Admission Requirements

Applications to the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) Ph.D. program are accepted for Fall semester only. Applications must be submitted online by completing the WSU Graduate Application.

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in biology or a related scientific discipline.
  • An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required together with strong grades in science courses.

Applicants must also submit the following documents and information:

  • (Optional but recommended) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores from the past 3 years. When requesting official GRE test scores from ETS, the Department Code 0202 should be used. 
  • Three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty members who know you and your academic work. Ask your letter writers to tell us how they know you, and their opinion about your potential for success in a career related to your area of interest. Letters must be prepared on official institution letterhead and signed by the respondent.
  • A personal Statement of Purpose (one page). Include a description of  your long-term  goals, research experiences, and why our program seems suited for you.
  • International applicants, as defined by the WSU Graduate School, must submit TOEFL scores. A minimum TOEFL score of 100 is required. The Department Code for requesting official TOEFL test scores is 07. We also consider international students who score 6.5 or better on IELTS test. 
     

Application Deadlines
Applications to the Ph.D. program should be completed by February 1st for the best chance at an assistantship. The Admissions Committee begins considering complete applications for the following September in December of the prior year. There is no official deadline for the consideration of an application, but most positions in the program will have been filled by the mid-April.  Submitting the application early is advisable. If an application is favorably received, the student will then be contacted for an interview, by phone or in person, with two members of the committee. If feasible, students are encouraged to visit the department at this stage. Based on the results of this interview, as well as the overall quality of the application, the Admissions Committee will decide whether to recommend admissions to the program.