Contact Information
For general inquiries about the M.S. in Biology program, contact the Biology Graduate Program Adviser ([email protected]) or the Department Office (McCarthy Hall 205) at (657) 278-3614 (fax -3426).
Application Information
Deadlines
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Applications for Fall 2026 entry are due on 1 April 2026.
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Applications for Spring 2027 entry are due on 1 October 2026.
*All application materials must be received by the deadline for your application to be evaluated.
Admission Requirements
Acceptance into the research lab of a full-time faculty member in Biology who will serve as the student's thesis adviser. Applicants are strongly advised to contact prospective advisers (by email or phone) well in advance of submitting their application to ensure that professors working in their desired research area are planning to take on new students and have space in their labs.
Baccalaureate degree (4-year degree required) in biology or a related field from an accredited institution of higher learning.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on a 4-point scale (if the cumulative GPA is less than 2.5, the GPA during the last 60 semester units of coursework must be 2.5 or higher).
GPA of 3.0 or better in all biology and biology-related courses (e.g., biochemistry) and a GPA of at least 2.5 in all supporting coursework in chemistry, physics, and mathematics/statistics.
Submission of 2 letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.
For applicants who do not possess a Bachelor's degree from a postsecondary institution where English is the principal language of instruction, competence in English must be demonstrated by a minimum score (550 written; 213 computer; 80 internet) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.
International students should refer to the University Admissions and Records website for additional information. There may also be country-specific requirements, which are detailed on the International Admissions website.
Conditional Admission
A student may be admitted conditionally if they have one or more deficiencies in the required admission, e.g., a degree outside of biology, a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0, lack of significant research experience or training, etc. Conditional admission usually requires that the student demonstrate their ability to do graduate level work in biology, often by satisfactorily completing one or more advanced undergraduate or graduate-level courses with grades of B or better during their first semester. Conditional admission is made on a case-by-case basis as judged by the Graduate Admissions Committee and cannot be requested as part of the application process.
Application Process
- Review the research programs of full-time faculty members in Biology whose research activities and interests best match your own. Contact them (at least 3) well in advance to inquire about openings in their labs (spaces in labs can be quite competitive and fill quickly). Most advisers will not consider applicants who have not contacted them in advance.
This is a critical first step because a Biology faculty member must agree to advise you during the application review stage or you will not be admitted into the program.
If time allows, plan to visit Cal State Fullerton to meet with prospective advisers and their graduate students and learn more about the University.
- Arrange for the submission of 2 letters of recommendation from persons who can address your qualifications for graduate work. Ordinarily, these letters would be written by professors at your undergraduate institution or by professionals who can speak to your ability to do graduate-level study and your promise as a researcher and scientist. They should also address your potential to be an effective teaching associate (TA) for the department. Letters must be written on institutional letterhead and submitted directly by the recommender as part of the application process in the CalStateApply online system. Be sure to send your letter writers the instructions in CalStateApply. Please also ask them to send an additional, backup pdf copy of their letter via email to [email protected]. Letters of recommendation must be confidential.
- Arrange for the submission of all of your official transcripts. Official transcripts must be sent directly from previous institutions that you attended to the CSUF Admissions Office. You should send unofficial copies of your transcripts directly to the Department by email for program review (any transcripts sent by an applicant are considered unofficial). However, unofficial transcripts will not substitute for the official copies sent by your previous institutions, which are required for admission into the University.
- Complete and submit the application online in Cal State Apply. Specific application questions for the MS in Biology program are embedded in the last section of the application. IMPORTANT : As part of your application you must calculate your Biology and Supporting Science Course GPAs using ALL the grades from all your college transcripts. You must use the Excel GPA calculator to calculate your GPAs, then upload the results as a pdf file as part of your CalStateApply application. Be sure that your calculated GPAs are correct and on the 4-point scale.
- Your application will not be circulated for evaluation unless all of the required components are received by the application deadline. You should submit your application well in advance of the deadline and check with the Department staff about the status of your materials to be sure that your application is complete. Once submitted, all application materials become property of the Department and cannot be returned to you or forwarded elsewhere.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.
Postal correspondence can be mailed to: Biology Graduate Program Adviser, Department of Biological Science (MH-205), California State University Fullerton, 800 N. State College Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92834 USA.
Program Evaluation Process
- When an application is complete, it is sent to 3 faculty members for evaluation (these are usually the faculty members you identified as prospective advisers on your application, but the Biology Graduate Adviser may also circulate it to other faculty members with similar interests).
- When all 3 evaluations are received, the Graduate Adviser reviews the evaluations and the application and makes a decision whether to admit the applicant into the program or not. Applications may be rejected because they are incomplete, because the applicant fails to meet program or University admission criteria, or because no faculty member agreed to accept the applicant into their lab.
- Applicants are notified of the program decision by email and follow-up letter as soon as possible. We aim to make all decisions by early December (spring entry) and early May (fall entry). Applicants who have been admitted and who expressed an interest in working as a teaching associate or graduate assistant will be sent a separate application form.
Funding Opportunities
Aside from the fellowships described below, there are no formal graduate stipends or scholarships available to graduate students by the Department of Biological Science. The Department does hire some qualified students to work as Teaching Associates (TAs) and Graduate Assistants (GAs). In addition, some students are hired as Research Assistants by faculty members with grant funds. The number of TAs and GAs varies each semester depending on departmental needs, as does the number of students being supported by grant funds. Upon admission into the program, an application for a TA/GA position will be sent to applicants who request to be considered for these positions on their Departmental applications.
Many graduate students are eligible for financial aid (http://www.fullerton.edu/financialaid/). IMPORTANT: For federal financial aid, such as grants and loans, the deadline for priority consideration is 1 March. If you are even considering applying to our graduate program, you should submit your federal financial aid application (FAFSA) by this date.
Teaching & Graduate Assistantships
Teaching Associates are hired to teach laboratory sections for certain departmental courses. These include non-major's biology (BIOL101 Elements of Biology), undergraduate biology core courses (BIOL151 Cellular and Molecular Biology, BIOL152 Evolution and Organismal Biology, BIOL253L Cellular and Molecular Biology Skills Laboratory, BIOL254L Research Skills for Ecology and Organismal Biology), and some upper-division courses. Semester salaries for TAs depend on qualifications and experience as well as workload. Graduate Assistants and Instructional Student Assistants help in the preparation of laboratories, grading and other activities and can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester, although most assignments are 5-10 hours per week. Semester salaries of GAs vary depending on the assignment, student qualifications and experience. Depending upon university funding, tuition waivers may be available for students who agree to work as TAs.
Research Assistantships
Inquiries about Research Assistantships should be made directly to prospective faculty advisers. Salaries for Research Assistants vary widely depending on funding source, qualifications and the nature of the work.
University & College Scholarships
In addition to financial aid, several merit- and need-based scholarships are available from the University. Information on scholarships is available from the Financial Aid Office and the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS). Note that the deadline for applying for most College and University scholarships is early in the spring semester.
Highly qualified international students and students from outside of California may be eligible for a Non-Resident Tuition Fee Waiver from the OGS. Nominations are usually made at the time of application to the program.
Violet Horn Graduate Research Fellowship in Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology
The Violet Horn Graduate Research Fellowship in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology was established in 2015 by a generous gift from Dr. Mike Horn, a long-time faculty member in the Department of Biological Science. The fellowship honors the memory of Violet Horn (pictured at right), who was an award-winning K-12 teacher, a devoted supporter of her family's learning aspirations (including her nephew Mike), and a tireless advocate for educational opportunities in the Cherokee community.
Each year one outstanding MS Biology applicant will be selected to receive the fellowship based on information in his/her application (academic record, relevant research experience, letters of recommendation) and potential for success as a research student at CSUF.
Murray Fellowship in Coastal Marine Science
This fellowship was created in 2021 by Dr. Steven Murray, Professor Emeritus and former Dean of College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The goal is to support student research with preference for graduate students committed to pursuing advanced degrees and careers in Coastal Marine Science. Support of research-active students is intended to eliminate (for a single term) the need for outside employment or defray the costs of specialized research training or field work. The fellowship may be used during the academic year or during winter/summer session. Faculty advisers in Marine Biology nominate students who are working in their research labs.
Admitted and Current Students
New Graduate Student Orientation
New students are expected to attend a new graduate student orientation session, usually the week before the Fall semester begins in August. Students will receive information about the program and department and university resources and required lab/field safety training.
Graduate Student Advising
Graduate students must meet regularly with their thesis advisers to be sure that they are making satisfactory progress. At a minimum, each graduate student must meet with their adviser at least once per semester. This will typically take place at the time of undergraduate advising, starting around week 12. The student will meet with the adviser to discuss progress on completing Study Plan courses, program milestones, and on research efforts to date. They also will formalize plans for coursework for the next semester, including research- and thesis-related courses, as well as setting goals and making plans for the intervening periods (intersession, summer). The advising form must be signed by both the student and adviser, and submitted to the Graduate Adviser to remove any registration holds. Go to the Forms dropdown to download the current MSB Advising form (fillable PDF).
Students who have completed all their Study Plan coursework, both Thesis Committee Meetings, and all data collection (i.e., no more lab or field work required), may be eligible for enrollment in GRAD700 through UEE, which allows them to maintain continuous enrollment at a much-reduced cost.
Graduate Student Handbook
The Biology Graduate Student Handbook contains essential information for new and returning M.S. students, as well as guidelines, procedures and advice for completing the Study Plan, forming and meeting with one's thesis committee, and completing thesis requirements.
Vehicle Use and Driving Policy
Graduate students may need to drive on university business, including leading course field trips and conducting independent research. Depending on the circumstances, students may use their own personal vehicles or one of the Biology department vehicles. Guidelines for the use of vehicles by graduate students and other members of the department are provided in our updated Vehicle Use Policy document.
Biology Graduate Student Club (BGSC)
BGSC provides Biology graduate students with opportunities for social activities with other students and the faculty and staff. It serves as a venue for students to help each other with their research, including practicing conference presentations, and to work together on volunteer activities in the community. BGSC members also have the opportunity to be involved with inviting and hosting seminar speakers. Graduate students seeking funding from the Associated Students Incorporated-CSUF for travel to scientific meetings must also be members of BGSC. For more information about BGSC activities, contact one of the officers by email at [email protected].
Careers
A Master's degree in biology opens doors to a wide range of careers. Your thesis adviser and thesis committee members will usually be able to give you the best advice about career possibilities and tracks and how to prepare yourself for work after you leave Cal State Fullerton. Much information on possible careers in biology is also available online. In addition to a general internet search, one good place to start is the Careers page of the American Institute for Biological Sciences (http://www.aibs.org/careers/). This site contains excellent information about what biologists do, advice on how to prepare for a career in biology, and information on the job outlook for different fields. There also are links to websites of professional societies and organizations for different fields, as well as jobs boards.
A second helpful website is the U.S. Government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/). This site provides current, detailed descriptions of career paths, necessary qualifications, job prospects and salary ranges for Biological Scientists. It also has links to similar information for related fields, including agricultural and food scientists, conservation scientists and foresters, engineering and natural sciences managers, epidemiologists, medical scientists, postsecondary teachers, and health-related professions such as dentists, physicians and surgeons, and veterinarians.
*This site may contain links to websites not administered or managed by California State University, Fullerton. The University does not review, control or take responsibility for the contents of linked sites.
MS to PhD
California State University Fullerton, USA (CSUF)/Institute for Biotechnology Research, National University of San Martín, Argentina (IIB-UNSAM)
Academic Link
A path to MS and PhD degrees
Students admitted to a MS program in certain departments at CSUF can apply for admission to the CSUF/IIB-INTECH-UNSAM MS-PhD path. Students in this linked program will have the opportunity to earn a MS degree from CSUF and a PhD degree from IIB-INTECH-UNSAM.
The following is a summary of steps and requirements. The full conditions and requirements are detailed in the LINKAGE PROGRAM AGREEMENT between CSUF and IIB-INTECH-UNSAM.
Interested students should contact Dr. Marcelo Tolmasky (657-278-5263, [email protected]) for further details.
Applicants must submit a letter of interest to Dr. Tolmasky . Students who are admitted to the MS-PhD linkage program will select a research project topic in consultation with their thesis committee and the joint program's Selection and Oversight Committee.
Students will be bound by all CSUF university and program requirements to earn their MS degree and their progress will be periodically evaluated by the Selection and Oversight Committee.
Towards the end of the MS program, the Selection and Oversight Committee, together with the student's thesis committee, will perform an evaluation that, if successful, will permit them to apply for admission into the IIB-INTECH-UNSAM PhD program. The specific procedures for attaining this milestone will be determined by each participating CSUF department and program.
The IIB-INTECH-UNSAM PhD program may accept coursework taken at CSUF as part of the student's graduate study plan to allow the student to focus his/her efforts on research during the PhD program.
The students are expected to complete the MS program in two years and the PhD program in an additional three years.
Interested students should discuss application procedures as well as details and requirements with Dr. Tolmasky and prospective thesis advisors at CSUF.
Forms
Please contact the Graduate Adviser or Department Coordinator (Karen Lau) if you have any questions regarding the program.
