The Master of Science (MS) in Biological Sciences provides a training environment to develop science professionals in fields focusing on topics ranging from Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) to Biomedical Sciences. Our graduates will obtain research experience, practical knowledge in the biological sciences, and professional development training structured to lead to success in their future professional goals. Our faculty’s research interests and the program training opportunities covers a wide range of topics including Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Epidemiology, Evolution, Genomics, Global Climate Change Biology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Toxicology, and Virology.

Admission Requirements 

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or proof of equivalent education at a foreign institution.
2. Undergraduate degree in Biology or a related field and at least eight (8) semester hours of General Chemistry.
3. Applicants whose degrees are from non-English speaking institutions are required to demonstrate English proficiency. Please consult the Graduate School website for required scores.

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is optional. 

Degree Requirements

A thesis based on original work is required and must be defended orally. The student should decide on an area of specialization and select a supervising professor within the first semester. The supervising professor will act as chairperson of the thesis committee, which will be comprised of a minimum of three graduate faculty members, including one from outside the Department of Biological Sciences. MS students require 30 credits hours for the degree. They may select up to nine hours of upper-division undergraduate course (3000 and 4000 level courses) as part of the 30 required credits. Six credit hours can be taken in a combination of BIOL 5102, 5202, 5402 (Independent Research) and BIOL 5302, 5502 (Research in Biological Sciences). A degree plan must be submitted by the end of the first semester enrolled and a thesis proposal is due before the beginning of the second year.