Biology, Pedagogy Concentration (MS) – STEM Designated Degree Program
*Admission to the this program has been suspended indefinitely.
The Biology Department strives to foster the ability to critically examine information and discover new knowledge through rigorous scientific reasoning in budding life scientists. The graduate programs in the Biology Department are designed for students preparing for a career in biological fields requiring advanced training or for the teaching professional. Hands-on research training is a cornerstone of our programs and courses. The research and coursework you’re given will emphasize the integrative nature of biological studies.
Thesis and non-thesis options are available for most of our graduate degrees. We strongly encourage our students to complete thesis research. A master’s thesis is an in-depth and original research project conducted during your graduate studies. Students generally conduct these projects over the course of several semesters under the guidance of a faculty advisor. All students should consider the “thesis option” because prospective employers and continuing programs (i.e. PhD) are more interested in applicants with substantial research experience.
Along with the Biology, Pedagogy Concentration (MS) program, the Biology department also offers the following options for graduate study: Biology, Biology (Combined BS/MAT), Molecular Biology, Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Evolution, Biology with a concentration in Physiology, and a certificate in Molecular Biology.
Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.
Prior to matriculation for the Master of Science degree in biology, the student should have completed a subject matter of at least twenty-four semester hours in biology and have adequate preparation in college chemistry, mathematics and physics.
The Graduate School requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all of corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
- Application Deadline: Rolling Admission.
- Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Biology (MS) program:
- Transcript: (One) from each college attended.
- Statement of Purpose – Please write an integrated essay providing a response to each of the following questions:
- What are your goals for graduate study and your future career?
- In what ways do your academic background and your professional experiences provide evidence of your potential for success in the program you selected and in your eventual career? Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
- Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
- Letters of Recommendation: Two (2).
- Standardized Test Scores: GRE (see test waiver policies).
- Students holding degrees from non-US institutions must request a course-by-course transcript evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or by Educated Choices. TOEFL or IELTS is required for applicants to any program who earned their degree in a country where English is not the official language. Please check our International Applicants page for more information and for our current TOEFL/IELTS Waiver Policy.
Students will complete 32 semester hours of coursework. The Biology and Molecular Biology Department offers thesis and non-thesis students opportunity for graduate research under faculty supervision in selected areas of biology. Original research should not exceed eight credits for thesis students and five credits for non-thesis students. Students must complete a minimum of 26 credits in biology, nine credits of required courses, a minimum of five credits of research and a maximum of 18 credits of electives. A total of 32 credits is required to complete the program.