Admission requirements

Students seeking admission to the graduate program in the Biological Sciences must, under normal circumstances, meet the basic requirements of Graduate Studies specified on page 22. In addition, students must make a satisfactory score on the GRE, taken no later than the completion of their first semester of graduate training, before acceptance into candidacy for the degree. Also, two letters of recommendation from the Biology faculty in the student's undergraduate institution are required with the application for admission. Based on review of a student's undergraduate transcript, the Department of Biological Sciences may require completion of undergraduate stem courses as conditions for admission.

Master of Arts, Plan I. This degree is designed for those students who wish to continue at the graduate level any minor program they may have begun as an undergraduate. Although this degree program is well suited for many training objectives, it is most often recommended for secondary teachers who wish to prepare in two fields. This plan requires 38 semester hours of graduate credit in residence, 29 of which must be in courses numbered 500 and above. Twenty-six hours are taken in Biology, including BIO 510, 511. A minor of 12 semester hours of graduate credit is required in a field that logically supports the major. A scholarly paper is required.

Master of Arts, Plan II. This degree program is designed for those students who elect all of their courses from those offered in the Biology program unless otherwise authorized by the Graduate Advisor. Although this degree program is well suited for many training objectives, it is most often recommended for secondary teachers who wish to enhance their education in the Biological Sciences. This plan requires 38 semester hours of graduate credit within the academic program, 29 of which must be 500 or above. BIO 510 and 511 are included in the 38 hours. A scholarly paper is required.

Master of Science, Plan I. Not available in Biology.

Master of Science, Plan II. This degree program is designed for those students who elect all of their courses from those offered in the Biology program unless otherwise authorized by the Graduate Advisor and the faculty research advisor. Students with this degree are prepared for positions as professional biologists in the public or private sector, teaching at the college level or to begin doctoral programs in the biological sciences. This is a research-oriented degree requiring a thesis. This plan requires 38 semester hours of graduate credit, 29 of which must be in courses numbered 500 or above. Included in the 38 hours are BIO 510 and 511 (seminars), BIO 698 and 699 (6 hours of thesis), 18 hours of Biology course and a minor of 12 hours in a field that supports the major.

Master of Science, Plan III. This degree is designed for those students who wish to continue at the graduate level any minor program they may have begun as an undergraduate. Students with this degree are prepared for positions as professional biologists in the public or private sector, teaching at the college level or to begin doctoral programs in the biological sciences. This is a research-oriented degree requiring a thesis. This plan requires 38 semester hours of graduate credit, 29 of which must be in courses numbered 500 or above. Included in the 38 hours are BIO 510 and 511 (seminars), BIO 698 and 699 (6 hours of thesis),

Master of Education, Plan II. This degree program is designed to provide additional study in a teaching field for the professional secondary school teacher and is initiated in the College of Education and Applied Science. Students may elect from 12 to 24 semester hours in biology on this 36-semester-hour program. A thesis is not required. Course requirements are adjusted to meet individual student needs by the advisor and department chair. Further information is provided in this catalogue under Teacher Education and Professional Certification Programs.

In order to receive the MA or MS degree, all graduate students are required to pass a comprehensive examination based on their course work. The nature of this examination, which may be written and/or oral, will be determined by the faculty. For MA degrees, a scholarly paper is prepared in consultation with the student's faculty advisor. For MS degrees, students complete a thesis research project under supervision of the student's thesis advisor, and present the thesis to the faculty in seminar format (for credit in BIO 511). Also, the thesis must be defended before the student's thesis committee.