Department NewsTraditional Master's Program
Start the application process here
Deadline information
The EEB application deadline is February 1 for the fall term and October 15 for the winter term.
How to apply
Applications to the EEB Frontiers M.S. program should be submitted via the Rackham Graduate School's on-line application process. No application matierals should be sent to the department. Visit our application information page for more information.
Correspondence and information
If you have questions about the Traditional Master's Program, or about EEB at U-M in general, please contact:
Graduate Coordinator
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2019 Natural Science Building
830 N. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048
Phone: (734) 764-1443
Master's program goals and requirements
Detailed information regarding the Traditional M.S. program of study is provided below. The Traditional M.S. Program has both a thesis option and a coursework-only option. The program is flexible and serves a variety of career objectives, such as teaching in secondary schools, employment in a variety of research-oriented jobs, interpretive work in parks and nature centers, and preparation for further professional training. Students are encouraged to seek some research experience with one or more U-M faculty as part of their degree. The traditional master's degree is not a prerequisite for admission to the doctoral program, nor is it intended as probationary admission to the doctoral program.
Students applying to the Traditional M.S. program are expected to have a solid foundation in the biological sciences. In addition, they are recommended to have completed the following college level courses: Physics (two semesters of lectures or one semester of lecture and one semester of lab); Calculus (one semester); Organic Chemistry (two semesters of lectures and one semester of lab.)
Applicants are evaluated on their past academic performance, laboratory or field experience, statement of professional goals, scores on the Graduate Record Exam (only the general test is required) and letters of recommendation. Unusually promising students whose backgrounds are substantially deficient in either the biological or physical sciences may receive special status for one or two terms in order to enable them to acquire a suitable background.
Contact with faculty whose research is of interest to you, prior to applying, is highly recommended. Also, please note that in addition to the quality of your application, our admissions committee takes into account the abilities of our faculty to mentor additional students in their labs.
Program of study
For specific information, see the Traditional M.S. program of study [LINK] page.
Consult this list of faculty accepting students for training in their labs.
Research facilitiesRead about EEB's wonderful and varied research , field and laboratory facilities.
Funding information
Students in the Traditional Master's program are eligible for Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) appointments in the Department of EEB; but no guarantees of appointment are made for Traditional M.S. students. Other external sources such as loans and work-study programs are available through the University's Office of Financial Aid, 2011 Student Activities Building. Students planning to enter a master's program are eligible to apply for external fellowships, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) or NASA. These fellowships provide substantial stipends plus full tuition and students are urged to apply. Some students may wish to hold a part-time position with a University unit and carry a reduced academic program, or they may be able to obtain fellowship support. Positions are variable in kind and availability, and are best found by applying in person to the Student Employment Office, 2503 Student Activities Building, in the summer prior to the fall term registration.
Students are encouraged to apply for external fellowship support and graduate assistantships from sources such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Check out a select list of more funding opportunities.
Recommendations and requirements
For specific inquiries about eligility, see the Traditional Master's requirements page. Training in chemistry, mathematics and physics, as well as basic biology, is recommended for both degree programs. Students with undergraduate majors in non-biological subjects, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, psychology and statistics are also invited to apply.
Deadline information
February 1 for the fall term and October 15 for the winter term.
Students can be admitted to the master's program in either the fall or winter terms, but it is highly recommended that potential students plan to begin their studies in the fall term when the department schedules its annual orientation.
