Applying to the Graduate Studies Program The likelihood that you will be successfully admitted and receive funding will be substantially enhanced if you communicate with and identify a potential advisor. The faculty member who agrees to advise you can also provide you with considerable information about funding opportunities available for new students. Upon identifying individuals with whom you might like to work, you should contact them directly via email, mail, or telephone. When a faculty member agrees to serve as your advisor, you should inform the Graduate Coordinator. Application Procedure
1. Contact Graduate Coordinator to request an application packet with a brochure and required forms. These forms can also be found on-line at the links listed below. 2. Carefully examine the brochure and forms. Review the descriptions of research interests for the graduate faculty. Contact the potential advisor(s) by telephone, email, or postal mail to discuss mutual research interests and research projects for your graduate research. If practical, students are encouraged to arrange for an onsite interview. 3. Complete the online version of the Department of Biology Information Form or mail a paper version to
Graduate Coordinator
Department of Biology
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
70504-2451 4. Complete the online Application for Graduate Admission form or mail the paper version to:
The Graduate School
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
70504-4610 5. Complete the Proof of Immunization form and mail it to the Graduate School (see address in #4). If Proof cannot be obtained in a timely fashion, request an exemption (section III on the form) with the recognition that proof will need to be provided prior to attending classes on campus. 6. Complete the Application for Graduate Assistantship. All applicants should compete this form as it is required for both teaching and research assistants. The form should be mailed to the Graduate School (see address in #4). 7. Arrange for official college or university transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation, and official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (General Test) to be mailed to the Graduate School (see address in #4). 8. Complete the Applications for Graduate Fellowship forms for any fellowships for which a student may be eligible. These applications should be mailed to the Graduate School (see address in #4). Follow Through
You should check in with the Graduate School about the status of your application after you think it should be complete. The processing of applications may delayed because letters of reference are not received or the student fails to arrange transcripts from all of the undergraduate institutions they attended. You can check on the status of your application by emailing the Graduate School, however, a phone call is often more effective (337-482-6965). Questions and Contacts
General questions about admissions procedures should be directed to the Graduate School. If you have any questions about the department’s graduate programs or procedures, please do not hesitate to contacting the Graduate Coordinator (337-482-6748; Biology@Louisiana.edu). Questions about specific research programs should be directed to your potential faculty advisors. Best wishes and we look forward to reviewing your application materials. View Previous Page
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The M.S. program provides an introduction to research, and can serve as the starting point for a number of different career paths. Opportunities in teaching, research, government, and industry are open to individuals with M.S. training in biology. Furthermore, many students find that the M.S. program provides worthwhile preparation for the pursuit of a doctorate degree.
completion of an independent research investigation constitutes the focal point of doctoral training. Course work concentrates on related areas of biology and the methods and experimental designs used in research. Interactions with the major advisor, advisory committee, and fellow graduate students contribute a third, vital component to a candidate's doctoral program. Doctoral training provides the basis for an academic career that may emphasize either teaching or independent research. The doctoral program is entitled, "Environmental and Evolutionary Biology." Doctoral training within this broad framework encompasses marine biology, ecology, molecular studies, and cell biology. In scale, research problems range from the subcellular or organismal to ecosystem processes.