Biology Program Information and Admission Requirements
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Master of Science in Biology: 36 Hours
- Option A: Thesis Option
- Option B: Non-Thesis Option (Distance Program)
All students must meet the general entrance requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
Admission to a Master's degree program in Biology is based on consideration of the following:
- Admission Requirements for both Option A and Option B
- GRE
- Prospective students are required to take the general portion of the GRE if their undergraduate GPA is less than 2.75 on a 4.00
scale. In addition, students wishing to be considered for a teaching or research assistantship must take the GRE
- Undergraduate Coursework Requirements
- The candidate for admission must have a B.S. or B.A. degree and have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours in biology. A
minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale is required in the biology coursework
- Policy on Deficiencies
- Admission may be contingent upon students making up undergraduate deficiencies by taking appropriate course(s) for undergraduate
credit or by enrolling in graduate level course(s) in that subject area(s). The necessary coursework to resolve any deficiencies will
be determined by the Graduate Committee. Students with deficiencies will be required to earn at least a C grade in all courses taken
to resolve deficiencies. Based on the decision of the graduate committee chairperson, graduate level classes may be required to make up
deficiencies and can be counted toward the 18 elective hours in the degree, not to exceed six graduate credit hours total.
All deficiencies must be resolved before the student applies for candidacy, which must come prior to registration
for the last 12 semester hours required for graduation.
- Option A: Thesis Option Requirements
- Course Requirements
- Complete 36 hours of committee approved level coursework. (A minimum of eighteen hours must be non-P courses.)
- Grade Point Average
- A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to graduate. A "B" average is required in all courses counting towards the Master's degree,
and no more than two C's may be used.
- 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 - (Distance Program)
- Course Requirements
- Complete 36 hours of committee approved level coursework. (A minimum of eighteen hours must be non-P courses.)
- Grade Point Average
- A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to graduate. A "B" average is required in all courses counting towards the Master's degree,
and no more than two C's may be used.
- 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.
