Biological Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Biological Sciences offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science or Master of Arts degree in Biological Sciences. The descriptions of these two degree programs are listed below.

Master of Science: Biological Sciences (Thesis)

This program is designed for students who wish to increase their understanding of the life sciences, gain proficiency in teaching and/or research, or plan to continue study toward the Ph.D. degree. The program provides lecture, laboratory, and seminar courses along with learning experiences in research and assisting undergraduate laboratories. Students develop a concentration of studies in consultation with their academic advisor. The M.S. students are required to complete a minimum of 52 quarter hours of credit, up to 16 of which may include research credits. They are also expected to take at least 8 quarter hours of courses in each of the three core areas of study that include: 1) ecology, evolution, and population biology; 2) genetics, cell and molecular biology; and 3) physiology and neurobiology.

Master of Arts: Biological Sciences (Non-Thesis)

This program is designed for students who wish to increase their understanding of the life sciences and gain increased proficiency in teaching. This program is not intended for students pursuing technical and/or laboratory research related careers, or planning to continue study towards the Ph.D. degree. Students that select the M.A. option are required to complete a minimum of 50 quarter hours of credit with 12 quarter hours of study in each of the three core areas previously mentioned for the M.S. program.

Courses within the Core Areas

The following course list outlines the major core areas, and the courses available within each area. It is important to consult with your advisor on scheduling and course selection, as these courses are generally offered only during once each year, and sometimes only occasionally or in alternate years.

Ecology, Evolution, and Population biology
 Bio 409 - Plant Physiology
 Bio 415 - Topics in Ecology
 Bio 417 - Aquatic Biology
 Bio 420 - Microbial Ecology
 Bio 421 - Molecular Methods in Ecology and Evolution
 Bio 435 - Concepts in Evolution
 Bio 445 - Topics in Paleobiology
 Bio 433 - Mycology

Genetics, Cell and Molecular biology
 Bio 425 - Cellular Events in the Immune System
 Bio 433 - Mycology
 Bio 447 - Topics in Medical Bacteriology
 Bio 448 - Biology of Infection
 Bio 450 - Cell Motility
 Bio 455 - Genetic Toxicology
 Bio 460 - Molecular Biology
 Bio 461 - Topics in Molecular Biology
 Bio 471 - Immunobiology
 Bio 475 - Introduction to Pharmacology
 Bio 480 - Cancer Biology

Physiology and Neurobiology
 Bio 409 - Plant Physiology
 Bio 439 - Cellular Neurobiology
 Bio 440 - Systems Neurobiology
 Bio 441 - Topics in Neurobiology
 Bio 452 - Advanced Comparative Physiology
 Bio 465 - Principles of Toxicology
 Bio 486 - Introduction to Endocrinology