Application Requirements and Deadlines
All transcripts (minimum overall GPA 3.0), GRE General (optional), TOEFL (for international students only), 3 letters of recommendation, personal statement (include description of previous research experience and current research interests), curriculum vitae.
M.S. DEADLINES: August 1st for Fall admission, December 1 for Spring admission
Ph.D. DEADLINES: December 15th for Fall admission. No Spring admission.
M.S. Program
The Master of Science (M.S.) program in Biology at Rutgers-Newark provides students with the professional skills and knowledge that will be necessary for advancing their careers in biomedical science or pursuing higher degrees in graduate or medical schools. We provide a fast-track 30-credit course only option which allows full-time students to complete the program in 3-4 semesters. Students interested in gaining research experience will have an option to participate in laboratory research through either the 3-credit research internship (Advanced Problems in Biology) or the 6-credit M.S. research thesis (Research in Biology) as part of the 30-credit requirement. Students pursuing the M.S. research thesis option should consult our M.S. Program Coordinator, Dr. Ching-On Wong, during their first year of study to discuss potential thesis advisors. These research opportunities offer students laboratory research experience prior to pursuing further graduate education in biomedical sciences.
M.S. credit requirements
Total of 30 credits, students can choose from one of the following options:
- Course-only option: 30 course credits*
- Research internship option: 27 course credits + 3 Advanced Problems in Biology credits
- Research Thesis option: 24 course credits + 6 experimental research credits + research thesis
*In addition to courses offered by the CMB track at Rutgers, students can also take courses offered by the Joint Biology Graduate Program at NJIT.
Transfer of Credits
After completing 12 graduate credits in the program, a student may solicit the Graduate Program Director to transfer up to 9 relevant graduate credits from another institution toward the 30 credits needed for the M.S. degree. In addition,
- The student must have earned a B or better in the course being transferred (neither Pass or Satisfactory is acceptable)
- The course may not include work for a thesis, independent study, or research.
- Normally, any course being transferred must form a part of the student's program in their field of concentration.
- The course should be equivalent to the graduate-level courses offered by the program. Syllabus and course materials should be provided to the Graduate Program Director, who will then decide whether or not to approve the transfer of credits.
No undergraduate credits are allowed for credit toward the M.S. degree.
Grade Requirements
To remain in good standing, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better for all courses taken as part of the graduate course of study. Courses cannot be repeated in order to improve on poor performance. Furthermore, a student can receive a grade of C or C+ on a maximum of 2 courses, only one of which may be in the Program Core or Track Core courses. Receipt of a grade of F in any course - Core or Elective - will under normal circumstances result in dismissal from the program.
Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. Program of the Federated Department of Biological Sciences at Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) provides students with opportunities to develop the knowledge and problem-solving skills needed to pursue a myriad of careers in biomedical, ecological, and evolutionary sciences. The program is designed to foster understanding of foundational and advanced concepts in the biological sciences, and the analytical skills necessary to examine evidence critically. The program offers training in three tracks, reflecting the research strengths of the department:
- Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB)
- Ecology and Evolution (EE)
- Neurobiology (NB)
Typical student progression through the program starts with coursework and two lab rotations. Laboratory rotations will help to identify a thesis advisor and are typically completed by the end of the first year. Coursework typically is completed at the end of the second year. The student then prepares a preliminary research proposal as part of the Qualifying Exam Within a year of passing the Qualifying Exam, the student will assemble a Dissertation Committee and defend the actual research proposal, the Dissertation Prospectus. When the dissertation research is finished, the student will submit a written thesis and conduct a public Dissertation Defense.
Ph.D. credit requirements
The student will complete a total of 60 credits; a minimum of 24 course credits + a minimum of 30 research credits.
Completion of research dissertation
A. Program Core Course Requirements
- Scientific Reasoning and Research Design in Biomedical Sciences (CMB Track), Critical Thinking for Life Sciences (48:120:630 or NJIT:BIOL:630) (EE and NB Tracks)
- Introduction to Biostatistics (NJIT:MATH:663) (CMB Track) or Introduction to Biostatistics or Quantitative Analysis (48:120:615 or NJIT:MATH:615)
B. Discipline-Specific Core Course Requirements
Cell and Molecular Biology
1. Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (26:120:524)
2. Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes (26:120:515)
3. Biochemistry (26:160:581)
Ecology and Evolution
1. Biodiversity (26:120:523)
2. Evolution (26:120:532)
Neurobiology
1. Cellular Neurophysiology (48:120:502 or NJIT:MATH:637)
2. Analytical and Computational Neuroscience (NJIT:MATH:635) or Systems Computational
Neuroscience (NJIT:MATH:636)
3. Systems Neuroscience (48:120:641 or NJIT:BIOL:641)
C. Elective Courses
All graduate students have the opportunity to add to their knowledge base by properly
selecting elective courses. Students may also elect to choose from offerings in graduate programs at
Rutgers University-Newark, NJIT, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, and
Rutgers University-Camden. We encourage students to discuss their plans to take courses at other Rutgers campuses with the graduate program director.
D. Laboratory Rotations
Laboratory rotations provide opportunities for research and independent study with
graduate faculty members. During the first year of study, students are required to complete a minimum of two
laboratory research rotations (spring and summer semesters).
E. Qualifying Exam
After the fourth semester in the program, each student must successfully complete the
qualifying exam, which is intended to examine a student's preparedness to initiate a
scholarly Ph.D. dissertation project. The qualifying examination will consist of written and oral components. After successfully completing the qualifying
examination, the student is admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree.
F. Dissertation and Thesis Defense
Once a student has attained candidacy status, they choose an adviser, begins
research for the dissertation, and form a dissertation committee. The dissertation committee is
responsible for reviewing student progress and for conducting the final examination at
the formal thesis defense.
G. Grade Requirements
To remain in good standing, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better for all courses taken as part of the graduate course of study. Courses cannot be repeated in order to improve on poor performance. Furthermore, a student can receive grades of C or C+ in a maximum of two courses. Receipt of an F in any course - Core or Elective - will under normal circumstances result in dismissal from the program.
H. Bridge Courses
Students who hold baccalaureate degrees in an academic discipline that differs
markedly from the programs offered by the Federated Department of Biological Sciences
may be required to take additional courses to remedy any gap in preparation for
graduate work. These courses must be completed before 12 credits of graduate-degree
courses are earned. Bridge courses are not counted as degree credits. They do count,
however, in the graduate GPA calculations if the course is numbered 500 or above.
I. Transfer of Credits
After completing 12 graduate credits in the program, a student may solicit the Graduate Program Director to transfer up to 6 relevant graduate credits from another institution toward the 24 minimum course credits needed for the Ph.D. The program will consider applications for transfer of courses if the following stipulations apply:
- The student must have earned a B or better in the course being transferred, and neither Pass nor Satisfactory is acceptable.
- The course may not include work for a thesis, independent study, or research.
- Normally, any course being transferred must form a part of the student's program in their field of concentration.
- As a rule, the course must have been taken during the immediate six-year period before the student's qualifying examination.
- The course should be equivalent to Ph.D. level courses offered by the program Syllabus and course materials should be provided to the Graduate Program Director, who will determine whether or not to approve the transfer of credits.
- No undergraduate credits are allowed for credit toward the degree.
Standards of Progress
A. Grading System
Grade
| Definition
| Numerical Equivalent
|
A
| Outstanding
| 4.0
|
B+
|
| 3.5
|
B
| Good
| 3.0
|
C+
|
| 2.5
|
C
| Satisfactory
| 2.0
|
F
| Failure
| 0
|
B. Conditional Grades
- IN (Incomplete). May be assigned at the discretion of an instructor who believes that an extension of time is warranted for a student whose work is incomplete at the end of the semester.
- NG (No Grade). The NG grade is assigned by the Office of the Registrar. It is used when either the faculty member has left the grade blank or the grade is left blank due to a computer error. If a student who receives an NG grade fails to clear up the problem by the end of the following semester, the NG will convert to an F, and the student's grade point average will be recalculated accordingly.
- P/NC (Pass/No Credit). Graduate programs may offer courses on a Pass/No Credit basis. A non-numeric grade of Pass or No Credit is assigned to any student who has registered for their course on this basis.
- S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory). Used for 700-level courses of research carrying credit or in regular courses taken not-for-credit.
- W (Withdrawal). Used when a student has withdrawn with permission of the proper authority.
C. Probation and Termination of Studies
Students may be required to terminate their graduate studies and withdraw from the Graduate School-Newark if they fail to meet the minimum requirements of the program or the school. Each student must satisfy conditional requirements established at the time of his or her admission. Failure to make continuous progress toward the attainment of the degree may constitute a basis for termination. In addition, non-adherence to the schedule of time limits for degrees may constitute a basis for termination.
When such problems occur, the program notifies the student in writing of the program's concern about his or her performance. Such a warning specifies the source of concern, the applicable program or graduate school rules at issue, and proposed actions to resolve the problem. Warnings specify when and on what basis the faculty is considering a recommendation for academic dismissal. A probationary period of one semester would be normal.
Following the probationary period, a student who fails to meet the provisions of the warning should be considered by the program faculty for dismissal. The student may be asked or may request to speak on their behalf at a meeting of the program faculty for that purpose. A member of the university community may assist the student in preparing his or her presentation. If the program faculty decides to dismiss the student, this decision must be issued in writing and must explain the reasons for the decision and list all warnings communicated to the student.
A student may appeal a dismissal notice to the Dean of the Graduate School-Newark. Anyone wishing to appeal a dismissal must submit that appeal in writing within 10 school days of receipt of the program faculty's decision. That appeal must state the basis for the appeal. The grounds for appeal are: 1) technical error, 2) new information, 3) extenuating circumstances
Programs, Faculty, and Courses 
