Admissions

This interdisciplinary graduate program is designed to accommodate students from different undergraduate backgrounds. Admitted students will normally have completed a bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences or engineering prior to beginning the MS program. Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in other areas may be admitted based on an evaluation of their academic background by the Admissions Committee.

For a student to be admitted to the program, a member of the program faculty must agree to serve as the student’s research advisor. Prospective students should reach out to program faculty in their area(s) of interest to discuss potential research opportunities prior to applying.

To apply, students must submit a transcript from their baccalaureate institution, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. GRE scores are not required. The personal statement should be one to two pages in length and should discuss the student’s academic background, research interests, and academic and professional goals. The personal statement should also specify the program faculty member who has agreed to serve as the student's research advisor. The letters of recommendation should come from references who can discuss the applicant’s academic record and potential for success in independent research. International applicants should be sure to consult the information posted under "International Applicant Requirements" on the Graduate School's admissions webpage.

We have a limited number of graduate assistantships to support students in the program. These assistantships include a tuition waver and a stipend. All applicants planning to enroll full-time in the graduate program can be considered for available graduate assistantships, which will be awarded to admitted students on a competitive basis.

New students will be admitted for the Fall term only. The general application deadline is April 15th, but the deadline for students who would like to be considered for a graduate assistantship is March 1st. A link to the online application can be found on the Graduate School website.