Biology, M.S

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Biology faculty members are actively engaged in a wide variety of research endeavors. Research efforts are concentrated in the following specific areas: applied and environmental microbiology (AEM), cellular and molecular biology and physiology (CMBP), molecular genetics and biochemistry (MGB), and neurobiology and behavior (NB&B).

Graduate research assistantships and teaching assistantships in the department are available to qualified students admitted to the graduate program. In addition, students may also qualify for support from grants and contracts in connection with their research programs.

The Department of Biology accepts applications for all semesters. In order to be considered for graduate assistantships, applicants must have all application materials to the department by the posted deadline. Foreign applicants should allow at least two months for processing of their application materials.

Applicants may obtain additional information about the Department of Biology or specific disciplines by contacting the Graduate Coordinator, Larialmy Allen, at the addresses above.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Biology has the following requirement. Applicants must complete and submit the Supplemental Application form for Biological Sciences to the Biology Department.

Degree Requirements

Students may choose between two degree options. The non-thesis option emphasizes coursework and the thesis option emphasizes research. However, all students enter under the non-thesis track. Transfer to the thesis option requires the approval of a thesis proposal by a three-member faculty committee that includes the thesis adviser.

In addition to the general degree plan, there are six discipline specific concentrations: applied and environmental microbiology (AEM), cellular and molecular biology and physiology (CMBP), medical science (MBMS), molecular genetics and biochemistry (MGB), neurobiology and behavior (NB&B), bioinformatics, and biotechnology. Students wishing to concentrate in AEM, MBMS, or Biotechnology must apply directly to those programs.

All entering M.S. students should obtain a copy of the departmental M.S. Policy Document. The document is available on the biology website or in the Graduate Coordinator’s office.

Non-Thesis Option (40 Hours)

Forty hours of classroom coursework, to be selected from 6000 and 8000-level courses, must include:
- One course in biochemistry. This requirement may be waived if the student has taken and successfully completed an equivalent undergraduate course with a grade of B or higher.
- Two hours of Seminar (BIOL 6960 /BIOL 6970 or BIOL 8700 ). Students may take one BIOL 6960 /BIOL 6970 and one 2 hour section of BIOL 8700 or two 2 hour sections of BIOL 8700 . Each 2 hour section is equivalent to one credit hour.
The successful completion of a laboratory or literature-based research paper. In order to satisfy this requirement, the student must select a major professor and enroll in BIOL 8888 , Non-Thesis MS Research. A maximum of four credit hours of BIOL 8888 may be counted toward the 40-hour course requirement.

Thesis Option (40 Hours)

Twenty-six hours of classroom coursework, selected from 6000 and 8000-level courses, must include:
- One course in biochemistry. This requirement may be waived if the student has taken and successfully completed an equivalent undergraduate course with a grade of B or higher.
- Two hours of Seminar (/ or ). Students may take one / and one 2 hour section of or two 2 hour sections of . Each 2 hour section is equivalent to one credit hour.
An orally defended thesis proposal
Fourteen hours of , Thesis Research.
A thesis.
A final presentation, directed primarily to the defense of the thesis.

Biology, M.S

Additional Admission Requirements

Degree Requirements

Non-Thesis Option (40 Hours)

Thesis Option (40 Hours)

Concentration Requirements