Graduate Admission
Build a strong career path in biology with hands-on, advanced research that will prepare you for professional studies, doctoral work, or employment in a variety of fields, including medicine, biotech, conservation, and education. Choose either a Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA) in Biology, with a concentration in marine and freshwater biology or cell and molecular biology. Our faculty’s research interests range from cell and developmental biology to parasitology, endocrinology, and the scholarship of teaching, so you can individualize your training depending on your interests.
Our Biology Seminar Series brings noted scientists to Hofstra for in-depth discussions of their work. You will have opportunities to ask questions and to meet these accomplished scholars.
Visit the Hofstra campus or connect with the graduate admission team. We will answer your questions and put you in touch with program faculty or degree candidates to learn more. Contact us at graduateadmission@hofstra.edu or call 516-463-4723.
MS and MA in Biology Programs
To be considered for the Biology graduate programs, you must have a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) in biology or a closely related discipline and have completed courses in:
Start your application online where you can upload the following documents:
If you are a current Hofstra student interested in pursuing the undergraduate/graduate dual-degree program, please contact your academic advisor. Direct any additional questions to graduateadmission@hofstra.edu.
International students: Please review additional admission requirements.
MS in Biology
An MS in Biology is awarded to students who successfully complete 30 semester hours of coursework. Visit the program page to learn more.
MA in Biology
An MA in Biology is awarded to students who successfully complete 33 semester hours of coursework. Visit the program page to learn more.
Dr. Jason D. Williams, Professor, studies the biology of marine invertebrates, particularly the symbioses between hermit crabs and commensal polychaete worms, barnacles and parasitic isopods. His investigations involve taxonomic work to expand our knowledge of the biodiversity of these groups and research to fill in the wide gaps in our understanding of their natural history.
Javier Izquierdo, PhD, assistant professor of biology, is a microbiologist on a mission - to understand and improve local plant health and produce sustainable biofuels from agricultural wastes. His work is focused on exploring the metabolic diversity and application of microbial processes. He uses cross-disciplinary approaches that incorporate microbiological, ecological, evolutionary, molecular and genomic techniques to understand the contributions of plant microbiomes to the health of their host and discover new microbial processes for the sustainable production of biofuels and bioproducts.
Nicholas Santangelo, assistant professor of biology, earned his PhD from Lehigh University. The aim of his research is to understand behavior from an environmental and evolutionary perspective, and a physiological hormonal perspective. With a focus on fish, the specific behaviors he focuses on include courtship, breeding, aggression, and parental care in both the laboratory and field. In addition, Dr. Santangelo is interested in understanding organisms in their natural environment and to aid ongoing conservation efforts.