Admission Requirements

PhD in Pharmacology
Applicants must enter the program in the fall quarter in order to begin the required coursework in the core curriculum.  The deadline for submission of applications is generally March 1st. International applications can be accepted after March 1st but must take into consideration the delays associated with the necessary visa arrangements.  In addition to the basic requirements established by The Graduate College, the division has the following requirements for admission to its program:

• The baccalaureate degree from an accredited college should include a background in biological, physical, or quantitative sciences.  
• Coursework in biology, cellular biology, molecular biology, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry and mathematics, including calculus is highly recommended.  Upper-level biochemistry or physiology courses are also highly recommended.
• The Graduate College requires Academic transcripts from all baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate educational experiences.  These should provide a minimal grade point average of 3.0 overall (A = 4.0).  The pharmacology admission committee also looks for higher grades in science courses and evidence of research experience.  Competition for PhD candidates is significantly higher.
• The Graduate College requires all graduate students to take the GRE examinations and scores on these tests are considered by the admission committee.  All applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). 
 • As required by the Graduate College, a clear, concise expression of the applicant's interests and goals needs to be included as an essay in their application.  Identifying a particular area of interest within the field of Pharmacology is very helpful in identifying potential laboratories for the students.
• The Graduate College requires three letters of recommendation and we recommend that they be from science faculty who can evaluate the character of the applicant, their academic and research performance, and their ability to think and work independently.

The Division Director and the Admissions Committee evaluate applications.  All prior academic experience and the letters of recommendation will be evaluated for an indication of the applicant's potential for success as a graduate student and future independent investigator.  The statement by the applicant describing goals and motivation will be studied to determine the compatibility between the applicant's requirements and the capabilities of the graduate program.  With rare exceptions, Ph.D. applicants will be required to appear for an interview with faculty members before admission to the program.

Students applying for the Masters program will meet the same set of minimum standards as those applying for the Ph.D. program.  Students applying for the Masters program are encouraged to visit the Department, although a formal interview is not required.
The number of faculty available to mentor the student’s research limits acceptance into both the Masters and Ph.D. program.  Students are therefore encouraged to apply early.  Students entering the Masters program will not be eligible for stipends and must pay tuition.