Admissions
This interdisciplinary graduate program is designed to be accessible to 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 are normally 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.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need to find a research advisor before applying?
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to reach out to program faculty who are aligned with their research interests to discuss research opportunities prior to applying. We will only admit an applicant if a member of the program faculty agrees to serve as that student’s research advisor.
Do you offer financial support to students in the program?
We do not guarantee funding for all admitted students, but all applicants who have completed applications as of March 1st will be considered for one of the limited number of program graduate assistantships that we have each year. These assistantships provide a stipend and a full tuition waiver. We note that the standard stipend amount is not enough to meet the financial requirements of an F-1 student visa, so international students need some additional source of financial support in order to qualify for a visa. Some faculty are able to support research students through research grants; whether this source of funding might be available should be discussed with individual faculty.
I have a degree in ___. Is this a suitable background for the master’s program?
While most admitted students will have a bachelor's degree in the natural sciences or engineering, we do not restrict admission to only certain undergraduate majors. Typically, we expect that incoming students, regardless of their undergraduate major, will have had at least the equivalent of two semesters of introductory chemistry, two semesters of calculus-based introductory physics, and two semesters of calculus. Because we are a research-focused master's program, we also generally expect that applicants will have had some previous research experience. Individual program faculty may have additional expectations for students who wish to join their research group.
Can the application fee be waived?
Per Graduate School policy, it is not possible to waive the application fee.
As an international applicant, do I need a foreign degree evaluation?
Our program does not require a foreign degree evaluation, although if you have one, we ask that you submit it as part of your application. Further information on applying as an international student can be found on the Graduate School website (scroll down until you reach the section labeled “International Applicant Requirements”).
Is it possible to pursue the degree on a part-time basis while also holding a full-time job?
Yes, this is possible, but it requires that you have enough flexibility in your work schedule to be on campus some during regular business hours. The required courses are fully in-person and meet during regular business hours. Additionally, research generally requires some time on campus during regular business hours, although the specific expectations depend on the particular research project and should be discussed with your research advisor.