Biology, Master of Science (M.S.)
General Requirements
Graduate students must complete a minimum of 30-36 graduate semester hours for the Master of Science degree, depending on whether a thesis or project based concentration is pursued. At least 50 percent of the course work hours must be at the 800 level. The planned program of study must consist of:
- at least 18 semester hours of biology including BIO 810 Biostatistics (3 hours), BIO 801 Scientific Literature & Writing in Biology (2 hours), BIO 800 Biology and Ethics (1 hour), and
- 12 semester hours of additional electives in biology or other courses in the natural and mathematical sciences.
A grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained; a maximum of six semester hours of course work with a grade of “C” may be applied toward degree requirements.
Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general requirements established by the Office of Graduate Education and Research for clear admission. Final acceptance of an applicant is determined by the Graduate Affairs Committee of the Department of Biological Sciences.
All applications to the Graduate School must include:
- Completed application for admission, including a statement of personal and professional objectives
- Grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or above & official transcript(s)
- Contact information for at least two academic or professional references
- Completed Departmental Experience and Essay Form
- Completed Graduate Studies Advisor Agreement Form.
All applicants must meet the general requirements established by the Graduate School for clear admission. Applicants who do not hold the minimum 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA are expected to have verbal scores of 146 or above, quantitative scores of 140 or above, and analytical writing scores of 3.0 or above on the Graduate Record Exam. Applicants should have an undergraduate major in an area of the biological sciences, and supporting courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics are recommended. Any deficiencies in a successful applicant’s undergraduate training will be specified by the Graduate Affairs Committee of the Department of Biological Sciences at the time of admission.
Prior to admission, applicants must have a faculty member from the Department of Biological Sciences agree to serve as their advisor should they be accepted to the program. Applicants should contact faculty with similar research interests to determine if they are accepting new students and would be willing to serve as their advisor. Once an advisor has been identified, applicants and/or advisors should inform the Graduate Coordinator. Applications will not be considered complete without the Graduate Studies Advisor Agreement Form.
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 26.0101
Courses equivalent to BIO 111 Cell and Molecular Biology, BIO 112 Ecology and Evolution, BIO 315 Genetics,BIO 316 Ecology, BIO 348 Vertebrate Physiology, or CSC 190 Object- Oriented Programming I may be required as prerequisites.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Core | ||
| BIO 800 | Biology and Ethics | 1 |
| BIO 801 | Scientific Literature & Writing in Biology | 2 |
| BIO 810 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Choose from one of the following concentration: | 24 | |
| Thesis Based Concentration | ||
| Thesis Research | ||
Choose from 18 hours of approved electives at the graduate level (BIO, ENV, GEO, GLY, MAT, PHY, STA, WLD) | ||
| Project-Based Concentration | ||
| Biological Sciences Capstone | ||
Choose from 21 hours of approved electives at the graduate level (BIO, ENV, GEO, GLY, MAT, PHY, STA, WLD) | ||
| Exit Requirements | ||
| GRD 857A | MS Bio 1st Written Comp Exam | 0 |
| GRD 858A | MS Bio Oral Exam | 0 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Exit Requirements
All students must demonstrate their knowledge of biology by successfully passing a written or oral examination (GRD 857A MS Bio 1st Written Comp Exam) and by successfully defending their thesis (or, if pursuing the project based concentration, their BIO 880 Biological Sciences Capstone) in an oral examination (GRD 858A MS Bio Oral Exam). The committee for a student shall consist of the faculty member who has agreed to serve as the student’s advisor and at least two members of the department’s Graduate faculty.
Thesis-Based Concentration
Six semester hours of Thesis Research (BIO 891 Thesis Research) are required in this concentration. A thesis focused on the student’s research must be submitted. Credit will not be given for BIO 880 Biological Sciences Capstone or BIO 881 Independent Study in this concentration.
Project-Based Concentration
Three semester hours of BIO 880 Biological Sciences Capstone are required in this concentration. Credit will not be given for BIO 891 Thesis Research in this concentration.