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Admissions

Applicants will be evaluated in a holistic manner to identify those who have the greatest potential for success. Under most circumstances, students admitted to the program will have:

· a B.S. or B.A. degree from an accredited university.

· an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0. Additionally, applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 in biology, 3.0 in chemistry and 3.0 in mathematics.

· a score on the Graduate Record Examination General Test in at least the 65th percentile (average for the verbal, quantitative and analytical sections)

· a minimum of 24 hours in biology, which must include at least one course in each of the areas of genetics, physiology, and cell/molecular biology. Additionally, applicants must have one year each of general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and mathematics (at least one semester each of calculus and statistics). Applicants with academic deficiencies may be admitted; however, if the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Biology Committee determines a deficiency is a prerequisite for the core curriculum, the deficiency must be remedied prior to entry into the particular core class.

· given the strong interdisciplinary nature of this program, undergraduate and master’s students in bioscience-related fields including but not limited to biomedical engineering, biochemical engineering, and biophysics are encouraged to apply. The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Biology Committee will consider biology-related courses as potentially fulfilling the biology entrance course requirements.

· a score of at least 550 in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for applicants whose native language is not English. Students who do not pass this examination must pass ENGL 1100 (English as a Foreign Language) with a grade of C or higher. In addition, these students who will be involved in any instructional activity (e.g., teaching assistants) will be required to be evaluated by the English Language Training Institute at UNC Charlotte prior to the beginning of the first semester of study.

Documents to be Submitted for Admission:

· official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

· official GRE scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical)

· the UNC Charlotte application for graduate admission form

· (Note: international students must submit the application for graduate admission available through the International Admissions Office).

· TOEFL scores (if applicable)

· an essay (double space; limit to 2 pages) which addresses: (a) why the applicant wishes to pursue a Ph.D. and why the Ph.D. is desired in this specific interdisciplinary program, and (b) the area of research interest of the applicant.

· three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from faculty members.

NOTE: Students currently admitted to a Master's program at UNC Charlotte who wish to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program need only submit the following (assuming transcripts, GRE scores, GPA, etc. already are available):

· the UNC Charlotte application for graduate admission form (the application fee is required)

· official transcripts from any colleges/universities other than UNC Charlotte attended after admittance to UNC Charlotte

· three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from faculty members

Admission Procedures:

· Application forms should be obtained from the Graduate School of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. For International Students, application forms should be obtained from the International Admissions Office, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

· Completed forms with supporting documents (as outlined above) should be returned to the Graduate School. Students who wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship or a Research Assistantship should submit a completed Assistantship Application Form directly to the Ph.D. Program Coordinator, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. An assistantship application form may be obtained by contacting the Ph.D. Program Coordinator or the Graduate School or by downloading.

· If the Graduate School determines that the applicant meets the general requirements for admission, the application is forwarded to the Ph.D. Program Coordinator. Note: Applications cannot be forwarded to the Coordinator until all supporting documentation has been received by the Graduate School.

· The Ph.D. Program Coordinator will determine if the applicant meets the admission requirements for the Ph.D. program. If not, admission is denied and the application is returned to the Graduate School. If the admission requirements are met, the Ph.D. Program Coordinator will contact the student to arrange a visit to campus or a phone interview.

· Once the interview process is completed, the Ph.D. Program Coordinator will recommend the applicant for admission into the program and forward the recommendation to the Graduate School.

· The applicant will receive final notification of acceptance from the Graduate School.

Deadlines:

Applications for the Fall semester will be reviewed on Feb 15 and May 15; applications for the Spring semester will be reviewed on Aug 15 and Nov 15. Applications received after the last scheduled review date will be evaluated as received and as funding is available. Although awards are often made after these deadlines, for full consideration of a tuition waiver and teaching assistantship, applications should be submitted by the scheduled review date for each semester.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or sexual orientation. Accommodations will be provided for persons with disabilities.