Graduate
Studies Application Information
Admission
An
applicant for admission to the Graduate School must hold
a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited
American College or University or from a foreign institution
of acceptable standing. The applicant should have earned
at least a cumulative "B" average in his or
her undergraduate courses. The course requirements for admission
to graduate study in the Department of Biological Sciences
include 4 semesters of chemistry (including organic chemistry),
2 semesters of physics, 2 semesters of mathematics (including
calculus), and appropriate training in basic biology.
Course deficiencies in these certain areas and prerequisites
for advanced graduate courses may be made up at Notre
Dame in the first year of graduate study.
For admission to a degree program, an applicant is required
to submit:
1) one completed Graduate
School application
form
2)one official transcript from each postsecondary institution
attended - college, university, or seminary
3) verbal, quantitative, and analytical scores in the
General Test of the Graduate Record Examination
4) scores in the appropriate Subject Test of the Graduate
Record Examination are recommended, but not required
5) three letters of recommendation from former undergraduate
or graduate instructors particularly qualified to attest
to the applicant's qualifications for graduate study
6) a personal Statement of Intent detailing graduate plans
and expectations
7) scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign
Language) if English is not the applicant's native language
or was not the language of instruction for the baccalaureate
degree
Financial
Assistance
Students
are offered financial assistance on a competitive basis,
with consideration given to grades, GRE scores, recommendations,
and other factors. The University offers five types of
support to full-time graduate students: fellowships, teaching
and research assistantships, tuition scholarships, training
grant scholarships, and grants-in-aid. A number of special
fellowships for women and minorities are also available. All
assistantships and fellowships come with a full tuition
scholarship and a minimum 9 month stipend of $17,250 ($23,000 for 12 months with summer support). To be considered,
Biological Sciences requires that all application materials
must be received by the Graduate Admissions Office by
January 5 for admission to the following fall semester.
Most graduate students in Biological Sciences are supported
as teaching or research assistants (TAs or RAs). A student
supported by a teaching assistantship typically works
10-12 hours per week. Typical duties include teaching
in an undergraduate laboratory section, setting up the
laboratory, and grading papers. The student also takes
classes and is expected to conduct thesis research. TA
appointments are for 9 months. A student supported by
a research assistantship registers for some classes and
carries out thesis research under a faculty research advisor.
RA support comes from government, industry or private
grant funds. RA appointments are generally for 12 months
but may be less. Summer support for graduate students
is available from individual faculty research grants and/or
departmental funds. Current (2007/2008) stipends
are $17,250 for 9 months; summer support is generally
available from research advisors, raising the annual stipend
to $23,000.
Graduate students find that an already competitive Notre
Dame stipend becomes even more attractive when the cost
of living in South Bend is considered. Housing and other
living costs in this area are well below the average for
urban areas throughout the country. Inquire for an up-to-date
list of graduate stipends offered at peer institutions.
Tuition
and Fees
Full-time
Tuition
For the full-time
graduate student, the tuition for the academic year
2007–2008 is $35,040. Tuition for the part-time
student is $1,921 per semester credit hour. For summer 2008,
tuition is estimated at $348 per credit hour. Graduate students in Biological Sciences receive a full tuition scholarship.
In the academic
year, the normal charge for an audited course is one-half
the current credit-hour fee. However, a full-time graduate
student may audit a course, or courses, without charge.
The department determines the definition of full-time.
Fees*
Application
Fee, $50:
The nonrefundable
application fee is $50 ($35 if submitted by December
1 for admission to the following fall semester).
The technology
fee provides:
-
Campus
Internet access
- E-mail
- Courseware
- Campus Clusters
- ResNet
- A wide array of the latest software
The fee also
supports student services including course and degree
requirements, Web Registration, and value-added Internet-related
capabilities.
The $250 fee will be assessed at $125 per semester.
Health
Center Access Fee, $150:
The health center
access fee provides access to all services at the University
Health Center and University Counseling Center, including:
- 24-hour medical care and counseling/mental health
assistance
- Alcohol and drug education programs
- Health education and wellness programs
This fee provides
partial funding to address increasing student health and
wellness needs, along with funding to maintain health
facilities.
The $150 fee will be assessed at $75 per semester.
Library
and Athletic Facility Fees:
A nominal fee
is assessed for use of the golf courses and the ice rink.
Library and athletic facilities' costs are included in
the tuition charges.
Graduate
Student Activity Fee, $60
Parking
Fee, $95
Tuition
and Fees Payment
Tuition and fees,
as well as any required deposits, are payable in advance
at the beginning of each semester. Please note that Notre
Dame does not accept credit cards for payment of tuition
and fees.Tuition and/or fees not covered by scholarship
are the responsibility of the student.
A student may not register for a new semester or receive
transcripts, certificates, diploma, or any information regarding
his or her academic record until all prior accounts have
been settled in full.
Learn
More
* Please note:
The following tuition, fees, housing, and living costs are
for the academic year 2007–2008. Prospective applicants
and students are urged to find out the exact costs at the
time of application or registration.
Housing
and Meals
Application
Procedure
More information and/or
Graduate Application Materials can be obtained by
visiting the Graduate
School website. The application deadline for the Department of Biological
Sciences is January 5 in order to be considered for the following fall semester. Applicants will be informed
of the results of their application by a letter from the
associate dean for admissions. Those who intend to accept
offers of admission are required to confirm their acceptance
in writing to the associate dean by April 15.
