General Information for Biology

Admission: In addition to the general Graduate School of Arts and Science requirements for admission, applicants are expected to have an average of B or better in the sciences and to have completed the equivalent of an undergraduate major in biology. Admission to graduate study is based on academic records, recommendations, assessments of the applicant’s scientific potential, and scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE general test is required of all applicants to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs. The advanced GRE test in biology is recommended of all applicants to the Ph.D. program. Consideration is given to applicants with an undergraduate major other than biology; remedial work to make up any undergraduate deficiencies may be taken prior to, or concurrent with, the master’s program but must be completed within the first year in the Ph.D. program.

Applications for graduate study are accepted on a continuing basis. M.S. students may begin study in the fall, spring, or summer semester; however, Ph.D. students may start only in the fall semester.

All students with international credentials whose native language is not English should refer to the Admission to Degree Programs section of this bulletin regarding the required Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In some cases, prior to taking graduate courses, students may be required to enroll in noncredit English courses at their own expense.

In special cases, a student may be accepted as a nonmatriculant. A nondegree student may take up to 12 points in the Department of Biology before applying for matriculated status in the M.S. or Ph.D. program. The application for matriculation is only considered if the student has received a B or better in each course included in the 12 points. Deadlines for applying for nonmatriculant status are the same as for the M.S. program.

Seminars: All faculty and doctoral students attend the weekly departmental seminar, at which scholars from other institutions discuss their research findings. In addition, the department sponsors special topical seminars throughout the year.

Special Notes: Although master’s students may start their program in any semester, some courses are full-year courses and must be started in the fall.

Full-time students are expected to carry three courses or the equivalent in approved research per semester. All students in both programs are expected to maintain a B or better average each term.

Permission must be received from the director of graduate studies for any course work taken outside of the department.

FACILITIES AND LIBRARIES

The department currently occupies six contiguous floors in the Silver Center complex at Washington Square and is fully equipped to conduct contemporary biological research. Facilities for study in environmental biology are available through a collaboration between the department and the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Sterling Forest, Tuxedo, New York.

The Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, covering a full city block at the southeast corner of Washington Square and housing nearly 3.7 million volumes, 34 thousand journal subscriptions, and over 5 million microforms, is one of the country’s largest open-stack research libraries. The Coles Science Center, located on the ninth and tenth floors, is an open-stack reference, journal, and circulating collection. Some of the subject strengths in the life sciences collection include molecular biology, genetics, plant physiology and plant biochemistry, zoology, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, biophysics, and neural science. Many of the most commonly used journals are available online through the library.

DEPARTMENTAL FINANCIAL AID

Entering Ph.D. students are usually awarded an initial package of five years of financial aid that includes an annual stipend and tuition remission of up to 24 points. Generally, this takes the form of a teaching assistantship for the first two years of study and fellowships or research assistantships thereafter. Application must be made for teaching assistantships for continuing graduate students. Research assistantships are available in departmental faculty laboratories and through the University for advanced graduate students. All students are expected to take the initiative to apply for all internal and external fellowships, scholarships, and loans.

All students are urged to inquire at the Graduate Enrollment Services office or the Office of Financial Aid early in the fall of the year before they wish to enter the graduate program for information regarding government, foundation, private, or overseas awards for support of graduate study.

A comprehensive list of University, Graduate School, and departmental fellowships, prizes, and awards appears in the Financing Graduate Education section of the GSAS Application for Admission and Financial Aid. This information is also available on the GSAS Web site at http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/grad.financialaid.