M.A.T. Biology Admission Requirements
The M.A.T. Admissions Committee evaluates each applicant individually and holistically, taking into account the applicant's statement of purpose, writing samples, academic record, letters of recommendation, and test scores.
All applicants to an M.A.T. program, regardless of discipline, should have:
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 in the major, and an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0. The degree must be complete at the time of admission.
- A passing score on the GACE Basic Skills Test or a state-approved exemption
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores above the 50th percentile in one of the three areas
An applicant to the biology program should have:
- A completed major or significant preparation in biology or a related discipline (e.g. biomolecular engineering)
Our students bring to their studies a variety of past experiences and undergraduate course work. In order to provide opportunities for candidates to strengthen their individual disciplinary backgrounds, the program requires that students take two additional disciplinary courses. On admission to the M.A.T. program in Secondary Biology, candidates meet with their program advisers to review their backgrounds and to plan appropriate course work.
The candidate's undergraduate program together with the two additional courses completed as part of the M.A.T. program in Secondary Biology must incorporate the following coursework:
(a) Fundalmental concepts, principles and laboratory experiences in biology:
In addition to an introductory two semester sequence in biology, with lab, a student's background should include upper level course work in:
- cell biology, with lab
- molecular basis of inheritance, with lab
- biological evolution or its application
- ecology, with lab
- organismal biology
(b) Biology electives to give a strong and relevant undergraduate major:
A student should complete upper level course work in at least two of the following, preferably with lab:
- Biochemistry
- Bioinformatics or computational biology
- A course in diversity, such as vertebrate biology or invertebrate biology
- Animal behavior
- Microbiology
- Developmental biology
- A research experience or seminar in biology
(c) Supporting background and competencies:
- An introductory two semester sequence in chemistry with lab
- A course in organic chemistry with lab
- College level course work in at least two of the following areas: earth science (geology); physics; statistics; and the history and/or philosophy of science.
A particular course may meet more than one requirement. An exceptionally well prepared student may request that one of the two additional disciplinary courses be waived.