Degree Requirements / Admission Requirements / Application Procedures /
   Cost of Study / Financial Support / The Community and Environment / The University
      [Revised 6 September 2013]

Degree Requirements		All students must complete a graduate program of 30 units selected from courses approved for the M.S. in Biology. In addition, students are expected to engage in an original research project. A written thesis proposal must be approved by the student’s committee and an oral proposal presented to the faculty.  At the completion of thesis research, a thesis defense must take place before the student’s thesis committee gives final approval to the thesis. Students are expected to choose a project that will ultimately be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Admission Requirements		Typically, students eligible for admission have:    1. An overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.85 or better for the last 60 semester units, and a 3.0 or better in upper division biology courses.    2. A bachelor's degree in Biology or related field from any accredited college or university, with coursework comparable to the undergraduate program in Biology at San Diego State University. Students may be asked to take additional coursework to fill curriculum deficits. Typical applicants for admission have taken physics, chemistry, calculus, organic chemistry, cell biology, biochemistry, biostatistics, genetics, and evolution.    3. For international students, the paper-based TOEFL (PBT) score should be at least 550.  The Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) should be 80.
Application Procedures		There are two critical steps in the admission process:    1. Students are not admitted into the E.B. Master's program unless a faculty member is willing to sponsor them in their lab. Thus, prospective students should make contact with faculty members whose research matches the student's interests. This should be done early in the admissions process. Potential faculty mentors can advise students as to whether they will be accepting students into their lab for the coming semester and whether their research interests are compatible.    2. Students must submit application materials for admission, including supporting transcripts and three letters of recommendation (plus TOEFL, if applicable). Deadlines for completion of files are February 1 for those applying for a TA/GAship or March 1 for all others for the following fall semester. Please note: February 1st is the preferred deadline for the Master's program in Evolutionary Biology. Priority will be given to completed applications received by this date. Review of applications received after February 1st will continue until all positions are filled. Please consult the Application Procedure for Masters Programs for complete instructions. Foreign students should also consult the Application Information for Foreign Students.
Cost of Study		Cost of study varies between California residents versus non-resident or foreign students. In addition, foreign students are required to have health insurance coverage every year. U.S. citizens may achieve California residency status at the end of one year. Once California residency is established students will pay the resident tuition fees. All fees are subject to change by the Trustees of the California State University. For more detailed and current information, please see the University Cashiers Office website.
Financial Support		Graduate teaching assistantships (TAs) are available on a competitive basis (based on GPA) for up to 20 hours work per week for the academic year (9 mos.). TAs are eligible for a full benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance for the calendar year. Graduate assistantships (GAs) are also available for research and non-teaching duties. Application forms for TA and GA positions can be found at Application Procedure for Masters Programs. Completed applications should be submitted to the Department of Biology by February 1 along with all other application materials in order to be considered for a TA appointment. See the Biology Graduate Coordinator for current stipend information. In addition to TAs and GAs funded by the university, graduate research assistantships may also be available from the prospective faculty mentor. Fellowships, scholarships, and other forms of financial assistance from university, state, federal, and private sources are also available. More information about fellowships and loans can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office on campus.
Community and Environment		San Diego State University is located 12 miles east of downtown San Diego and the Pacific Ocean. San Diego is a diverse metropolitan center with a population over one million people. San Diego provides its inhabitants with one of the greatest varieties of living conditions and recreational opportunities. The Laguna Mountains are 45 minutes to the east and rise to over 6000 ft. and offer pine forests and hiking, camping and snow. Beyond the Lagunas lies the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in the United States. Twelve miles to the west of campus lies the beautiful Pacific Ocean with over 72 miles of recreational beaches providing outstanding facilities for marine and water sports and ocean fishing. The city contains many fine cultural and recreational attractions, many of which are centered around Balboa Park. Balboa Park contains the world famous San Diego Zoo as well as museums, art galleries, and the Old Globe Theatre, with its summer Shakespearean festivals. Football, basketball, baseball and hockey fans can take advantage of San Diego's many sports facilities to watch their favorite teams in action. Just 15 minutes south of San Diego is Mexico with its cultural attractions, unusual shopping opportunities, and limitless possibilities for outdoor adventure in the rugged Baja peninsula.
The University		San Diego State University, founded in 1897, is the oldest university in the San Diego region and the largest of the 22 institutions in the CSU system. These universities are governed by the Board of Trustees and administered by the Chancellor of the CSU and Presidents of each institution. San Diego State University occupies a mesa on the eastern end of Mission Valley, home of San Diego Mission, the oldest of the California missions. The university offers bachelor’s degrees in 81 fields and 74 master's degrees. At present there are 16 doctoral programs offered jointly with the University of California. Over 90% of the University's 1,100 member faculty possesses a doctoral or equivalent degree in their fields. The annual amount of research and contract grant funds brought in by SDSU faculty exceeds $150 million. The San Diego State campus itself is cosmopolitan with almost 34,000 full- and part-time students, including more than 6,000 graduate students. Drama, concerts, speakers, film series, and sports provide a varied on-campus life to complement the opportunities off-campus.