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Apr 18, 2024
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2015-2016 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]
Biological Sciences, B.S./M.S.
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 Return to: The College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
The combined Bachelor’s/Master’s degree program allows students who are highly motivated and have a high GPA to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Biology in five years. The requirements for this program include all those for the B.S. in Biology and the M.S. in Biology. However, 6 to 9 hours of course work will be taken at the 5000 level during the student’s senior year, and these credits will count towards the MS degree as well as towards the B.S. degree in Biology (double counted).
Entering freshman who need only three years to graduate (B.S. in Biology) due to AP and IB course credits may find this an attractive program since a single additional year would allow the student to graduate with a M.S. degree in Biology Undergraduates on a pre-professional track (medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, physical therapy, etc.) may also want to consider this as an option since the non-thesis track will provide an opportunity for graduate course work that will help them reach their career objectives.
Interested students should apply during their junior year. Applicants must be full time biology majors at The University of Tulsa, and must have completed at least 75 hours of undergraduate course work with a GPA of 3.3 or higher to be considered for this program. Further, in order to be considered for the Combined B.S./M.S. degree program in Biology a student must be admitted to the M.S. program through a formal application to the Graduate School, which includes scores from the GRE and three letters of recommendation. Obtain application through the Graduate School.
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M.S. Thesis Option
The thesis MS option is identical to that of traditional M.S. in Biology with a thesis.
Course Work
30 hours with no more than 40 percent at the 6000 level.
Graduate Seminar
6 hours (2 semesters)
Class Work
9 hours (3 courses) in an area of specialization. Of the 9 hours, 6 will be taken at the 5000 level as biology electives during the student’s senior year for the combined degree program. These 6 hours will count toward both the BS and MS degrees in Biology.
Research/Thesis Courses
15 hours
Committee
An advisory committee chaired by faculty member supervising the research should be formed at the end of the first year of study. It should have two other members of the graduate biology faculty.
Research Thesis
The research should be of adequate originality and quality to be recognized by the faculty as meeting criteria applied for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Thesis Defense
The thesis defense consists of a departmental seminar on the results of the research and satisfactory defense of the thesis in an oral exam given by members of student’s thesis committee.
Summary of Schedule of Course Work
| Summer after Junior Year: |
Research as an undergraduate |
| Senior Year (undergraduate): |
6 hours at 5000 level counted for both B.S. & M.S. |
| Summer after Senior. Year: |
6 hours of research as a graduate student |
| 5th year (Graduate): |
18 hours of course and research work |
| Total: |
30 hours |
M.S. Non-Thesis Option
The non-thesis MS option is identical to that of traditional non-thesis MS in Biology.
Course Work
36 hours with no more than 40 percent at the 6000 level.
Graduate Seminar
9 to 12 hours (3 or 4 semesters). Of the 9 to 12 hours, 3 will be taken at the 5000 level as a biology elective during the student’s senior year for the combined degree program. These 3 hours will count toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology.
Class Work
18 to 21 hours (6 courses) in an area of specialization. Of the 18 to 21 hours, 6 will be taken at the 5000 level as biology electives during the student’s senior year for the combined degree program. These 6 hours will count toward both the BS and MS degrees in Biology. In addition, 3 hours of graduate course work will be taken the last semester of the senior year at the 6000 level. This 6000 level course will be in addition to the student’s undergraduate course work and will not be counted towards the undergraduate degree. The requirement is quite feasible, since many seniors do not need to take more than the minimum 12 hours to graduate with their undergraduate degree.
Research/Thesis Courses
6 hours
Capstone Seminar Presented to the Faculty
Graduation is contingent upon presentation of a seminar to the department. The M.S. student will be expected to answer questions posed by the Biology Faculty related to the content of the presentation.
Summary of Schedule of Course Work
Senior Year (undergraduate): 9 hours at 5000 level counted for both B.S. & M.S.
- 6 hours classes and 3 hours seminar
- 3 hours at the 6000 level counted for only the M.S.
| Summer after Senior Year: |
6 hours of research as a graduate student |
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| 5th year (Graduate): |
18 hours of course work |
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| Total: |
36 hours |
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Return to: The College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
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