Offered by Department of Biology:

Biology
Master of Science Degree

GR MS 5116

MS in Biology = 36 hours

Option A: Thesis Option = 36 hours

• Requirements (18 hours required)
  • Take all of the following:
    • BIOL 802, Organic Evolution - 3 hours
    • BIOL 820, Introduction to Graduate Study - 3 hours
  • Take 3 hours from the following:
    • BIOL 831, Biological Research - 1-3 hours
    • Biological Research is 1-3 credits and must be taken for a total of 3 hours.
  • Take 3 hours from the following:
    • BIOL 880*, Seminar - 1 hour
    • Seminar is one credit and must be taken for a total of 3 hours.
  • Take 6 hours from the following:
    • BIOL 896, Thesis - 3-6 hours
    • Thesis is 3-6 credits and must be taken for a total of 3 hours.
• Electives (18 hours required)
• All courses counting towards the Master's Degree must be previously approved by the advisor and Graduate Program Committee to be used on the program of study.

Option B: Non-Thesis Option = 36 hours

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.

• Requirements (18 hours required)
  • Take all of the following:
    • BIOL 802, Organic Evolution - 3 hours
    • BIOL 820, Introduction to Graduate Study - 3 hours
    • BIOL 863, Biological Perspectives - 3 hours
  • Take 6 hours from the following:
    • BIOL 831, Biological Research - 1-3 hours
    • Biological Research is 1-3 credits and must be taken for a total of 6 hours.
  • Take 3 hours from the following:
    • BIOL 881, Current Issues in Biology - 1 hour
    • Current Issues is one credit and must be taken three semesters for a total of 3 hours.
• Electives (18 hours required)
• All courses counting towards the Master's Degree must be previously approved by the advisor and Graduate Program Committee to be used on the program of study.

Electives (18 hours required)

Classes with a P designation have an undergraduate counterpart. Courses are grouped according to emphasis area but can be taken in any combination at the discretion of the advisor and Graduate Program Committee.

• Physiology, Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology Courses
  • BIOL 800P, Microbiology - 4 hours
  • BIOL 801P, Principles of Immunology - 3-4 hours
  • BIOL 803P, Plant Physiology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 804P, Developmental Biology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 812, Microbial Diversity - 3 hours
  • BIOL 814, Plant Pathology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 840P, Infectious Diseases - 4 hours
  • BIOL 844, Molecular Biotechnology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 850P, Molecular Biology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 857, Human Histology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 860, Concepts of Genetics - 3 hours
  • BIOL 861P, Human Genetics - 3 hours
  • BIOL 865P, Physiology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 885P, Molecular Genetics - 3 hours
• Ecology, Evolution, Environmental, and Organismal Courses
  • BIOL 804, Evolution of Epidemics - 3 hours
  • BIOL 805P, Range and Wildlife Management - 3 hours
  • BIOL 806P, Plant Ecology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 816P, Plant Diversity and Evolution - 4 hours
  • BIOL 818P, Plant Taxonomy - 3 hours
  • BIOL 824, Principles of Ecology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 829, Ecological Anthropology - 2 hours
  • BIOL 834, Conservation Biology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 835P, Herpetology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 862P, Animal Behavior - 3 hours
  • BIOL 866, Functional Morphology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 868P, Parasitology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 870P, Insect Biology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 872P, Freshwater Biology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 873P, Ornithology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 874P, Mammalogy - 3 hours
• Tools and Application Courses
  • BIOL 809P, Biological Studies using GIS - 3 hours
  • BIOL 810P, Fire Ecology and Management in Grasslands - 1 hour
  • BIOL 811, Scientific Illustration - 3 hours
  • BIOL 821, Directed Readings - 1-3 hours
  • BIOL 822, Advances in Biology - 1-3 hours
  • BIOL 827, Biological Statistics - 3 hours
  • BIOL 830P, Special Topics in Biology - 1-3 hours
  • BIOL 852P, Techniques in Molecular Biology - 3 hours
  • BIOL 854, Biological Application of GIS - 3 hours
  • BIOL 856P, Regional Field Study - 1-4 hours
  • BIOL 863, Biological Perspectives - 3 hours (elective for thesis option students only)
  • BIOL 871P, Methods in Secondary Science Teaching - 3 hours
  • BIOL 875, Internship in Biology - 1-9 hours
  • BIOL 876, Life Science Curriculum - 3 hours
  • BIOL 884, Freshwater Management Techniques - 3 hours

See Biology Program Information and Admission Requirements for more information about the program.