Master of Science in Integrative Biology

Students entering the MS in IB program are expected to have a completed Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year college or university with undergraduate coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, calculus and English composition. Applicants must have completed the last 60 hours of coursework with grades of B (3.0 on a scale of 1 to 4) or better. Deficiencies in these areas will require additional coursework, as necessary, for successful completion of the degree. Courses, or their equivalents, taken prior to admission to this program may not be counted toward the requirements for this program.

All applications must include:

• The applicant’s CV
• At least three letters of reference, preferably from recommenders in academic or professional positions
• An Academic Personal Statement
• A Supplemental Personal Statement
• The GRE is NOT required
• For admission to the program, the Graduate College also requires official transcripts from every post-secondary institution you have attended (once admitted)

To begin your application process see the Graduate College Application page.

Like many professional degree programs, the MS portion of the degree program is self-supporting and does not offer or accept tuition waivers. Financial aid is available to students accepted into the program. For more information on financial aid eligibility and requirements see the Office of Student Financial Aid. There are also additional financial opportunities including:

• Graduate hourly positions offered on-campus (e.g. graders, research) that are willing to support an hourly position instead of providing a waiver or stipend
• On-campus or off-campus employment (also see Job Boards from the Graduate College)

Enrollment for this program requires a minimum of two full-time semesters. Credit hours will range from 6–16 (or more) each semester, depending on course availability, international/domestic status, and student goals. International students are required to register for at least 12 credit hours to maintain F-1/J-1 student status.

For the most up-to-date tuition and fees information and the helpful Illinois Cost Calculator tool, see the Office of the Registrar’s Tuition and Fees page. Students in the MS in IB program will use the Chemistry and Life Sciences base rate when calculating tuition rates. 

The School of Integrative Biology considers quality student instruction as one of its highest priorities as we continue to welcome new students to be actively part of the discipline. We thus build in support for MS in IB students in multiple ways:

• Academic Advising: Specific to the MS in IB program, all academic advising (such as applications, course-selection mapping, and career-readiness counseling) is performed by the Director of Graduate Studies and a Graduate Advisor dedicated to the program. Students are encouraged to meet regularly (at a minimum of once per semester) with program staff.
• Career Advising: As part of the MS in IB program, students take a course, IB 592: Career and Skill Development in IB, which includes more tailored mentoring, with course goals of building confidence to find and secure a career, making connections in the field of integrative biology, and applying resources learned to aid in job searches and applications. IB 592 serves to connect students with IB alumni and mentors and helps them to better plan their next steps and career growth through connections with our community here at Illinois. These volunteer and mentoring opportunities help to create more well-rounded applications to professional schools or employment opportunities for MS in IB students. IB 592 also serves to help students make informed decisions about the next steps in their career development.
• Mentoring Guidelines: For more information please also see the Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring as suggested by the Graduate College and adopted by our School.
• Graduate College Academic and Administrative Policies: Please see the Graduate Student Handbook
• Campus Student Code: For information on campus policies on many items, including academic integrity, please refer to the Student Code.