Applications may be downloaded from this site. Please complete all information requested and include a statement describing your interest and motivation for pursuing the advanced degree you have selected. Submit to the address below along with the application fee of $65, payable by check or money order. (NOTE: The application fee for Ph.D. applicants is waived for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents.) Official transcripts from all prior colleges or universities and official GRE (and TOEFL scores for foreign students) should be submitted directly to the Graduate School by the school registrar or ETS. We may review copies of official documents, but will not offer acceptance until the official documents are received.

*The Educational Testing Service (ETS) institution code for the GSBS at SOM for both the GRE and the TOEFL is 2610.

**All students accepted for full time study into the Ph.D. program will receive tuition remission, paid health insurance and an annual stipend of $28,455.

Notice for APPLICANTS OUTSIDE THE USA

For additional information please write or phone:

UMDNJ
GSBS-Stratford Division
42 East Laurel Road
UDP, Suite 2200
Stratford, NJ 08084

Phone: (856) 566-6282
Fax: (856) 566-6232

Email: gsbs-stratford@umdnj.edu

Requirements for Admission
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university is required. All applicants should have completed college courses in biology, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Courses in calculus and physical chemistry are highly recommended for all students. In general, academic programs favor admission in the Fall semester.

I. MATRICULATED STATUS

Admission Criteria
An applicant's cumulative academic performance should present convincing evidence of scholarly competence, especially in science and mathematics. A record of at least B level work in the natural sciences is required. The record should be supported with creditable GRE scores and favorable references, and should indicate that the applicant is capable of performing successfully in the rigorous atmosphere of the Graduate School.

Applicants should display evidence of seriousness of purpose, strong motivation to achieve a successful career in science, and high standards of personal conduct.

Before a request for matriculation can be considered, the following materials must be on file with the Graduate School Office:

(1) A completed application form. Application fee of $65 (The application fee for Ph.D. applicants is waived for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents).
(2) Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate records.
(3) Graduate Record Examination results. (General test is required of all applicants for matriculated status except those holding degrees of M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., D.Sc., or D.O. from accredited institutions in the United States. Those students who have not taken GREs/MCATs may apply as a non-matriculated student and take the GREs/MCATs during the first semester of course work. MCATs or DATs may be substituted for Master’s applicants in lieu of the General GRE.
(4) Recommendations from three individuals, preferably academic instructors, who have direct knowledge of the applicant's academic performance in science-related fields. Two letters are required for students applying to the M.S. program.
(5) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required of all foreign applicants.

Deadline for receipt of applications for doctoral programs is February 1. However, it is flexible for domestic students. International students are encouraged to send their applications before February 1.

Part-time Study
Prospective students who initially are unable to devote full time to graduate study may apply for matriculation as part-time students. Entrance requirements for such applicants are identical to those of full-time, matriculated students. Part-time matriculated students must register for at least six credits per semester and must maintain the same academic standards required of full-time matriculates. Doctoral students must be enrolled full time for at least one year following the Qualifying Examination.

Evaluation Procedures
Each applicant is evaluated by the department to which application was made. The Department's recommendation regarding matriculation is submitted to the Graduate School Subcommittee on Admissions and the applicant is notified of acceptance or rejection by the Graduate School.

Applicants admitted to a program must register for the academic semester for which they were accepted.

II. NON-MATRICULATED STATUS

Students with baccalaureate degrees may request permission to enroll in a limited number of courses as non-matriculated students. Permission to take courses is contingent upon fulfillment of the specific course prerequisites and availability of facilities to accommodate the applicant.

Preference is given to teachers or professional workers in neighboring industries and hospitals who are seeking to further their knowledge of biomedical sciences or striving to advance their careers through continuing education. Foreign applicants are not eligible for
non-matriculated status.

Application for Admission as a Non-degree Student
Before admission to non-matriculated status is considered, the Graduate School office must have on file:
(1) A complete application and application fee ($65).
(2) Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate schools attended.
(3) Recommendations from two individuals, preferably academic instructors with knowledge of the applicant's academic performance in science-related fields.

Deadline for receipt of applications and supporting documents must be filed by June 15 for Fall admission and by November 1 for Spring admission.

After review of the complete file has been made, the applicant will receive written notification regarding acceptance. Acceptance is granted for one year; students must request permission to take additional courses in future years.

ADMISSIONS POLICIES

Human Rights
The Board of Trustees of UMDNJ has committed itself, the University, and its component units, to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, creed or religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental handicap, military status, marital status, or other factors prohibited by law. This is the governing principle in student admissions and other student services, and employment-related activities. In this regard, the University uses an Affirmative Action Plan which has been approved by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Region 11, Office of Civil Rights, New York. It is available for review in the Office of Student Affairs.

Student Health Status
Acceptance and continued matriculation at the school are contingent upon the mental and physical well-being of the student. All students are required by state law to be immunized against measles, mumps and rubella viruses. The School reserves the right to require a student to undergo a mental and physical examination to evaluate fitness for continued studies throughout the student's matriculation at the School.

Rights of the Handicapped
UMDNJ policy provides that no program or activity administered by the University shall exclude from participation, admission, treatment or employment, or deny benefits to, or subject to discrimination any qualified individual solely by reason of his or her physical handicap. "Qualified individuals" are those persons who, with reasonable accommodation, are capable of performing the essential function of the position in question in accordance with University policy, applicable laws and regulations.

Essential Functions/Technical Standards for Admission
Technical Standards refer to non-academic requirements that are essential for meeting the academic requirements of the program. Within any area of specialization, students must demonstrate competence in those intellectual and physical tasks that together represent the fundamentals of biomedical research in their chosen discipline.

The Ph.D. and M.S. degree programs at the UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences require a laboratory-based research dissertation. Granting of these degrees implies that the recipient has demonstrated a base of knowledge in the field and the ability to independently apply that knowledge to solve a particular problem by forming hypotheses, designing and conducting experiments, interpreting the experimental results, and communicating the results and their interpretation to the scientific community. Thus, a candidate for the M.S. or Ph.D. degree in the biomedical sciences must posses abilities and skills that allow for observation, intellectual and conceptual reasoning, motor coordination, and communication.

The use of a trained intermediary is not acceptable in many situations in that a candidate's judgment will be based on someone else's power of selection and observation.

Observation
The candidate must be able to acquire knowledge by direct observation of demonstrations, experiments, and experiences within the laboratory and instructional setting. Examples are physiological or pharmacological responses in animals, studies of microbiological cultures and organisms, identification of normal and abnormal cells or tissues through a microscope, and interpretation of results obtained on various instrumentation.

Intellectual/Conceptual Abilities
The candidate must be able to measure, calculate, analyze, reason, integrate and synthesize information to solve problems.

Motor Skills
The candidate must possess motor skills necessary to perform procedures required for experimentation within the chosen discipline. These skills may include, but are not limited to, surgery in animals, handling of animals, transfer of microorganisms to various mediums, preparing chemical and often toxic materials and solutions, preparation of anatomical specimens for microscopic examination, manipulating electronic and other complex equipment. Such actions require coordination of muscular movements and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.

Communication
The candidate must be able to communicate and discuss his or her experimental hypotheses and results to the scientific community, both in scientific journals or directly at scientific meetings, seminars, or in the laboratory to the research team.

Behavioral and Social Attributes
The candidate must posses the emotional and mental health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of responsibilities inherent in managing a scientific laboratory, the ability to function under the stress inherent in biomedical research, and the ability to understand and comply with ethical standards for the conduct of research.