Program of Study
Admissions
Students interested in applying to the program must meet the standards set by Graduate Studies at the University of California, Davis. Admission to the program is highly competitive. The admissions committee considers several factors in deciding on admissions to the program. Demonstrated aptitude in undergraduate coursework is required. All potential students must submit general GRE scores that are less than 5 years old at the time of application. The quality of the undergraduate education, the fulfillment of all prerequisites, letters of recommendation and previous research experience are all evaluated as part of the admissions process. Applications are generally accepted for fall admission only but in unusual circumstances, exceptions may be granted. Applications must be completed by January 15 to be give priority consideration for admission; earlier applications are encouraged.
The Graduate Studies application can be found at the office of Graduate Studies. The Graduate Studies application is a multi-stepped process that requires creation of a logon ID, etc. You will need a Statement of Purpose to complete the application.
Application Fee
An application fee of $70 (domestic) or $90 (international) is charged everyone applying for admission for the first time or after a lapse of 12 months. Make check or money order payable to UC Regents. Your canceled check is your receipt. Visa and Mastercard are now available options for payment of the application fee.
The fee is not refundable under any circumstances, nor will an application be processed until the fee is received. Applicants with demonstrated financial need may apply for a waiver of the application fee. Funds for waivers are extremely limited and are available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the U.S.
The fee can be paid using your credit card or by mail to the graduate major program office. Please include your SSN, your log-in ID, and your birthdate on your check or money order. Your electronic application will not be considered complete until your fee has been received.
Remember that incomplete files and materials sent to the wrong place can delay the processing and evaluation of your application. Incomplete files will be cancelled without review.
Pharmacology & Toxicology Supplemental Application
The Pharmacology & Toxicology (PTX) Graduate Group requires a supplemental application in addition to the Graduate Studies general application. The supplemental application requests a list of courses to meet entrance requirements. The PTX Graduate Group supplemental application is included in the online EMBARK graduate studies application.
Statement of Purpose
Please describe your motivation, academic preparation and apittude for graduate study at UC Davis and the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Group. You should describe your academic plans and research interests, your specialization within your academic field, your research experiences and your career goals.
Please limit your response to 500 words maximum (4000 characters).
Personal History Statement
In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experience, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.
Please limit your response to 500 words maximum (4000 characters).
GPA Requirement
The Graduate Group adheres to the minimum standards of Graduate Studies (listed below), although meeting these standards does not guarantee admission to the program.
Meeting any of the following criteria is sufficient to establish admissibility:
1. The grade point average for all undergraduate course work is a 3.0 (4 point scale), or 2. The grade point average for all upper division coursework taken as an undergraduate.
3. The grade point average for all upper division coursework taken during the last two years of Undergraduate, with military science, religion, professional education – individual study excluded is a 3.0 (4-point scale) or more.
4. The undergraduate GPA does not meet one of the above criteria, but the GPA in all taken in a completed Master?s program is 3.5 (4-point scale) or more.
Transcripts
One official transcript from each college or university attended, including UC Davis, must be mailed directly to the PTX Graduate Group office. A summary of credit transferred from another institution is not acceptable. Official transcripts of all work completed must be received before applications will be considered. (Note: This includes applicants who have attended the University of California as undergraduates for at least two years.)
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Requirement
It is highly recommended that applicants take the GRE no later than December. The code for sending the test scores to UCD Davis is 4834. The department code for sending the scores directly to the PTX Graduate Group is 0216. It is strongly recommended that you have your GRE scores reported electronically to UC Davis. Please note that the scores sent to other programs/departments and Graduate Studies are impossible to retrieve.
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Requirement: Applicants whose native language or language of instruction is not English must take the TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum score required for admission to UC Davis is 550 on the paper test, 213 on the computer-based test, and a minimum total score of 68 based on the reading, listening and writing categories on the internet-based test for TOEFL, or at least 7 on a 9-point scale for IELTS. Scores from tests taken before 2000 will not be accepted. There is no conditional admission. The score report is required before application processing begins. You may send a photocopy; however, an official copy is required before registration if you are admitted.
Please see Graduate Studies webpage for further information.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required to complete your application for admission. Letters of recommendation may reflect a mix of backgrounds (academic or employment), but you should seek at least two who are qualified to evaluate the quality of your scholastic achievements and academic training as well as your ability to carry out independent research. This is especially important if you have previous research experience. One character or personal recommendation is permissible. It is helpful to tell your references to address those characteristics that are important to your admission. All letters are to be submitted through Embark Online Recommendation.
Questions about the admissions process and general questions about the program should be directed to:
Ms. Judy Erwin
Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Group
4117 Meyer Hall
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
530-752-4516