Requirements for Admission

No single metric is used to assess applicants, but rather a broad picture of the candidate's qualities is considered.  Admission of an applicant is recommended by the Department, but the final decision on admission rests with the Graduate Admissions Committee of the College of Graduate Studies.

Undergraduate & Graduate Record

Applicants to the MS and Ph.D. programs should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, with a superior GPA in quantitative fields.  The department considers applicants from diverse backgrounds in the quantitative sciences, including mathematics, statistics, computer science, and economics.  Preferably, applicants will also have some exposure to the biological sciences, such as biology, genetics, medicine, and psychology. 

Graduate Record Examination

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required, but applicants are strongly encouraged to submit recent official scores on the quantitative and verbal portions of the GRE. Scores more than five years old are not acceptable

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation from instructors or supervisors who have had close contact with the applicant during their undergraduate, graduate or research training are required. Letters of recommendation should address the student's aptitude and capabilities for a research-oriented career.  Preference is given to letters from academic advisors, research mentors, and instructors.

Personal Statement

Applicants are required to provide a personal statement describing their reasons for wanting to enroll in the program, a discussion of their area(s) of interest and future goals.  Applicants should provide details on their scholastic and research achievements.  Applicants should also state why MUSC is an ideal setting for graduate studies (e.g., by citing Department faculty with shared research interests).

Personal Interview

Selected applicants are invited to visit the campus for a personal interview, which is considered a useful part of the admissions process.  The visit is composed of interviews with members of the Graduate Admissions Committee, campus tours, and discussion with department faculty.  It also provides the faculty an opportunity to assess the student's ability, independence of thought, and attitude toward a scientific career.  The cost of the visit is partially defrayed by the college.

Application Dates

MS

Application opens-December 1, 2023

Application closes-June 1, 2024

PhD

Application opens-September 1, 2023

Application closes-February 1, 2024