Graduate
Admissions
Biology, MS & PhD
Students must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and demonstrate good preparation in the following subjects: Biological Sciences, Organic Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.
A minimum graduation grade-point index of 3.00 or equivalent is required for unconditional admission. An undergraduate GPA of 3.00 does not guarantee admission. Applicants with GPAs of 3.00 or slightly above will be expected to have a science course GPA of 3.00.
Transfer Students
Transfer credits from other institutions of higher learning cannot be used to replace the minimum of 9 hours of Biology Department course work required for the M.S. thesis degree. Up to 12 hours of Biology graduate credits taken at IUPUI by graduate non-degree students may be transferred to the non-thesis option. At least half of the coursework hours in a Ph.D. program of study must be taken while enrolled at IUPUI.
Application Process
REMEMBER: ALL MATERIALS MUST BE SUMBITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE GRADUATE COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW YOUR FILE.
Online Application
In the online application, please make sure you complete all sections. This includes the Personal Statement, Departmental Question, and Recommendations sections. It is helpful to include your name on all typed, uploaded documents.
In the Educational Objective Section, you must select: Academic Objectives: Biology (Purdue University)
For the Personal Statement: Provide a statement (approximately 750 words) that identifies your academic goals, career objectives, why you are applying to this program, and the qualifications you have that make you a strong candidate for this program.
(On the application, ignore the statement that says "check the department page for more specific information". The statement provided above is sufficient for the writing your personal statement.)
In the Departmental Question section, you must specify which program you are pursuing. The choices are as follows: Pre-Professional Non-Thesis, M.S. non-thesis, M.S. thesis, and Ph.D. Simply write a sentence saying "I am applying for the .... program." and upload it.
The last step before submitting an on-line application is the application fee. You must pay this fee in order to submit your application.
IMPORTANT NOTE: An email will be sent to you when our department receives your complete application. If you do not receive an application submission email within 3-4 weeks, please email or call to verify that we have it. We have several students who mistakenly select the wrong Academic Objective and their application goes to another department. It is important to check your email to verify we received your application. If your application is mis-directed, it can be easily switched over to our department.
Letters of Recommendation
At least 2 letters should come from professors in previous science courses and should address the applicant’s aptitude and potential in a science program at the graduate level.
The preferred method is using the online section within the application. If you have a person who does not wish to fill out the recommendation online, he or she may write a standard letter and mail it to the department. They can also include an optional recommendation form, but it is NOT required (click here to print the form 
Official Transcripts
Send two (2) official copies of transcripts from all attended institutions (including any IU campus) directly to the Biology Department:
IUPUI Biology Department
ATTN: Graduate secretary
723 West Michigan Street, SL 306
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Official GRE and TOEFL Scores
(TOEFL scores are for international students only)* The GRE general test is required and CANNOT be substituted with other test scores. You only need to take the general test, do not take a subject test. To find testing sites or to send scores, visit the ETS website at www.ets.org.
MCAT scores and scores from other professional exams do not substitute for the GRE score. A cumulative GRE score of 1000 with a minimum score of 400 in the verbal section is the minimum required for admission. The average verbal plus quantitative totals in recent years are 1170 for M.S. programs and 1200 for the Ph.D.
GRE and TOEFL codes: IUPUI = 1325, Biology Department = 0203
*Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computer-based test, or 80 on the internet-based test (foreign students only).
To be eligible for Teaching Assistantships, foreign applicants must pass the English Language Proficiency screening administered by the IUPUI ESL Program.
Application Deadlines
Ph.D.: March 1
M.S. Thesis (full time with support): May 1 for Fall entry or October 1 for Spring entry
Pre-Professional Non-Thesis and M.S. Non-Thesis: August 1 for Fall entry or December 1 for Spring entry