Biological and Environmental Sciences

Admission

Admission is quite competitive and applicants with GPAs below 3.0 are rarely admitted. Applicants with a GPA between 2.0 and 3.0 may be considered if there is other evidence of exceptional promise included with the application. Possible sources of evidence include relevant professional experience as evidenced by publications or letters of recommendation, and/or high GRE test scores (90th percentile or above).

The percentage and number of admitted applicants varies over time, depending on faculty commitments and funding available. However, over the last several years between 10-30% of applicants are admitted to the graduate program.

Requirements

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in a biological or physical science, natural resources science, math, engineering, or other appropriate discipline.

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the program, requirements are flexible. Applicants with course deficiencies may be required to take additional undergraduate courses for no program credit, and to demonstrate, by their performance in such course work or through a qualifying exam, basic knowledge of the subject matter. Questions regarding course requirements should be directed to the specialization coordinator.

Specialization area requirements

Evolution and Marine Biology

Coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics is expected.

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

Coursework in both natural and social sciences is expected.

Application

The Deadline for the receipt of completed applications is December 15 for admission to the following fall semester. Applications received after the deadline will be accepted, but may not be considered for teaching assistantships. Applications for the spring semester are accepted for all specializations except Cell and Molecular Biology. Spring applicants cannot be considered for teaching assistantships.

GREs are not required in order to apply to the BES program.

We follow the URI language proficiency standards for applicants whose native language is not English, as detailed on the Graduate School web page.

We welcome student inquiries about faculty research and the graduate program. Prospective students should contact faculty directly to explore mutual interests and to identify a potential advisor before applying. Program flexibility encourages our students to work across traditional departmental boundaries and often seek interdisciplinary collaborations. Specific questions concerning admissions and requirements should be directed to the BES Graduate Program Director.

Applications include the following:

An unofficial copy of your transcript(s). Official copies are required after admission. Instructions for submitting the official transcript will be provided in the admission letter.
At the beginning of your personal statement, please list the names of one or more potential advisors in bold-face type.
Two reference letters. Additional letters will be considered, although only two are required.
Consider submitting any additional materials that provide direct evidence of relevant experience or writing ability, such as published papers, research posters, or reports. Please upload any such documents as “supplemental materials”.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to graduate students, and identifying sources of support for a stipend and tuition is a key part of the admissions process. Most BES graduate students are supported by teaching assistantships (TAs) that are administered by the college, or by research assistantships (RAs) that are dependent upon research grants and so are usually awarded by individual faculty members. Others are supported by various fellowships from internal and external sources (e.g. NSF GRFP, EPA STAR).