Biology, Master of Science
Offered by Department of Biology
Program Information and Admission Requirements
Master of Science in Biology
- Option A: Thesis Option (on-campus program)
- Option B: Non-Thesis Option (online program)
Admission Requirements
All students must meet the general entrance requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach.
A letter of intent outlining professional goals must be uploaded during the application process. The letter should be a concise essay concerning career goals and identification of the means by which the student proposes to achieve these goals. Accomplishments toward these goals should be included, but personal information should not be included in this letter.
Students interested in a thesis option must first contact the Graduate Program Committee Chair and receive support from a faculty member for acceptance into the program.
Admission to a Master's degree program in Biology is based on consideration of the following:
- Both Option A and Option B
- GPA: Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75, on a 4.00 scale.
- Undergraduate Coursework Requirements: Applicants must either have a BA or BS in Biology or related discipline that includes a minimum of 24 hours of undergraduate Biology coursework.
- Policy on Conditional Admittance: If below the minimum GPA of 2.75, applicants have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential for success in the graduate program one of two ways:
i) take the GRE and earn a Verbal and Quantitative score greater than 290
ii) demonstrate proficiency in upper-level undergraduate Biology courses by earning a B or better in 6 credit hours (semester system) of upper division (junior and senior level) natural science coursework
Graduation Requirements
Option A: Thesis Option Requirements (on-campus program)
- Course Requirements: Complete 36 credit hours of committee approved level coursework.
- Grade Point Average: A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to graduate. Grades of C and above are acceptable but grades of C- and below are unacceptable.
- Research Requirement:
Complete thesis on committee approved original research.
Complete an oral defense of the thesis before the degree will be granted. (A preliminary copy of the thesis is to be submitted to the Graduate Dean one month prior to the expected date of graduation.)
Option B: Non-Thesis Option Requirements - (online program)
- Course Requirements: Complete 30 credit hours of committee approved level coursework. Students are highly encouraged to take BIOL 848, Scientific Literacy and Communication, during their first 9 credit hours of graduate work in Biology.
- Grade Point Average: A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to graduate. Grades of C and above are acceptable but grades of C- and below are unacceptable.
- Final Examination: A satisfactory score must be received on the comprehensive examination, taken during the final session of enrollment, before the degree will be granted.
This program is offered on campus and online.
Option A: Thesis Option (On-Campus Program)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| BIOL 802 | Organic Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 831 | Biological Research 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 848 | Scientific Literacy and Communication 5 | 3 |
| BIOL 880 | Seminar in Graduate Studies 2 | 3 |
| BIOL 896 | Thesis 3 | 6 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 18 credit hours of graduate-level Biology courses 4 | 18 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Option B: Non-Thesis Option (Online Program)
In lieu of a defense of thesis, students completing Option B will be required to pass a written comprehensive examination covering the major areas of the biological sciences during their last term of enrollment.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| BIOL 802 | Organic Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 848 | Scientific Literacy and Communication 5 | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Concepts of Biological Statistics | ||
or BIOL 849 | Advanced Biological Statistics | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 21 credit hours of graduate-level Biology courses 4 | 21 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- 1
BIOL 831 is 1-3 credit hours and must be taken for a total of 3 credit hours.
- 2
BIOL 880 is a one credit hour course. Students are required to complete three, one-hour seminar courses totaling 3 credit seminar hours within the area of Biology.
- 3
Thesis is 1-6 credit hours and must be taken for a total of 6 credit hours.
- 4
As approved by the student's graduate advisor, all graduate level Biology courses (BIOL) will fulfill the elective requirements for the degree. This includes courses with a P designation (have an undergraduate counterpart). Principles of Biochemistry (CHEM 855) will also apply towards the elective requirement for this degree.
- 5
Students are highly encouraged to take Scientific Literacy and Communication (BIOL 848) during their first 9 credit hours of graduate work.