Skip Navigation
Menu

Ph.D. and Master's Programs Ecology and Evolution Graduate program at Rutgers SEBS

2016 Jensen Lab and Eden Buenaventura and Karen Leuconvocation at convocation.

Candidates with a baccalaureate degree may apply for the Master's (M.S.) or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program. A Master's degree is not a prerequisite to apply for the Ph.D. program. The graduate program falls under the auspices of the School of Graduate Studies from which the final degree is conferred.

Your Undergraduate Degree Should Have Included:

Undergrad GPA Requirement

  • Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0

TOEFL

International students must have a TOEFL score of 550 (paper)**.
The minimum IBT-internet based TOEFL is as follows:
Writing 22
Speaking 23
Reading 21
Listening 17

**With the current testing issues caused by the pandemic the SGS will accept for the fall 2021 applications the Duolingo test of English language competence.

Due to its interdisciplinary nature, the Ecology and Evolution graduate program maintains flexibility with these requirements. The candidates' credentials will be evaluated by an admissions committee comprised of program faculty.

Admission to the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution Is a Two-step Process

  • You must be approved for admission to the program by the Admissions Committee AND
  • You must have a professor in the program who is willing to serve as your advisor

The Advisor Requirement

Your application will be reviewed without a commitment from a professor to act as your advisor. However, you should locate and secure sponsorship from an advisor soon after applying. You cannot be admitted if no faculty member has agreed to be your advisor.

Important Note: A promise of faculty sponsorship does not guarantee admission to the program. In other words, you can be denied admission due to a lack of faculty sponsorship, but you cannot be automatically admitted to the program simply because of faculty sponsorship.

Detailed information regarding the program requirements for the completion of a Ph.D. or M.S. and about the two types of M.S. degrees offered can be found in the Student Handbook (343k PDF). For more information about our faculty, see our list of current Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program faculty and their research interests.