Application Information

Overview | Instructions | Qualifications | Deadlines | GPA Below 3.0 Admission | Notification | Intent to Enroll | Transfer Credit

Admissions Overview

The MCLFS program director reviews applications and credentials and make admissions recommendations to the Dean of the Graduate School. Students are recommended based on the following:

• Provisional Admission (GPA above 3.0):
  • An undergraduate degree in biological science, chemistry, biochemistry, or science education
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • One year minimum teaching experience
  • After the student has completed nine (9) credits, continuation in the program will be based on a performance audit and review.
• Provisional Admission (GPA below 3.0):
  • The previous academic record has a GPA below 3.0
  • Prerequisite coursework is insufficient
  • The applicant has majored in a field other than biological science, chemistry, biochemistry, or science education
  • The applicant has completed the baccalaureate degree but has not yet submitted official verification of the last semester's work and receipt of the degree
  • The applicant is not interested in seeking a degree, but wishes to enroll in graduate-level courses. The applicant may take courses, following the guidelines outlined for degree-seeking students, and resign from the program when they have achieved their goals.
  • Students admitted in this category must first take either CLFS 510 or CLFS 510. For more information, click here.

Application Instructions

1. Online application: Click here
   • Admission term = Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
   • Select Program Code: CLFS; Master of Chemical and Life Sciences
   • Nonrefundable application fee of $75.00 is required.
2. Application Supplementary Form (ASF)
   • Provide information relating to the official transcript request.
   • Provide a copy of your résumé.
   • GRE’s and letteres of recommendation are not required. Students who have taken the GRE and have exceptional scores should submit them here.
   • All other information may be left blank.
3. Official Transcripts
   The undergraduate degree must be in biological science, chemistry, biochemistry or science education. Submit a complete set of official transcripts to:
   

   Enrollment Services Operation
   Attn: Graduate Admissions
   Room 0130 Mitchell Building
   University of Maryland
   College Park, MD 20742

Admission Qualifications

The Graduate School has established the following minimum admission criteria:

• Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution.
• Applicants must have earned a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all prior undergraduate and graduate coursework.
• Applicants must provide an official hard copy of a transcript for all of their post-secondary work.

MCLFS has established these additional requirements:

• The undergraduate degree must be in biological science, chemistry, biochemistry or science education.
• The applicant must demonstrate one year minimum teaching experience.

Additional Requirements for International Students and Applicants with Foreign Credentials

• For information on these additional requirements, click here.
• Please note: This is a fully online program. International students and applicants with foreign credentials are not required to complete the financial certification (step 3) and visa documentation (step 4) found on the above Web site page as immigration documents necessary for international students to study in the United States (F1 or J1 student visas) are not required. Citizens of foreign countries who are already residing in the U.S. on visas must submit a copy of the valid visa and I-94 card. This may be sent or FAXED using the following information:
  

  International Admissions Graduate Student Services
  2123 Lee Building
  University of Maryland
  College Park, MD 20742
  FAX: 301-314-9305

Application Deadlines

All application materials must be received by the deadlines below.

Domestic Students:

• Term I (Fall): by June 1
• Term III (Spring): by December 1

International Students:

• Term I (Fall): by March 30
• Term III (Spring): by September 30

Provisional Admission: GPA Below 3.0

Provisionally admitted students with a GPA below 3.0 have an academic block which prevents registration until the following requirement for full admission is met:

• Earning a ‘B’ or better in one of the following courses which are only offered in Term I or Term III. Neither course counts towards the 30 credits necessary to complete the Master of Chemical and Life Sciences.
  1. CLFS 510: Concepts of Modern Biology
  2. CLFS 520: Concepts in Modern Chemist

Upon successful completion of above, the student record is updated to reflect full admission status and the academic block removed, permitting registration for courses in the program.

Notification Process

Admission Notification:

• Student receives an e-mail from the program Director notifying of recommendation of admission (either Full or Provisional).
• The Graduate School reviews all documents and application materials to ensure that minimum qualifications are met.
• The Graduate School sends official offer of provisional admission via e-mail.

Intent to Enroll

Once the Graduate School provides the official admission decision, the Office of Extended Studies e-mails admitted students with registration instructions. Should a student not register for his or her admission term, then the offer of admission is rescinded by the Graduate School and the student is automatically withdrawn from the program.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of six credits from other institutions may be transferred in with approval of the Director. All such requests must be submitted via the Transfer Credit Form.

• For complete instruction and to access the form, click here.

Criteria for Courses to be Accepted for Graduate Credit

The Graduate School has strict rules on acceptance of transfer credit. These criteria may influence the number of credits transferred, especially for some of the summer institutes offered to teachers. Any courses, workshops or seminars that take place in a span of time less than a normal academic semester or summer session and offering graduate credit to the participants must meet the following criteria:

• There must be 15 "contact hours" per graduate credit.
• Lectures: 50 minutes of lecture are equivalent to 1 contact hour.
• Non-lecture contact (laboratories, workshops, discussion and problem-working sessions, etc.): One two-hour or three-hour session is equivalent to one contact hour.
• Credit may be accumulated at the rate of no more than one credit per week.
• Courses numbered at the 100-, 200-, 300, and 500-level are ineligible for graduate credit. 400 level classes are eligible for graduate credit provided they were not used in fulfillment of an undergraduate degree requirement.
• A minimum grade of B (no pass/fail) is required for transfer.