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Graduate Programs

Admission

Our graduate program offers a Master of Science Degree in Biology. As is typical of most biology departments, the research interests of our faculty cover a wide range of specific disciplines. A student may take graduate courses and perform his or her own research project in one of the following areas: developmental biology, behavioral biology, ecology, forestry, genetics, immunology, microbiology, physiology, or toxicology, a major emphasis of our graduate program. Both thesis and nonthesis options are available in all of these areas. Graduate students enrolled in any thesis option are eligible to receive teaching assistantships, which are awarded on a competitive basis.

Our program is designed to prepare an individual to work towards one or more of the following goals:

  • To become a research scientist in academia or industry
  • To obtain advanced training in a professional or graduate school
  • To obtain continuing education as a high school teacher

Applications for the Graduate Biology Program should be submitted online from the Purdue University website. When all the neccessary materials to complete your application file have been received by graduate admissions, the office will forward them to the biology department. The application will be reviewed and evaluated by the biology graduate committee. Each member of the committee will recommend acceptance or rejection of the candidate. The application will the be submitted ot the graduate director for evaluation and recommendation to Purdue University for acceptance or rejection. Applicants are notified of the final outcome of their application by the Purdue University Graduate School.

Application Checklist

In addition to the online application, you should arrange to have the following application materials sent to:

Graduate Admissions Office - Kettler Hall 112
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499

  • One copy of Statement of Purpose.
  • Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores for Quantitative, Analytical, and Verbal Aptitude Test.
  • One copy of official transcript from all institutions attended.
  • At least three letters of recommendation (PDF form is available from the Purdue University website).
  • Application fee (can be paid at the IPFW Bursar, Kettler Hall G57).

Notification of a decision is normally made within 60 days of receipt of a completed application.

A limited number of teaching assistantships (TAs) are available from the biology department. These are awarded on a competitive basis, thus acceptance into the program does not guarantee receipt of a TA position. Research assistantships (RAs) are also available as a result of external funding for faculty. The RA positions are awarded to accepted graduate students by individual faculty members rather than the department.

Deadlines

Completed applications should be received in the Department of Biology no later than April 15 for admission in the fall semester and November 15 for admission in the spring semester. For international students applying from aborad, completed applications should be received no later than February 15 for admission in the fall semester and September 15 for admission in the spring semester.

For students who wish to apply for a teaching assistantship in the fall semester, priority will be given to applicants who have completed their applications by April 15. Once students have accepted a teaching assistantship, they must submit their proposed course schedule to the graduate director by July 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester. The graduate director will make teaching assignments based on the students' course schedules. No changes in teaching assignments will be accomodated after July 15 for the fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester.