Admission Requirements for the Master of Chemical and Life Sciences (MCLFS)
 

Admission to Graduate School Responsibility for admitting applicants to graduate programs rests with the Dean of the Graduate School. The Masters of Chemical and Life Sciences program office reviews admissions applications and credentials and make admissions recommendations to the Graduate Dean.

 (Applicants with foreign credentials must submit academic records in the original language with literal English translations. Allow at least three months for evaluation. TOFEL scores are also required for all international applicants.)

Degree Seeking

Full Admission Status:

Students granted full graduate admission status must submit official documents indicating completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, and be otherwise fully qualified in the judgment of the Masters of Chemical and Life Sciences program and the Graduate School. Admission to the degree program requires:

  • An undergraduate degree in biological science, chemistry, biochemistry or science education with acceptable grades (minimum 3.0 GPA)*;
  • One year minimum teaching experience;
  • Successful completion of CLFS 510, Concepts of Modern Biology , or CLFS 520, Concepts in Modern Chemistry, a pair of gateway review classes;

or

  • a passing grade of B or better on either the biology or chemistry admission exams that are based on those gateway classes. Exceptional GRE scores may be accepted in lieu of the former.

*Students with undergraduate grade point averages below 3.0, who have not previously demonstrated superior performance in graduate courses, will be required to take CLFS 510 or CLFS 520. (Note: as a 500-level course this cannot be used to meet the credit requirements of the MCLFS program.)

Students who have been fully admitted to the program will be given prioity in registration for courses. Provisionally admitted student and Advanced Students (non-degree seeking) may register for courses on a seats available basis.

 

Provisional Admission Status:

Students may be admitted to provisional status by the program director if:

  • The previous academic record is borderline or prerequisite coursework is insufficient
  • The applicant has majored in another field and has not yet clearly demonstrated abilities in the proposed new field
  • The applicant has completed the baccalaureate degree but has not yet submitted official verification of the last semester's work and receipt of the degree

Advanced Student Status (Non-degree seeking): This status is designed for applicants who are not immediately interested in seeking a degree, but who wish to enroll in graduate-level courses. The MCLFS program does not formally admit students in this category but utilizes an alternative approach. All students who wish to take MCLFS courses, but who do not desire to earn a degree, must apply directly to the program and be provisionally admitted. Those students may then take courses, following the guidelines outlined for degree seeking students, and simply resign from the program when they have achieved their goals.

Contact the MCLFS Program Director for information at mclfs@umd.edu