Mar 29, 2024  
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology M.S.


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Master of Science (M.S.) Degree


Admission Requirements


In addition to University requirements for admission, the applicant must:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree in biology, in environmental science or in a related field from an accredited institution.
  • Submit a satisfactory score from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). NOTE: MS in Environmental Science program no longer requires the GRE for admissions.
  • Complete all requirements for admissions to the Graduate School before the end of the first semester of graduate course work. (See “Admission to Graduate School ”)
  • Have an overall grade point average of a minimum of 2.6 or a minimum 2.85 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

Admission may be granted for students with less than the minimum grade point average or test scores following a conditional period of 12-15 hours of enrollment in graduate work with no grade below a “B.” Students with undergraduate degrees in fields other than biology or environmental science may be required to complete specific leveling courses.

In addition to meeting the above-mentioned admission requirements, international students desiring to pursue the Master of Science degree in biology or environmental science must score a minimum of 550 paper based, or 213 computer based, or 79 internet based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam or a minimum score of 6.0 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) academic test.

Major in Biology


(Major Code: 5102)

The Department of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences offers students a master of science degree in biology. Department faculty provide opportunities for research (see below) which lead to a degree with thesis. A research-thesis program is recommended for those students planning to continue their education to the doctorate level or for students seeking a career that requires research training in biology. A non-thesis degree program is also available.

Research Concentration Areas


  • Arthropod Systematics and Biodiversity
  • Ichthyology
  • Herpetology
  • Ornithology
  • Mammalogy
  • Paleontology
  • Ecology
  • Wildlife Biology & Conservation Biology
  • Genetics (Conservation, Microbial, and Crops)
  • Microbiology
  • Cell and Molecular Biology
  • Molecular Cytogenetics
  • Physiology
  • Aerobiology and Allergy

General Requirements


Thesis Program


Thirty hours of graduate credit with the following restrictions:

  • Not less than 15 hours credit from 6000-level and above courses to include BIOL 6301  and BIOL 6302  (Thesis).
  • Not less than 18 hours credit from formal biology courses of which nine must be 6000 level (excluding BIOL 6301  and BIOL 6302 ).
  • Not more than 12 hours credit by transfer.

Non-Thesis Program


Thirty-six hours of graduate credit with the following restrictions:

  • Not less than 18 hours credit from formal biology courses of which 15 must be 6000 level (excluding BIOL 6395  and BIOL 6397 ).
  • Not more than 15 hours of credit by transfer.
  • Not more than six hours credit from BIOL 6395  and BIOL 6397 .

Financial Assistance


Graduate assistantships and selected scholarships are available for graduate students.

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