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Nov 10, 2024
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2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin
Biology, MS
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Admission Requirements
Prospective students seeking admission into the Master of Science degree program in Biology must first identify a professor in the student’s area of interest who agrees to serve as their primary advisor.
To identify a primary advisor, applicants should contact faculty members in the Department of Biological Sciences to ask if they have positions available in their research laboratories. Please look through the list of faculty in Biological Sciences to find potential advisors and then contact them via email (typically preferred) or phone. Prospective students should inquire about possible funding sources as well, which could include external research grants (existing or proposed) and teaching assistantships. Applicants who have identified a professor who has agreed to serve as their primary advisor before their application is evaluated will have a much greater chance of acceptance.
Applicants for the M.S. program in Biology will also be evaluated by the Department of Biological Sciences for academic qualification based upon their undergraduate academic record, letters of reference, and a statement of intent. Specific requirements include:
- A minimum of 18 undergraduate hours in the biological sciences and an undergraduate grade point of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale). Students judged to be deficient in some areas of undergraduate preparation may be assigned to complete certain undergraduate prerequisite courses.
- Three letters of reference.
- A statement of intent that includes educational objectives and career goals.
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Select one of the following:
(Associated lab, if any, required)
Research Thesis and Comprehensive Exam
Each student will be required to complete, under the advisement of a graduate faculty member, a research thesis, that will also be approved by their thesis advisory committee (consisting of at least three approved graduate faculty members). A thesis proposal must be defended in a public seminar, scheduled no later than the end of the third semester of the student’s tenure in the program, and at least one semester before the student defends the thesis. During the student’s thesis proposal defense, a Preliminary Exam of knowledge will also be administered by the student’s advisory committee. The outcome of this Exam can be: (i) pass, (ii) conditional pass with deficit, or (iii) fail. If the thesis committee identifies deficits in the student’s understanding of general biology knowledge at that time, the committee will provide guidance and make requirements of the student to address those gaps. If the student fails to adequately address concerns as determined by their advisory committee, the student will be dismissed from the program.
When the student and their faculty advisor have determined that their written thesis is adequately prepared, the student must present their work to the public and defend it to their committee. During this time, a Comprehensive Exam of knowledge of biological content will also occur, conducted by members of the student’s advisory committee. The outcome of this exam can be: (i) pass, (ii) conditional pass with deficit, or (iii) fail. If the committee’s decision is conditional pass, the student will have up to 8 weeks to remedy the identified deficits in content knowledge through methods advised by the committee. Within that period of time, the thesis committee will convene again to re-examine the student. The outcome of this retake of the Comprehensive Exam is either pass or fail. A student who fails their second attempt of the Comprehensive Exam will not be eligible for the degree and will be dismissed from the program.
Electives:
Elective graduate courses (5000 or 6000-level) in Biological Sciences or other elective courses as approved by graduate thesis committee, as needed to complete at least 33 hrs.
Total Required Hours: 33-34
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