The Deadline for Fall 2008 Applications to be received by the Department of Biology is 23 January 2009. Application materials postmarked later than 18 January will not be reviewed. Check below for how to obtain applications on line. The department accepts students for the fall semester only.
Before completing your application, click here for some suggestions:
As outlined in the General Information Brochure, applications have 2 separate parts to your application. You must complete both parts for your application to be reviewed.Graduate Coordinator,
Department of Biology,
San Francisco State University,
1600 Holloway Avenue,
San Francisco, CA 94132
To obtain more information, contact: Biology Graduate Coordinator
The Graduate Studies section of the San Francisco State University Bulletin is a comprehensive source of all the Master's degree requirements. It describes all programs, requirements, and courses offered at the University. It is available online (http://www.sfsu.edu/~bulletin/current/bull-tc.htm) or may be purchased from: The SFSU Bookstore,Student Union Building, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132.
When the Biology Department Office receives items 1-4 above, the completed file is forwarded to the faculty coordinator of the program area chosen by the applicant. The faculty in the program area evaluate the applicant's file and recommend admission or denial based on the following criteria:
(a) Grade point average in the undergraduate major — minimum required GPA is 3.0 in the last 60 semester units (last 90 quarter units).
(b) Completion of course work equivalent to SFSU B.S. degree requirements in Biology
(c) Statement of purpose
(d) GRE scores
(e) Letters of recommendation
In addition to inadequacy in any of the above criteria, denial of admission may also be based on:
(a) Applicant's interests are not represented by current faculty, or
(b) Faculty in the applicant's area of interest unable to support additional students.
The Department of Biology accepts only those students accepted by a faculty member into her/his program.
FOR MARINE SCIENCE MAJORS ONLY
The M.S. in Marine Science degree program is administered through Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML), a consortium campus. Students can choose Biological Science, Geological Science, Natural Science, or another appropriate department. Prospective students must meet the entrance requirements for the department and will be accepted into Conditionally Classified graduate status by normal procedures at that campus. The student will become classified upon completion of MLML's requirements. Click HERE for Application Information to MLML.
CLASSIFIED VS CONDITIONALLY CLASSIFIED STATUS
As a classified student, admission will be either unconditionally classified or conditionally classified. A conditionally classified student must meet certain conditions (such as specific course equivalencies) as stated in the letter of acceptance to the Graduate Program. Any specific conditional course requirements must be taken on a letter grade basis and may not be used as part of the 30-unit Master's course requirements.
When conditions of acceptance have been completed, the student is automatically fully classified. Filing the Graduate Approved Program (GAP) constitutes formal movement from conditional to fully classified status.
Other than conditions that must be satisfied prior to filing their GAP, conditionally classified graduate students have the same privileges and opportunities as unconditionally classified graduate students
UNCLASSIFIED TO CLASSIFIED STATUS
If the student has been admitted by the University as an unclassified graduate student, s/he must initiate the change to classified status in order to enter a degree program in Biology.
Note that "unclassified graduate students" are not part of the Department of Biology's graduate program. To become classified, students must go through the normal application process.
Note that only 12 units of courses taken as an unclassified student may be applied to a Master's degree. Unclassified students may not register for Biology 897 or 898.
To change status the student should contact the Biology Graduate Office and submit the five items requested by the department of classified applicants. GRE scores must be on file in the Biology Graduate Office prior to this change of status. If the student was in the process of applying under classified status and was admitted by the University as an unclassified student because the application to Biology for classified status had not been completed the month prior to a semester start-up, the student must contact the Registrar's office and complete a "Request For Advancement to Classified Graduate or Credential Standing" form. The student does not have to pay an additional admission fee for this change of status and does not fall under any new admission quotas.
Updated 4 June 2008
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