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Dec 21, 2024
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2014-2015 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]
Biological Sciences, J.D./M.S.
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 Return to: The College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
The J.D./M.S. joint degree program in Biological Science allows participants to obtain expertise in both fields, and in doing so eliminates 16 to 19 hours of course work (J.D. and M.S.) that would be required if the programs in Law and Biological Science were taken separately (depending upon whether the thesis M.S. or non-thesis M.S. is pursued).
The curriculum consists of course work taken through the College of Law and through the Graduate School. The joint degree program requires 78 credit hours of law courses including all required courses as established by the College of Law for a J.D. In addition, this joint degree requires 24 hours of course work in the biological science program for the thesis M.S. degree, or 27 hours of course work in the biological science program for the non-thesis M.S. degree. Depending upon the student’s undergraduate education, there may be prerequisite course work in biology that must be complete before beginning the joint degree program. Please consult with the Graduate Advisor for Biology about possible deficiencies in undergraduate biology course work.
Those wishing to pursue the J.D./M.S. in Biology must be admitted to the Law School and to the Graduate School. Graduate School requirements include a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be considered for this program. In addition, applicants should have some science background. Admittance to the M.S. program requires a formal application to the Graduate School, which includes taking the GRE and three letters of recommendation. Obtain application through the Graduate School.
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M.S. Thesis Option
The thesis M.S. option requires 24 hours of course work through the Department of Biological Science, completion of a thesis based on research that is adequate originality and quality to be recognized by the faculty of biological science as meeting criteria usually applied for publication in a scientific journal, and 6 hours of College of Law course work in the area of environmental specialization (30 hours of course work).
Biology Course Work:
| Graduate Seminar in Biology: |
6 hours at the 7000 level (2 courses) |
| Course work in Biology: |
9 hours at the 6000 or 7000 level (2 or 3 courses) |
| Research: |
9 hours at the 7000 level (3 courses) |
Law Course Work also counted for the Biology M.S.:
| Approved course work in Law: |
6 hours at the 5000/7000 level (2 courses) |
| Total: |
30 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.
M.S. Non-Thesis Option
The non-thesis M.S. option requires 27 hours of course work through the Department of Biological Science, a capstone seminar presentation in biology, and 9 hours of College of Law course work in the area of environmental specialization (36 hours course work).
Biology Course Work:
| Graduate Seminar in Biology: |
9 hours at the 7000 level (3courses) |
| Course Work in Biology: |
12 hours at the 6000 or 7000 level (3 or 4 courses) |
| Research: |
6 hours at the 7000 level (2 courses) |
Law Course Work also counted for the Biology M.S.:
| Approved course work in Law: |
9 hours at the 5000/7000 level (3 courses) |
| Total: |
36 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.
Approved class work in Law for the Biology Degree
The following Law courses can be counted in the joint degree program not only for the J.D. but also for the Biological Science M.S. (double counted): Environmental Law, International Environmental Law, Native American Natural Resources Law, Natural Resources and Environmental Law of Federal Lands, Water Law. Other Law courses may be acceptable for the Law course work in the Biology M.S. of the joint degree program but need prior approval by the Graduate Advisor for Biology.
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Return to: The College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
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