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Microbiology graduate student, Yousra Bendarkawi MS '24, in the lab with Professor Mark Silby

Biology/Marine Biology
MS

Our two-year programs provide continued graduate education and research experience in general biology or marine biology.

Areas of study include, but are not limited to:

  • animal behavior
  • coastal ecology
  • computational biology
  • developmental biology
  • evolutionary biology
  • genomics
  • immunology
  • microbiology
  • physiology

To earn a concentration in marine biology, it is expected that your research project has a marine focus, and that your curriculum includes at least one marine biology course.

Students must complete 30 semester credits as follows:

  • 15 are from graduate courses numbered 500 or above
  • 6 may be from courses numbered 400 or above
  • 1 credit of BIO 525 (Graduate Student Seminar)
  • 10 are of thesis-related research 

A minimum 3.0 grade point average must be maintained. At the conclusion of study, the student must present a written thesis of original and independent research, and defend it in an oral examination.

Research

  • animal behavior
  • coastal ecology
  • computational biology
  • developmental biology
  • evolutionary biology
  • genomics
  • immunology
  • microbiology
  • physiology

Admissions requirements

To apply please create an account in our Applicant Portal. You will need to submit:

  • Application form
  • $60 application fee (non-refundable)
  • Statement of Purpose (minimum 300 words)
  • Resume
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended (regardless of whether a credential is earned or not)
  • English Proficiency test scores:TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE Academic (if applicable)
  • Letter(s) of Recommendation (see program requirements for more information)
  • GRE/GMAT (not required for most programs, see program requirements for more information)

Unofficial transcripts and test scores are accepted for application review but official documents are required for enrollment, please have documents (ie. test scores) sent prior to the expiration. 

Program-specific requirements

Candidates must submit the required application materials, university requirements and program-specific requirements, for consideration.

  • 2 letters of recommendation. Applicants will be required to provide the recommenders name and email address so we can contact the recommender for the letter of recommendation.

Application dates

A limited number of assistantships are available on a competitive basis. This award is subject to the work needs of the position and department, your satisfactory performance of duties, your academic record, and availability of funds, and may be subject to change.

Learn more about assistantships at UMass Dartmouth

International (F-1) students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees may be eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT). To learn about the eligibility criteria and detailed steps to apply, please review the International Student & Scholar Center (ISSC) OPT page and USCIS resources. F-1 students must consult with the ISSC to apply for STEM OPT.