How to Apply
Complete and submit an application for graduate studies (MS or Ph.D.) that is available at http://grad.uark.edu/recruit/applying.html. Along with the Graduate School application and the documents required by the Graduate School (Transcripts, TOEFL, etc.) include: (1) a letter that describes who you are, your professional career goals and the reasons why you want to study for a Food Science graduate degree; (2) GRE scores and (3) two letters of recommendation.
Application Deadline
Applications may be submitted any time throughout the year and they will be reviewed soon after all of the required materials are received. Applications should be submitted no less than two months prior to the beginning of a semester to allow sufficient time for application processing.
The Review Process
The Graduate School will review applications to determine qualifications based on the Graduate School requirements. Applications are then forwarded to the Department of Food Science for review by the Graduate Program Coordinator and faculty to determine acceptance based on departmental requirements and to determine the appropriate faculty advisor.
Department of Food Science Admission Requirements and Procedures
Applicants for graduate studies must meet entry requirements of the Graduate School and the Department of Food Science. The Graduate School requirements for admission are available in the University of Arkansas Graduate School Catalog and the Graduate School web-site, http://grad.uark.edu/recruit/applying.html. In addition to the Graduate School requirements, applicants must also meet Department of Food Science requirements to be admitted to the Food Science graduate degree program.
Master of Science Program
To be considered for regular admission, applicants must have a B.S. degree from an accredited institution with a grade-point average (GPA) of no less than 3.00, a GRE score (verbal + quantitative) of no less than 1,000 with a minimum of 400 for the verbal, 500 for the quantitative, and 4.0 for the writing test, suitable preparation in food science or related areas, and be acceptable to the department. International students must also have a TOEFL score of no less than 92 (internet-based)/580 (paper) and no less than 4.5 on the TWE score of the TOEFL test.
Applicants with lower than the required GPA or GRE scores may be admitted conditionally into the M.S. degree program. Conditionally accepted students must achieve a GPA of at least 3.0 for the first 12 hours of graduate coursework to achieve regular student status.
Doctor of Philosophy Program
Applicants with a M.S. research thesis degree or B.S. degree in Food Science or related sciences from an accredited institution may be accepted into the interdepartmental doctoral Food Science program. Applicants with a research thesis M.S. degree should have an MSGPA of no less than 3.5. Students with a B.S. degree will be considered for the Ph.D. program if their BSGPA is no less than 3.65 and if they have had research experience with publishable research results. All applicants to the Ph.D. program (B.S. and M.S.) should have a GRE score (verbal + quantitative) of no less than 1,100 with a minimum of 500 for the verbal, 600 for the quantitative, and 4.0 for the writing test, suitable preparation for the food science graduate program, and be acceptable to the department. International applicants are required to have a TOEFL score of no less than 92 (internet-based)/580 (paper), no less than 4.5 on the TWE score of the TOEFL test.
Financial Support
Research Assistantships
Food Science graduate assistantships are stipends granted on a competitive basis determined by the student’s scholastic record, area of interest, recommendations and evaluation by the faculty. Funding for assistantships is from State of Arkansas funds allocated to the Department or from grants/contracts obtained by individual faculty members. The availability and source of funds determines the number and type of assistantships that can be awarded.
Students must be regularly admitted to the FDSC graduate degree program before being considered for an assistantship. Graduate assistantships are normally granted for 25% or 50% appointments, depending on the applicant’s qualifications and availability of funds. Quarter-time assistantships provide a stipend, but the student must pay in-state tuition and fees. Half-time assistantships include payment of tuition and a stipend.
For each assistantship appointment, students must perform assigned duties, demonstrate satisfactory progress and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to continue to receive assistantship support. Quarter-time and half-time assistantship support will not exceed two years for M.S. students or three years or four years for Ph.D. students who entered the program with a M.S degree or a B.S. degree, respectively.
Teaching Assistantship
In recent years, funding for teaching assistantships has not been available although graduate students on research assistantships may be requested to assist with teaching departmental courses. Duties may include organization and presentation of both lectures and labs. It is strongly encouraged that graduate students obtain teaching experience during their tenure in the FDSC department, particularly those seeking a Ph.D. degree. Students should participate with teaching even though they may not be supported by a teaching assistantship.
Students whose native language is not English must attain an acceptable score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or on the SPEAK test in order to be eligible for teaching responsibilities. The score must be on file with the Graduate School. The SPEAK test is administered through the University of Arkansas.
Fellowships and Other Financial Support
Other support may be available from competitive fellowships provided by companies and national organizations. Some fellowships or other financial assistance for outstanding students are available from the Graduate School, and applications should be completed with the assistance of the Thesis or Dissertation Director. Graduate scholarships are also offered by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and American Association of Cereal Chemistry (AACC) and other professional organizations on a nationally and regionally competitive basis. Graduate students are encouraged to apply to the funding organizations for support.
In addition, for U.S. citizens and permanent residents interested in doctorate degrees and with outstanding academic credentials, the University of Arkansas has outstanding fellowships (Distinguished doctoral fellowships and Doctoral academy Fellowships). Details can be obtained from the following site http://grad.uark.edu/recruit/funding/fellowships.html.