The terminal degree at CSULB is a MS in Biology. CSULB offers an excellent graduate education and our graduates have a high rate of placement in PhD programs and jobs nationwide.

If you are interested in earning a Master’s degree in my lab, please contact me first to find out whether I am accepting students. If so, I will ask that you supply me with several pieces of information before I will offer my sponsorship of your application, including a detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) that includes your GPA, GRE scores (general test), and the contact information for three references. In addition, I would like to see a short (1-2 page) proposal for a specific research project you might be interested in working on if you were to come to CSULB. Your proposal should include a general question or hypothesis, rationale for the research, and information on how the project will be accomplished (i.e., methods). Your question MUST be reasonable in the context of a 2-3 year degree program and should be answerable using species found within commuting distance of CSULB (work on Catalina Island, however, might be feasible).

Your proposal will help me to assess both your ability to formulate a testable hypothesis and communicate your ideas in writing, as well as your compatibility with the lab and our overall research program. Your proposed project idea should be generally within the scope of current research in the lab. One of the advantages of working in a lab with a defined research focus is that students are able to assist one another with field and lab work, dramatically increasing overall productivity. This is particularly important for projects that depend upon SCUBA and boat time.

This exercise will help you to focus your ideas and could become the basis of your MS project. You will NOT, however, be held to your proposed project should you later become interested in doing something different. If you have any questions about how to approach formulating your project proposal, please feel free to contact me.

To obtain an application packet for the CSULB Biology Master’s Program, contact Kay Belletti; she will provide you with information on how to apply to the University and the Department:

    Kay Belletti (Graduate Services Coordinator)

    Department of Biological Sciences

    California State University, Long Beach

    1250 Bellflower Blvd

    Long Beach CA 90840-3702

    Phone: 562-985-7928

    Email: Kay.Belletti (at) csulb.edu

The majority of students admitted to the graduate program in Biology work as either a Teaching Assistant (TA) or Graduate Assistant (GA) in the Department. You must submit a separate application to be considered for these positions and I strongly encourage you to do so at the same time you submit your general application. Current annual stipends based on 20 hours per week during the academic year are approximately $14,200 for TAs, and a bit less for GAs. Due to the current state budget issues, however, most student’s work about 13-14 hours per week; pay is scaled accordingly). I assume that next year’s figures probably won’t be too different. In addition, both TAs and GAs are eligible to work as Research Assistants (RAs) during the summer break. Students in RA positions typically work on a specific research project that has been funded by an external grant (e.g., National Science Foundation, NOAA, SeaGrant, etc.). The availability of RA positions (both academic year and summer) varies from year-to-year and is dependent upon current funding in the lab.

Links to additional resources for graduate student financial assistance can be found in the Graduate Studies Division of Academic Affairs. In particular, be sure to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before March 2.