Application Instructions and Materials

Students wishing to receive highest priority for fall admission must complete their application file with the department by February 15th.  Admission decisions will be made between March 15th and April 15th.  While our graduate curriculum is designed for students to initiate their graduate studies in the fall, we will consider outstanding candidates for admission in the winter and spring terms.  Note: International students wishing to apply for teaching assistantships may be asked to present a mock lecture to the graduate affairs committee prior to being considering for a teaching assistantship.

 

You must submit two separate application packets to ensure that your application is properly processed:

1. The following items should be sumbitted directly to the office admissions:

Admissions
Portland State University
PO Box 901
Portland, OR 97207-0901

  1. Application for Graduate Admission (see link below)
  2. A non-refundable processing fee of $50.00.
  3. One official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended. NOTE: To be official, the transcript must be in its original sealed envelope from the issuing school or institution. All documents submitted to the University become property of Portland State University and cannot be returned, copied or released. (An official PSU transcript is not required for former PSU students).
  4. All graduate students whose first language is not English must meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement prior to enrolling in academic classes. Please note that this requirement applies to all students, including resident aliens and citizens.

2. The following items should be submitted directly to the Department of Biology:

Graduate Affairs Committee
Department of Biology, PO Box 751
Portland State University
Portland, OR 97207-0751

  1. Copy of the University Application sent to the Admissions Office.
  2. Application for Graduate Studies in Biology (see link below)
  3. Copies (photocopies acceptable) of transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended.
  4. GRE General Test results (photocopy acceptable).  To have official copies sent to the department, use the institution code for PSU (4610) and the departmental code for Biology (0203).
  5. Results of the GRE Subject Test in Biology or Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (photocopy acceptable).  To have official copies sent to the department, use the institution code for PSU (4610) and the code for Biology (0203).  Since this exam is offered only twice per year please submit all the other materials on this list if you have not taken the exam.  The Graduate Affairs Committee will assess your application without the subject GRE scores, but you will still be required to take the exam before you are fully admitted to the program. 
  6. TOEFL test results- only if your first language is not English (photocopy acceptable). 
  7. A letter of intent that indicates your research interests, career goals, and the specific area of biology that you wish to pursue.

  8. A written statement from a Biology Department faculty member indicating that s/he is willing to act as your sponsor and can accommodate you at the time of your anticipated admission (they can send this separately to the address below). 

  9. Two letters of reference (see link below for form).