Graduate Program Overview
The Department of Biological Sciences located in the College of Arts and Sciences, offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology, with the option of a Neuroscience track or a minor in Business Administration. The M.S. in Biology program trains students in basic research and teaching for careers in academic institutions or the biotechnology industry. This program also provides a solid foundation for entry into Ph.D. programs. Evening and weekend classes are available.
In addition to the general University and College requirements for the degree, the Department of Biological Science requires the candidate to do the following:
Plan A - With Thesis
1. Complete a total of 31 credits, as follows:
11 credits:
BIOL 6113
| Biostatistics
| |
BIOL 8201
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students I
| |
BIOL 8202
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students II
| |
BIOL 8601-8605
| Research for Master’s Thesis I-V (Two thesis courses are required for the degree. However, the student may register for more than two, as needed.)
| |
20 credits in graduate biology courses*; at least half of these must have a laboratory component.
2. Make an oral presentation of thesis to Graduate Biology Seminar
3. Submit an acceptable thesis based on laboratory research three months before the expected degree completion date with an oral defense two weeks before the expected degree completion date.
Plan B - Without Thesis
1. Complete a total of 34 credits, as follows:
5 credits:
BIOL 6113
| Biostatistics
| |
BIOL 8201
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students I | |
BIOL 8202
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students II | |
1 credit from any Selected Topics course
28 credits in graduate biology courses*; at least half of these must have laboratory component.
2. Prepare a library research paper in conjunction with Selected Topics course. Selected Topics must be taken two semesters before expected completion of degree. Oral presentation of research results is to be made during the last semester in the Graduate Biology Seminar.
Plan C - Without Thesis (Minor in Business Administration)
1. Complete a total of 34 credits, as follows:
5 credits:
BIOL 6113
| Biostatistics | |
BIOL 8201
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students I | |
BIOL 8201
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students II | |
1 credit from any Selected Topics course
13 credits in graduate biology courses*; at least half of these must have a laboratory component.
15 credits from the following courses:
BMIS 6701
| Management Information systems | |
BLAW 6301
| Legal and Social Environment of Business | |
BACC 6101
| Financial Accounting | |
BMKT 6603
| Marketing Strategies | |
BMGT 6503
| Management and Organizational Behavior | |
ECON 6402
| The National Economy | |
2. Prepare a library research paper in conjunction with Selected Topics course. Selected Topics must be taken two semesters before expected completion of degree. Oral presentation of research results is to be made during the last semester in the Graduate Biology Seminar.
Plan D and E listed under Microbiology.
Plan F - Research Thesis
1. Complete 31 credits from the following groups of courses:
Group 1 - Core Requirements (14 credits)
BIOL 6115
| Fundamentals of Neuroscience | 3 |
BIOL 6216
| Recombinant DNA Technology Lab | 3 |
BIOL 6231
| Molecular Biology | 3 |
BIOL 6355
| Methods in Neuroscience | 3 |
BIOL 8201
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students I | 1 |
BIOL 8202
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students II | 1 |
Group II - Electives (to be selected from the following to complete 11 credits):
BIOL 6113
| Biostatistics | 3 |
BIOL 6233
| Metabolic Pathways | 3 |
BIOL 6242
| Immunology | 3 |
BIOL 6243
| Immunology Lab | 2 |
BIOL 6323
| Vertebrate Endocrinology | 3 |
BIOL 6325
| Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
BIOL 6326
| Vertebrate Physiology | 4 |
BIOL 6333
| Cell Culture Techniques | 3 |
BIOL 6334
| Developmental Biology | 3 |
BIOL 6369
| Cancer Biology | 3 |
BIOL 6431
| Microbial Genetics | 3 |
BIOL 7226
| Signal Transduction | 3 |
BIOL 7228
| Fundamentals of Toxicology | 3 |
BIOL 7244
| Cellular Immunology | 3 |
BIOL 7291
| Selected Topics in Molecular Biology | 1 |
BIOL 7292
| Selected Topics in Immunology
| 1 |
BIOL 7492
| Selected Topics in Virology
| 1 |
BIOL 7493
| Selected Topics in Neuroscience
| 1 |
2. Group III - Thesis (6 credits)
BIOL 8601-8605
| Research for Master's Thesis I-V
| 6
|
| | (Two thesis courses are required for the degree. However, the student may register for more than two, as needed.) | |
3. Oral presentation of thesis at the Graduate Biology Symposium
4. Submission of an acceptable thesis based on laboratory research at least three months prior to expected completion of degree; an oral defense two weeks before the expected degree completion date.
Plan G - Library Thesis
1. Complete 34 credits from the following groups of courses:
Group I - Core Requirements (14 credits):
BIOL 6115
| Fundamentals of Neuroscience | 3 |
BIOL 6216
| Recombinant DNA Technology Lab | 3 |
BIOL 6231
| Molecular Biology | 3 |
BIOL 6333
| Cell Culture Techniques | 3 |
BIOL 6335
| Methods in Neuroscience | 3 |
BIOL 7291
| Selected Topics in Molecular Biology | 1 |
BIOL 8201
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students I | 1 |
BIOL 8202
| Biology Seminar for M.S. Students II | 1 |
Group II - Electives (to be selected from the following to complete 19 credits):
BIOL 6113
| Biostatistics | 3 |
BIOL 6233
| Metabolic Pathways | 3 |
BIOL 6242
| Immunology | 3 |
BIOL 6243
| Immunology Lab | 2 |
BIOL 6323
| Vertebrate Endocrinology | 3 |
BIOL 6325
| Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
BIOL 6326
| Vertebrate Physiology | 4 |
BIOL 6333
| Cell Culture Techniques
| 3 |
BIOL 6334
| Developmental Biology | 3 |
BIOL 6369
| Cancer Biology
| 3 |
BIOL 6431
| Microbial Genetics
| 3 |
BIOL 7226
| Signal Transduction
| 3 |
BIOL 7228
| Fundamentals of Toxicology
| 3 |
| BIOL9191 | Special Topic in Biology Research
| 2 |
Group III - Library Thesis (1 credits): Selected topics in Neuroscience must be taken two semesters before expected completion of degree.
BIOL 7492
| Selected Topics in Neuroscience
| 1
|
2. Oral presentation of Library Thesis at the Graduate Biology Symposium
Prepare a library research paper in conjunction with Selected Topics in Neuroscience. This course must be taken two semesters before expected completion of degree.
*Graduate biology courses may be taken from the biology or microbiology course list.
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