Graduate Admissions Information

The applicant is expected to have successfully completed a sufficient number of basic science courses to demonstrate his/her graduate potential. The undergraduate GPA should be 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale) or international applicants must receive a B or better rating by the International Education Services. All applicants must submit GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical). A minimum total score of 1,500 for the three components is recommended. The Graduate Program Director (GPD) may forward an application to the Graduate Education Committee (GEC) with deficiencies if he/she believes that there are compensating achievements that demonstrate the applicant's suitability for graduate studies. For example, an applicant with a GPA below 3.0 might be conditionally admitted, with a sufficiently high GRE or after successful completion of a number of rigorous graduate level courses, or experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to do graduate level work. Applicants may be conditionally admitted with course deficiencies, but must take the necessary course work to correct the deficiencies within a specified time following admission. The courses to be taken and the time limit will be clearly stated in the offer of admission. These courses will not be included as part of the student's graduate program.

The Program requires applicants to submit an application, official academic transcripts, statement of goals and research interests, at least three letters of recommendation, and official Graduate Record Examination scores. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must also submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The GPD will screen all applications to determine if they meet the Program's guidelines for admission. Applications meeting the Program guidelines will then be evaluated by members of the GEC. GEC members will make recommendations to the GPD regarding the applicant's suitability for admission to the program. GEC members may recommend "full admission", "conditional admission" or "reject" the applicant. In addition, committee members will recommend possible advisors, conditions for admission, or reasons for rejection to assist the GPD. If the recommendations support admission to the program, then the GPD will forward the application to possible advisors for their consideration. Only if an advisor is identified will the GPD recommend admission of the applicant to the Graduate School. If conditional admission is offered the GPD will specify conditions to the Graduate School that are as consistent as possible with the recommendations of the GEC and the requirements of the potential advisor. Typically applicants complete a M.S. before admission to the Ph.D. program. Only in exceptional cases will the GEC consider admission to the Ph.D. program without the M.S. degree.

Visit the University of Maryland Graduate School Admission web site for more general information regarding admission to the university.

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