Offered by Department of Biology

Biology
Master of Science Degree

This program is offered on campus and online.

MS in Biology = 36 hours

1. Option A: Thesis Option (36 hours)
   1. Requirements (18 hours required)
      • Take all of the following:
        • BIOL 802, Organic Evolution - 3 hours
        • BIOL 820, Introduction to Graduate Study - 3 hours
        • BIOL 831, Biological Research - 3 hours
        • Biological Research is 1-3 credits and must be taken for a total of 3 hours.
        • BIOL 880, Seminar - 3 hours
        • Seminar is one credit and must be taken for a total of 3 hours.
        • BIOL 896, Thesis - 6 hours
        • Thesis is 1-6 credits and must be taken for a total of 6 hours.
   2. Electives (18 hours required)
      • As approved by the student's graduate advisor, all graduate level Biology courses (BIOL) will fulfill the elective requirements for the degree. This includes courses with a P designation (have an undergraduate counterpart).
2. 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.
   1. Requirements (18 hours required)
      • Take all of the following:
        • BIOL 802, Organic Evolution - 3 hours
        • BIOL 820, Introduction to Graduate Study - 3 hours
        • Students are highly encouraged to take Introduction to Graduate Study during their first 9 hours of graduate work.
        • BIOL 831A-F, Biological Research - 6 hours
        • Biological Research is a series of six 1-credit hour classes.
        • BIOL 881, Current Issues in Biology - 3 hours
        • Current Issues is one credit and must be taken three separate semesters for a total of 3 hours.*
      • Take one of the following:
        • BIOL 827, Biological Statistics - 3 hours
        • BIOL 863, Biological Perspectives - 3 hours
   2. Electives (18 hours required)
      • As approved by the student's graduate advisor, all graduate level Biology courses (BIOL) will fulfill the elective requirements for the degree. This includes courses with a P designation (have an undergraduate counterpart). Students in the non-thesis program may still take BIOL 827 or BIOL 863 as an elective.

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

* Clarified statement after print version produced.