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The Department of Biology at Penn State ranks among the nation's premier biology programs. Graduate students can earn M.S. or Ph.D. degrees across diverse biological disciplines, spanning cellular and developmental biology, genetics, genomics, physiology, neuroscience, organismal studies, plant sciences, ecology, evolutionary biology, and theoretical/computational biology.
This graduate program covers extensive research domains such as bioinformatics, cellular processes, developmental mechanisms, ecological systems, evolutionary patterns, genetic studies, neural science, phylogenetic analysis, and physiological functions. Each student collaborates with a Graduate Faculty advisor to design a personalized curriculum, frequently incorporating guidance from their doctoral committee.
Admission is restricted to students who have the baccalaureate degree in a biological science or related field and who present a cumulative undergraduate average of at least 3.00 on a scale of 4.00.
English Proficiency: TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) - a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test (iBT); TOEFL Paper-based test - the minimum acceptable score is 550; IELTS - The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS Academic Test is 6.5.