Biology M.S.

Institutional Accreditation

Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at www.fgcu.edu/accreditation

 

Getting Started

Applicants must submit an application online at apply.fgcu.edu. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.

See program website at URL listed above.

Program Admission Requirements

Admissions to the Master of Science in Biology program is competitive and selective. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements for consideration may not necessarily be admitted into the program.

• Submit an FGCU Graduate Admissions Application and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
• Earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in biological sciences or a related field relevant to the research interest of the applicant.
• A cover letter of introduction including academic and career goals, a statement of research interests to assist in identifying a faculty mentor (three pages maximum).
• Official copy of undergraduate transcripts with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for the last 60 credits of upper division undergraduate coursework. GPA from previous graduate coursework (if any) may also be taken into consideration. No entrance exam is required unless the GPA is less than 3.0.
• If the GPA is less than 3.0, then an applicant must have a minimum entrance score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), within the last five years, of at least 300 (combined), 140 (verbal) and 160 (quantitative).
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or research potential.
• International graduate applicants are required to submit a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or 79 (internet-based test), or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.
• Applicants that do not meet all of the above requirements may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search

Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.

*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)

Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar web site.

Tuition Waivers

A limited number of tuition waivers, which cover only in-state matriculation fees, are available. These are awarded competitively. To access the application, visit the tuition waiver page.

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available for full-time students (those enrolled in 9 or more credit hours per semester). These are awarded competitively, and admission into the program does not guarantee a graduate assistantship.

Teaching Assistantships

A limited number of teaching assistantships are available for full-time students who have passed 18 hours of graduate coursework. These are awarded competitively; meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee a teaching assistantship.

Financial Aid

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment.