Master of Science in Biological Sciences

The program leading to the Master of Science degree provides students with the opportunity to gain a solid foundation in modern interdisciplinary biology. Graduates transition into careers as professionals in industry, government, education, healthcare and research organizations, or pursue further professional training.

Areas of specialization available through the Department of Biological Sciences include, but are not limited to, the following:

Cell structure and function (focus on the nucleus)
Comparative and ecological physiology
Evolutionary biology
Freshwater ecosystem ecology
Aquatic biogeochemistry
Germline development and sexual reproduction
Large-scale ecology
Host-microbe interactions
Community ecology
Invasive species
Conservation biology
Molecular mechanisms of neuronal and muscular diseases
Protein interactions and networks
Regeneration and stem cell biology
Regulation and function of gene expression
RNA biology
Biology education, curriculum design, and assessment
Speciation and ecological genetics
Virology and cell communication
Students may pursue an M.S. degree in biology through one of two options:

Option 1 (most students chose this option) requires the submission and oral defense of a thesis based on original research performed while enrolled as a graduate student at the university. Candidates will be advised to enroll in specific graduate-level courses deemed appropriate for successful understanding of the research to be undertaken.
Option 2 is a coursework option that requires the successful completion of 30 semester credits of graduate-level course work, including a critical literature review, a laboratory rotation, and a final oral examination.

To meet the minimum requirement for admission to the graduate program in biological sciences, applicants must fulfill the requirements for admission established by the Graduate School. In addition, a bachelor’s degree in the biological or biochemical sciences including course work in organic chemistry, physics, and calculus is strongly recommended. Admission preference is given to students with a grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 grading scale.

If your native language is not English and you do not have a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, you must have a minimum score on one of the following exams:

A score of 79/120 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

A band 6 or higher through the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

A score of 57 or higher on the Pearson PTE