About Master’s Program,
The Biology Department offers two options:
- Plan Irequires the completion, in good academic standing, of at least 24 semester hours of appropriate graduate work and 6 semester hours of thesis research, with the presentation of an acceptable thesis embodying the results of original research work.
- Plan IIrequires a minimum of 30 semester hours of appropriate course work. The Plan II Master’s degree may not require research and does not require a formal thesis; however, students are often expected to gain insight into the techniques of problem posing and problem solving and to use these insights to prepare a written report.
Graduate students pursuing an M.S. in biology may specialize in research activities at all levels of biological organization, with emphases on ecophysiology, cellular and molecular biology, endocrinology, and ecology of aquatic organisms, or on models related to human disease.
To qualify for candidacy, students must satisfactorily complete either a written or an oral comprehensive examination. As part of the final defense of the student’s thesis or comprehensive review paper (Plan II), a public departmental seminar must be presented.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
GRE scores are not required, TOEFL of 100, IELTS of 7, Duolingo English Test 130. We do not have a specific GPA requirement for our program, but do require A-B scholarship in biology courses. Although GRE scores are not required, see # 7 below.) See https://www.uab.edu/cas/biology/graduate/admissions.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
Stipends and Fellowships are available for qualified graduate students from a variety of sources, both federal and local. The Department of Biology awards Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) to qualified students, providing an annual stipend of:
- $21,000 (M.S. Plan I)
- $26,000* (Ph.D. Pre-Candidacy), or
- $29,000* (Ph.D. Post-Candidacy)
as well as student health insurance and tuition remuneration.
* Some traineeships and fellowships provide higher rates of compensation.
GTAs are awarded competitively each year. There are additional opportunities for students to teach for experience and pay. Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) are also available from individual faculty mentors.
Other opportunities and information related to graduate student funding are found on the Graduate School website.
Application Requirement,
For admission in good standing to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs, applicants must meet the following requirements (in addition to the Graduate School’s standards):
- undergraduate degree in a biological science
- A-B-level scholarship in all biology courses
- two semesters of organic chemistry, two semesters of physics, and mathematics through calculus
- GRE general test is no longer required for admission
- a personal statement of career goals
- three letters of evaluation from individuals with a thorough knowledge of the applicant’s academic abilities and potential
- international students only – TOEFL of 100 or IELTS of 7 or Duolingo English Test of 130 is generally required
Since the department’s faculty represent a diverse array of research interests, it is strongly recommended that a student contact a potential faculty mentor to discuss common interests prior to applying.
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2025
Application Fee,
Graduate School’s standard fee is $50 for domestic applicants and $60 for international applicants. Certain programs have higher fees which will be assessed at the time of application. The application fee is non-refundable.
