Admission Requirements

• Application in writing submitted to the Office of Admissions accompanied by a $40.00 application fee ($55.00 for international students), which is neither deductible nor
  refundable. The application for admission and supporting credentials must be received
  in the Office of Admissions by April 15th. Materials submitted in support of this
  application cannot be returned.
  
  
• Possession of a four-year US bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited
  college or university with a major in biology or a related area; or with prerequisite
  courses in biology, biochemistry/organic chemistry, genetics, and cell/molecular biology.
  
  
• Two official transcripts of all previous academic work attempted beyond high school.
  Transfer credit posted on the records of other institutions is unacceptable and official transcripts of these credits must be supplied.
  
  
• Official copies of satisfactory test scores on the GRE general test. Students (including international students) already in possession of a graduate degree need not
  submit GRE scores
  
  
• An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) on all of the
  applicant's previous work beyond high school.
  
  
• At least two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's
  personal and professional qualifications.
  
  
• An essay describing the applicant's objective in undertaking graduate study
  
  
• International students from non-English-speaking countries must submit final
  scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of 550 or
  higher is required. A score of 80 or higher on the current version of the TOEFL or
  score of 550 or higher on the previous version is required.
  
  (Note: Applicants with records of high quality who do not fulfill all of these
  requirements may request an on-campus interview with the M.S. Biotechnology Admissions Committee).
  
  Please send completed applications to:
  
  Department of Biology
  Claflin University
  400 Magnolia Street
  Orangeburg, SC  29115

Transfer Credits
The School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics does not accept graduate transfer credits for our M.S. in Biotechnology Degree.

Non-Degree Applicants
Persons who wish to enroll in graduate coursework but who do not wish to pursue the M.S. degree may do so under the conditions described below. Such application should not be made with the Degree Application form but should, instead, use the “Application for Non-Degree Enrollment.”

Certified Educators
Teachers and/or administrators holding at least the bachelor’s degree but not intending to earn the M. S. degree may seek enrollment in graduate course work with a graduate non-degree enrollment privilege.

Transient Students
Students in good-standing who are enrolled in graduate degree programs at other institutions may seek permission to enroll in graduate courses intended for transfer credit under our non-degree enrollment privilege.

Others
Professional, practitioners, and others who hold at least the bachelors’ degree in an appropriate field may seek permission to enroll in M. S. degree coursework under the non-degree enrollment privilege. Such coursework may be sought for licensure, professional development or personal interests

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Admission Process:

Graduate students are admitted to Claflin University through a cooperative effort between the School in which their program is housed and the University’s Office of Admissions. Upon review of a candidate’s credentials, an Admissions Committee from within the School of interest will make a recommendation to the University’s Office of Admissions regarding the candidate. The School to which a candidate applies may choose to inform the candidate that they have recommended acceptance, but official notice of a candidate’s admission (or declination) can only come from the University’s Office of Admissions.

If the faculty Admissions Committee within the School to which a candidate applies wishes to have the candidate come to the University for an interview, that committee will contact the candidate directly to make arrangements.

Candidates must send official transcripts for each post-secondary institution attended whether or not a degree or diploma was earned. Where applicable, certified copies may be recognized as official. International Applicants: do NOT send original documents.

When a candidate has received official notification from the University of acceptance, he/she may contact the Graduate Director of the School to which they have applied to proceed with the advisement and registration process.