Applying to the Graduate Program

The department offers separate programs in genetics or biochemistry and molecular biology leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Enrollment is open to students with baccalaureate degrees in agricultural, biological, physical sciences or engineering. Entering students must have excellent academic records in biological, mathematical or physical sciences. Students may apply directly to either program; a master’s degree is not a prerequisite for the Ph.D. degree, although it may provide useful experience and preparation.

Students admitted to the program over the last three years averaged a GPA score of 3.4. A GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for a competitive application. If English is an applicant’s second language, the applicant must have a TOEFL score of 80 or higher or an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.

Application Deadlines and Requirements

Applications for graduate study in the Department of Chemistry are submitted through the Clemson University Graduate School. After completing the application, students will need to supply the additional materials listed below before an admissions decision can be made. Applications will be processed most quickly if all materials are sent directly to the Graduate School.

Master of Science

For the M.S. programs, the application deadlines for fall and spring admittance are June 1 and Oct. 15, respectively. Applications received after the deadlines are not guaranteed full consideration. Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty members to identify potential advisers. Application to the M.S. programs requires:

• Unofficial transcripts of all colleges and universities attended.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• A personal statement; if you are planning a thesis path, please include names of potential advisers and type of thesis (literature based or empirical).
• Resume/CV.
• TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores (for international applicants).
• Other materials of your choice.

Students admitted to the program are required to have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0, in an area of science (the life sciences, physical sciences or engineering). If English is your second language, you must have a TOEFL score of 80 or higher or an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. We offer both a thesis and non-thesis track. Our default admission is to the non-thesis track. A student who would like to complete a thesis track is required to select a major adviser, which is done by mutual agreement between the student and faculty member. Students should contact potential mentors to discuss interests and potential projects. View a list of faculty accepting master’s students. Students are encouraged to select a major adviser and contact the program coordinator within the first semester of study to avoid delays in degree progress.

Doctor of Philosophy

For the Ph.D. programs, the application deadlines for fall and spring admittance are Dec. 1 and Sept. 1, respectively. Applications received after the deadlines are not guaranteed full consideration. Application to graduate programs in the department requires:

• Unofficial transcripts of all colleges and universities attended.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• A personal statement.
• Resume/CV.
• TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores (for international applicants).
• Other materials of your choice.

Candidates typically apply to the program in the fall and may be selected for interviews in the early winter, for admission to the program the next fall. Some students are admitted directly under a specific supervisor, whereas others rotate with different potential supervisors during their first semester. Candidates may wish to contact potential supervisors prior to submitting a formal application.

Students admitted to the program typically have some prior research experience and are required to have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0, in an area of science (the life sciences, physical sciences or engineering). If English is your second language, you must have a TOEFL score of 80 or higher or an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. 

• Additional information can be found on the Overview page.
• Visit the Graduate School website for additional information.

Application Fees and Stipends

The Department of Genetics and Biochemistry does not waive application fees. If you need assistance, please contact the associate dean for graduate education in the College of Science. You are encouraged to provide detailed justification and your application materials as required by the genetics and biochemistry Ph.D. program.

Fees: Ph.D. students on assistantships pay minimal fees of $1,050 for each fall and spring term. Summer fees are approximately $350 per term for a total of two summer terms. In addition, the program is in the process of increasing assistantship support and decreasing fees in order to stay competitive with other national graduate programs. The graduate school has set a goal of eliminating all fees for graduate over the next five years. M.S. students are self-supporting.

Stipends: The current stipend ranges from $25,000–$30,000 for Ph.D. students. These are also the minimal stipends for students admitted to the program on research assistantships, although faculty members providing research assistantship support may provide additional support at their discretion. Also, with the low cost of living in this area, this assistantship allows for a very comfortable lifestyle. M.S. students are self-supporting.

Admission is Competitive

Admission to the genetics and biochemistry program at Clemson is competitive. After a thorough review of the applications for a given term, the admissions committee will grant interviews to a select number of well-qualified applicants. Students not selected for an interview will be placed on hold. Occasionally, students placed on hold may be granted an interview and later admitted to the program for the same term.

Can students who do not qualify for general admission into the Ph.D. program via a teaching assistantship be admitted to the Ph.D. program through a research assistantship? While the large majority of students matriculating into the Ph.D. program are admitted through the general admission procedure, students not selected for interviews and those interviewed but not admitted may still be admitted to the program. Occasionally, faculty within the department will make a research assistantship offer to one of these students (with approval of the graduate admissions committee). These research assistantships are made at the discretion of the faculty member funding the assistantship.

Application Status Inquiry

If you have applied to the program for general (fall) admission, you will receive an email or letter concerning your status (interview, hold or rejected) by Feb. 20. Please do not contact the department concerning application status before this date. If you do not receive an email or letter by March 1, contact the graduate coordinator to inquire about the status.

If you have applied to the program for spring admission, you will receive an email or letter concerning your status (interview, hold, or rejected) by Oct. 30. Please do not contact the department concerning your application status before this date. If you do not receive an email or letter by Nov. 5, contact the graduate coordinator to inquire about the status.

Application Acceptance

Students offered admission for the fall term must either accept or decline an offer of Ph.D. admission by April 15. This date applies to all graduate programs within the United States and is set by the Council of Graduate Schools. The deadline for the M.S. program admission is June 15.

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant and need a visa form completed to enter the United States, this question is often asked: “Can I get this form before I am admitted to the program or if I am wait-listed?” The answer is no. It is the policy of the university and federal law that Clemson University can only release completed visa forms to students granted full admission to the graduate program. There are no exceptions to this rule. Applicants are discouraged from contacting the department office concerning visa forms.