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Graduate Application

Department of Biomedical Informatics
Application materials for admission to the biomedical informatics program are sent out by ASU’s Graduate College Graduate Admissions office. Please see below for application deadlines, forms, financial aid and frequently asked questions.

Deadline: Fall 2010 Admission
Our deadline date for all application materials to be submitted is: Jan. 15, 2010. While it is permissible for students to submit materials after this deadline, it is not recommended as preference will be given to those with completed applications on January 15, 2010.

Please note: International applicants may submit required materials after the deadline but no later than the hard deadline, Feb. 15, 2010 in order to process student visas. Admission for domestic students will be reviewed on a rolling basis through the spring.

Admission for the Department of Biomedical Informatics is very competitive. It is strongly recommended that all parts of the application be strong and complete. Please plan well in advance of the deadlines in order to receive full consideration for financial assistance from the department.

 

Application Forms

All applicants must apply online. At any point, if you have a question regarding application materials, please visit the Graduate College Web site.

U.S. Residents:

• Application for Admission (apply online) This includes submitting a resume/CV and a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose is a two-page document (single spaced) outlining the reason you have chosen the field of biomedical informatics, your long term goals and why you have chosen to study at ASU’s Department of Biomedical Informatics.
• One set of official transcripts from every college and university attended, unless the student graduated from ASU.
• Official GRE test scores or any other graduate-level entry exam (for example, the MCAT).
• Letters of Recommendation Form - Word or PDF (three letters of recommendation required).

International Applicants:

• Application for Admission (apply online) This includes submitting a resume/CV and a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose is a two-page document outlining the reason you have chosen the field of biomedical informatics, your long term goals and why you have chosen to study at ASU’s Department of Biomedical Informatics.
• Academic Credentials (in English or original language document with an English translation). If you have attended a U.S. institution, one set of official transcripts from every college and university attended, unless you graduated from ASU.
• Official GRE test scores or any other graduate-level entry exam (for example, the MCAT).
• Official TOEFL score (only required for those who did not graduate with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution).
• Letters of Recommendation Form - Word or PDF (three letters of recommendation required).

International students can find additional information on the admission materials required by visiting the Graduate College Web site.

Mail to:

Mail to:
Graduate College
Arizona State University
Administration B-Wing, Room 170
P.O. Box 871003
Tempe, AZ 85287-1003

Please include your document reference number on all materials you send. No application will be evaluated until all documents have been received.

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Application Status Inquiries

The Department of Biomedical Informatics CANNOT notify students over the phone or through email about the status of their application. Once a decision is reached by the Biomedical Informatics Graduate Admissions Committee, those decisions are forwarded to the Graduate College and the Graduate College will communicate, in writing, to the student, the status of their application admission or denial.

Please contact the Department of Biomedical Informatics if you have questions if your admissions file is complete. All other inquiries on admissions status can be directed to the Graduate College.

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Financial Aid

Research assistantships are available. Annual stipends (nine-month contract) are approximately $12,000. The research assistantship will also cover tuition and health insurance costs for those working 20 hours per week. Please note that financial aid is only awarded to students after they are officially admitted to the graduate program.

In order to obtain a research assistantship, please contact the individual faculty member in the areas of research that match your research interests. A listing of the faculty and their research interests are available on the BMI website at bmi.asu.edu

If you have additional financial aid questions, please contact the Student Financial Assistance office directly at:

Student Financial Assistance
Arizona State University
P.O. Box 870412
Tempe, AZ 85287-0412
480-965-3355 (general questions)
480-965-4845 (scholarships)
http://students.asu.edu/financialaid

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Summary Checklist of the Admission Process

Use the Graduate Studies checklist when preparing your application.

The Graduate College admission department receives a number of inquires each day and as a result they have developed a comprehensive online Prospective Student Support Center. Your admission questions or concerns can be addressed in this center. If you can’t find the answer to your admission questions, you will be able to contact the admission staff directly by completing an online submission form or by calling 480-965-6113.

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Application Status Inquiries

The Department of Biomedical Informatics CANNOT notify students over the phone or through email about the status of their application. Once a decision is reached by the Biomedical Informatics Graduate Admissions Committee, those decisions are forwarded to the Graduate College and the Graduate College will communicate, in writing, to the student, the status of their application admission.

Please contact the Department of Biomedical Informatics if you have questions regarding the completion of your admission’s file. All other inquiries on admissions status can be directed to the Graduate College.

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Questions and Answers:

1. What are the deficiency course requirements to be admitted to the MS or PhD programs in Biomedical Informatics program?
All graduates of the program must have basic competencies in general biology, statistics and computer programming. We recommend that prospective students lacking skills in computer programming enroll in ASU’s CSE 110; biology, take BIO 188 or statistics, STP 226 to obtain these competencies. We encourage students to take these courses prior to the start of their studies. Exceptionally well-qualified applicants who lack basic competencies in general biology, statistics, or computer programming and who are not able to complete the courses described prior to the start of their BMI studies may be permitted to take a deficiency course during their first semester in the program.

2. Do I have to submit a GRE score or can it be from another graduate level exam?
Yes. All students must submit either a GRE score or another relevant graduate level entry exam, which includes the MCAT. OFFICIAL scores must be sent to the Graduate College.

3. What is the minimum score you will accept for the TOEFL?
The TOEFL requirement is 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 80 (iBT).

4. Can I apply after the deadline dates?
Yes, only if you are a domestic student. No if you are an international student. But note that domestic students who submit an application after deadline reduce their chances for review. To emphasize, international students must apply before February 15th. This is hard deadline with no exceptions.

5. Does my admittance assure me financial support?
No. Student funding is available for PhD students in their first year of study. All other students are encouraged to apply for financial assistantships and we try to make financial assistance available to as many students as we can Financial assistance is in the form of paid research assistantship that carries a requirement for 20 hours per week of work. The BMI faculty evaluates each applicant for financial assistance and determines who gets awards. Students are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members early in the application process if they plan to seek research assistantships.

6. Can I send unofficial documentation or does it have to be official documentation?
No. The Graduate College will only accept OFFICIAL documents. Please do not send anything unofficial to the Graduate College, for it risks the possibility of delaying your application.

7. Will you evaluate my resume, transcript, or other application materials and tell me if I am qualified for admission?
No. We do not pre-evaluate student credentials. Students are encouraged to talk with our faculty to discuss their research interests and education/professional background and then apply for admission. The Biomedical Informatics Graduate Admissions committee will evaluate each application file and determine if they are eligible for the program or not. The Graduate College makes the final determination on acceptance.

8. How long will it take me to graduate?
It is variable. Students typically finish their master’s degree in 2 years. Ph.D. students are expected to finish the course work and research to obtain their Ph.D. degree in 4-6 years.

9. Can I still work and be a BMI student?
It is expected that all BMI students remain in full time status (9 credit hours per semester). We give top priority for admission to students who are able to be dedicated to their studies at BMI. We discourage students from working while pursuing a degree as it can detract from completion of important coursework and involvement in projects that permit other degree requirements to be fulfilled. Students who work are not eligible for financial.

10. If I take classes from another university, how many of them can I transfer to ASU?
A Ph.D. student can petition to transfer a maximum of thirty credit hours from an earned Master’s degree from any accredited institution. A M.S. student may petition to transfer a maximum of nine graduate credit hours from another accredited institution.

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