The admission requirements for the MS I&I degree program align, in general, with the requirements of the UT Health San Antonio Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Admission Requirements
All required application information, including official transcripts from all institutions attended, must be submitted by the application deadline for an application to be considered by the MS I&I program Admissions Committee.
*For applicants requiring visa sponsorship, it is highly recommended to apply by the priority deadline.
In general, the most successful applicants will have a significant educational background in the biological or biochemical sciences.
The requirements listed below will be applied; however, although minimum grade and test score cut-offs are useful guidelines, occasional exceptions may be given under special circumstances.
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or proof of an equivalent degree and training at a foreign institution.
- Required prior coursework:
- 2 years of biological or biochemical coursework for science majors, with labs
- Organic and inorganic chemistry with labs
- 1 year of physics
- 1 semester of calculus or statistics - Recommended but not required courses:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular biology/genetics
- Microbiology
- Immunology - Minimal grade point average (GPA): No lower than B (e.g., 3.00 in a 4.00 system). Note the University does not use the (+/-) system to calculate GPA. For example, an A- or an A+ is viewed as an A.
- GRE scores are not required, but a score may be submitted if desired; exam scores must be from exams taken within the past 5 years. MCAT or DAT exam scores may be submitted if desired.
- Minimal TOEFL scores: For applicants from countries where English is not the native language, a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 84 (internet test) is expected. Applicants may also take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and obtain a score of 7.0 or better, or the Duolingo test and obtain a score of 115 or better.
- Letters of recommendation (minimum of three) attesting to the applicant's readiness for graduate-level studies. It is strongly recommended to request more than three letters; up to five can be requested. These letters, submitted with the online application to the Graduate School, are a very important component of the application; letter writers should be chosen carefully and familiar with the candidate’s academic credentials, preferably previous science professors.
- Research experience is not required but may be considered when evaluating applications.
Application and Fee
Applicants must submit an online application through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences application website. After receipt of a complete online application, containing all required admission materials, the MS I&I degree program Admissions Committee will review all applications. Recommendation for admission to the MS I&I program, forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate School for final approval, will be based on which applications are of the highest quality regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, nation of origin, or disability. Applicants will be formally notified of the outcome by the Graduate Dean. Before final enrollment in the MS I&I program, current vaccination records and a criminal background check will be required.