Traditional Master's in Biology
Receive one-on-one attention in a collaborative environment
As a biology graduate student, you will design a customized program of study that aligns with your goals and interests.
You’ll also be active in research.
Areas of research
During your first semester, you'll pick a specialization area and begin to pursue a research problem (thesis) under the close supervision of a graduate faculty thesis committee. Areas include but are not limited to:
- Animal behavior
- Aquatic biology
- Cancer biology
- Cellular biology
- Ecology
- Ecotoxicology
-
Evolution
- Fisheries
- Genomics
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Nanobiology
- Plant biology
- Wildlife conservation
Sample schedule
The following is a sample schedule for this degree. Your actual schedule may vary based on factors like transfer credit, research work and graduate assistantship assignments.
Meet with your advisor and review the class schedule to develop the right plan for you.
The following degree plan, last reviewed 05/07/2024, is based on the 2023-24 graduate catalog.
First semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| Biology elective (600 level or above; determined with advisor) | 3 |
| Biology elective (700 level or above) | 3 |
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| Total hours | 9 |
Second semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| Biology elective (600 level or above; determined with advisor) | 3 |
| Biology elective (700 level or above) | 3 |
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| Total hours | 9 |
Third semester (summer)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
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| Total hours | 3 |
Fourth semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| Biology elective (600 level or above) | 3 |
| Biology elective (700 level or above) | 3 |
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| Total hours | 7 |
Fifth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
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| Biology electives (if needed) | |
| Total hours | 4 |
Tips for success
- Review the admission and program requirements for full details on completing your degree.
- Your advisor will help you design a program of study that supports your research and career goals.
-
If you are an undergraduate student who meets certain requirements, you can enroll in graduate-level courses while you are earning your bachelor’s degree. This is the accelerated master's option.
- Scholarships and financial aid are available.
Thesis timeline
- First semester:
- Identify Thesis Committee members.
- Write thesis proposal.
- Second semester:
- Learn experimental techniques for thesis.
- Submit short proposal for Graduate Research Funding (see your advisor for details).
- File "Advisor-Approved Program of Study" with your committee.
- Third semester
- Data collection for research thesis.
- Fourth semester
- Complete data collection (and start data analysis).
- Start thesis writing.
- Fifth semester
- Data analysis and graphics.
- Complete thesis writing (draft to advisor by mid-semester).
- Present thesis seminar to faculty/public.
- Oral defense.
Non-thesis option
After an unsuccessful attempt at a thesis, and with the permission of the thesis committee and department head, a student may switch to a non-thesis option.
This requires the completion of a minimum of two degree papers, each of which shall require an extensive paper or major creative work.