate general chemistry, with lab
• One year of undergraduate organic chemistry, with lab
• One course in biochemistry, with lab
• One course, with lab, in any biological science, with anatomy and/or physiology preferred
• One semester of math (precalculus or calculus) and statistics
Application Submission and Admission
Those considering applying to a graduate program in Animal Biosciences are encouraged to contact the faculty member(s) whose program(s) is/are of interest. If a position in their laboratory is available, an application will be welcomed. All graduate program applications are submitted to the Graduate College. (See link in right hand menu.) Applications meeting the minimum standards for consideration are reviewed by the Department’s Graduate Committee, which is a subset of program faculty. The faculty member identified by the candidate has right of first refusal regarding the application. If no faculty member accepts the candidate, the applicant is not admitted and is notified accordingly. If a faculty member agrees to take on an applicant, an offer letter is sent to the applicant and must be signed and returned by the date specified.
Applications are submitted online through the Graduate College application portal. The following required elements must be received in order for your application to be considered (for complete details see, Application Instructions)
• Statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcript(s)
• Test scores for English proficiency, for applicants whose native language is not English (see International Students).
Standardized test scores (e.g. GRE) are NOT required to apply the Animal Biosciences Graduate Program.
Optional supporting materials to include in your online application can include a resume or curriculum vitae. We are particularly interested in receiving a list of any publications, scientific presentations or academic awards. A writing sample other than your statement of purpose may also be submitted to support your application.