Frequently Asked Questions

There are no specific pre-requisites for this program. However, this program assumes a broad background in the sciences. It is not for students who have little or no science background. Probably the single most important prerequisite that you should have is some coursework in reproduction and physiology. Past experience has shown that students without an adequate physiology background struggle with the graduate level coursework. The committee reviews each applicant individually to see what science coursework has been taken. We are looking for a combination of some of the following: biology, general chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry, reproduction, physiology (this is just a sample – we don’t require you to have taken all of these).

This program is ideal for students interested in applied reproduction in human/animal embryology, wildlife conservation, reproductive health or research.

Our program assumes a broad background in the sciences. If you have a very limited science background, this program may not be right for you, at least not yet.

No. Most professional school pre-requisites are 100- and 200-level courses, which cannot be applied toward a graduate degree at CSU.

You must complete 30 credits to earn this degree. 20 credits will be required courses that focus mainly in reproduction, physiology and endocrinology. The remaining 10 credits allow students to fill in gaps in their background or simply take a course that sounds interesting. As long as these electives are 300-level and above, they can be selected from available university-wide offerings and are not restricted to courses offered by the BMS Department.

All graduates of this program receive a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. A specialization in Assisted Reproductive Technologies will be indicated on the diploma as well.

You are expected to complete 30 credits in coursework, complete a 6 week (120 hour) internship and submit a scientific literature review paper.

All students accepted into this program start at the beginning of fall semester. The date changes slightly each year, but it is always late August.

Assuming all requirements are fulfilled, most students graduate at the end of the summer term the following year.

For the most recent estimate of graduate tuition and fees, please visit the Office of Financial Aid website:

• Graduate tuition
• Graduate differential tuition

Graduate tuition is calculated to include base tuition and fees plus graduate differential tuition. Please see both links to calculate actual tuition costs.

This program is a self-funded program, which means the department does not have graduate assistantships or fellowships to offer deserving students. Many students pay for the program by taking out federal student loans. Additionally, you may apply for individual scholarships if you meet the eligibility requirements. Another useful resource is the Student Financial Services website.

No. This program will teach you the laboratory skills you need to know.

Most students prefer to complete the 120 hour internship over the summer after they have finished their classes. In some cases, students have completed their internship concurrently with coursework, however that requires that the internship not interfere with any other program requirements including lab work and lectures.

April 1 is the general admission deadline for full consideration for our program. If after the first round of reviews available seats in the program are not filled, we will consider late applications.

No. We are looking for the top 24 applicants. Residency status does not affect our decision.

We admit a cohort of 24 students per year and we only matriculate students in the fall.

Yes. As long as your bachelor’s degree will be officially conferred before the start of our fall semester, you are welcome to apply.

No. We review all applications after the April 1 deadline. You will be notified with a decision from the ART Graduate Committee by the end of April or beginning of May.

One of the simplest things you can do is submit your application materials before the deadline. You do not want to be memorable to us because we have to hound you for your application materials. The big secret is that there is no ideal candidate – there are lots of ways to be a great graduate student. Tell us what makes you unique. Why would you be a great addition to our program? Experience has taught us that sometimes applicants who look great on paper don’t end up being great graduate students and vice versa. The burden of proof is on you to convince us why you are a good candidate even if you have a less than stellar academic record.

If you have a lower undergraduate GPA, you might consider taking additional, upper-level science courses. While it cannot change your undergraduate GPA if you have completed your degree, it demonstrates that you are a more focused and mature student than your transcripts may reflect. Additionally, doing well in these courses demonstrates an upward trend in your grades, and this trend is important to the admissions committee.

Additionally, if you performed poorly in key science courses (received a “C” or below), you might consider retaking them to demonstrate mastery of fundamental concepts. If you make the extra effort to do this, please let us know on your application!

And lastly, if you are applying with an undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or below, we would encourage you to submit a minimum of two evaluation forms from academic sources, preferably in the sciences. This program is academically rigorous and if your GPA is on the low side, references attesting to your ability to handle a tough academic load might be the extra nudge needed for positive consideration by the admissions committee.

No, we do not conduct interviews.

We will contact applicants via e-mail at the end of April or beginning of May to let you know whether you have been accepted, wait-listed, or declined.

You could hear from us at any point throughout the summer. Some years, we admit only a handful of students from our waitlist, whereas other years we don’t have the availability to offer a seat to anyone on the waitlist. It varies so much from year to year that it’s hard to predict.

Log on to RAMweb to officially change your address with the university. Additionally, please notify María Alexandra Márquez by email at bms_art_info@colostate.edu or by phone at (970) 491-5500.

You can check the status of your application online through the online application portal.

Yes, you can hit the submit button and then update your application with the rest of your materials as they come in and admissions will update it.

List CSU on the online application and your transcript will be automatically uploaded.

We ask that you submit a minimum of 3 letters of recommendations. We suggest that these come from academic sources, preferably in the sciences.

No. We are no longer requiring a test score (examples include the GRE, MCAT, or DAT exams) in order to have your application reviewed by our admissions committee.

3.3 to 3.4.

You are still encouraged to apply, but the burden of proof is on you. You want to demonstrate that you can handle a rigorous course-load. If the admissions committee thinks you are a strong candidate despite a low GPA, they can petition the graduate school to waive this requirement. An applicant does not request special consideration; this is determined by the admissions committee. If the graduate school approves our recommendation, you will be placed on “academic probation” your first semester. This means you must maintain a 3.0 GPA your first semester in the program or you will be dismissed by the graduate school. This is explained in more detail in the Graduate Bulletin.

You can’t go back and change the past, but you can demonstrate that you’re a more focused and mature student now. You do this by taking additional upper-level science courses and doing well in these courses or repeating foundational science courses in which you did poorly. You also want to make sure you submit a minimum of two evaluation forms from academic references. Demonstrate what steps you’ve taken to remediate your GPA on your application.