Biology Program Information and Admission Requirements

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• Biology - Master of Science Degree
• BIOL Courses
• Department of Biology
• Biology Department Website

Master of Science in Biology: 36 Hours

• Option A: Thesis Option
• Option B: Non-Thesis Option (Distance Program)

Admission Requirements

All students must meet the general entrance requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.

A letter of intent must be uploaded during the application process. This letter should include the following discussion points:

1. Explain why you want to pursue a Masters degree in Biology.
2. Why do you want a M.S. degree in Biology?
3. How is it going to help you?
4. What are you doing now that relates to this degree?
5. What do you want to gain from this degree both personally and professionally?
6. What are you personal and career goals?
7. Explain why a distance program is the right choice for you

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
  • 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 Conditional Admittance: If a student is conditionally admitted, the student must complete 9 credit hours with grades of B or better in all courses to gain full admittance. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program.

Graduation Requirements

• Option A: Thesis Option Requirements
  • Course Requirements: Complete 36 hours of committee approved level coursework.
  • 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. Students are highly encouraged to take BIOL 820, Introduction to Graduate Study, during their first semester.
  • 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.

Transfer Credits

Students are allowed to transfer up to 9 hours into their degree path. These credits must fall into the following parameters:

1. All courses must be Graduate level Biology credits from an accredited institution.
2. Courses must be competed with a grade of B or better and must not have been graded as pass/fail.
3. All courses on your degree path must be completed within the given 10 year time frame.
4. Courses cannot have been used in obtaining another degree.