Admission Requirements for the Master of Science in Human Biology

Applications for UIndy's Master of Science in Human Biology must be submitted by January 15. Late applications may still be considered, but those submitted prior to the deadlines will have priority. The master's program accepts up to 6 highly qualified students each year. 

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact the graduate program director, Dr. Amandine Eriksen (eriksena@uindy.edu) to schedule a personal interview or department visit (in-person or virtual) in the Fall (October through early December).

What We Look For in Our Applicants

Admission requirements set the precedent for the competitive nature of the program. To be strongly considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • A bachelor's degree in anthropology, biology, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or the equivalent of a bachelor's degree for students applying from outside the United States. 
  • Several undergraduate or graduate courses taken in natural sciences and anthropology with grades above a C; Ideally, these should include biological anthropology, anatomy (human or vertebrate), chemistry, physiology, statistics, and physics. (Note: in order to take certain graduate courses, students must have completed prior college-level coursework – for example, to take a genetics course, at least one semester of chemistry is required)
  • A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 grade scale)
  • Official results from the GRE are optional for applicants that possess a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher. For those submitting scores, a minimum combined score of 300 (Verbal & Quantitative Reasoning) and a Writing score of 4.0 or higher is preferred. 

Applying for Admission

Applicants must submit their online application by January 15 (for priority consideration).  Please note, you may start the application process any time to begin entering your personal information and finish uploading application materials and submit on a later date. To apply, the following materials should be submitted:

  • Online graduate application
  • $30 application fee
  • Personal statement that outlines reasons for applying to the program, long-term career goals, research interests, and any experience relevant to your goals.
  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV) that lists prior experience (e.g., work, volunteer, research), special training (e.g., field schools, certifications), publications, and presentations (see below for examples or prior experience)
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation. At least two must be from an academic source.
  • Official transcripts showing all undergraduate and graduate coursework
  • Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, submitted by the testing agencies (Note: the GRE is not required if your undergraduate GPA is above a 3.2)
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only)

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

  • Official scores from the GRE are required for all international applicants. The TOEFL or IELTS cannot substitute for the GRE.
  • International students for whom English is not their first language, and/or who did not attend an English-speaking university must provide one of the following as proof of English proficiency: 
    • TOEFL: a minimum score of 79
    • IELTS: a minimum score of 6.5 
  • Provide a course-by-course credential evaluation to show that you have completed the U.S. equivalent of a bachelor's degree. To view a list of agencies that offer this service, see the international student admissions page.
  • Provide certification of finances (for students who are applying for a visa), showing that you have adequate funds to support yourself during your time of study.
  • Copy of passport identity page (student applying for F-1 Student Visas only)

Examples of Prior Experience

We are looking for highly-motivated students who have already had a hand in some aspect of skeletal analysis, archaeological fieldwork, or scientific laboratory work. The experience can be paid or volunteer, for credit or not-for-credit, for short durations or for extensive periods of time. Please be detailed in your application materials about any prior experience you have had. Specific examples that will make your application competitive include:

  • Being a teaching assistant for a science or anthropology course
  • Taking an archaeological, paleontological or geological field school class
  • Assisting with forensic or archaeological human remains casework
  • Volunteering in a professor's lab and assisting in scholarly research projects
  • Taking courses or training workshops in forensics
  • Completing an internship at a laboratory, museum, or other scientific facility
  • Taking advanced independent study courses in which you have conducted in-depth research
  • Attending or giving papers at student conferences of professional scientific meetings
  • Publishing articles in student or scholarly journals, or other significant writing experiences
  • Completing an undergraduate honors degree and finishing an honors project or thesis

Application Deadlines and Acceptance

All applicants must apply online to the Human Biology graduate program in the Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences by January 15 to be eligible for the upcoming academic year starting in August. All materials must be uploaded via the online application management system. If a student is not admitted with their first application, they may re-apply to the program the following year.

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