Degree Requirements

Students may pursue the Master of Science (M.S.) degree under one of two plans, usually completed in 2 years.

Plan I: Plan I is a thesis option recommended for students who intend to continue on to a Ph.D. program or students who want to pursue careers involving biological research. Students must complete at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit, including 10 credits of formal coursework (3-4 courses), which includes one hour of BIOL 6010, and one of the core courses (BIOL 6210, 6510 or BIOL 7100).  Students also take one hour of department seminar (BIOL 7810) and three to six hours of BIOL 6990. Students select a advisor from the Graduate Faculty and 2 additional faculty (one of which must also be graduate faculty in Biological Sciences) for their committee. The composition of the committee is subject to approval by the Biological Sciences Graduate Committee. The student's course of study is designed, with the advice of the student's committee, to meet the student's particular needs and interests.

Candidates must complete an original research program, defend a proposal and a write and defend a thesis. Research is carried out with the help and supervision of a graduate faculty advisor. The final oral examination covers both the contents of the thesis and general biological knowledge.

Plan II: Plan II is a non-thesis plan designed to meet the needs of students whose career goals do not require a research-oriented course of study. Candidates are required to complete 34 semester hours of graduate credit including 10 credits of formal coursework (3-4 courses) and one hour each of BIOL 6010 and BIOL 6020. Students also take one hour of department seminar (BIOL 7810).  Students select a advisor from the Graduate Faculty and 2 additional faculty (one of which must also be graduate faculty in Biological Sciences) for their committee. The composition of the committee is subject to approval by the Biological Sciences Graduate Committee. The student's course of study is designed, with the advice of the student's committee, to meet the student's particular needs and interests.

In lieu of a thesis, students must complete both a paper based on either original research or a literature search and a comprehensive written examination. The final oral examination covers the student's written work as well as general biological knowledge.

Before admission, students must have previously completed a Master of Science or Master of Art degree in biology or a related field as determined by the Graduate Committee of the Department.

Students must complete at least 60 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master's degree (usually completed in 4 years). These hours must include 10 hours of formal coursework (including BIOL 6010 Biodocumentation and 6820 Grant Writing and one of the core courses [BIOL 6210,6510 or BIOL 7100]) and at least 16 hours of BIOL 799, Dissertation Research (no more than 30 are applicable to the degree). Students select a advisor from the Graduate Faculty and 3 additional faculty (two of which must also be graduate faculty in Biological Sciences) for their committee.  An additional committee member is appointed by the Graduate College at the time of the Preliminary Examination.  The composition of the committee is subject to approval by the Biological Sciences Graduate Committee.  The student's course of study is designed, with the advice of the student's committee, to meet the student's particular needs and interests.

Students must complete a preliminary written and oral examination covering general biological knowledge, usually by the end of the second year of study. Students successfully completing this examination and defending a proposal (within 6 months of the Prelims) are considered to be candidates for the Ph.D. degree.

Candidates must complete an independent research project acceptable to their doctoral committee. This research project is to be described and evaluated in the dissertation. The final oral examination consists of a defense of the dissertation and may cover related fields of study.  Doctoral students are also expected to have at least one manuscript submitted, accepted, or published before graduation.