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Dec 17, 2024
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2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin
Biological Science, Thesis, M.S.
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The thesis Master of Science (M.S.) in biological science degree option is designed for graduate students who wish to undertake a significant research project and write a thesis. Although class work is required, the focus of this degree option is research and writing. The thesis involves not only a scientific report on the research performed for the degree, but also a comprehensive literature review on the subjects related to the thesis research. The thesis M.S. degree option is for those students focusing on a career that involves biological research, and gives participants hands-on training to be scientists.
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Learning Outcomes
The focus of the program is to offer quality graduate level courses in advanced topics in biological science and graduate M.S. students prepared for an advanced degree program (e.g., M.D., D.O., Pharm.D., D.D.S) including those with a research focus (e.g., Ph.D.), or research technician positions in industry or academic. Graduating students will be able to:
1. develop the skillset to carry out experiments in a certain discipline within the Biological Sciences and obtain and understanding of how these technical skills are applied to test very different biological questions.
2. exhibit knowledge of the scientific study undertaken beyond that expected of a technician.
3. conduct original research of significant magnitude for publication.
Program Goals
The goal of the thesis M.S. program is to offer quality graduate level courses in advanced topics in biological science and graduate M.S. students prepared for an advanced degree program (e.g., M.D., D.O., Pharm.D., D.D.S) including those with a research focus (e.g., Ph.D.), or research technician positions in industry or academia.
Admission
Requirements for admission to the Graduate School, including English proficiency, may be found in the Admission section of this Bulletin. In addition, applicants to the graduate program in biological science must submit evidence of the following:
- an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
- results from the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam;
- a statement of purpose describing the applicant’s background, specific interests in biology, and long-term professional objectives; and
- reference letters (evaluations) from two individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or technical background
Students not meeting the specific course requirements at the time of application may be admitted on conditional grounds. In such cases, coursework required to make up deficiencies will be determined by the departmental Graduate Committee and should be undertaken during the first year of graduate work. Credit for courses required to correct deficiencies cannot be applied to the graduate degree requirements.
Coursework
The thesis M.S. in Biological Science requires 30 hours of coursework with no more than 40 percent at the 6000-level.
| Graduate Seminar |
6 hours |
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| Coursework |
9 hours in an area of specialization |
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| Research/Thesis Courses |
15 hours |
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| Total |
30 hours |
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Approved Supporting Elective Graduate Courses
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.
Committee
An advisory committee chaired by the 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 faculty of biological science.
Thesis Defense
The thesis defense consists of a departmental seminar that details the results of the research followed by a satisfactory defense of the thesis in an oral exam administered by members of student’s thesis committee.
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