Biological Science - Graduate Studies
Florida State University
Florida State University
Graduate studies in the Department of Biological Science consist of three areas (Ecology and Evolution, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Neuroscience) and each area has two degree tracks (PhD, Thesis Based Masters) in addition to a Course-Based Masters degree track that is common across areas.
Prospective graduate students must first choose a specific area and a specific track when applying for graduate admissions, and follow all instructions on the area specific pages (see below). Prospective students should then apply through the general graduate admissions process here. Applicants will identify their intended area and faculty members of interest within the Biological Science Supplemental Application under your Application Checklist. Those that do not submit the supplement will not be considered for admissions into the program. Prospective students interested in working with faculty listed across multiple areas should either contact faculty for guidance on which area to choose or choose an area based on career and educational interests.
Our Course-based Master's program is a coursework-intensive program that offers a highly personalized curriculum tailored to an individual's interests and future career goals. This program is particularly well suited to students in search of a stronger or more broad base of biological knowledge prior to applying to professional school, and those seeking to advance their current career in a biological field. More information about the Course-based Master’s program and application instructions can be found here.
For admission into the PhD and Thesis Based M.S. programs, each area conducts its own review of applications and guides its students to the completion of their degrees. Please carefully read the area specific instructions for application, as program of studies, requirements, review of applications, and admissions decisions differ among areas. Also note that GREs scores are not required for prospective PhD students who are granted a GRE waiver based on meeting specific criteria demonstrating readiness for graduate work. The GRE Waiver Request Form can be found within the Application Checklist after you have started an application to the PhD program. Area specific graduate admissions information and instructions for the PhD and thesis-based masters can be found below:
Deadlines:
PhD and Thesis MS Applications are only accepted for Fall semesters, and are open on August 1st of year prior to matriculation. The priority deadline for applications is on December 1st, at 11:59 PM EST.
Interviews occur January - February, and decision notifications will be sent in March.
Course-based MS Applications for the following Spring and Fall semesters open on August 1st each year. The application deadline for Spring applications is November 1st, at 11:59 PM EST. For Fall applications the deadline is June 1st, at 11:59PM EST.
Financial Support:
All PhD and thesis-based Masters students are provided financial support in the form of a stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance subsidy throughout their tenure. This support comes in the form of teaching assistantships or research assistantships, unless students independently secure internal or external fellowships that cover such costs. Minimum annual stipends in 2024 are $27,120 for Thesis MS students and $28,161 for PhD students, and are independent of tuition waivers. Note that the health insurance subsidy covers the majority of health-insurance costs when purchasing a University-sponsored health plan, and more information on the subsidy can be found here. Students are also provided funds each year to support travel for conference presentations or research, and there are numerous fellowships and scholarships available to support research and other expenses (more info can be found here).
General Institutional Support:
In addition to the capacity to work in individual faculty laboratories, graduate students in Biological Science have the opportunity to be trained and utilize world class facilities in support of their research (Biological Science Facilities). These include the Biological Science core molecular and microscopy facilities, greenhouse, Coastal and Marine Laboratory, herbarium, and numerous other facilities.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
As an Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Pro Disability & Veteran Employer, FSU's Equal Opportunity Statement can be viewed at: Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Statement
Florida State University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors by promoting a culture that embraces inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability. FSU has been recognized as a national leader in its commitment to diversity and inclusion (see https://diversity.fsu.edu/). We therefore seek candidates who embrace and reflect diversity in the broadest sense.
