Thank you for your interest in the School of Molecular Biosciences (SMB) graduate program. SMB offers excellent research facilities, the flexibility to design an individualized academic program from a wide range of research expertise, and the opportunity to choose from over 46 faculty mentors for your thesis research. Faculty in the School of Molecular Biosciences explore the cellular, molecular, and structural basis of processes essential for proper function of bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota. Students choose one of three discipline-specific tracks (Biochemistry, Microbiology, or Genetics) to ensure that their interdisciplinary training in Molecular, Cellular, and Structural Biology builds on a solid discipline-specific foundation. Our training program has a number of distinctive features that complement and enhance our didactic programs. These include an annual retreat, weekly seminars by our students and by investigators from outside of WSU, an active student-run Molecular Biosciences Graduate Student Association, and a series of professional development workshops. These unique training features promote the importance of a life-time of scientific learning and emphasize the importance of interpersonal and professional communication and management skills. Use the links on the left to learn more about our graduate Program Details, Faculty Research Areas, and Highlights. Please contact us directly at smbgrad@wsu.edu if you have questions.

Application and Admission Details

Deadline:

Your application to WSU Graduate School, letters of recommendation, and SMB Application Form must be received no later than December 15th to be considered for admission for the following fall semester. In general, applications are not considered for admission for the spring semester.

Admission Categories:

The School of Molecular Biosciences admits students into Ph.D. and Master's programs.

1. Admission to the Ph.D. program does not require a master’s degree. Students whose ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D. are advised to apply directly to this program. A Ph.D. degree usually requires four or more years and completion of a research project which may originate with the advisor but whose final design is largely the result of the student's independent effort. A Ph.D. dissertation should comprise a body of research equivalent to at least two publishable papers, and is essential preparation for a career as an independent researcher.
2. Students are also admitted to the Master's program. In general, a Master's degree with thesis is earned in two to three years and involves research developing out of work proposed by the advisor. A Master’s thesis should comprise material equivalent to at least one publishable paper and prepares the student to participate in research as a team member.

Application Materials for Admission

To apply to the School of Molecular Biosciences graduate program, you will need to prepare the following materials:

All students (domestic and international):

• Graduate School Application and $75 application fee
  Forms and instructions are available through the WSU Graduate School website.
• SMB Graduate Application Form
  The School of Molecular Biosciences requests supplemental information on the SMB Application Form that is separate from the Graduate School application. The SMB document requests GRE/TOFEL scores and includes guidelines for your personal statement which describes your interests, research accomplishments, and academic awards. On-line forms are available through the SMB Application Form.
• SMB requires the general GRE
• SMB requires three letters of recommendation
  Please follow the “on line” application with the Graduate School to have your letters of recommendation submitted on line.
• Transcripts from domestic students should be sent directly to the WSU Graduate School.

International Students:

• Transcripts from Applicants who attended school outside the United States or Canada must submit: Transcripts, mark sheets, grade reports, or examination results, along with degree certificates from all higher education institutions attended outside the United States or Canada. When sending official transcripts from schools located in non-English-speaking countries, have each institution submit both the English translation plus an original language record.
• WSU requires TOFEL scores

For international applicants who have not earned a previous degree from a US institution, within the last two years of your expected admission date, a TOFEL score of at least 100 (internet based exam) is required.

Recommended Undergraduate Preparation

The minimum admission requirement stipulated by the Graduate School is a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent in the last 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of graded undergraduate work from a recognized college or university. A 3.0 grade point average or greater is required for any coursework from a recognized graduate school.
The basic background for graduate study in molecular biosciences is usually provided by an undergraduate degree in biology, biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, genetics, microbiology, and related fields. The following undergraduate courses are specifically recommended: six semesters of a combination of general biology, microbiology, cell biology, genetics, and biochemistry courses, including some laboratory coursework; two semesters of general/inorganic chemistry and at least one semester of organic chemistry, which should include a laboratory component; two semesters of physics; and one semester of calculus.

Students who lack any component of these minimum course requirements will be asked to remedy their deficiency or demonstrate competency in these areas to the Graduate Affairs Committee.

Admission Decision and Financial Support

The deadline by which all application materials for admission must be received is no later than December 15th. Only completed application files will be reviewed by the Graduate Recruiting Committee when they convene after the deadline. The committee will contact the applicant as soon as possible, usually in January or February, if an invitation to interview will be offered. Interviews will occur during the Graduate Student Visitation Weekend, usually scheduled for the first weekend of March. If you would like to check the status of your application, please contact us by email at smbgrad@wsu.edu or call (509)-335-4566.

WSU adheres to the acceptance policy of the Council of Graduate Schools. If a student accepts an offer of admission before April 15th and subsequently desires to withdraw his/her acceptance, the student must submit their resignation of appointment, in writing, before April 15th. An acceptance of admission, either given or left in force after April 15th, commits the student to not accept another offer of admission without first obtaining a written release from the institution whose admission offer he/she had previously accepted.

Admission offers from the School of Molecular Biosciences include competitive financial support, in the form of either a teaching assistantship (TA, teaching support in an undergraduate course with a time commitment of approximately 20 hrs/week) or a research assistantship (RA). TA and RA support includes a stipend, payment of tuition and comprehensive health insurance.

International applicants who are offered admission may be asked to submit evidence of full financial support. If certification of outside support is necessary, the Graduate School will inform applicants of required procedures in the letter of admission. Additional certification must be provided for any dependents who will accompany the student.