Apply to the MPS Program (Scroll down for Summer Course Application Details)
An application to the MPS program consists of the following (Fall & Spring admissions only):
- Online CollegeNet application
- Transcripts from all institutions in which a degree(s) was awarded and a transcript evaluation (for non-U.S. academic institutions)
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (for international applicants)
- The Graduate Record Examination Test (GRE) score is not required for admission. You may optionally submit your GRE score.
A file is considered "ready for review" upon receipt of all items listed above. If admission to the MPS program is granted, it will be contingent upon receipt of all items listed above (including official records transcripts and test scores) and the following for international applicants:
Permanent Residents must provide a color copy of his/her Permanent Resident card.
Deadline for submitting an application for international students is June 1st, and for domestic students is July 1st at 11:59PM. Undergraduate scholastic performance, previous work experience, Graduate Record Examination scores, TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable), and the letters of recommendation are all considered in evaluating an applicant.
Application Deadlines
Applications for Spring Admissions (Not open for Spring 2024):
- Now - November 15th (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents)
- Now - November 1st (International Applicants)
Applications for Fall Admissions:
- Now - June 1st (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents)
- Now - May 1st (International Applicants)
Application: The application is available online and must be submitted via the CollegeNet online portal. There is a non-refundable application fee of $85.00 USD. UM employees (with benefits) and McNair Scholars are eligible for an application fee waiver. When submitting the application online, you will be required to make a payment via a credit card or a checking account debit transaction.
Personal Statement: Please make sure you address your track of choice, and all relevant field, lab, and work experience (past and present) in your personal statement, as well as how you envision the MPS program contributing to your professional career and goals. Recommended, but not limited to 1.5 – 2 pages for personal statement.
Transcripts: . Please make sure you possess the required undergraduate coursework and/or degree before applying. Applicants must request transcripts from all academic institutions attended (even if a degree or credits were not awarded), including all study abroad and community colleges. Official transcripts must be mailed or e-mailed directly from the relevant academic institution (Office of the Registrar) to the MPS Office. Our email is mps@earth.miami.edu. Scroll down to see our mailing address or visit our Contact Us page. Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts for review purposes only. If an applicant is not able to submit an official or unofficial transcript with his/her application, the applicant may submit transcripts via email to mps@earth.miami.edu. Please be advised, official transcripts will only be accepted if they are sent to us directly from the academic institution. Transcripts sent by you or issued to you (even if they are in a sealed envelope) are not considered official and will not be accepted.
International applicants in a degree seeking program or applicants who have received a degree from a college/university outside of the United States: All graduate applicants who have received degrees or are currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program from a college or university outside the United States (except applicants to Law* and Nursing**) must submit official transcripts and diplomas (if available) from all colleges and universities attended to one of the three approved evaluation services listed below. Transcripts in a language other than English must be provided in that language and must be accompanied by a certified English translation. International applicants must also submit a copy of his/her diploma in the official language of the country from which the degree was awarded and provide a certified English translation of the diploma. Follow the specific instructions of the selected evaluation service to request a course-by-course evaluation with degree equivalency and grade point average (GPA) calculation. Applicants must request that the evaluation report and copy of all the official documents used in the evaluation are sent directly from one of the three approved evaluation services to the MPS Office mps@earth.miami.edu. The evaluation report and supporting documents are required before Track Leaders can review an applicant's file. Any documents received by the University will become the property of the University and will not be returned to the applicant or sent to a third party including the evaluation services.
APPROVED EVALUATION SERVICES:
Students from India must submit a copy of their diploma and request mark-sheets, indicating all subjects taken and marks obtained for all years of university study, issued by the university responsible for conducting the examinations (excluding the Indian Institute of Technology).
Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required for admissions consideration. Each applicant must request letters of recommendation from three (3) different references using the guidelines provided in the online application. Applications from CollegeNet may be submitted without letters of recommendation. However, an applicant’s file will not be reviewed by Track Leaders until all required admissions materials (including letters of recommendation) have been received by the MPS Office. Upon completion of the application, your references should receive an e-mail from CollegeNet, requesting the online submission of the required documentation (questionnaire + letter of recommendation).
Academic references are ideal and highly preferred, but we will accept letters from employers and/or supervisors. Please do not request letters from friends, family, ministers, or coaches. If your references have trouble using the online submission portal, they may e-mail their letters (signed and on letterhead) to the MPS office at mps@earth.miami.edu. We cannot accept letters that are not signed. Letters sent by the applicant or forwarded to the MPS Office by the applicant will not be accepted.
GRE: The Graduate Record Examination Test (GRE) score is not required for admission. You may optionally submit your GRE score. We must receive your official Graduate Record Examination Test (GRE - http://www.ets.org/gre) scores directly from ETS. Please use institution code 7690 (department code) when submitting your request with ETS. This code indicates delivery of test scores to the Rosenstiel School campus, home of the MPS Office. Unofficial GRE scores are accepted for review purposes only. If an offer of admission is granted, it will be contingent upon receipt of official records. Applicants may download a copy of test scores directly from the ETS website and email that to mps@earth.miami.edu. Scores download from the ETS website are self-reported and therefore considered "unofficial." We require a minimum, combined score of 297 (Verbal + Quantitative only) to be considered for our program. Applicants must also complete the Analytical Writing section of the GRE. However, the Analytical Writing score will not be calculated into your combined score, nor will it be used for tuition waiver eligibility. To learn about our merit-based partial tuition waivers, please visit our Financing Your Education page.
TOEFL/IELTS (International Students ONLY):
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit the official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL - http://www.ets.org/toefl/) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS - http://www.ielts.org/). A minimum score of 550 (paper-based test), 80 (iBT), or 6.5 for the IELTS is required for admission. Please use institution code 2919 (no department code). This institution code is for the TOEFL only; please note that the GRE institution code is different (see above). Applicants may download a copy of TOEFL test scores directly from the ETS website and email that to mps@earth.miami.edu. Scores download from the ETS website are self-reported and therefore considered "unofficial."
The exception to the TOEFL/IELTS requirement applies to international students earning a degree, or who has completed a substantial amount of coursework, at a North American University.
Visa/I-20 Requirements (International Students ONLY): If accepted to the MPS program, international applicants must submit a color copy of his/her passport, current visa (if available), and I-94 travel record (if applicable) https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home. This is required for processing or updating student Visas. Therefore, on the application, please type in your name as it appears on your passport.
MPS Summer Field Courses
- Ecology, Conservation, and Ecotourism in the Galapagos (MBE 643) - Applications accepted until May 1st
- Tropical Marine Biology: A Field Course (MBE 614) - Applications accepted until May 15th
An application to summer field course(s) consists of the following:
- Online CollegeNet application ($85.00 USD fee)
- Transcripts from all institutions in which a degree(s) was awarded (digital transcripts accepted)
- If applicable: Color copy of Passport and/or Permanent Resident card
- If applicable: Transcript evaluation for degrees from non-U.S. academic institutions. Applicants must request a course-by-course evaluation with degree equivalency and Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation. See full details in the "Transcripts" section above.
Applicants interested in enrolling in Ecology, Conservation, and Ecotourism in the Galapagos and/or Tropical Marine Biology: A Field Course (3 graduate-level credits each) must submit an application to the Master of Professional Science (MPS) program. Upon receipt of the documents listed above, your file will be submitted for review. Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts for review purposes only; send to mps@earth.miami.edu. Read more about transcripts above. Admissions are announced on a rolling basis via email until May 1st. If an offer of admission is granted, it will be contingent upon receipt of official transcripts. Applicants admitted to the course(s) are matriculated to the University of Miami's Graduate School, enrolled in the course(s), and granted a conditional-acceptance to the MPS program. The application fee will be deducted from the course fee for those who matriculate. The processing of visa documents (Ecology, Conservation, and Ecotourism in the Galapagos) will be performed by International Outreach Initiative (IOI). Summer course inquires should be directed to course instructor and MPS Director, Dr. Evan D'Alessandro Edalessandro@earth.miami.edu +1 (305) 421-4611. Conditional summer acceptance limits enrollment to Ecology, Conservation, and Ecotourism in the Galapagos and/or Tropical Marine Biology: A Field Course only. To be considered for full-admission to the MPS program, please submit the required documents listed at the top of the page for Fall & Spring admissions.
Master of Professional Science (MPS) mailing address:
University of Miami
Rosenstiel School Campus, MPS Office, Room S/A 132
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149
Phone: (305) 421-4340
Fax: (305) 421-4246
E-Mail: mps@earth.miami.edu
